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Columbiana keeps building on its successes

Several years ago, I began visiting relatives who moved to Apex, N.C. It didn’t take many visits to realize Apex is something special. Walkability. New housing starts. Quaint retail. A robust park system. A historically preserved downtown. A noticeable amount of infill where, during a difficult past, many houses were torn down. So I did some digging. Sure enough, publications like Money magazine consistently rank Apex as one of the best places to live due to its balance of rapid modern growth and small-town historic charm. In 1990, Apex had 5,000 residents. Today, it has ...

What happened to initiative?

Two years after voters tossed Democrats from power in Washington, polls show they are ready to switch sides again. Does it make sense to welcome back a party and its ideas that were so recently rejected? The reason so many voters are frustrated by both parties is that they have been putting too much faith in government and too little faith in themselves. It's called initiative and the lack of it has contributed not only to dysfunctional government but also to a loss of the things that built and sustained America through challenges greater than high gas prices and "unaffordable" ...

Hearing from our patrons

Public libraries have always been trusted sources of information. From clay tablets to touch screens, they have preserved knowledge and connected people with the resources they need. But as communities change, libraries must evolve with them. Since becoming Director and CEO of the Public ...

Who is Ilhan Omar?

Much of Ilhan Omar's family story is a black box, but we are presumably about to learn more about it. Federal authorities raided her Washington, D.C., residence in what's reportedly a probe related to her immigration paperwork. The congresswoman has alleged an effort to weaponize federal law enforcement and silence her. The Trump administration, which has repeatedly overreached in pursuit of its political opponents, doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt in such matters, although questions have swirled around Omar's background for years. She has always responded with angry ...

Cornell 7: The end result of modern feminism

When college students live out the ideals of modern feminism, the results are horrifying. Last month, a Jane Doe filed a lawsuit alleging that she had been gang raped by Cornell University students. "Cornell 7" refers to the number of men she has accused of inappropriate behavior, although not all are accused of rape. The incident occurred in October 2024 when the woman was a sophomore at the school. What isn't disputed is that the woman engaged in sex acts with multiple men at a Chi Phi fraternity party over several hours. Alcohol and drugs were involved. After the party, Jane Doe ...

We’re chasing significance in the wrong places

It seems like everyone wants to be a social media influencer these days. Researcher Matthew Simoneau surveyed middle and high school students from 2021 to 2024 and more than 60% of them said they wanted to be social media influencers. People think fame and fortune will make them happy. But ...