Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1860
Washington voters have rejected state income tax proposals 10 times. But Democrats still haven't gotten the message. Sen. Noel Frame of Seattle, who serves with me on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, has become the latest Democrat to push the idea of a state income tax. She's also behind the Democrats' multi-year effort to treat certain investments as taxable property – meaning you would get taxed simply for owning them, just like a piece of land. As reported by the m...
President George W. Bush’s eulogy of Dick Cheney, his vice president, brought back memories of a kinder, gentler America—a time when those elected to office did what was best for our country not their political party. Bush reassuring words came after an unthinkable government shutdown (39 days) which paralyzed essential functions and threatened to stop flights during our country’s busiest travel time—Thanksgiving. The shutdown underscored how angry and bitterly divided...
Washington state, a beacon for innovators and entrepreneurs, is witnessing a troubling trend: a steady outflow of its wealthiest and most entrepreneurial residents. High taxes, burdensome regulations and an anti-business climate are pushing the wealthiest and high-earners to sunnier, lower-tax havens such as Nevada, Texas and Florida. Far from the progressive narrative of a booming millionaire class, recent data reveals a selective exodus among the wealthy, threatening the state’s economic vitality. Consider the numbers. A 2...
In regard to the possibility of the East Adams Rural Healthcare public hospital in Ritzville closing and the meeting of concerned residents, I would like to add a few thoughts: First of all, I would like to ask if each of you were on the board, would you have done anything differently? Second, we here in this area have taken the care services for granted, not realizing what a phenomenal asset it has been for our community. And third, let's get behind those who are working on a plan to save our health-care services. I believe...
As working families, elders and disabled folks worried about how they would eat if SNAP benefits were not issued in Novembe, Repr. Michael Baumgartner posted about his staff volunteering at Second Harvest. While volunteering is lovely, that’s not what we need from our elected representatives, not when they hold the power to either strengthen or dismantle the social safety net. Volunteering at and donating to food banks, filling little free pantries, spotting neighbors grocery money, hosting community meals — that is what goo...
I am one of millions of Americans who love our nation's public lands. These are places where we go to breathe fresh air, to enjoy time with our families and communities, and to learn about our history, culture, and the natural world. As an enrolled Nez Perce tribal member who hunts, fishes and gathers per our 1855 Treaty, I feel protecting of public lands is critical to our rights as Tribal members. For far too long, extractive industries like oil and gas, mining and logging were prioritized for most of the 245 million acres...
My current read is “Patriot,” by Alexei Navalny, who courageously tried to save Russia from Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship. That raised at question: Who is currently the U.S. patriot playing the same role as Navalny was in Russia? I immediately thought of former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and her courageous dedication to saving our democracy from wannabe dictator President Donald Trump. At the bottom end of the courage scale, my recent read was the Aug. 18 Time magazine featuring Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. Notably, our f...
Many Eastern Washington residents are experiencing deep fear, anxiety, frustration and depression over proposals to place commercial-scale wind turbines near their homes. These emotions are not political tactics; they reflect real human impacts that deserve recognition from local officials. For rural families, our homes represent stability, identity and often generations of history. When 700-foot industrial turbines are proposed close to where people live, it is natural to worry about safety, property values, noise and how...
The state has a protocol for the removal of wolves that have repeatedly attack cattle. When activist groups or others disrupt that protocol, it erodes trust in the policy and the agencies implementing said policy. In the Sherman Pack territory in Stevens County, along with much of the northeastern region of the state, the federal government has already de-listed wolves from the endangered species list. It’s time the state does the same. The wolf population in the region is significant enough to be stable and treating the a...
As working families, elders and disabled folks worried about how they would eat if SNAP benefits were not issued in Novembe, Repr. Michael Baumgartner posted about his staff volunteering at Second Harvest. While volunteering is lovely, that’s not what we need from our elected representatives, not when they hold the power to either strengthen or dismantle the social safety net. Volunteering at and donating to food banks, filling little free pantries, spotting neighbors grocery money, hosting community meals — that is what goo...
“The U.S. market-based economic system where people, not government, decide what is produce and marketed is still the world’s “beacon of hope!” Poland and the United States are like two trains passing each other heading in opposite directions. Poland embraced our market-based economic system while America is drifting toward socialism and more government control which tend to stifle job growth, business opportunities, and prosperity. It comes down to affordability. Policies and government decisions impact peoples’ ability t...
A recent breach once again underscores the tension between age-verification requirements and data privacy in laws seeking to protect children online. When I wrote a few months ago about the unintended consequences of the UK’s data-privacy law, I warned that the very effort to protect children online can compromise their data. A new example has now emerged: a third-party vendor used by Discord was breached, resulting in the leak of private user details, including government IDs. Discord is an online platform where individuals...
The disconnect between the farm gate and the dinner plate has long been a concern for “ag-vocates” who’ve noted more people are unable to connect directly with reasons why agriculture is important. The recent announcement from Lays Potato Chips that 42% of consumers did not know that chips were made of real potatoes should maybe not surprise anyone. Yet, it is a shocking statistic. The data comes from a survey conducted by PepsiCo, Lays’ parent company, as part of a consumer and brand study. In our state, the nation...
For the past eighteen years, I have had the privilege of serving the patients and families of Odessa at Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center. This community has been my second home, and caring for its people has been the most meaningful part of my career. I have been honored to share moments of joy, offer comfort during times of loss, and work alongside dedicated nurses, nursing assistants, providers, and staff who strive every day to provide quality care close to home. As I prepare to leave my role at the hospital, I feel...
If you think Olympia’s thirst for taxes couldn’t get any worse, get ready. Democrats in Olympia are discussing a 9.9% tax on income above $1 million dollars which along with high earning individuals, affects the vast majority of small businesses in in the state. The tax calculation is purportedly based on Adjusted Gross Income, which means any small business (depending on the business tax structure) that makes over $1 million will be taxed, even if business expenses are close to or exceed the threshold. It will eff...
During his first year, President Trump has been globetrotting attempting ink trade deals, repair tattered relationships, and attract manufacturing back to America. However, no mission has been more crucial than his recent trip to South Korea, Japan and China. Behind the bluster of new “reciprocal” tariffs was the simple fact that China is not only a manufacturing, trading and military challenge but it is our primary supplier of strategic metals. Not only is America short of RARE minerals, but metals such as iron, copper and...
Trying to "fix" the cost of beef is anti-agriculture and anti-free market. President Trump recently suggested the U.S. would purchase beef from Argentina to flood the American market and drive the cost of U.S. beef down. That plan is absurd. The comments came over the weekend while the president was flying from Florida to Washington D.C., according to several media reports. The plan to drive down the cost of American beef prices by purchasing Argentinian beef and dropping it...
Upthegrove should fulfill forest protection promise Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove was elected on a promise to permanently protect 77,000 acres of legacy forest. Yet, his Day 1 action was only a temporary pause, not a true moratorium. Last month, when he held a press conference to announce “permanent protection” of those 77,000 acres, the map told a different story. It was riddled with mistakes — protecting only part of the promised acreage while putting 29,000 acres, including some of the most ecologically valua...
Navigating health insurance can feel overwhelming, especially when headlines are swirling, federal rules are shifting and new plan options are entering the mix. With so much noise in the headlines, it's completely normal to feel overwhelmed. Whether you're already enrolled in an individual or family plan or shopping through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (wahealthplanfinder.org) for the first time, we've outlined the key updates and important areas to keep in mind...
Baumgartner is on wrong side of shutdown Rep. Mike Baumgartner’s current radio ads dissing the shutdown miss the point entirely (on purpose). The shutdown has occurred because Democrats are standing up for the rights of Americans. Terms of the current federal budget call for massive health care cuts, massive tax benefits for millionaires and billionaires, pitiful tax benefits for middle-income citizens, and zero tax benefits for low-income people. Mr. Baumgartner voted for this horrible budget, against the best outcomes f...
With the haunted howls of Halloween looming, it’s time to talk about safety. Even if you are dressed as the invisible man make sure your costume is well lit and you are carrying a flashlight while trick r treating. Use ghostly caution while crossing the street and make sure to look both ways! Use the buddy system and don’t go out alone. Never go inside a stranger’s house especially if it’s haunted. Check candy at the end of the night, removing all candy corn because honestly, it just tastes bad, and nobody likes it. Hope ev...
There's an old saying that hypocrisy is the tribute vice pays to virtue - and nowhere is that more apparent today than in the far left's latest crusade: the "No Kings" movement. These activists claim President Donald Trump - who won both the Electoral College and the popular vote in the 2024 election - is destined to rule like a dictator. They warn that American democracy will crumble under the weight of the "evil orange man's" ego. They rail against "authoritarianism" and...
The mood of the nation is ugly and getting worse. Deadly violence from guns, knives, fire-bombings and vehicles is rising. Social media is toxic. Things have to change for all of our sake. The tone of the discourse is hateful. For those of us who started as journalists in the late 1960s, we are left wondering if public trust can be restored and civility is again possible. Over the last 40 years our family has vacationed at the same place on the beach. While the buildings have been refurbished, the complex is still largely...
New legislation is unleashing a slew of new sales taxes on services, courtesy of Senate Bill 5814, designed to plug a self-inflicted budget black hole at the expense of hardworking entrepreneurs. From freelance IT consultants to mom-and-pop temp agencies, the ripple effects of this 6.5% (plus local add-ons up to 10.5%) tax increase on previously untaxed services like advertising, security and software development is already proving catastrophic. More than 90,000 businesses must now scramble to comply, but it’s the little g...
On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, while attempting to enter Peak Fitness for a scheduled physical therapy appointment, my wife tripped on the street-to-sidewalk curb and fell while using her walker. She scraped her leg and knee; we were fortunate it was not more serious. There is no wheelchair/walker-accessible curb ramp along the sidewalk in front of Peak Fitness. As a result, people with mobility challenges cannot safely move from street level to the sidewalk. Although there are curb ramps at the crosswalks at both ends of...
