In 1870, Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina became the first Black lawmaker sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1963, the east African nation of Kenya declared independence from Britain; it became a republic exactly a year later. In 1985, 248 American soldiers and eight crew ...

Dear Heloise: I would like to share an idea I came up with recently -- using ID dog tags on horse bridles. It struck me that if a horse gets loose, having a tag with the owner’s contact info could make it much easier to get them back home quickly. We already do this for dogs, so why not ...

Dear Annie: When my boyfriend decided to get serious about his health earlier this year -- cleaner eating, regular workouts -- I was super proud of him. I cheered him on and swapped out our snacks without complaint. For the first few months, it brought out the best in him. But somewhere along ...

Dear Heloise: I have two thermal mugs. One is for coffee, and one is for tea. They can’t be used in the microwave or in the dishwasher. To get the stains out, I boil some water and put it in the mugs. I then add a couple of squirts of lemon juice. I let it soak until the water gets cold. ...

The Independent calendar lists upcoming meetings, facility hours and events in and around Marshall. To have your group’s events listed, email the information to news@marshallindependent.com or submit the information to our virtual newsroom. Today Marshall Sunrise Rotary, 7 a.m., Marshall ...

Dear Annie: Christmas at my parents’ house used to feel magical, but lately it feels like I’m walking into a performance review. My older brother’s new hobby is “radical honesty,” and apparently the holidays are his favorite time to practice. Last year, as we decorated the tree, he ...