THE BOTTOM LINE: Regardless of the Rumors, Retail isn’t Dead

THE BOTTOM LINE: Apocalypses and doomsdays might make for good TV, but can we stop with the glorification of predicting the demise of our jobs, our communities and our way of life? The lifeblood of main street America is two-parts retail and public schools.

THE BOTTOM LINE: That Which is False, is Most Annoying

That which is false is most annoying I bought my first cell phone from a telemarketer, my first newspaper subscription from a kid who was going door-to-door and I never minded answering the knock from someone with something to sell. I am probably a little different.

How long can the Federal debt keep rising?

GUEST OPINION: A few months ago, the federal debt we have accumulated over the past decades crossed the $22 trillion mark. That’s a record. And it’s surely not going to be the last.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Let’s get on with making our nation more secure with the REAL ID act

THE BOTTOM LINE: Once again Oklahoma is on the losing side of legislation, litigation and public opinion. In 2005, the U.S. Congress passed H.R. 418 the REAL ID Act.

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE: REAL ID is about grabbing, storing information in national data bases

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE: About seven years ago, Ancestory.com - the popular for-profit genealogy research website - launched a new DNA testing service. Supposedly, it was innocent enough.

Longest time in U.S. history without federal minimum wage increase

There are a lot of records that would be great to break. This isn’t one of them: June 16 marked the longest period in history without an increase since the federal minimum wage was established in 1938. The federal minimum wage went to $7.25 an hour on July 24, 2009 - nearly 10 years ago.

THE BOTTOM LINE: When is a ‘Government Fix’ ever simple?

THE BOTTOM LINE: There has been a lot of effort over the past several years to raise the federal minimum wage. First there was the $10.10 movement and it appeared to be gaining traction among many business owners and workers alike. Then that movement gave way to those seeking $15 an hour.

Need for comprehensive immigration reform

Throughout history, our nation has drawn immigrants searching for opportunity and a share in the American Dream.

REVIEWED: Racist Mob Murders 2 in Marlow

A Quail Creek physician/novelist is also a persistent amateur sleuth who has written a non-fiction book about the lynch-mob murder of his grandfather in southwestern Oklahoma 95 years ago. “Killing Albert Berch” by Alan Berch Hollingsworth (Pelican Publishing Co.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Time to plan for a disaster is now

THE BOTTOM LINE: Across our homeland, countless people have lost their vehicles, homes and jobs due to the recent storms. As those affected work with FEMA and other disaster relief organizations to recover, we should all take stock in what we have and assess our own situation.