Opinion

Rarely, if ever, has an election captured global attention like this one. The race for the White House is a topic of conversation at dinner tables, in marketplaces and halls of worship and on news broadcasts around the world. Democracy is on full display, and the message is hopeful, forward-looking and bright.

Here at home, the historic nature of this election is inspiring a kind of democratic renaissance. Registration and turnout are expected to reach historic highs.

Last month alone, 151,171 individuals across the nation filed for unemployment after being laid off from their jobs. And that number was down from June.

This is certainly not good news for recent college graduates, as many have already learned firsthand that good jobs are hard to find.

A story on today's front page illustrates the problem that just two recent graduates have faced: There are more people competing for fewer jobs.

First, one notices the increased traffic. Then it's the busy parking lots. Those are two of the more obvious clues that Campbellsville University has begun a new semester and students from all over have arrived to make Campbellsville their temporary home.

But there are other clues as well, some much less noticeable to the average person.

With a fall semester enrollment of 2,405, there will be extra people to spend money in our stores, buy our gas, eat our food and attend our activities.

We were expecting a big crowd at Tuesday night's Taylor County School Board meeting. Boy, were we surprised when no one showed up.

We were as concerned as anyone when we learned about the "top story" on WHAS' Monday night news broadcast. A suspected problem with mold and mildew at Taylor County Elementary School making many children ill is certainly something parents need to know about.

In the last half-century, we've taken huge steps to ensure that all Americans get treated equally in the workplace. From the landmark civil rights legislation of the 1960s and onwards, fair hiring and pay regulations have allowed women and minorities to stand up for themselves and demand the equal treatment they deserve on the job.

The impact of that progress has been tremendous. An entire generation of Americans understands that they have a right to fair and honest treatment on the job - a far cry from the days when women could be openly denied "men's jobs."

There's a story on today's front page that describes just one of the many ways that some people take advantage of others.

Technology is an excellent tool. But it can also lead to more - and even more advanced - ways that some people will be taken for a ride.

After two months of summer fun, it's time to get back to work. Yes, it's that time of year again - time for homework, research papers, tests, after-school activities, ball games and more.

But it's also time for residents to be more careful in their daily travels.

Classes begin today for students at Taylor County Schools and on Wednesday for Campbellsville and Kentucky Christian schools.

Our state has made a name for itself on more than one occasion. Kentucky is known for its family farms, its horses, its hospitality and more. However, there are several other issues that aren't quite as appealing.

We lead the nation in the number of ATV deaths, prisoner growth and poor dental care. And, now, we're apparently leading many other, much larger cities in the amount of online gossip we participate in.

Haven't we got anything better to do with our time?

We guess we should say we're surprised. But we're not. Campbellsville is celebrating yet another Miss Kentucky title.

Emily Cox was handed this year's crown over the weekend at the Singletary Center for the Arts on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington. She is the fifth Miss Kentucky from Campbellsville and the second in her own family.