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Trees capture carbon and dollars

The last Friday in April is National Arbor Day. You knew that, didn't you? Born in the Victorian era, Arbor Day began mainly as a gentle reminder to admire trees as things of beauty. As an environmental observance, it has been upstaged by the more comprehensive Earth Day (itself now almost 50 years old). But Arbor Day has been very much updated. The status of trees as uniquely important environmental players has risen in recent years. Trees are now on the front lines in the battle against climate change. That's because forests absorb nearly 40 percent of human-made fossil fuel emissions ...

True friendships go the distance

Dear Annie: I’m in a really bittersweet situation. I hit it off with a friend who happens to live quite far away. The time we’ve spent hanging out has been awesome, and I’m beyond thankful to have them in my life. But I’m frustrated by the distance. I’m not scared we’ll drift apart, but I am anxious about how little face time we have between meetups. I’ve lost friends due to distance before, and while those times weren’t pleasant, this one’s different. This person really just gets me in a way I have trouble articulating. Any tips for not going crazy? — Faraway ...

It is finished

WASHINGTON — Good Friday provided the language for a week that began with the terrible fire at Notre Dame Cathedral and ended with the long-awaited Mueller report: Jesus’ final words before perishing on the cross: “It is finished!” The fires have been extinguished and the great cathedral’s two towers still stand. After nearly two years, special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into possible obstruction of justice and collusion between Russia and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has finally ended. There was no collusion. In the span of a few days, we’ve been ...

Gossip leads to nothing good

Dear Annie: My co-worker, “Jane,” is the front-desk person and has a bird’s-eye view to everything. For the past several years she has noticed that it appears that my supervisor is having an affair with another co-worker. I, too, have noticed what appear to be signs of an affair. Although I do not approve (if this is the case), I am able to work without it disturbing me. Recently, it has started to affect my co-worker so much that she is now saying that this is a hostile work environment. My question is this, should I mention something to my supervisor before my co-worker takes ...

Supreme Court mulls census citizenship question

WASHINGTON — The oral arguments the Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday will be more decorous than the gusts of judicial testiness that blew the case up to the nation’s highest tribunal. The case, which raises arcane questions of administrative law but could have widely radiating political and policy consequences, comes from the Enlightenment mentality of the nation’s Founders, and involves this question: Does it matter that a conspicuously unenlightened member of the president’s cabinet lied in sworn testimony about why he made a decision that he arguably has the statutory power ...

Kitty cat considerations

Dear Annie: I am hoping you can help me sort this out. I am an avid animal lover, and I have had animals all my life. I am now on the brink of turning 65 and have no pets. I am in very good health. Also, I am on the autism spectrum (high functioning). Despite 30 years of counseling, I have no friends (and no family). I am yearning to adopt a cat! However, I have reservations because of my age. What if I suddenly had to go in the hospital for a few days or even a week? I have no one to look after my pet. What happens to my cat if I pass away? I have no one to take care of her/him. I am ...