We are, evidently, in Oscar season — the insufferable period that, admittedly, produces a reliable number of above-average movies but also elicits a stream of sanctimonious blather from movie stars. Too often, they speak of their work with self-regarding reverence and, if handed a gold statuette in a few months, will deem themselves qualified to […]

In 1967, as the Cold War still dominated the country’s collective consciousness, Gene Roddenberry added a young Russian navigator to the bridge of the USS Enterprise. The character cheerfully insisted that Scotch whisky, the Garden of Eden, and most other worthwhile inventions had originated in his homeland. Walter Koenig, who died Oct. 25 at 90, […]

Anti-abortion advocates are testing contrasting strategies in Missouri and Virginia ahead of Nov. 3 ballot measures, pairing a campaign backed by prominent Republicans in Missouri with a locally organized effort led by advocacy groups, physicians, and churches in Virginia. The campaigns could offer lessons for anti-abortion groups, which have struggled to win statewide abortion votes […]

Roughly one-fifth of Minnesota is home to specially-created voter zones called “designated language-minority districts,” where residents struggle to speak English and require assistance with understanding how to vote, according to a Washington Examiner analysis of state electorate statistics. Demographic data published by the Minnesota secretary of state’s office shows that the state has designated 290 […]