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How mental illness, homelessness and crime intersect

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve seen a number of stories lately about people who’ve been arrested for behavior that doesn’t seem to be criminal, but the behavior is odd. Some of these people are homeless, and I wonder if they are mentally ill and aren’t taking prescribed medication. — P.L.P. ANSWER: Mental illness often leads to behaviors that definitely seem odd. Behaviors like hoarding, which can be found by itself or with several different mental illnesses, often affect the individual but sometimes lead to risks for others who live with them. These behaviors can lead to interactions ...

What no one will tell you about the national debt (but I will)

The U.S. national debt just crossed a once-unthinkable threshold on the way toward breaking the record set in the wake of World War II: It now exceeds 100% of America’s gross domestic product. As of March 31, our publicly held debt was $31.27 trillion, while America’s GDP in 2025 was $31.22 trillion. This puts the ratio at 100.2%, compared with 99.5% when the last fiscal year ended Sept. 30. That 100.2% figure will likely climb, because the federal government is running historically large annual deficits of nearly 6% of GDP, which add to the debt. The final tally will depend on ...

Experts miss Trump’s enduring presence in American politics in Indiana races

Tuesday evening’s primary race in the Hoosier State once again proved that the press, both local and national, still does not understand the impact that President Donald Trump has on the electorate. Nor do they understand his enduring appeal, as Indiana Republican voters unequivocally sided with the challengers over those who voted down congressional redistricting last year. So far, the results from Tuesday’s primaries saw incumbent Republican state Sens. Travis Holdman of Markle, Jim Buck of Kokomo, Linda Rogers of Granger, Dan Dernulc of Highland, and Greg Walker all go down, and ...

Dear Annie: Drawing lines, finding peace

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for eight years, and every vacation we take somehow turns into a group trip. He used to only invite his brother or his parents, but now the expectation is basically that we travel as one big extended family. The problem is, I don’t enjoy these trips. His family is kind but overbearing. I feel like I can’t relax. They also bicker, constantly arguing about where to eat, what to do and who’s paying. I’m dying for a peaceful getaway with just my husband. I’ve hinted that I’d like a trip for just the two of us, but he says, ...

Explaining the increase in risk when it comes to certain drugs

DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you please explain the percentages that are given when a study indicates an increase for a particular risk? For example, say a person with mild coronary artery disease is at an increased risk of having a heart attack when taking certain drugs like meloxicam. It is confusing and possibly frightens a person away from beneficial therapy when there isn’t a full explanation of what these numbers mean. — B.C. ANSWER: Understanding worsening risks in a medical context can be challenging because advertisements often talk about relative risks, whereas most people ...

We should all aim to be like Pete

Clinton County has lost one of its best examples of community pride and volunteerism this week with the passing of former Clinton County Commissioner Robert “Pete” Smeltz. Elected commissioner in 2012, Pete would earn two terms on the board, each of them as chair after receiving the largest number of votes — showcasing his ability to offer nonpartisan approaches to issues facing the county. Pete Smeltz is a name many of our readers know and one I was first introduced to in 2017 when I attended my first commissioners’ meeting at the Garden Building. I was 19 and a very green ...