I received a frantic phone call a few weeks ago from my sister-in-law, who lives with her husband in Mexico. She was telling me that, due to the sanctions President Donald Trump placed on three banks in Mexico, she and other expatriates living there were unable to access their U.S. funds from three Mexican banks. more

My mom and I have joint custody of a fancy vacuum cleaner. A few years ago when we both needed a new one, we decided to pool our money because we live just a few steps away from each other and can easily share. We figured if we joined forces, we could afford to get one with a few bells and whistles designed to make a vacuum cleaner truly suck — in a good way. more

Life may sometimes feel like you’re an insect pinned behind a glass with all the problems facing the world nowadays. Life in reality is what we make it. more

Something extraordinary happened in the White House on Aug. 22, when the heads of state of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Finland, accompanied by the secretary general of NATO and the president of the European Commission, accompanied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to his meeting with President Donald Trump. more

Although I’d like to rail against the treatment of immigrants and the military occupation of American cities at the President’s order, I’m taking a breather to write about my health journey. As you know, after several abnormal mammograms, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis, however, isn’t the stopping point. It’s the beginning. more

Thus says the Lord: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” – Jeremiah 31:15 more

One of my favorite activities as an Extension specialist is helping beef cattle producers put together nutritionally sound, cost-effective winter-feeding programs for cows and backgrounding calves. Here in central Missouri, that almost always includes some level of hay feeding for part of the year. more

J.W. Cookman continued to testify in his own defense about his shooting of John McBride. more

An unknown quote about death says, "When you lose someone you love, you gain an angel you know." I believe this is true. more

People are a mystery. Sometimes I’m convinced we’re all just a bunch of intricate puzzles who happen to be wearing pants.  more

Imagine you are standing at the finish line of a marathon. The runners are coming in. Sweat is pouring, lungs are burning, feet are blistered. You faced hills, cramps, and pain. Yet as you cross the line, a medal is placed around your neck, and a crowd erupts in applause. Here’s the paradox: the pain of the race didn’t rob you of joy, it prepared you for it. Your suffering made the finish line sweeter. more

The elderly gentleman was tall, thin and barefoot, with holes in the knees of his pants. His hair was shaggy and pure white, and when he got excited his whole face smiled, eyes crinkling up until the lids were almost closed. more

Anyone who’s studied film undoubtedly took an “Alfred Hitchcock” class. Suspense thrillers all, from “The 39 Steps” to 1976’s “Family Plot,” Hitchcock’s works entertained – and continue to entertain – audiences everywhere. I remember watching “Psycho,” although I question my parents’ judgment in letting seven-year-old me go to the Beck Theater to see it. I was terrified by “The Birds,” which my parents (again, judgment!) let me see at age 10. more

“Are you pulling my leg?” more

I have not tried frying an egg on the sidewalk yet, but I do believe it’s been hot enough the last week or so. more

Ballot measures can't fix everything more

Defense Attorney Shain called his last witness to the stand. The witness was J.W. Cookman, the man accused of killing John McBride, according to County Attorney Cashman, without any provocation. more

I have been watching the posts on Facebook lately, and it seems like many people are posting pictures of places and things from Sedalia’s past.I enjoy seeing those pictures, especially the ones of places I knew so well while growing up. more

Has it been a while since you’ve seen a doctor? Do you have joint pains or a new injury? Would you like to be more active? Perhaps you have questions about general care or health care screenings. more

There’s a baby in the house. A tiny, orange, fuzzy baby with two green eyes, 18 pink toes, and 24 whiskers that are too long for his body. His name is Beanie. more