Opinion
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Assaulted by prescription drug ads
Watching the evening television news is something I typically don’t do. There are a few reasons why. There is the widespread TV news edict, “If it burns or bleeds, it leads.” Next,... — Updated 4/24/2024
From China to Central Washington: tracing the deadly path of the fentanyl epidemic
Communities across Central Washington have been devastated by the epidemic of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which is the leading cause of death for people ages 18-45 in the United States. Dubbed the “silent killer” of Ame... — Updated 4/24/2024
A tremendous act of compassion
Some deep thinking has been going on, and its helping. Last week, many local professionals in law enforcement, emergency medicine, and other first responders, — the folks who have to live with the possible trauma of a car crash t... — Updated 4/24/2024
More worn-out wind blades, solar panels landing in dumps
While wind and solar farms generate “greenhouse gas free” electricity, there are ongoing concerns over their impacts on our environment especially as a rapidly growing number of... — Updated 4/17/2024
A little political history
For the people that have not followed political history, I would like to give you my perspective as to where the political parties have gone from the late 1950s and early 1960s. (I voted for JFK.) The Democratic Party today is wher... — Updated 4/17/2024
Could a man be dog's best friend?
If a dog is man’s best friend, then why can’t a man be a dog’s best friend? I lost my little dog over a year ago. She had been with me for about 15 years. Now I don’t want to pick a fight with people who feel differently about pets... — Updated 4/17/2024
Take our daughters and sons to Grandma's
“Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” is on April 25th, and I think we should try something different this year: Let’s take our daughters and sons to grandma’s. The Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day Foundation says th... — Updated 4/17/2024
Biden Administration violating consumer choice
In the United States, one of our most important freedoms is individual choice. However, the Biden Administration has unmistakably signaled its determination to advance its aggressive climate agenda at any cost — even at the e... — Updated 4/10/2024 Full story
Where have all the "ohs" and "ahs" gone?
Ohs and ahs were the favorite two words uttered in the early days when visitors viewed Grand Coulee Dam. My first experience with the dam was in 1948, when a couple of buddies and I escaped the halls of our high school for the day... — Updated 4/10/2024
Send Conroy to Congress
Carmela Conroy gives eastern Washington voters the unusual, important opportunity to elect a foreign policy expert as their US Representative. As Foreign Service Officer for 24 years, she served in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Norway, Ne... — Updated 4/10/2024
Taking action on the maternal health crisis
Last month, I traveled to Anchorage, Alaska for a Maternal and Child Health Conference. This conference brought together maternal health experts and advocates to discuss the heart-wrenching maternal health crisis in our country... — Updated 4/10/2024
Why no Easter lily sightseeing tours?
Easter is when potted Easter Lily plants start showing up in nurseries and supermarkets like poinsettias during the Christmas season. They adorn the altars and pulpits of most... — Updated 4/3/2024
Jobs suitable for kids
When I was growing up in Palouse, I always had a job, or two. One of my early jobs wasn’t one of my best. In fact, it was often dangerous. We had a small bowling alley, six lanes if I remember correctly. I set pins. We didn’t hav... — Updated 4/3/2024
Rooster racket ruins REM
I want to know after several complaints to the City of Grand Coulee, one formal, one handwritten, that after three months of waiting for something to be done, about a rooster in the city limits on Gardener and Bowman St. I live on... — Updated 4/3/2024
Challenging the Biden Administration's ill-conceived grizzly bear relocation proposal
For decades, the debate over grizzly bear introduction into the North Cascades ecosystem has raged on, and I have been fighting tirelessly to ensure that the voices of Central Washingtonians are heard. Regrettably, last week saw... — Updated 4/3/2024
Signs installed in wrong spot
Last year I wrote several letters to The Star paper addressing people entering Grand Coulee at high rates of speed from the Bridgeport highway. Over the summer there was no traffic control, but I do feel good knowing the city... — Updated 4/3/2024
Bob Moore's final bow noted in the Big Apple
Who would have thought that a small Oregon natural grain mill owner’s death would make national news or be the subject of a lengthy feature article in the New York Times (NYT)? H... — Updated 3/27/2024
Buck kicked the bucket
One of the things we liked to do when growing up in Palouse was go to the Washington State College baseball games. We really didn’t care about the game, but we went to see baseball coach Buck Bailey kick the bucket. Buck came to WS... — Updated 3/27/2024
Artificial Intelligence is coming, good or bad
Young soldiers sometimes cite a particular military weapon and pose the question: Is that a defensive weapon or an offensive weapon? Almost invariably, the answer is: It depends on the intent of the user. Whether artificial... — Updated 3/27/2024
Still living the American Dream
A growing number of Americans think the American Dream is out of reach, but I think they are wrong. According to a recent Wall Street Journal poll, only 36% of voters said the American Dream still exists, way fewer than the 53%... — Updated 3/20/2024
When America had to stand together to win
I was just a kid during World War II but I still remember a lot about that time. I remember how America was very close to being beaten by the Axis (Germany, Japan and Italy), they did unspeakable things against the rest of the... — Updated 3/20/2024
Listening for that whistle
Answering an advertisement started my love of the railroads. I saw the ad in our hometown newspaper, The Palouse Republic. The ad was seeking people to apply for menial labor on our section of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The... — Updated 3/20/2024
The way it works, or doesn't
Sometimes city governments run smoothly, but as they operate with humans in a democracy, rough patches happen. Balancing human needs, egos, ambitions, desires, skills, or a lack of them, all within the confines of public... — Updated 3/20/2024
Fighting the snowbelt
The recent snowstorm in the Sierra Nevadas will cure a lot of ills for the people of California. Officials predicted that the storm would dump some 12-14 feet of snow there. The spring runoff will do wonders for farmers and fruit g... — Updated 3/13/2024
McMorris Rodgers could help reform immigration
Among Cathy McMorris Rodgers’s negative legacies she leaves as US Representative, her most impactful may be on immigration. However, she still has time to improve that. Donald Trump cares nothing about our country, just his e... — Updated 3/13/2024
