Local Voices: Do You Suffer from Food Allergies?

There are an estimated 15 million Americans with food allergies, and almost 8% of U.S. children are affected by this potentially deadly disease—that’s about two per classroom.

Should Bibles Stay in Georgia Park Cabins?

Gov. Nathan Deal on Wednesday overturned a decision from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to remove Bibles from the cabins and lodge rooms of state parks. Tell us what you think of the decision.

If you stay in a cabin or lodge room at a Georgia state park, you can take in the native flora and fauna outside. Inside, you shouldn’t have to look hard to find a Bible—at least for now. According to Fox 5 Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources this week had been set to remove Bibles from such rooms across the state following a citizen’s complaint. "Recently, due to a citizen concern, Georgia Department of Natural Resources management directed Parks staff to remove Bibles from cabins and lodge rooms until management can fully investigate the issue and make an informed decision," a DNR spokeswoman told the news station. On Wednesday, Gov. Nathan Deal instructed DNR officials to return the Bibles to cabins and lodge rooms. His…

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Resident: 'Cobb County Board of Education Failing Us'

A blogger questions the differences in achievement at several schools on Smyrna-Vining Patch's Local Voices platform.

Does IRS’ Tea Party Targeting Admission Concern You?

Officials say the head of the government office knew his agency was targeting tea party groups in May 2012. Tell us what you think of the agency’s recent admissions.

It’s bound to be no party for Internal Revenue Officials in the coming days. The Associated Press reported Monday that IRS officials revealed that acting IRS Commissioner Steven T. Miller knew back in May 2012 that the agency had targeted tea party groups by unfairly investigating them to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status. Monday’s revelation came on the heels of last week’s acknowledgment by the agency that the groups had been targeted during the 2012 election season. Organizations that faced IRS scrutiny included those that had “Tea Party” or  “Patriot” in their names. According to the AP’s report, about 300 groups were singled out for additional review; while about half of those cases had been closed and no group had …

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Andrew Blawat

7:32 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013

Please show us proof about " Bush admin. used the IRS, Secret Service, FBI, and CIA against it's political enemies.:.   more ›

Should Pitchers Be Required to Wear Helmets?

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ suffered a skull fracture during a game last week when a line drive hit him in the head. Tell us if you think Major League Baseball or any other leagues should implement helmets for pitchers.

"I don't remember seeing [the ball]. Just immediate loud ringing in my ear. Just pressure on my ear, and I was on the ground. That was kind of it.” That, according to an Associated Press report, was how Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ described the line drive that hit him in the head during his team’s May 7 game against Tampa Bay. The impact left him with a skull fracture and a knee that was tweaked as he fell to the ground. Happ’s injury has brought attention to other pitchers who have sustained similar injuries in the past. Major league pitcher Bryce Florie was struck in the right eye by a line drive more than a decade ago. According to Paul Newberry of the Associated Press, Florie would pitch only seven more games after that …

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Does Everyone Deserve a Burial?

The home city of one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects is asking a funeral home director not to request a burial there. Should cities be allowed to turn down burial requests?

It’s been nearly three weeks since his death, but it remains unclear where the body of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev will be buried. The Associated Press reports that while Tsarnaev's mother says she wants the body returned to Russia, the funeral director in charge of Tsarnaev’s body believes the country will not accept the body. The funeral home director, Peter Stefan, said he plans to ask for a burial in the city where Tsarnaev lived, but officials in Cambridge, Mass., are urging him not to do so. "The difficult and stressful efforts of the citizens of the City of Cambridge to return to a peaceful life would be adversely impacted by the turmoil, protests, and wide spread media presence at such an interment," Cambridge…

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stephen m george jr mpa

3:57 am on Saturday, May 18, 2013

Next time maybe we should just feed em to the pigs ...the thought of that fate would scare the hummus right out of the strict and observant muslim radical terrorists out there ...!   more ›

Should a Team Be Penalized for an ‘Act of Faith’?

A runner’ gesture cost his high school a trip to the state championships. Tell us if you think the ruling on the gesture was right on, or if the disqualification was unwarranted.

A high school’s chance to compete in the state championships was halted last month despite a winning performance from four of its athletes. Columbus High School saw four of its athletes take first in the 4 x 100-meter relay. But the team was disqualified, according to KHOU 11 News, after its final runner, Derrick Hayes, pointed up to the sky as he crossed the finish line. The DQ was levied as the gesture violated a rule that prohibits excessive acts of celebration, and it cost the school an opportunity to make it to the state championships. Hayes’ father said he believes his son made the gesture to give thanks to God. “It was a reaction,” K.C. Hayes said. “I mean you’re brought up your whole life that God gives you good things, you’re …

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Charles Schwable

9:56 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013

Fred pull that air valve out of your head once again and deflate your king Kong sized ego   more ›

What Does NBA Player’s Coming Out Mean to You?

Former Atlanta Hawks player Jason Collins, most recently with the Washington Wizards, recently came out as gay. Tell us what impact, if any, you think his announcement will have.

"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay," says Jason Collins in a story set to be published in the May 6 issue of Sports Illustrated. The pro basketball veteran has been a member of six teams in 12 seasons in the league, including three in Atlanta—he last donned a Hawks jersey during the 2011-2012 season. But many are likely to deem his coming out as something bigger than his on-the-court career, as he has become the first male U.S. athlete in a major professional sport to declare that he is gay. "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation,” Collins told Sports Illustrated. Collins’ announcement was lauded by several of his …

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KJL

1:42 am on Monday, May 6, 2013

(Continuing from my previous statement) Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice by many in our world today - even by some churches. But society does not set the standard for God's law. Christians also need to read Romans chapter 2 about judging. Paul told the Christians "you are just as bad, and you have no excuse!" So, I do not judge but only point out scripture for those who may be …   more ›

Should a News Anchor Be Fired for Swearing on Live TV?

Unaware he was already on air, A.J. Clemente muttered the infamous F-word before being introduced during his first day on the job with an NBC affiliate in North Dakota.

It was his first day on the job—and his last. According to ABC News, A.J. Clemente didn’t make it far past his awkward introduction on KFYR television when he was fired. The reason: Before uttering his first words as a rookie news anchor, Clemente dropped the “F-bomb,” apparently unaware his microphone was already on. All this happened Sunday evening. By Monday, the clip had hit YouTube [Editor's note: Graphic language in clip] and Clemente was looking for a new job. The television station quickly apologized for the mishap and promised it would never happen again. But viewers, ABC reports, were more forgiving of Clemente than his now former employer. The video clip went viral, as did support for Clemente's rookie mistake. After all, didn’t…

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Pam J

11:02 am on Sunday, April 28, 2013

Well, since I think that the Patch web sites are owned by AOL, you won't have to go very far.   more ›

Do You Eat Out More Than You Eat at Home?

If so, you could be saving money, according to GoBanking Rates. Tell us your typical family dinner habits.

GoBankingrates.com put out an article recently noting that the monthly cost of feeding a family of four has risen from $601.50 in 2003 to $830 in 2013. That would be a 38 percent increase over the last decade. It doesn’t cost quite as much, however, to eat out, according to GoBanking rates. “When comparing the cost of a 10 oz. rib-eye dinner (with soup, salad and asparagus) from Outback Steakhouse with that of the homemade version, Outback was $2.53 cheaper,” GoBankingRates expert contributor Stacey Bumpus said. “And comparing seafood alfredo (with unlimited salad and breadsticks) at Olive Garden to making it at home, Olive Garden was $3.79 cheaper.” While it may be healthier to eat at home, it apparently is no longer cheaper. Share what’s…

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