It's time we deal with this issue. The status quo is no longer an option for us all the courts have assured us of that. The proposal you have put forward is a good one. ... This proposal reaches across the aisle, I think, and provides something for everybody to wrap their arms around.

I have to say it's not because we've run the numbers and find out that all of our members are going to pay less taxes. Many of our members would wind up paying more taxes, but we're here to express our support because we believe that by far this is the best answer we've seen to an obviously complex issue.

I don't think we could possibly have enough drivers to take up the void that is there right now. If you gave me 1,500 drivers tomorrow morning, I could have them to work by tomorrow afternoon.

To start with, we were advised not to sue. That was the week before Christmas, but shortly after that we were advised to get an attorney.

We have a strong connection between the family members and the fire service itself. We want them to know we will do everything possible to make sure their heroes are not forgotten.

Unless there is a hospital in the city, the average is one hour to reach a medical facility, at minimum, in the rural parts of the state.