Advice columnist takes on Kentucky

Many people defend occupational licensure laws on the grounds that they protect public safety and health, as well as from shoddy workmanship, but — surprise! — sometimes such laws have unintended consequences.

Take the case of John Rosemond, whose nationally syndicated parenting-advice columns appear on Saturdays in the Star-Advertiser. Though licensed as a psychologist in his home state of North Carolina, he is not licensed as such in Kentucky, so officials there want him to stop saying he’s a psychologist and possibly even stop having newspapers in the state publish his column.

Yes, the First Amendment is being threatened, but Rosemond isn’t rolling over. He’s allied with the Virginia-based Institute for Justice, which has successfully defended other people who have taken on restrictive occupational licensure laws.

Hawaii dazzles in solar energy

Hawaii is ranked high among what an environmental coalition calls the "Dazzling Dozen" of states with public policies to enhance solar energy.

A report by Environment America lists Hawaii as runner-up to Arizona in the total amount of solar power installed per capita last year — 78 watts per person. Hawaii is listed third best among states by installing 191 megawatts during the year, or 137 watts per capita.

"The Dazzling Dozen states account for only 28 percent of the U.S. population but 85 percent of the nation’s installed solar electricity capacity," according to the report, referring to all technologies that generate electricity using the sun’s light.