Opinion / Guest Column
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Beef Cattle Mythbuster
When you request forage quality analysis from a laboratory, do all methods of analysis provide the same results? Feed/forage analysis is an important part of developing feeding strategies for beef cattle. Knowing the composition... — Updated 6/23/2022
Lower Snake River dams' power hard to replace
Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray, both Democrats, issued a draft report which estimates that breaching the four lower Snake River dams and replacing their electricity and... — Updated 6/16/2022
Who will defend the Washington taxpayers?
The message from voters was crystal clear, but elected officials apparently don’t want to hear it. In 2019, nearly 80% of voters in the city of Spokane approved an amendment to the city charter – in essence, a local... — Updated 6/16/2022
A success story from Lincoln County
In 2016, Lincoln County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to require transparency for all the county’s collective bargaining talks. According to the resolution:... — Updated 6/2/2022
Timber milling can foot bill to reduce wildfire
Thinning public woodlands to remove millions of dead trees is a way to generate much needed cash to reduce wildfire risks, improve forest health, and protect rural homeowners and... — Updated 5/12/2022
Laminated wood can reduce wildfire risk
Wood buildings are making a comeback in the Pacific Northwest thanks to new laminated timber products. Even very large buildings are now constructed with laminated beams and are suc... — Updated 5/5/2022
World's Fair highlighted electric vehicles
Seattle’s 1962 World’s Fair was awe-inspiring. It previewed developments that would improve our daily lives in the next millennium. While “Century 21” memories have faded, t... — Updated 4/28/2022
Washington refuses tax cuts for for families
Most politicians could only dream of a scenario in which a flood of extra tax revenues suddenly lets them cut taxes in an election year. But clearly Washington state leaders think differently. While other states move to cut taxes... — Updated 4/28/2022
War in Ukraine needs flower power
Sunflowers are to Ukraine what tulips are to western Washington. During the blooming season, both are spectacular and represent the best in the people who cultivate and visit those... — Updated 4/14/2022
Legal challenge filed for proposed ballot measure
As expected, the I-1929 (capital gains tax repeal) campaign officially filed a legal challenge to the attorney general’s ballot title and summary for the proposed ballot measure.... — Updated 4/14/2022
NE Washington white tail in jeopardy
The Northeast Washington Wildlife Group is very concerned about the whitetail deer in District 1 of Region 1 in Northeast Washington. The harvest numbers for the area in 2019 and 2020 set record lows and the blue tongue outbreak... — Updated 4/7/2022
Price of gas fuels work from safety of home
With COVID-19 vaccines widely dispensed and masking requirements mostly lifted, will “work from home” end? Will workers return to downtown offices at pre-pandemic levels?... — Updated 4/7/2022
Year 3 starts under gubernatorial edict
Sorry to break the news, Washingtonians, but Year 3 of living under emergency orders by the governor will continue without meaningful legislative oversight. The House officially... — Updated 3/31/2022
Racism perpetuated by policy in schools
The cult of social justice is perpetuating racism in the Clover Park School District with a new student discipline policy requiring staff to consider a student’s race and background before determining their punishment. Instead of... — Updated 3/31/2022
LNG can replace more Russian gas
There is an old saying: Don’t let the “perfect” be the “enemy” of the good! That is important to remember as we work our way out of the energy crisis exacerbated by... — Updated 3/24/2022
Too many urban lawmakers have no respect for WA farmers. They proved it this session
About six weeks ago, I had a “cardiac episode.” As I laid in the emergency room, thinking about my to-do list and wondering what I could do for the people who were contacting me regularly asking for help with policies in Olympi... — Updated 3/24/2022
Lawmakers kill emergency powers reform
Sorry to break the news, Washingtonians, but year three of living under emergency orders by the governor will continue just as the last two years have – without meaningful... — Updated 3/17/2022
Ireland: Clean, greener and reopening
When St. Patrick’s Day rolls around March 17, the Irish have lots to celebrate. Ireland is still clean and green. Now, it is spending $15 million to bring visitors back. Irish... — Updated 2/24/2022
No room for coronavirus rebels
“Wear masks!” “Social distance!” “Wash hands!” “Do not gather!” “Don’t be a danger!” “Quarantine!” “Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate!” “Follow the science!” “Listen; do not speak!” “Stay in... — Updated 2/24/2022
Broaden Snake River salmon review
Washington Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee announced in October, they’ll listen to diverse viewpoints with open minds to recover salmon and potentially breach the four... — Updated 2/17/2022
We need more nurses, not more regulations
At a recent press conference, Gov. Jay Inslee was asked several questions about the state’s nursing shortage, a problem that existed long before the COVID-19 era. Reporters were stabbing around at various solutions being... — Updated 2/17/2022
Public schools have a lack of funding
Having served as a public school superintendent for 20 years, I wanted to offer some thoughts regarding the recent guest column that ran in the Times titled. "Despite what they... — Updated 2/11/2022
Drop the assault on natural gas
Last year, Gov. Jay Inslee attempted an end run around the legislature by banning natural gas in new homes and commercial buildings via the state’s building codes. It was a bad... — Updated 2/10/2022
Emergency powers reform testimony
In an emergency, governors need broad powers to act fast. Legislative bodies inevitably take longer to assemble and act than a single executive, so they temporarily delegate their... — Updated 2/3/2022
Despite what they say, public schools have plenty of funding
As we conclude National School Choice Week 2022, people around Washington state are about to hear a familiar refrain: Public schools need more money. Official reports, however,... — Updated 2/3/2022
