Opinion
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Olympia Update
By Sen, Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick, and Rep. Mary Dye OLYMPIA–The 2024 legislative session is now in the history books. After 60 days, in which 201 House bills and 180 Senate bills passed the...
Commentary
As a farmer's daughter, and later during the first five years of my previous 19-year-marriage, a farmer's wife, the standing rule was to never say anything about how things were going, such as "How's harvest?" The answer to that was always "I'll...
Guest Commentary
By Roger Harnack 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 name a few. Recently in the White House, President Joe Bide...
Letters to the Editor
To the editor, I've looked at life from both sides now..." by Joni Mitchell A story told in our community is an older adult female went to CC Rural Public library and was immediately confronted by a large display featuring a book opened to a page...
Olympia Update
OLYMPIA–Back in February 2020, I met Puddles, Washington state's first mussel detection dog, and her handler, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Pam Taylor. A rescue dog from a shelter...
Olympia Update
The week of Feb. 19-23 could have been called "budget week," as the Senate held public hearings or approved its version of the three state supplemental budgets (operating, capital, and...
Commentary
This morning, I sat at my desk in Dayton to begin the editing process for this week's Dayton Chronicle and East Washingtonian, and for the first time since the beginning of January, I have a clear...
Citizen initiatives to the Legislature: Let Washingtonians be heard!
OLYMPIA–It is with a mix of encouragement and disappointment that the Senate majority leader says four of the six citizen initiatives to the Legislature "might" have public hearings scheduled...
Commentary
Have you noticed the same ol’ message; that of what is constantly rehearsed in the media over and over and over again, has become so very tiresome? It sure has with me. I am tired of hearing how awful the right is, and, in turn, how awful the left...
Olympia Update
OLYMPIA–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 surged by 72%...
Olympia Update
By Sen. Mark Schoesler Eastern Washington has several beautiful and popular state parks, including Steptoe Butte and Steptoe Battlefield in Whitman County, plus Lyons Ferry and Palouse Falls south of...
COMMENTARY
WAITSBURG– A giant in the community left us last week, but not without leaving a legacy for future generations. S. R. Hevel, M.D., "Rog," died peacefully at his Orchard Street home in Waitsburg on...
Olympia Update
OLYMPIA–When Washington's voters adopted the state's Public Records Act (PRA) under Initiative 276 in 1972, they wanted to make sure that state, county, and city governments operate openly and are...
Letters to the Editor
To the editor, Residents of Dayton School District and Citizens of Columbia County, your vote is a personal decision. The results of elections have consequences. Some consequences are more quantifiable than others. Taxes collected that help fund the...
OLYMPIA UPDATE
"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 optimist and author Marion...
Olympia Update
OLYMPIA–The main event during the opening week of this year’s legislative session was Gov. Jay Inslee’s annual state of the state address. I was surprised he did not pull a muscle from patting...
OPINION
What happens when cold temperatures move across the Northwest, there is less natural gas power available, and wind disappears? We found out on Saturday, as Puget Sound Energy (PSE) had to ask...
COMMENT
By Jillian Linster Interim Policy Director Center for Rural Affairs Across the country, lawmakers are gathering in their respective state capitols and Washington, D.C. to begin another year of debating and passing legislation. The democratic process...
Letters to the Editor
To the editor, Usually, you have zero say about taxes. But this February, you have opportunity to say No to a tax, when the Dayton School District puts forth two special levies seeking to extract from taxpayers, beginning in 2025, $1.41-$1.48 per...
GUEST COMMENTARY
By Eric McKeirnan Guest contributor Not so long ago I submitted a piece to the paper for consideration. Not my best stuff, I would agree. My really good stuff is sitting in a short stack on the right corner of my desk. The paper labeled my...
Guest Commentary
By Greg Hall Certified Substance Use Disorder Professional Blue Mountain Counseling Dayton Happy New Year! For some maybe. For others it is just another day. Another day of wondering how they are going to get what they need. I don’t mean food,...
OPINION
A great many farmers and ranchers identify with Paul Harvey’s iconic poem, “So God Made a Farmer,” but this time of year, I prefer the editorial from Francis B. Church, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Whether you read Paul...
Letters to the Editor
To the editor, Recently in a volley of texts with the editor we each made case of how to handle and how best to respond to the way the leadership is destroying our country, and how best to showcase their talents. My subtle way to bring light to the...
OPINION
Washington's new tax on CO2 emissions ended up adding about 43 cents per gallon of gas for 2023. The final price was reduced by several market interventions by Department of Ecology staff, but prices...
Letters to the Editor
To the editor, Christmas season is upon us. From the time we were children, most of us heard carols, sung songs, sent cards with, "Peace on Earth, good will towards men." Yet, we humans continue the violence and killing. This year it is especially...