Lori Falce: Born in the U.S.A.
When a baby is born, we do not know who this precious life will become. We cannot nuzzle that soft hair and divine a doctor or a ditch digger. Those impossibly tiny fingers curled into the tightest clench might belong to an artist or an assassin. The hospital can test...
Lori Falce: Constitution Under Construction: Privacy and probable causeVideo
The adage that a man’s home is his castle isn’t about authority. It’s about protection — the walls that keep others out. But even strong walls need a door. We understand that instinctively. Police need a warrant. But that shorthand doesn’t quite capture what the Constitution actually does. The Fourth...
Passover and Easter are just days apart this year — here are some dishes that can be adapted to both holidays
A holiday table says a lot about tradition. During Passover, the meal follows centuries-old rules about what can and cannot be served. At Easter, the centerpiece might be a glazed ham with rich, festive breads and pastries surrounded by spring vegetables and sweets. But when the holidays fall just days...
Lori Falce: The war at your gas pump
When you are talking about energy, war is always local. It isn’t about a line in the sand or a point on a map. No matter who you are or where you live, the energy affects you. That is clear in the way the price of gas has ballooned since...
Celebrate an Italian table with St. Joseph’s Day recipes
When it comes to cultural celebrations in March, the Irish tend to take center stage with St. Patrick’s Day. But just two days later, on March 19, Italians get a spotlight with St. Joseph’s Day. The difference? Irish-American dishes may not be Emerald Isle-authentic, but they are well known: corned...
Lori Falce: Constitution Under Construction: Third Amendment, first line of defenseVideo
Editor’s note: This is the fourth column in a series exploring the history and legacy of amendments to the U.S. Constitution. A house is not a metaphor in the Third Amendment. It is right there in the text. “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,...
Lori Falce: Who really picks a party’s nominee?
A primary is different from a general election. It is the earlier opportunity for registered members of a party to have their say in who will represent them on the ticket in November. Primaries, given that they are between fellow Democrats or Republicans, should be more collegial. They should be...
Lori Falce: Constitution Under Construction: 2nd Amendment a study in balanceVideo
Editor’s note: This is the third column in a series exploring the history and legacy of amendments to the U.S. Constitution. In architecture, a keystone is the wedge-shaped stone set at the top of an arch. It is placed last. The stones on either side lean inward, pressing against it....
Lori Falce: Fairy tale. Ending.
Imagine knowing your whole life that your family has been touched by fate to follow a different set of rules. You can’t vote. You can’t have public displays of affection — unless they come with an entourage on a balcony. You must always travel with a black outfit in case...
Constitution Under Construction: Who’s on First?Video
The foundation of any structure is more than a hole in the ground. It is the difference between a pile of bricks and a house built to weather a storm. The First Amendment to the Constitution carries that weight for every change that follows. While the Constitution is where the...
Lori Falce: Who do you play for?
I did not watch “Miracle” the other night just because of the Olympics. Yes, it was offered up to me by my streaming service, I am sure, because of the amount of golden and glorious dreams in the air right now. As a lover of both hockey and inspirational sports...
Skip dinner. Valentine’s Day is better at brunch
Ah, the romantic Valentine’s dinner. It’s the gold-standard date. High pressure. High stakes. And often high-priced steaks. It comes with reservations to secure, outfits to plan, expectations to meet — and a ticking clock that insists romance be perfectly executed between appetizers and dessert. But is that the only way...
Lori Falce: If it isn’t national, it isn’t nationalized
I have, on more than one occasion, been that person on Facebook or in a website’s comment section. You know the one. The person who points out spelling errors and bad grammar. The one who tells you when you’ve used “their” instead of “there.” The unrepentant Oxford comma advocate. I...
Constitution Under Construction: Built for change
Constitution Under Construction is an ongoing series exploring the history, relevance and importance of amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The Declaration of Independence was never a system of government. It was a statement of intent. What followed it showed that the Founding Fathers wanted to build something different — and...
Body & soul: Familiar comfort foods, thoughtfully balanced
Comfort food is often automatically labeled as indulgent and bad. It’s not fair. How can we hold the food we turn to when we are tired, stressed or craving familiarity responsible for giving us exactly what we need? Tough times are when food matters most — not just as fuel,...
Lori Falce: An upside-down approach to public health
In 1992, the U.S. Department of Agriculture adopted a new way to look at what we eat. The food pyramid already had been in use for decades in Sweden, but now Americans were able to use the handy visual aid for prioritizing nutritional choices. The idea was simple: Put the...
Lori Falce: When collateral damage is unwarranted
What is a warrant? There is no single answer. A warrant might be an order for arrest. It could be the piece of paper signed by a governor authorizing an execution. It could be a demand that someone appear in court or turn over property in a dispute. An extradition...
Lori Falce: Keeping our eyes up after ICE shooting
On Wednesday, a woman was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis. Video of the encounter has raised questions about the government’s claim the shooting was an act of self-defense and its subsequent description of the woman as a domestic terrorist. I did not know Renee...
Zero proof, pure pleasure: Mixing up Dry January mocktails
It’s a bright, shiny new year full of resolutions and commitments. The tough part is finding ways to match your good intentions with your good taste. If you are looking to avoid sugar, that can just be a matter of finding a good diet soda or a recipe for low-carb...
Lori Falce: The convoluted costs of college don’t add up
There is no shortage of conversation about the high cost of college, and for good reason. State universities today cost more than Harvard did in 1990. Harvard, meanwhile, now runs close to $60,000 a year before room and board — and still did not make Business Insider’s 2025 list of...
Lori Falce: Is mental illness a crime?
The news was impossible to ignore. Two people were found dead in their home after a relative contacted police. The loss was profound, the victims beloved in their community. The crime was brutal — and felt all the more so when investigators focused their attention on the couple’s son, who...
Lori Falce: If you can predict the votes, you’re doing it wrong
There are things you can set your watch by, things that are as predictable as sunrise. Your child will look at you like you are speaking Aramaic when you ask if his room is clean. The government might not pass a budget on time, but your tax bill will appear...
Lori Falce: America needs a bar of soap — and not just for Ralphie
One of the best moments in one of the best holiday movies of all time is when Ralphie is helping his dad change a tire in “A Christmas Story.” When the hubcap he is holding is jostled, sending the nuts flying, the 9-year-old’s world slows down as he says a...
Lori Falce: What is a war crime?
The history of war is the history of humankind, and it is a lengthy timeline of the most brutal savagery people can visit upon each other. It is a terrible storybook of blood and fire and pain. Armies took land by killing everyone who lived on it, ensuring no retaliation....
Lori Falce: Yinz know the Christmas Star, right?Video
I am one of those people who doesn’t look at the holidays as a series of individual dates. From Thanksgiving to St. Nicholas Day to Christmas to New Year to Epiphany, each day is a bright light strung on a wire, illuminating the darkest days of the year. In between...
