US dismisses Iraq request to work on a troop withdrawal plan

Can you spot this snake before it bites you?

Before you cheat and look at the next photo in the gallery, see if you can spot the Copperhead hiding in this forest scene. If you had some trouble don't worry, everyone at Chron.com did too.

Why we will no longer be a welcoming church

We’ve decided to quit being a welcoming church. No kidding. We’re giving it up. Like so many congregations, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We changed worship styles, trained greeters and ushers, wore name tags, brewed coffee, went to workshops on hospitality and put our friendliest people …

Guilt By Association: Why Franklin Graham is Bad for My Church

As a Baptist minister, I wish to state that Mr. Graham does not speak for me, nor for a large, and rapidly growing segment in the broad stream of Christianity.

Why Churches Can't Do Ministry the Way They Used To

By: Dennis BickersIf they want to successfully impact a changing world for Jesus Christ, pastors and churches must continually reinvent themselves. Churches will either continue to reinvent themselves or they will die.

10 Things No Concealed Carrier Should Ever Do

By James England via concealednation.org There are way more than 10 things you should never do as a concealed carrier…or as a firearms owner in general. But we’ve decided to pick 10 extremely important ones. We’re not judging you if you do these things – we’re just saying it’s the opposite of responsible . . . 10. …

Monday School Delays & Closings / 10:30 a.m.

Senior US envoy in Syria highly critical of troop withdrawal

WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior American diplomat has written a highly critical assessment of the Trump administration’s abrupt withdrawal of troops from northeast Syria last month, a decision that pave…

Here's how the U.S. could keep fighting in Syria after the troop withdrawal

Afghanistan: America's top commander says US troop withdrawals are risky

Admiral Mike Mullen says withdrawal of 23,000 troops by next summer was bigger than he had been prepared to back

Senior US Envoy in Syria Highly Critical of Troop Withdrawal

A senior State Department envoy has written a highly critical assessment of the Trump administration's abrupt withdrawal of troops from northeast Syria, U.S. officials said Thursday.
Two officials familiar with...

US ‘slowing things down’ on troop withdrawal from Syria

The US troop withdrawal from Syria needs a “pause” in order to protect the Kurds, the potential interests of Israel, and to prevent Iran from scoring a big win in Syria, a top GOP senator has said.

James Carafano: US must prevent rise of new ISIS caliphate in Syria following our troop withdrawal

Washington — and the rest of the free world — must hold Turkey accountable for its actions in Syria. We also must continue trying to broker a cease-fire.between Turkey and the Kurds.

Top Pentagon official in Iraq to discuss US troop presence

BAGHDAD (AP) - The top Pentagon official arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday to consult with American military commanders and Iraqi government leaders on the future U.S. troop presence in Iraq
Pat Shanahan, the acting secretary defense, said before his unannounced trip that he wanted to hear first-hand about the state of Iraq's fight against remnants of the Islamic State group. Shanahan, who is on his first…

Pentagon sending 5,200 troops to border week before midterms

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said Monday it is sending 5,200 troops to the Southwest border in an extraordinary military operation ordered up just a week before midterm elections in which

Advice at work: Things some bosses should do but don’t

Many employers expect employees to do a good job and will only talk about performance when it’s unsatisfactory. Failing to tell them they’re doing well or about their strengths can leav…

What is alcohol withdrawal?

Alcohol withdrawal occurs when you stop using alcohol after prolonged use, or a binge. Find out more about alcohol withdrawal here.

Class dismissed … but for how long?

The snow is blowing. Visibility is practically non-existent, to the point where even major roads are closed. School is once again not in session.

Discover The Savior of Iraqi Jewish Archives

Rod Bryant and Jerry Gordon interviewed Dr. Harold Rhode while he was in Macedonia lecturing on the Iraqi Jewish archives and the importance of Jewish identity.

Tips for filing FOIL requests

When it comes to accessing records, FOIL request handlers say there are some things to remember.• Find out what kinds of records are available,