Americans took out $1.7 trillion in government loans for college tuition.

"For those out there who don't like it when Dr. Fauci changes his mind, look up the word xenophobia and please try to keep up."

It's hard these days to keep track of all the decrepitude in public life, so forgive me if I highlight some new sleaze that has likely escaped your notice.

"The Greatest Generation: born in the 'Roaring '20s,' came of age in the Great Depression, young adults during World War II, built interstate system as well as other infrastructure, took medicine to get rid of polio and many, many other diseases, supported the rest of the war-torn world, and…

Being focused primarily on what happens in Georgia, it can be easy to miss important developments elsewhere. But when it comes to expanding educational options, other states keep rubbing it in my face.

"Please tell us the terrible things that President Biden has done to Georgia."

Once again, it is the time of year when graduating seniors in Whitfield County and across the nation are preparing to walk across the stage with anticipation as they receive their high school diplomas. In a few short weeks, Whitfield County teachers, parents, friends and family members will …

I've been hacked. Officially. Someone pretending to be me -- go figure -- has applied for unemployment benefits in my name.

"Not my brother, not my sister, but it's me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. It's me, it's me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer." Can I get an amen?

"Jevin Jensen is doing a good job as chairman. He really has his eye on some problems others turned theirs from."

Do I live in an alternate universe?

"Placing the DEO Clinic announcement in the Forum resulted in three people offering filing cabinets for our medical records. We are grateful for your help."

When the Nazis wanted to march through Skokie, Illinois, many residents were horrified. A large percentage were Jewish, and some had been interned in concentration camps. The memory of those camps was still vivid, since this was 1978, a mere three decades after World War II had ended.

"I am so pleased to read that Whitfield County, under new leadership, will take a different approach to spending the millions of dollars headed its way. Recall that last year, flush with operating funds because the federal money was used to pay public safety employees' wages and hazard duty …

The spring real-estate season is upon us, and prices are blooming -- er, booming.

"Stay six feet away from me, please. And we won't need no masks."

An essential part of the district’s reconfiguration of our secondary schools will be the closing of Morris Innovative High School at the end of May. What started as a high school credit recovery program quickly became a home for many students, faculty and staff.

Dear Noah,

Republican pollster Frank Luntz met last weekend with 17 vaccine-resisting Trump voters to better understand why they won't take the simple step of protecting themselves and their fellow citizens.

"Anyone know what the construction at the courthouse is for?"

On Thursday, Earth Day, politicians and activists probably shouted more about "the climate crisis."

"I would like to offer my appreciation to the lady and the pack of children picking up garbage near Civitan Park Sunday afternoon. The community needs more people like you."

At a time when police are being attacked on all sides for brutality, racism, recklessness and all sorts of social sins and criminal acts, I hesitate to write this column.

"Gotta love reading criticisms of Dr. Fauci from people whose medical credentials begin and end with 'I saw something bad about him on Fox.'"

College students in Georgia got good news this past week, as the Board of Regents froze tuition and fees at the state's public colleges and universities for the second year in a row. The news also helps explain why a popular national narrative about college costs and student debt is so wrong…

"Don't dictators also sign orders with the stroke of a pen? Just wondering."

Sometimes the students who look like they would be the most successful on paper are not the ones who finish their college degree. It’s an interesting paradox that isn’t unique to us here at Dalton State College.

Despite their billion-dollar balance sheets, large public corporations have the backbone of a jellyfish. Put enough pressure on them and they will fold like a tent. I offer into evidence S.B. 202, the voting rights bill passed by the General Assembly this past session and signed into law by …

"SK Innovations credited Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff with saving the $2.7 billion battery plant deal and 2,600 jobs here in Georgia despite Gov. Kemp’s GOP meddling."

My wife, daughter and I usually drive over to Las Vegas two or three times a year.

The most viewed conservative commentator on YouTube is Steven Crowder with his channel, "Louder with Crowder."

"For those who aren't aware, Georgia has had voter ID requirements since 1992. That's 29 years. Keep up. That's not what the issues with SB 202 are."

Here's a quiz for the Republican politicians among you. Check as many as apply.

"Skateboarding in a park is not a crime. Neither is 'almost' hitting you. That's why the police didn't do anything. It's a big world, and it's not just yours."

An interesting subplot in any legislative session involves the newcomers.

Editor's note: State Rep. Kasey Carpenter, R-Dalton, said constituents can send questions and comments to him at kasey.carpenter@house.ga.gov.

It’s hard to believe that we are still enduring these uncertain times. No one could have predicted that a pandemic would rise up and affect so many lives for this long. We are in uncharted waters as these circumstances continue to affect the globe, not just our community.

Just as I was about to pick up my flugelhorn, the phone rang. It was Skeeter Skates, owner of Skeeter Skates Tree Stump Removal and Plow Repair in Ryo, Georgia. He sounded concerned. That's not like Skeeter. Of course, he would never admit it. I have found that those in the tree stump remova…

Republicans and corporate America have been conjoined for so long that any breach in the bond is almost impossible to imagine. Yet we're seeing one now, thanks to the GOP's decision to give free rein to its authoritarian impulses.

"Great story by Mitch Talley on Jack Kirmse and his time aboard the USS Whitfield County!"

I was surprised to read (in The Los Angeles Times) that the Biden administration's "role model for America" is ... California! He wants to "Make America California."

"In Kyle Wingfield's column on the new Georgia voting law, he neglected to address the most egregious provisions of the law which is the increased state power over counties. The Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who stood up to Trump's big lie, is now removed as chair of the state elect…

I am so glad the whole white supremacy and gun nut narrative is over, so we can get back to the one about voter suppression. Those horrific shootings late last month diverted our attention away from what President Joe Biden has called "Jim Crow on steroids," namely the recent controversial v…

"I completely disagree with the person that said if the government can mail me a tax bill without needing to see my ID, I should be able to mail them a ballot without needing to show one. Your tax bill only affects you, voting affects all. You can’t write a check without ID so why wouldn’t s…

The 2021 legislative session is over, and the most-discussed legislation concerned election reform. While dozens of these bills were introduced, only Senate Bill 202 cleared both chambers. Gov. Brian Kemp signed it into law on March 25.

"It’s a little late but I want to commend Mark Hannah for his Town Crier tribute to Murray Goodlett. I met Murray a number of years ago after he returned from Lesotho. I taught seventh grade and part of the curriculum was a study of Africa. I invited Murray to come to share his experiences w…

In over 30 years in education, I have put a lot of time and effort into studying the characteristics and components necessary in order to have excellent schools. There have been thousands of articles written on the subject, and the majority of them agree that quality schools require quality …

In memory of my beloved wife with whom I shared many joyous Easters

"I wonder if the Capitol police officers who are suing Trump for physical injuries during the Jan. 6 riot are doing so because the rioters hugged and kissed them too hard. If anyone has believed or continues to believe anything that Trump says."

The month of March was a full-blown assault on voting rights in the state of Georgia. The efforts towards Jim Crow-era voter suppression started with the Georgia House of Representatives passage of House Bill 531 and continued with the Georgia Senate narrowly approving Senate Bill 241. And t…