FresnoBee.com: Valley Voices

RICK PONCE: Cleaning the right way to be green

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

What is good for the environment is bad for business. What is good for business is bad for the environment. At least those arguments are often heard. Read comments

Bishop Mark W. Holmerud and Bishop John T. Steinbock: Congress must reform health care now

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

By Bishop Mark W. Holmerud and Bishop John T. Steinbock Read comments

Paul Davis: Veterans have earned better care than this

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, Nov. 11 became a legal holiday in the United States in 1938. Read comments

RUTH M. GADEBUSCH: Re-evaluate on Veterans Day this year

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:17:07 PDT

Following October's peace demonstrations, November brings us Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, celebrating the conclusion of the "war to end all wars." Read comments

FRANCINE M. FARBER: Important to vote on Tuesday

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:17:06 PDT

If you are one of thousands in Fresno County served by special districts, you probably don't give much thought to them. If you had to guess, you probably think the county supervises them. Or maybe LAFCO. But you're not sure what LAFCO is, either. And you really don't know what the special districts are all about. Read comments

KAY BERTKEN AND YVONNE FREVE: Dropouts are entire community's problem

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:17:06 PDT

While there is debate about the exact magnitude of our high school dropout rate, there is no debate that the numbers are intolerable. In California, about one in four students entering ninth grade fails to graduate four years later. In Fresno County, it is closer to one in three. Read comments

JENNIFER ANN MONREAL: Mental health matters and affects us all

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT

October is Mental Health Awareness Month. Most of us take for granted that we will always have good health, but for many millions of people -- both young and old -- that is not the case. One out of four families is affected by some sort of mental illness. Read comments

MORT ROSENSTEIN: Merger plan would be bad for kids

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT

The proposed merger of Fresno County's Department of Children and Family Service with Employment and Temporary Assistance with the goal of consolidating administrative functions and reducing management positions is very reminiscent of the formation of the Human Service System, which was put into place about 1999-2000. Read comments

GARY WALKER: The big lie about President Obama

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT

"If you tell a lie big enough and often enough, people will come to believe it." -- Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister Read comments

REBECCA WAGE: Must reduce pork-barrel spending

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT

The unsustainable federal government deficit should add a new sense of urgency to President Obama's pledge to cut pork-barrel spending. The Congressional Budget Office projects that the deficit, now 11% of the gross domestic product and higher than at any time since World War II, is on track to double in 10 years. The alarm bills should be ringing. Read comments