Opinion

Not that Don McLean asked me, but I was born too late to “recall what was revealed the day the music died.” The terrorist plane crashes of September 11, 2001, though? Those I remember. And how they revealed the paired vulnerability and tenacity of a nation.

As dealerships make room for new model-year vehicles each fall, shoppers may find opportunities to save on currentyear models still sitting on dealer lots. While discounts and incentives vary, this season is a great time to explore your options if you’re considering a new ride or refinancing your current one. Whether you’re eyeing a new or used vehicle or carrying a car loan with a rate that could improve to better meet your needs, the right financing partner can be just as powerful as timing. Working with a local lender can make a world of difference while you’re shopping.

The events of September 11, 2001, are still fresh in my mind. It’s hard to believe that today’s 30-year-olds were in kindergarten when terrorists took so many lives, and changed everyone else’s. A few years ago, I was asked to speak to a group of high school students about 9/11. I thought it might be helpful to show video of the news coverage from that morning, as it unfolded on live TV. The first plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. We all hoped and prayed it was just a random accident.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where…

Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. She had been battling illness for the past several months. 2026 was a milestone year for Dolly, marking her 80th birthday, the 60th anniversary of her marriage to the late Carl Dean, the 40th anniversary of Dollywood, and the 30th anniversary of her Imagination Library. Born January 19, 1946, in Sevierville, Tennessee, Dolly Rebecca Parton rose from humble beginnings in the Great Smoky Mountains to become one of the most successful people in the entertainment world. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has written such classics as “Jolene,” “Love is Like a Butterfly,” and “I Will Always Love You,” the latter becoming a worldwide hit when recorded by Whitney Houston.

Many women are familiar with visiting a gynecologist for routine reproductive care or a urologist for bladder issues. However, there is a specialized field of medicine that combines both, called urogynecology. An urogynecologist focuses specifically on diagnosing, managing and treating pelvic floor disorders. The pelvic floor is a supportive network of muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that holds a woman’s pelvic organs in place. When these muscles weaken or suffer damage from childbirth, aging, heavy lifting, genetics or chronic coughing, uncomfortable symptoms can develop that may even become distressing at times.