Parades, tree lightings, shopping, parties — yes, it’s a magical time of the year right now as people become immersed in the Christmas and holiday season.

Thumbs up or thumbs down? That is the question.

As we barrel headlong toward Christmas, thoughts of Halloween are likely gone as the candy collected by children. But Da’Moni Simpkins’ tragic Halloween night accident should give us pause to again consider how we go about celebrating the annual kids’ costuming and candy collecting adventure.

The breakdown in global recycling markets and the growing public alarm over plastic waste in the ocean has prompted appropriately consequential action across the globe.

The class-warfare suggestion of some political candidates that the super-wealthy are somehow not entitled to what they’ve made is both ridiculous and dangerous.

So, got any New Year’s resolutions?

Remember walking to school? Or riding a bike?

November’s early blast of winter is forecast by some as the harbinger of colder temperatures ahead. With them will come the annual danger from fires caused of people trying to stay warm.

Thumbs up, we say. Thumbs up. To what, you ask?

Yet again we pondered what prophetic thought we could share with readers on this Thanksgiving Day. We looked at what we said in this space last year, the year before that and even before that. Indeed, we were quickly reminded that each year’s message remains the same. We find it resonates th…

A federal judge last week halted the scheduled executions of four federal inmates, thwarting the Trump administration’s plan to resume such executions after a 16-year hiatus. The ruling involves a technical legal issue regarding methods of execution, but it’s an opportune time to revisit the…

The Puerto Rico Statehood Admissions Act would require a vote by Congress.

South Carolina ranks 47th in the nation in providing resources to combat mental illness. That abysmal situation may be starting to change, but we have a long way to go.

You might already be aware of this, but flip the calendar and take note of the fact that it’s one month until Christmas Eve. That’s right, just a month to go.

We certainly cannot name all who deserve credit, but do want to extend a big thumbs up to those of you who share all sorts of news we publish online and in the weekly Lakelands Connector.

In what might best be construed as a single thumbs-up nomination for Friday’s edition, kudos to Greenwood County School District 50 for partnering with Gaggle.

Much as conservatives blast the news media for a supposed liberal bias, the sting of press scrutiny very often draws liberal ire as well. News coverage is a sword that slices both ways, which is why we now turn our attention to the overly sensitive, politically correct, liberal obsessiveness…

Federal lawmakers should follow the lead of Washington and at least 17 other states in raising the age of legal sale for vapor and tobacco products to age 21.