There’s a lot of work to be done. The plan to close Lincoln Hills and open smaller, regional facilities should go forward regardless of who wins the governor’s race later this year. Changes shouldn’t have to wait for the next budget to pass, either.

No one should have to endure daily uncertainty, fear, or physical danger at their workplace.

It would be easy to lament what could have been had a traditional conservative won the Republican primary, but debating alternative futures is the realm of fiction authors. Trump’s record of conservative reforms is impressive as it stands. Let us hope that he can maintain pace and direction of reform in 2018.

What was your New Year’s resolution? More civility toward those with opposing views? Reaching across the aisle to find common ground? Not if you are the hyper-partisan Capital Times.

Our goal as we seek to address the crisis of veteran suicide should be meeting the needs of those veterans in crisis in a nimble and effective way.

Unless the way we elect people is based on a more equitable and level-playing field all the grand ideas we may hold about building a stronger society will be short-changed due to an overly partisan and uncompromising legislature.

The Legislature has refused to release records about personnel and sexual harassment investigations, advanced a bill to restrict access to body cam footage, and is considering legislation to seal off documents about wrongful convictions. Has the Assembly kept its 2015 commitment to ensure the public records law is “preserved without modification or degradation?” You be the judge.

In the aftermath of a hip operation that for good measure resulted in a broken leg, I’ve been confined to my basement rec room where I read and write — and I’ve got cable news running incessantly in the background.

As the new year begins, I look back on my time in the Legislature and think of decisions that have an effect on our families and our neighborhoods.

How crazy will 2018 be? Let us count the ways.