Opinion
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By Businesses and schools need to get back to normal soon.
I am a 76-year-young retiree; geologist/farmer/mechanic/U.S. Army. As a former scientist, the numbers and percentile for the COVID-19 deaths look real good. The CDC/prevention doctors mean well but are overreacting; overly... — Updated 7/30/2020
Law requires across-board budget cuts
There are two legal options to respond to a state budget deficit: The governor orders across the board budget cuts, or a special session of the Legislature occurs liquidating the... — Updated 7/30/2020
New baseball
When I was going to school a whole bunch of years ago there was a question that was sometimes asked concerning a popular subject. “What if they had a ______ and nobody came? Now... — Updated 7/30/2020
Letters to the Editor
Keep government offices open I was shocked to read in the Journal that a resolution by the Ritzville City Council to close city hall through December 31, 2020, passed. I, for one as a taxpayer, think city hall, as well as the Adams... — Updated 7/23/2020
Will Washington really punt budget action until January?
What once seemed inevitable is now growing unlikely – a special session to balance the state's budget. This is why it was so important to act before the new spending increases too... — Updated 7/14/2020
Reviewing an officer-involved shooting
Not long ago, I reported on an officer involved shooting that occurred in Adams County. I had been asked to review the investigation to make sure it was independent of the... — Updated 7/13/2020 Full story
Business owner supports festivities
This year’s 4th of July fireworks displays by you, our neighbors, and our friends, was a sight to behold. It was hands down the best display and most celebratory 4th of July I have been witness to since the '80s when it was... — Updated 7/10/2020
Like Poland, America needs change
On July 4, 1975, America proudly celebrated its Bicentennial as the world’s greatest nation while Poland was a suppressed Soviet satellite state. Poles had no right to free speech, were hungry and impoverished. If you wanted a... — Updated 7/10/2020
Manage insects in your gardens
You plant and tend your garden hoping to enjoy a bountiful harvest and beautiful blooms. Despite proper planning and planting, insects can move in and wreak havoc on your garden. The good news is you can manage problem pests... — Updated 7/1/2020
Washington needs to change to stay on top
In early June, the financial website WalletHub released its rankings of “Best and Worse State Economies” and Washington led the field of 51 as best by a healthy margin. WalletHub economists viewed the states from three key... — Updated 7/1/2020
Are more 'Darwin Awards' coming this year?
Teaching psychology for 20 years at Spokane Falls Community College was such a learning experience – for me. I hope the students also learned a lot about the “scientific study of behavior and mental processes.” When teaching... — Updated 7/1/2020
Sheriffs should be consistent
How refreshing to see a couple of Washington sheriffs speaking out against the mandatory wearing of masks. I’m tired of the government acting like a “nanny state”. It’s about time we returned to the good old days when... — Updated 7/1/2020
China's push for high-tech dominance
While the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest are front page news, China’s unrelenting push to leap over our country in critical technology and hoarding of strategic metals should alarm us. Since the coronavirus pandemic broke... — Updated 7/1/2020 Full story
Volunteers collected enough signatures for ballot
It was a seemingly impossible task, but concerned citizens rose to the occasion. Volunteers across the state collected 266,000 signatures in support of Referendum 90. In April, the effort was launched to collect the necessary... — Updated 7/1/2020
Producers don't like to see waste
Whether it is a crop, milk or livestock, no one involved in agriculture wants their products to go anywhere other than to consumers. That is what makes the COVID-19 crisis... — Updated 6/4/2020
Papermakers gaining ground from pandemic
In recent years, papermakers in the Pacific Northwest have been losing ground. However, today there is a ray of hope. Surprisingly, that optimism results from the COVID-19... — Updated 6/4/2020
Get involved in schools, now
Due to the coronavirus, there are a lot of questions on what school will look like next fall. On social media, a number of memes suggest public schools will be very different. They... — Updated 5/28/2020
State may push income tax, again
TVW recently interviewed the top budget writers in the Senate about the state's outlook and the possibility of a special session. In one interview, Sen. John Braun (ranking member... — Updated 5/28/2020
Quarantine sacrifices appreciated
As the state starts to open up again, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who stayed smart and stayed home. You helped keep the virus away from people - many peop... — Updated 5/28/2020
Letters to the Editor
Sign R-90 to regain sex ed control In March, our state Legislature voted to require comprehensive sex education in every public school. It did this despite many thousands of residents communicating their concerns and opposition... — Updated 5/21/2020
Testing and tracing isn't voluntary
Voluntary must have a different meaning inside state government offices. Last Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee and other participants in his coronavirus press conference said participation... — Updated 5/21/2020
May 13 Letter to the Editor
Sheltering in place doesn't make sense There's a lot to appreciate about farmers donating potatoes and volunteers helping to distribute them. But if one is awake, it's also deeply... — Updated 5/18/2020
Medicaid: A cash cow, until it isn't
Medicaid began in 1965 as a safety-net health insurance entitlement for low-income families with children, the disabled, and some long-term care. The program is financed by both federal and state governments in sort of a 50/50 arra... — Updated 5/18/2020
Tattletales reporting 'non-essentials'
I took a look at the state Department of Health non-essential business complaint list over the weekend. I didn’t really expect to see much. And I would’ve been correct if I had... — Updated 5/18/2020
