Opinions
Noteworthy: Silencing comedy hosts not exactly a pro free speech move
By Bruce Penton on September 24th, 2025
First Stephen Colbert, then Jimmy Kimmel. Pressure from the Trump administration killed one late-night talk show and temporarily eliminated the other, and there’s only a couple of late-night chatterboxes left. Will Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart and John Oliver now tread more softly with their barbs toward Donald Trump and the MAGA crowd? Will ... Read More »
2 responsesLet’s Chat: The word is
By Linda Tooth on September 24th, 2025
Have you heard of The Word on the Street Festival that takes place in Lethbridge? This annual event is a celebration of all things literature hosted by the Lethbridge Public Library. I was recently made aware of this event after I shared my article on Maggie Helwig’s novel Encampment on Facebook. Someone reached out to ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Editor: Record-setting election to come with same detailed coverage, in new fashion
By Scott Schmidt on September 20th, 2025
With another pair declaring Thursday, the 2025 city council race officially eclipsed a 24-year-old record for number of candidates in any given election. While the spirit of democracy rejoices at the concept of nearly 40 passionate citizens stepping up in their community, tens of thousands of eligible voters are no doubt wondering how to whittle ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!MLA Report: From bell curve to bell and well curve: A call for good people to act
By Justin Wright on September 17th, 2025
I had an entirely different report I was going to submit this month, but I thought it prudent to pause on that one. I have talked frequently with friends, neighbours and members of our community in casual conversation about the transition of society from the “bell curve” into the “bell and well curve.” You might ... Read More »
2 responsesLet’s Chat: A cat and mouse game
By Linda Tooth on September 17th, 2025
You would have to have had your head buried in the sand these last few months to not know of the controversy the UCP government’s proposed book banning created for schools in this province. As you know from previous columns I have written, four semi-autobiographical graphic novels are at the centre of this government’s mission ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Noteworthy: They just keep coming…
By Bruce Penton on September 17th, 2025
Wow, what a municipal election we’ve got coming up Oct. 20. Deadline day for nominations is Sept. 22 and already there are six people running for mayor – former city councillor Kris Samraj, current mayor Linnsie Clark and Mark Fisher are the latest three to join the race that also includes former MLA Drew Barnes, ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Noteworthy: Passion levels are quite admirable but how do we choose from 30-plus?
By Bruce Penton on September 10th, 2025
Most Hatters want to do their civic duty on Oct. 20 and cast their ballot for mayor, city councillors and school trustees to handle the affairs of Medicine Hat and area. But I see a problem. I don’t know enough about most of the 31 (at last count) city council hopefuls to intelligently make my ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Let’s Chat: Maggie’s story of compassion
By Linda Tooth on September 10th, 2025
Are you like many trying to understand how the unhoused (homeless) population came to be? It is not just Medicine Hat struggling to provide services for this population. To some extent, it is every community in Canada. Now that I am working in downtown Medicine Hat I see men and women, young and old, wandering ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Noteworthy: Scams are getting smarter by the day. So must we
By Bruce Penton on September 3rd, 2025
Online scamming is getting out of control, with Canadians losing $310 million in 2024 alone. Today, it’s not as easy to spot an illegitimate proposal – the bad ones were riddled with spelling errors or sloppily reproduced logos – because AI technology is cleaning everything up. It’s generally assumed that seniors are victimized more often ... Read More »
1 responseLet’s Chat: I found a welcoming and open door
By Linda Tooth on September 3rd, 2025
Are you a long-term employee within your organization? Does that even exist anymore? I am feeling a bit sad but also excited as I share this. After consideration, I have made the decision to leave an organization after working there for 20 years. It is a decision I took seriously, and the decision was mine ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Noteworthy: Food for thought on how much we should drink
By Bruce Penton on August 27th, 2025
Interesting to note that according to the latest offering from Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, a two-drink-per week suggestion was put forth because even a low consumption of alcohol carries with it a health risk. Heck, a lot of people I know have a two-drink-per-half-hour intake. More than two drinks a week won’t kill ... Read More »
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