Staff
George Gurley
Recent stories
- Opinion: New Orleans has inspiring rebirth
- May 5, 2013
- ew Orleans still has its share of problems. But it’s enjoying its own springtime of rebirth. On every block you can see houses undergoing restoration. The dysfunctional educational system has been rebuilt from scratch and dramatically improved. Talented young people are flocking to New Orleans, drawn by opportunities and challenges.
- Opinion: Nature of art worth debating
- April 7, 2013
- I used to know a poet who heaped gratuitous insults on fellow poets and justified it by saying, “I’m an artist.” In other words, because she was an “artist” she was exempt from petty bourgeois niceties. Her attitude suggests that it’s too easy to be an artist today. Moreover, there’s a lot of puerile, curio shop stuff that passes for art. Whoever claims to be an artist, however, presumes to enter the company of masters who have given us immortal works of art.
- Opinion: ‘Rules’ are king in bureaucratic game
- March 3, 2013
- I was in the process of selling my deceased mother’s home in Kansas City and had a list of utilities I needed to call to have service discontinued. “I am not allowed to talk to you until I have documentation verifying that you are the trustee and have power of attorney,” said the robotic voice at the first utility I called.
- Opinion: Ancestors warrant new respect
- February 3, 2013
- In the early years of the last century, my mother and her friend Daphne (not her real name) were driving through Ohio on their way to the East Coast. I imagine them in raccoon coats and flapper hats dashing across the Midwest in a flashy roadster when a police car appeared in the rear-view mirror. They pulled over. The officer approached, and Daphne — a formidable, haughty woman — gave the officer an indignant dressing down topped off by the most powerful, terror-inspiring declaration she knew: “I’ll have you know that my father is Buster Nottage!” (not his real name, either). To which the policeman replied: “Lady, I don’t give a darn who your father is, but you were speeding and I’m going to give you a ticket.” By George Gurley
- Opinion: Neither party deserves support
- January 6, 2013
- A strange thing happened after the last election in which the Republicans got stuffed, trussed and roasted two weeks before Thanksgiving. Instead of exulting in victory, Democrats were overwhelmed by a wave of compassion for their rivals.
- Opinion: Medical crisis yields new respect, friends
- November 5, 2012
- One thing I have learned is a keener appreciation for the miracles of modern medicine. Above all, I’m in awe of Lawrence’s outstanding hospital.
- Opinion: Half will surely be unhappy this election season
- October 7, 2012
- Politics is such today that no matter who wins the election, half the country will be left in misery.
- Obama shows hostility to business
- September 2, 2012
- From time to time in my county wanderings, I’ve stopped for a pulled pork sandwich at an imitation caboose in a shopping center parking lot. Nearby, is a miniature trolley car where I’ve sometimes ordered an espresso. Whenever I visit these modest establishments, I’m overcome with admiration. Someone may have risked his life’s savings to pursue the dream of going into business for himself. The proprietors have to be accountants, salesmen, servers, employers, janitors. Small businesses such as these are the chief creators of jobs in America.
- Sharing the love of literature
- June 3, 2012
- “The archangel loved heights.” That’s the soaring first line of Henry Adams’ classic work, “Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres.” Something reminded me of that line and a conversation I had years ago with Donald “Casey” Jones, who was the ombudsman (reader’s representative) at the Kansas City Star, where I worked for some time. One of the pleasures of that job was stopping by his desk to pass the time.
- Missouri rivalry will be missed
- March 31, 2012
- When Missouri announced that it was leaving the Big 12, I was shaken to the roots of my being. The idea was unthinkable. It felt as if some basic law of nature had been violated: Spring would no longer follow winter, chocolate ice cream would no longer taste good. It was a denial of geographic reality, as if the new map would show a blank space east of Kansas, with the legend, “There be dragons here.”
- No consensus on McLemore's draft position after lottery May 23, 2013 · 1 comment
- 40 years ago: Fun water feature installed in South Park wading pool May 23, 2013 · 1 comment
- Weekday graduations get mixed reviews from parents and families May 22, 2013 · 3 comments
- Will of the people May 21, 2013 · 19 comments
- City commissioner wants state to revoke nightclub's liquor license May 21, 2013 · 74 comments
- Planning Commission recommends approval of Menards store for south Lawrence May 20, 2013 · 78 comments
- House Republican leaders propose 1.5 percent cut to higher education for each of next two fiscal years May 21, 2013 · 31 comments
- Opinion: Amid crisis, Europe resists extremism May 21, 2013 · 64 comments
- Editorial: Guns, speech May 23, 2013 · 2 comments
- City commissioner wants review of city's storm shelter policies in wake of Oklahoma tornado May 22, 2013 · 13 comments
- LHS student earns perfect ACT score May 21, 2013
- Opinion: Wayne Selden sizes up recruits May 21, 2013
- Two men face charges in Sunday morning shooting May 22, 2013
- They said it ... about Tarik Black May 20, 2013
- Man curses Democrats from 120-year-old grave June 18, 2010
- No consensus on McLemore's draft position after lottery May 23, 2013
- City commissioner wants state to revoke nightclub's liquor license May 21, 2013
- Tarik Black strong, physical May 22, 2013
