Legislation reaches finalization period

Preparations are well underway for the 2024 legislative session, which convenes on February 5. The deadline to request bills recently passed, and we are now working on finalizing legislation related to a variety of issues and projects across the state.

Wife encourages solo trip for partner

DEAR HARRIETTE: I received a holiday bonus and planned a family trip for the New Year, but considering our budget, it’s looking tight. My wife suggested that I use the bonus for a solo trip, leaving her to manage our three young kids -- ages 2, 4 and 6 -- for about five days. I’m conflicted; I want to honor her suggestion as it was my bonus, but the idea of leaving her with all the household responsibilities and our little ones makes me feel extremely guilty.

Perspective changes past grievances

DEAR HARRIETTE: I always had a contentious relationship with my aunt. I found her to be harsh, sometimes mean and often unreliable. She has been dead for years.

Cellulitis and cellulite not the same

Dear Doctors: My husband and I help my aunt with doctor visits. She has a persistent wound on her foot and was diagnosed with cellulitis. She has confused it with cellulite and isn’t taking it seriously. Can you offer some information so we can help her understand what’s going on?

CLINTON’S HISTORY 10, 20, 30 AND 40 YEARS AGO

30 YEARS AGO

Dear Santa, Jordan want’s a Bike and a teddy bears, radio, and tapes that he can listen to on the radio, paint brush, roller blades and clothe for he can dress right and for his dad he would like a cd and cd’s for his mom a gown for she can sleep.

Christmas is not about gifts, shiny baubles or things that will be quickly discarded to the pending garage sales of yore. It’s not the gadgets and gizmos – it’s the memories and true spirit of the holidays.

This year's religion beat dominated by Hamas, Israel war

The Hamas surprise attack on Israeli citizens was selected as the year's most important international story by religion-beat journalists, in part because it led to 'spikes in Islamophobia and antisemitism' when Israel launched its massive counterattack on Gaza. Members of the Religion News Association echoed that decision when voting to select the top 2023 religion story in America.

The importance of family, especially during Christmas

Ababy, a mother and a father. They are at the heart of the Christmas season. And, yet, as Mary Eberstadt points out in her book 'How the West Really Lost God,' a nuclear family might seem strange to many people who did not grow up in one. And the celebration of a baby might hold a painful reminder to a person unable to have children for whatever reason. Eberstadt's point is that we should acknowledge how reality contrasts with our ideals.

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