By Walter Tunis   LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)—Last year at this time, Kelsey Waldon was enjoying autumn by watching her career take several encouraging leaps forward. First, there was her newly released “White Noise, White Lines” album, a record that furthered the heavily traditional country slant of the folk-directed music the Ballard County native had been cultivating for years. But the project was more than just a growth spurt. It was her first release under a contract with Oh Boy Records, the label founded and spearheaded by John Prine, the folk icon who...

By Marian Wright Edelman FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT EMERITA   “The first fact that we need to understand is that America has a longer history of disenfranchisement than it does of enfranchisement. What do I mean by that? At the time of the American Revolution when America was finding its footing, more than two-thirds of the people who resided in the colonies couldn’t vote. You had to be white, you had to be male, you had to have property, and you had to be privileged. This history of America is a history of political exclusion . . . It was because people were trying...

By John Rogers   LOS ANGELES (AP)—You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant. But it appears we've seen Arlo Guthrie tell us that in person for the last time. In lengthy posts on his Facebook page and website, the 73-year-old folksinger announced Friday he is retiring from performance immediately. He's canceled numerous shows he had planned around the country for the next year and said he won't be booking any more. “It's been a great 50-plus years of being a working entertainer, but I reached the difficult decision that touring...

By Marilynn Marchione   Health policy specialists questioned White House officials' claim that federal rules on essential workers allow Vice President Mike Pence to continue to campaign and not quarantine himself after being exposed to the coronavirus. Campaigning is not an official duty that might fall under the guidelines meant to ensure that police, first responders and key transportation and food workers can still perform jobs that cannot be done remotely, the health experts said. A Pence aide said Sunday that the vice president would continue to work and...

By Rebecca Boone and David Crary   BOISE, Idaho (AP)—The United States is approaching a record for the number of new daily coronavirus cases in the latest ominous sign about the disease's grip on the nation, as states from Connecticut to the Rocky Mountain West reel under the surge. The impact is being felt in every section of the country—a lockdown starting Friday at the Oglala Sioux Tribe's reservation in South Dakota, a plea by a Florida health official for a halt to children's birthday parties, dire warnings from Utah's governor, and an...

By Sarah Blake Morgan   CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—There's a hole in Anderson, South Carolina. It opened suddenly in August when Chadwick Boseman, one of the city's favorite sons and an international star for his role as the Black Panther, died after a quiet battle with cancer at just 43 years old. Two months later, that void is slowly being stitched together by local artists who picked up their brushes to honor Boseman with a new outdoor art exhibit in downtown Anderson, a city of about 28,000 people. Local artist Troleum Dawson started painting his take on...

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com   Oxnard-- Police Officers helping those facing cancer invaded the Channel Islands Farmers' Market, Oct 18, as the "Real Men Wear Pink" came out in force to make a difference.   Attendees bought Oxnard Police Department swag commemorating the effort and posed for a picture alongside the Pink Oxnard Police Department Cruiser.   All the money raised in the effort benefits people living with cancer.   Sergeant Jeff McGreevy said the police department is proud to team up with the...

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com   Oxnard-- In his Oct. 20 report to the city council, Alex Nguyen formally announced the Amazon project to the viewers.   The project is a new fulfillment center off the 101 Freeway between Rice and Del Norte and provides over 1,500 jobs with benefits to the city.   Nguyen started with an opening video, where Mayor Tim Flynn called it a strong economic opportunity coming to Oxnard.   Nguyen thanked the Sakioka family for their efforts and helping the city deliver the...

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com   Oxnard-- City Attorney Stephen Fischer got an unpleasant surprise when arrived for work, Oct 20, as vandals broke his office window and entered his office.   The vandals did not steal anything, but they did enter a nearby switch room and set a small fire. There was no significant damage, and city employees used blowers to get rid of the smoke smell.   "It's an inconvenience," Fischer said.   The Oxnard Police Department is investigating the...

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com   Oxnard-- The Ventura County District Five Board of Supervisors Forum continues with Moderator Gabe Teran asking Oxnard Mayor Tim Flynn and Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Ramirez their thoughts about preserving agricultural land and companies.   The duo has different visions of Ventura County moving forward, most notably in the energy field. Ramirez signed the no fossil fuel pledge, while Flynn reminds the crowd that fossil fuels provide many county jobs.   Both candidates want to bring new jobs to the...