My regular morning coffee group gets to the nuts and bolts of what’s wrong with America each morning as we hash it all out over strong chicory and beignets. 

In spite of all the turmoil and tragedy visited on the little town of Moore, Oklahoma last week, one fact stands out:  Every family with a storm cellar survived. 

Two seasoned political pros, who have lost a bit of their luster, may make the same big grab for political limelight in Washington.

Is there something special about New Orleans? Of course there is.

After years of financial chicanery, federal prosecutors have decided that Wall Street manipulators are both too big to fail and too big to jail.

For most non-Catholics, the retirement and resignation of Pope Benedict XVI is of passing interest. I’m not Catholic, but the Catholic Church has played a significant role in my life for many years. 

Immigration reform is back on the front burner as a major issue in Washington, and the Republicans are taking the lead.

In the current Second Amendment gun debate, both gun control advocates and those citizens who demand the right to bear arms point to the U.S. Constitution as the source of the justification and support for their opposing beliefs. 

Where does the Republican Party go from here? Are major changes in both direction and philosophy necessary?

It was not a surprise to regular readers of this column that a federal judge dismissed Jonathan Vilma's defamation suit against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell Thursday afternoon. League spokesman Greg Aiello announced the decision by federal Judge Ginger Berrigan via Twitter.