If you want to understand the demise of coal despite what some politicians insist, consider this quote from CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn, whose utility is invested in New Mexico’s Four Corners Power Plant: “The current data clearly supports the replacement of the coal … with an energy mix that includes more renewables and natural gas as […]
Editorial
Posted inOpinion
The World Needs Its Helpers Even More Than Ever
As the city of Portland reels from the horrific stabbings on a Trimet MAX train last Friday, the rest of the state is reeling too. As the Memorial Day weekend kicked into high gear, three men stood up in defense of two teen girls, one who was wearing a headscarf, when a man, later identified […]
Posted inOpinion
Deschutes River Trail Bridge: The Environmental Impact Argument is Faulty
Let’s imagine for a second that you’re not one of the people who lives—or is soon to live—in the vicinity of the Deschutes River Trail. Last week, the head of the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department decided not to consider a rule change that would allow for a pedestrian bridge across the Deschutes just […]
Posted inOpinion
Endorsement Roundup: Who We Think You Should Vote For
The May 16 election is quickly approaching
ENDORSEMENTS ROUNDUP The May 2017 Special Election is nearly here. Here’s a roundup of the candidates we’ve endorsed this election season. See the endorsement interview videos we did with each of the candidates below. Measure 9-114: YES Administrative School District No 1: Bonds for New Schools, Safety Improvements, Classroom Renovations and Preservation Bend is poised […]
Posted inOpinion
ENDORSEMENTS: Dr. Stuart Young
Administrative School District 1, Zone 4 (Bend-La Pine school board)
In the race between Stuart Young and Richard Asadoorian for the south county Bend-La Pine school board spot, we must preface by saying that it was exceedingly difficult to choose between these two candidates. That’s a good problem to have in any race. Experienced educators are able to set sound, experience-based educational policy. Both men, […]
Posted inOpinion
ENDORSEMENTS
Cheri Helt and Jason Kropf
In this year’s May election, surprisingly, only 15 of the 70 races are contested, with a handful having no candidates at all. However, looking at the election glass as half-full, the candidates who have come out are impressive. We attribute the strong class of candidates to an increased interest in the civic process. Last week, […]
Posted inOpinion
ENDORSEMENT:
Carrie McPherson Douglass for Bend-La Pine School Board
ENDORSEMENT for Administrative School District Zone 7 At Large (Bend-La Pine School Board): Carrie McPherson Douglass See video of our endorsement interviews below. In this race, each of the three candidates brings something valuable to the table, but we believe strongly that the Bend-LaPine School Board needs more members with education backgrounds. School board members […]
Posted inOpinion
A New Path Forward for Health Care
The GOP health care bill ended up on the cutting room floor… what’s next?
Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate dealt themselves a political blow this month when they rolled out the American Health Care Act and then killed it before it could reach a vote in the House of Representatives. There were a great many concerns about the plan: the proposed deregulation of the private health insurance […]
Posted inOpinion
Gas, Cars and Roads
A gas tax, not a change in room tax allocations, should fund road improvement
Roads are one of those core government services that are a great reflection of a community. It doesn’t matter what your political affiliation, when your right tire goes deep into a pothole, slamming your teeth together, you’re going to curse “government.” The leaders of our cities and states know this, and that’s why no matter […]
Posted inOpinion
Who knew health care could be so complicated?
The 129,200 people in Walden’s district who got covered under the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, for one… If you’ve been in Oregon for more than a few minutes, you’ve probably gotten a hint of the “better before you came” mentality that tends to pervade any conversation about incoming Californians… or anyone from out of area, for […]
