From Maeystown to Ukraine

While the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent war began more than eight months ago, what began as constant media coverage of the region has dwindled significantly. For Maeystown resident…

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Live and Let Live | Ott Observations

A conservative friend who reads my columns recently asked me what I thought about transgenders, specifically about athletes.   He knows I have a stepdaughter who once played college volleyball.…

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R-T wins top state honor

The Republic-Times, a weekly publication covering Monroe County and surrounding areas since 1890, was awarded a top state honor on Friday. The Illinois Press Association hosted its annual conference last…

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It’s not that hard | Ott Observations

Most Republicans in Congress are self-congratulating themselves for passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.   Yes, it’s an effort to rein in mass shooting gun violence by expanding background…

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Flunking the Supreme Court

So much has already been said or written about the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that I hesitated to write a column about it. For those that don’t closely follow…

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