Did you know that the prohibition of alcohol in West Plains began long before the 18th Amendment (1919) banned the making, transporting, and selling of liquor nationwide? more

What are you reading during on these hottest days of the year? more

When I was elected by my Republican colleagues to serve as Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, I promised the American people the committee would do something it hadn’t previously been known for: It would become known for conducting oversight. more

Dear Readers, more

Social Security is committed to reducing barriers and ensuring people who are eligible for our benefits receive them. We provide income security for the diverse populations we serve. This includes people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. more

It's been 39 years this week that my family pulled up roots and began a journey back to my ancestral home that would change our lives forever. more

It's been 39 years this week that my family pulled up roots and began a journey back to my ancestral home that would change our lives forever. more

Though absent from our presence more than 60 years, well I remember my Grandma Daly and her sprawling house at the corner of Talmage and Campbell Streets in Springfield. more

Have you ever wished on a shooting star? If you were one of the few settlers or Native Americans who lived in the Ozarks in 1833, you could have had thousands of wishes. In November of that year, on the night of the 13th, the Leonid meteor shower occurred. Typically a Leonid would produce up to 100 meteors per hour. more

In a tech-driven era, where every waking moment is documented, "app-reciated", and connected to that compact supercomputer we lovingly – and at times, begrudgingly – call our smartphone, the idea of returning to the austere simplicity of a "dumb" phone might seem as appealing as it is terrifying. Let's talk about the melodrama of my tech-dependency. more

For two years under one-party Democrat control of Congress and the White House, the American people were left completely in the dark about the numerous scandals and crises that have plagued President Joe Biden’s administration. But since being elected by the American people to the majority, over the last seven months, House Republicans have launched numerous investigations to hold the administration accountable and get the American people the answers they deserve. more

As regular readers might guess, I love words. I enjoy the artistry of folks as varied as William Faulkner, Cormac McCarthy and Mary Oliver who can magically string together words into sentences that touch the soul in profound ways. more

Greetings, fellow citizens of West Plains. more

“Take me out to the ball-game.” I was up until 11:45 Monday night watching the Cardinals. They won! more

Last week, I reported no copperheads in my yard so far, but this week I have had three! I've spent the last two days attaching rabbit wire to my deck to keep more snakes out after one paid me an unwelcome visit, and I'm also sprinkling mothballs around areas I frequent.  more

On July 10, the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing at a cattle auction barn in Kimball, Minn., to hear directly from farmers and ranchers in the community about how America’s trade policies affect their daily lives and what Congress can do to make trade work better for their families. more

In 1965, The Mamas & the Papas sang the words, “I'd be safe and warm/If I was in L.A.,” as part of their hit song “California Dreamin’.” Decades later, if the dreams of California leaders come true, millions will be hungry and hot — or cold — as a result of their policy schemes.    more

This past weekend our kids were up way past their bedtimes running through our yard chasing insects that light up. While I believe this should be a summertime requirement for every child (and most adults), it sparked an argument between Lindsey and me.  more

Each time I go for a haircut at Randy Tate’s, “The Barber,” I think of the story he told me about Kevin Judd. more

The world will never see another generation like mine. more