Opinion | Star-Journal

Cuts to Pell Grant will hurt Missouri’s economic growth

Missouri leaders take pride in our reputation as a business-friendly state where cutting edge industries like biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, agtech and geospatial intelligence continue to … more

By Laura Winter Guest Columnist | 6/5/25

An afternoon with Alfred

My Great-Uncle Alfred is 100 years old. He doesn’t get out much, he says. “Just stays at home and has doctor appointments.” He’s been a widower for six years and has outlived … more

By Liz Schleicher Contributing Columnist | 6/5/25

LETTER: Thanking the Johnson County Commission, Highway Department

Dear Editor, We want to thank our Johnson County Commissioners and the Johnson County Highway Department for the recent work they did on our section of NE 51st RD to repair the … more

5/30/25

What goes around

A few weeks ago, we had this short but wonderful pocket of time right before our oldest son’s college graduation. For four days, we had all three of our big kids home. After graduation, two of … more

By Gwen Rockwood Syndicated Columnist | 5/30/25

One-pot wonders

Late spring is arguably the best time for Missouri gardens. We enjoy the large blooms of iris and peony, the elegance of roses, the spikes of catmint and meadow sage, and the sprinkling of … more

By Susan Burch, Contributing Columnist | 5/30/25

Notes from the past

Almost everybody has loose ends that they would like to clear up or that junk drawer that you always plan to clean but never get to. Wine columnists are no different and while doing the … more

By Bennet Bodenstein, Contributing Columnist | 5/30/25

Turning points

Memorial Day has come and gone, so for many we’re now officially in summer … even though, technically, it doesn’t begin until June 20 th . Nevertheless, both are turning points … more

By Joel R. Kurz Pastor, Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Warrensburg) | 5/26/25

Is a blank stare an anti-aging strategy?

The children are afraid. Terrified, in fact. But you’d never know it by looking at them because they’re too scared to move a muscle, especially the ones around their eyes. What are … more

By Gwen Rockwood Syndicated Columnist | 5/22/25

Progressing through connection

Being in the garden reminds me that things are always progressing. The earthworms have been hard at work aerating and fertilizing the soil, right alongside the little weeds that dedicate … more

By Angela Palmer Contributing Columnist | 5/22/25

Finding affordable domestic wine

Just in case you haven't noticed, spring has finally arrived. The flowers are blooming, the grass is growing, the birds have returned and from the condition of my automobile, their aim has … more

By Bennet Bodenstein, Contributing Columnist | 5/22/25

What the wind can’t blow away

A year ago, a tornado hop-scotched through our town. It was past midnight, and I was watching a movie at home with our teenagers. When our phones screamed a long, loud beep, we switched to local news … more

By Gwen Rockwood Syndicated Columnist | 5/15/25

Saluting the screw top bottle

Let us start with a wine history lesson. For centuries, the closure of preference for a wine bottle, even as far back as the ancient Greek amphora, was the ever popular cork. With a cork stopper … more

By Bennet Bodenstein, Contributing Columnist | 5/15/25

WOTUS: The Rule that Keeps Coming Back

You may wonder as to how we could be talking about “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) again. The new administration under President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are trying to … more

By Kayden Guymon Guest Columnist | 5/15/25

Serving God by serving others

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." ~ 1 Peter 4:10-11 Over the last year, I have had … more

By LuRae Shreves Warrensburg Church of the Brethren | 5/12/25

How our journey was hatched

When I first heard of the 4-H and MU Extension’s Hatching Chicks program, I immediately wanted to give it a try. As a homeschool mother of three young children, I always keep an eye out for fun … more

By Jamie Bendorf Guest Columnist | 5/8/25

Score one for the fidgeters

I used to be a fidgeter. I'd tap on things and bounce my leg so fast that Tom would sometimes reach over and put his hand on my knee as if to say, "Enough. That's driving me nuts." Fidgeters don't … more

By Gwen Rockwood Syndicated Columnist | 5/8/25

Wines to watch as tariffs reshape the market

This is the time of year that is the most interesting in the wine industry, the releasing of the latest vintages. With a certain rise in wine prices probable due to the impending tariff in which wine … more

By Bennet Bodenstein, Contributing Columnist | 5/8/25

Use fenceline weaning to improve calf postweaning performance

“Postweaning calf performance is important to cow calf operators and future calf owners,” says Patrick Davis MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist. Optimum performance is achieved by … more

5/8/25

Finding faith in loss

This week I’m preaching on Leviticus 10, a famous passage in the Old Testament. Maybe I should say, “Infamous!” Last week in Chapter 9 the first worship service in the … more

By Robin Dale, Pastor, Elm Spring Baptist Church | 5/6/25

What I’ve learned in waiting rooms

I have a long relationship with waiting rooms. I’ve attended medical appointments for three kids, two dogs, one cat, and one husband. For nearly a decade, I also waited in rooms with my dad, … more

By Gwen Rockwood Syndicated Columnist | 5/1/25

Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff visit Whiteman AFB

Main Street receives $5,000 MHC grant to expand “The Stories of Downtown” tours

Crash Reports for July 11

UCM associate professor named State Children’s Champion by Missouri Head Start and Region VII Head Start Associations