Opinion
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1440
Tree farms are part of climate solution
As climate change concerns grow, researchers are turning to family tree farmers for assistance. They have been helping for a century, but their efforts have gone unrecognized. The... — Updated 3/12/2024
Letters to the Editor
Congresswoman can try to influence Speaker Johnson Among Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers’s negative legacies she leaves, her most impactful may be on immigration. However, she still has time to improve that. Donald Trump... — Updated 3/12/2024
'Climate agenda' to cost you $20,000
Eleven years ago, when we started debating the climate agenda in Olympia, I sat on a study committee we called the Climate Legislative Executive Workgroup and asked an unpopular... — Updated 3/5/2024
Beef cow type, then and now, Part 2
Welcome to 2024! Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday that I was thinking that graduating from high school in 1977 would be an eternity in the future. Now I appreciate... — Updated 3/5/2024
Public records must remain open and accessible
A special report urges the mobilization of civic leaders, organizations, businesses and all residents to work together to save the state’s Public Records Act. The report is available online for viewing and downloading at washcog.... — Updated 3/5/2024
Dam compact words matter
Let’s take a few words that should be on the minds of all Eastern Washingtonians concerned over efforts to breach Snake River dams — agreement, restoration and sovereign, to... — Updated 2/27/2024
Small, but impactful wins
Let me begin with some political realities about your state Legislature. Republicans, and I am one, are in the minority. The Senate Republican Caucus, of which I am the chairwoman,... — Updated 2/27/2024
Cleansing sewage essential to water
In Washington, this year we hope to again escape the historic droughts plaguing other parts of the world. The Columbia River water system flowed at normal levels in recent years... — Updated 2/20/2024
Letters to the Editor
City should follow 30-day cycle It has come to my attention that the city of Ritzville, under utility billing, believes it can charge a late charge outside of the U.S. 30-day business cycle. The point being is the state of... — Updated 2/20/2024
State needs more law officers
There was a time many years ago when our state was generally safe and did not have a serious crime problem. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, that was then and this is now.... — Updated 2/13/2024
California too costly for our economy
Several days ago, the Wall Street Journal issued a report about California’s “soaring electricity rates.” Average residential rates for investor-owned utility customers have... — Updated 2/13/2024
Charting a Sustainable Energy Future
As Washington stands at a pivotal moment in shaping its energy future, it becomes increasingly clear that adopting sensible, forward-thinking solutions is crucial for a reliable,... — Updated 2/6/2024
Take 'Gotcha!' out of records requests
When state voters adopted the state’s Public Records Act in 1972, they wanted to make sure state, county and city governments operate openly and are transparent to the people.... — Updated 2/6/2024
State parks failing at Palouse Falls, Lyons
Two years ago, Washington State Parks bureaucrats in Tumwater hatched a plan to address so-called “overcrowding” at Palouse Falls. The plan was to close and relocate the... — Updated 1/30/2024
Recycling EV batteries a huge effort
Each year Americans throw away more than three billion batteries constituting 180,000 tons of hazardous material. The situation is likely to get worse as the world shifts to lithium... — Updated 1/30/2024
Support levy for Water Park
Each season, Ritzville Water Park employs an average of 15 residents (mostly high school age) and is a popular stopping point to thousands of local and out of town visitors. The facility boasts two swimming areas, a diving board... — Updated 1/30/2024
Watch your language on climate change
As climate disruption becomes more evident, more people are empowered to advocate for climate mitigation. This advocacy is positive, but climate advocates must choose their words carefully for their message to be most effective.... — Updated 1/30/2024
State's energy policies costly
“The possibility of a global environmental apocalypse has been dominating headlines and exercises a powerful hold on the imaginations of millions of people,” according to... — Updated 1/23/2024
Democrats push tax hike bill
It seems like every year the Democrats, who have voting majorities in the Senate and House, in Olympia introduce legislation to raise or create taxes, no matter how much revenue... — Updated 1/23/2024
New recourse against wolves
There are at least 216 gray wolves in 37 packs in our state. Thirty-one of those gray wolf packs are in North-Central and Northeastern Washington. Senate Bill 5939 – relating to... — Updated 1/16/2024
Expose dam plan to reality
The $33 billion secret Snake River Dam plan that President Biden and friends cooked up in the White House basement needs to be exposed to the light of day and thoroughly aired by... — Updated 1/16/2024
Breaching dams isn't the answer
Monumental Dam has a concrete fish ladder. Its lock works for barge. Rather than breach the dam – or others on the Lower Snake River – how about using a tunnel-boring machine to notch an on the side an additional zig-zag fish... — Updated 1/9/2024
Legislative priorities this year
Monday featured opening-day ceremonies in the Senate and House chambers, followed by a joint legislative session in the House chamber on Tuesday for Gov. (Jay) Inslee’s final... — Updated 1/9/2024
Military money is Golden Egg
Aesop’s fable warns against killing the goose laying golden eggs. The tale’s origins date to 600 B.C. and tells of the greedy farmer who foolishly killed the prized goose to... — Updated 1/9/2024
Reintroduce bill to ban dwarf-tossing
Persons who have dwarfism (also referred to as “little people”) frequently experience employment discrimination. Although they can perform any job task well – often needing only a stool – employers frequently reject them... — Updated 1/9/2024