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The Adventures of Arnold in Wackoland

The Mad Hatter has nothing on the California Legislature these days. Sacramento - The Craziest Place on Earth – makes Mr. Toad's Tea Party look like a meeting of the Mensa Society. After missing the deadline (surprise, surprise) to pass the budget Wednesday, the Twiddle-Dees and Twiddle-Dums on both sides of the aisle were blaming each other for swelling the deficit by another $2 billion. If that is supposed to raise your ire and side ...

July 03, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

Respect the flag & you’re respecting sacrifices made on your behalf

There is no law governing what you can and cannot do to the American flag. No law exists against burning the flag either in protest or just because one wants to do so. It is extremely debatable whether one really would want any law on the books tightly regulating how the flags displayed or used as criminalizing how the symbol of the nation is treated arguable would erode basic freedoms. But given that, it is ...

July 02, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

Will Manteca deliver now that they mean business?

There was a time not too long ago that Manteca's permit process for new development and the little guy read like a script for a B-grade horror flick.

July 01, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

And that’s the way it is: Twitter, pop deaths & the digital media

It was reported last Thursday that Walter Cronkite is seriously ill and "not expected to recuperate."

July 01, 2009 | Vince Rembulat | Local Columns

Why are we convincing kids they will fail in school?

"We're going to do badly in school next year because there are going to be more kids in my classroom." – Words of an elementary student on a San Francisco TV station news report.

June 30, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

Brazen bank robbers and their lawyers

Bank robbers aren't nearly as brazen as some of the lawyers that represent them. Sometimes the bigger crime is how an attorney can either twist the constitution or use the legal system to rob the people of justice. Many times lawyers use creative legal strategies to try and get their clients off the hook or at least find them some additional dollars through litigation after they're arrested. If bank robbers are caught clearly on tape, ...

June 29, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

Why California is still the true Golden State

There are those who have lost faith in California. They point to dysfunctional folks up in Sacramento, too many people, air pollution, and the high cost of living as reasons why they flee convinced the fabled California Dream has turned into the California Nightmare. As they look at California in the rear view mirror, they're convinced those who stay are crazy to do so. Yes, things do look bleak at times and you've got to ...

June 28, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

AMERICAN CULTURE

Michael Jackson died this week. Have you heard? While it's sad that a supremely-talented musician met his demise, in the big scheme of things, Jackson's death means nothing more than Uncle Morty's. The day Jackson died, and in the days following, I have repeatedly turned on the news expecting to be informed about the many pressing concerns this country currently faces, including the ongoing political conflict in Iran or America's floundering health care reform issue. ...

June 28, 2009 | Brandon Petersen | Local Columns

Michael Jackson: The third one to die

"Well, that's two. Wonder who'll be the third…" said a lone voice in the Manteca locker room. We were standing there in reverent silence before the Fox News Broadcast of Farrah Fawcett's death. It was Thursday.

June 28, 2009 | By FR. DEAN McFALLS St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church | Local Columns

Califoreclosure now giving bucks away to buy cars

California is $24 billion in the hole and slipping. Teachers are being laid off by the tens of thousands. Taxpayers are losing their homes left and right. Our streets could end up with potholes wider than the state of Rhode Island. So what is Sacramento doing? What else but giving away more money. The California Air Resources Board will give those who turn in vehicle models 1976 or older into a licensed dismantler $1,000 or ...

June 27, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

Where ag project money is coming from

I read Dennis Wyatt's column ("Now that they've laid off 209 teachers, what is Manteca Unified doing next?" – Friday, June 26, 2009) and wanted to make you aware of the correct dollar amounts and restrictions to those dollars as I believe the premise of your opinion was based on some inaccurate information.

June 27, 2009 | By JASON MESSER Manteca Unified School District superintendent | Local Columns

Now that they’ve laid off 209 teachers, what is Manteca Unified doing next?

Nancy Teicheira gets it. Manuel Medeiros gets it. Rex Holiday gets it. Too bad the rest of the Manteca Unified School District board doesn't get it. In the middle of the worst budget crisis in the history of the Manteca Unified School District as well as telling 209 teachers to hit the road, the board voted to commit discretionary funds to build – are you ready for this – more classrooms. Perhaps I'm missing something, ...

June 26, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

Making ‘green’ a high priority in Manteca

I'm not normally a big fan of creating more commissions or another layer of government but it would seem Manteca would be well-served if the City Council appointed a Green Commission.

June 25, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

Newsom-Harris: Dream team for illegals who commit crimes

Dirty Harry – a creation of Hollywood – could not thrive in the real San Francisco as an inspector.

June 24, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

Our health or buying an iPod: We often make the wrong choice

An iPod costs as much as a dental exam and cleaning. That explains in a large part why this nation's health care costs are growing faster than morning glory and are threatening to choke the life out of the economy. We all make choices. And those choices aren't necessarily wise. Our kid has to have an iPod but we can skimp on the dental exam. Can't afford the vaccines but we can get our 7-year-old ...

June 22, 2009 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

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Articles by Section - Local Columns

The Pope and Godless capitalism

"This is called slave labor," said Pope Francis.

May 04, 2013 | | Local Columns

Cinco de Mayo is as American as you can get

People need to stop having heart palpations over Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

May 04, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns

Meeting your Ripon neighbors at jury duty, plus an unexpected pleasure over lunch

Meeting a couple of Ripon folks, and one from Linden and another from Tracy was an unexpected pleasure in my brief two days of jury duty this week – especially when four of us just happened to go out to lunch together on Thursday.

May 03, 2013 | Glenn Kahl | Local Columns

Kentucky Derby’s horse tie to French Camp

FRENCH CAMP – It's a funny thing, this horse racing business.

May 03, 2013 | Jason Campbell | Local Columns

Guns: Being judged by 12 instead of being carried by 6

She's a single mom in her early 30s. She lives in an old farmhouse in an almond orchard five miles east of Manteca. The closest neighbor is a quarter mile of a way but the trees make it impossible to see their home.

May 03, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns