I’m probably going to wind up like King Lear roaring into the wind, but I’ve just got to speak my piece about secondhand smoke. After three decades of being constantly bombarded with propaganda detailing how horrible secondhand smoke is, it may be hard to look at another side. But look I did and I was surprised at what I found.

“I thought it was against the law to throw your grass clippings in the streets. Take a trip down 16th Street by the fairgrounds and the sidewalks are covered in grass and it is four or five feet into the street. It really

Despite the clanging of the critics, it is way past time for Sedalia to have an across-the-board indoor smoking ban. And when you look at those critics’ arguments, when you peel away all the puffery about individual rights and government intrusion and communism/socialism/fillintheblankism, what you are left with is selfishness.

I would like to respond to a letter to the editor from Gabriele Leiter-Jones on March 1. This letter criticized the House Republicans for their failure to take action on a minimum wage bill.

The Pettis County Ambulance District received its approval from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs recently, bringing it a step closer to making medical calls.

Steakburgers and milkshakes are coming to the west side of town when Steak’n Shake opens in October.

You’d swear by this week’s edition of the Sedline that the potential public smoking ban is the most important topic of contention in the collected history of the Queen City of the Prairies. In the history books they will talk about the great cigarette war — the first shots could be fired right here in our backyard.

An ambitious partnership is taking shape in Warsaw and proponents hope the planned Harbor Village project will be a boon to Benton County residents as well as the local economy.

(BPT) - People insure their homes, their cars and even their vacations without giving it a second thought. But many do not think about insuring their most important asset – their income – from a disability caused by illness or injury. And it’s not just income during working years that is at risk. A disability can also put a serious dent in your ability to enjoy retirement.

(BPT) - As summer approaches, many parents are worried about the summer learning slide, and with good reason. Students who do not participate in enrichment and learning activities during the summer break can lose roughly 22 percent of the knowledge and skills they gained during the previous school year, according to the National Summer Learning Association.

• The people of Sedalia and the people of Ward 4 will be tired of their new council member before his term is up.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri are hoping a pair of state tax credits will help affect the community in a positive way while supporting the club’s programming.

After sitting empty for three years, the old Woods Supermarket building is being torn down this week to make way for a CVS Pharmacy.

(NAPSI)—You can show a woman you care by giving a gift that heals. Here’s how:

(BPT) - Warm weather heralds home improvement season. It’s also the season of high electric bills as air conditioners hum to life in response to rising temperatures across the country. When you’re making summer upgrades to your home, improvements that make your house more livable and attractive are even more rewarding when they also help put money back in your pocket.

Ups and downs in the current market and recent corporate and banking scandals have prompted many people to seek ways to have more control over their retirement funds. Self-directed IRAs allow consumers to use their knowledge and expertise to invest in assets beyond stocks, bonds and mutual funds. While self-directed IRAs provide a new way to grow retirement savings, they may not be the best option for everyone.

(BPT) - Do the words “aging in place” and “home improvement” conjure images of institutional-looking grab bars in bathrooms and overhead kitchen lights that could illuminate an airport runway? Many people eschew certain types of home improvements for the same reason others refuse to wear hearing aids – the negative connotations of age.

They said it would be a challenge, that it couldn’t be done. But 14 years later, The Bus, Sedalia’s public transportation system, is still making the rounds.

(BPT) - You’ve replaced your home’s 20-year-old windows with new, Energy Star-rated models, upgraded to electricity-sipping appliances and there’s not a single incandescent light bulb to be found anywhere in your house. You may be wondering what more you can do to further reduce your home energy bills.

(BPT) - Do you have a child in your life who will be graduating this spring?

The Missouri House has now passed a major income tax cut that would significantly reduce state revenue and jeopardize state support for our public schools for years to come. It is disappointing that so many of our state representatives supported this ill-conceived measure that would harm public education in our state. We thank Representative Denny Hoskins for supporting our schools and voting “no” on the bill. Representative Hoskins demonstrated political courage and genuine leadership by opposing the bill. He understands how critical it is that we invest in our schools in order to create genuine economic development through a well-educated workforce. Representative Hoskins deserves our thanks for his support of our schools and for his leadership in the Missouri House.

The governor is for it. Health care providers are for it. Seniors are for it. Business groups are for it.

(NewsUSA) - Thanks to the new healthcare law, starting October 1st there'll be a whole new way to shop for health insurance for yourself, your family or your small business: the Health Insurance Marketplace. Whether you're uninsured or buy your own coverage, the Marketplace will help you find insurance that fits your needs and your budget, with less hassle.

(NewsUSA) - If you own a home, hot water availability can significantly impact how many daily tasks are accomplished, but it doesn't have to be that way. What if you could check a number of to-dos off your daily list -- such as laundry, dishwashing, showers, baths for the kids and perhaps one for yourself -- without having to devise a hot-water schedule? Well, you can.