The first of February will mark five months with Blue Mountain Community College as its director of marketing, and just short of four years living in Pendleton. I thought I knew most of what there was to know about this community until I moved “up the hill.”
Do you have a favorite wild animal or bird? Here in Eastern Oregon we have lots of wildlife and easy access to a variety of nature’s habitats where they live. After all, the Blue Mountains are…
I’m not sure what the answer is regarding gun violence and mass shootings in the United States. But what I do know is that “thoughts and prayers” aren’t cutting it.
On a Saturday morning daily walk in the sunrise twilight, I was surprised how many lights were already on in houses I passed. No doubt there are early risers among the neighbors, some to atten…
Following in the footsteps of California, former Gov. Kate Brown made strides towards reducing Oregon’s carbon emissions when she directed state regulators to require that all new passenger ve…
More than 30 years have passed since a native Oregonian was sworn in as our state’s governor.
A year ago, at this time I wrote a column with firm roots in the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, the omicron variant of the infection was a new threat and it looked like we were locked in essentially…
Although winter has warmed up for the moment after a rough December, we still have several months of winter to deal with before we meet spring’s embrace.
The other day, a friend commented that the suffering of the last few years has diminished his capacity for experiencing spontaneous joy. The dictionary defines “joy” as “a state of happiness o…
This makes for a simple and compelling storyline: Since Oregon has loosened its marijuana and other drug laws — through ballot measures in 2014 and 2020 — law enforcement agencies have been re…
Finally, after a 50-year effort, four massive dams on the Klamath River in northern California and Oregon will start coming down this July.
Vic Atiyeh famously said of being Oregon’s governor, “You walk into this office as a peacock, and you walk out as a feather duster.”
This was a letter I penned in July. Now knowing the results it rings ever truer, I wouldn’t change a thing. I see myself twice in the East Oregonian’s top stories of 2022, my predicament and t…
I am no stranger to snow, having lived a rather long life north of the 45th parallel. My mom and I shoveled all night during the blizzard of 1949 to keep from being trapped inside a flat littl…
We are settling into a new year and approaching the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Citizens of the 21st century seem to be accustomed to short wars and quick results, and R…
As I write this column it’s been just a few days since the second anniversary of an unparalleled incident that took place at our United States Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. On that day, cr…
This is likely to be most obvious in the political and governmental sphere. Oregon elected a new governor and three new members of Congress in November, but that is the beginning of the story,…
When Gov.-elect Tina Kotek started her “One Oregon Listening Tour” in Yamhill County last month, local residents weren’t invited.
Many Western states have declared they will achieve all-renewable electrical goals in just two decades. Call me naïve, but haven’t energy experts predicted that wind, sun and other alternative…
A year ago, at this time I wrote a column with firm roots in the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, the omicron variant of the infection was a new threat and it looked like we were locked in essentially…
This fall the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 5-4 to eliminate spring bear hunting in Washington. This action came after more than a year of discussion, negotiation and conflict …
I’ve tried my share of New Year’s resolutions over the years, to mixed results.
Tina Kotek was in her element: listening closely, jotting notes, asking questions both broad and detailed, and along the way giving clues for how she will govern Oregon.
A year ago, at this time I wrote a column with firm roots in the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, the omicron variant of the infection was a new threat and it looked like we were locked in essentially…
It was a beautiful summer afternoon at the park, when a friend sent a text message asking if I wanted to come join their support of the annual Relay for Life on behalf of local regional cancer…
In our communities, the Blue Mountains are more than just a special place to us.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, wants to keep an important part of American history alive for future generations.
I’m salivating just thinking about piping hot homemade pizza on Christmas Day.
The Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate increases are making traditional loans too expensive for many independent businesses, impacting Main streets and weighing on economic growth.
We enter 2023 in an uncertain economy. Will inflation slow? Is a recession coming? If so, can we minimize its depth and duration? These questions weigh on all of our minds.
During the recent election season, we didn’t hear much about the need to address high prescription drug costs. In fact, we saw a number of elected officials spiking the proverbial policy footb…
One of my fondest childhood memories of Christmas in the 1970s was riding around in the family station wagon, “Bessie,” to look at Christmas lights while I whined to my parents about needing a…
You may have noticed the colorful license plate on my car outside the Arts Center this year. The artwork — “Celebrate Oregon” — honors the diverse people and cultures of Oregon. It was created…
December marks the first month of meteorological winter, which is defined as the coldest three months of the year (December, January and February).
We woke up to snow this morning, a change in the weather that makes me smile— at least when it happens in December. I’m much less happy about it when it comes in February.
What does it mean for our nation and our state when three of every four of us in Oregon think that our democracy is now “more at risk”? And what can we do to fix it?
President Biden and lawmakers in both parties have prioritized slashing Americans’ out-of-pocket spending on insulin. And they recently made significant strides by including a $35-a-month co-p…
When I think of Oregon, I think of vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Sagebrush in Central Oregon. Working forests and rocky shores on the Coast. Ranches and farmland in Wallowa County.
Several decades ago, I lived in a big pink house in the high country of central Idaho and was alone for Christmas. My daughter had flown from Boise to see her mother in Hawaii, and my fellow r…
Past and prologue: History-rich media for your reading and viewing pleasure over this holiday season
December brings gift-giving and holiday festivities, followed by a dark and cold winter season. What better time, then, to contemplate some choice quality reading and/or viewing, for yourself …
My early childhood was filled with many fond memories. I grew up on a small farm in Post Falls, Idaho, in the late 1950s and 60s. My dad had purchased a one-room church building and arranged f…
The core support for Betsy Johnson, the unaffiliated candidate for governor in the election, was almost surely a lot different six months ago than it was when the ballots were cast.
Under the guise of “protecting” mature and old growth forests, anti-forestry groups are pressuring the Biden administration to impose new regulations further restricting timber harvesting and …
Eric Fruits, Ph.D., is vice president of research at Cascade Policy Institute, Oregon’s free market public policy research organization.
Gov.-elect Tina Kotek should consider Oregon’s county commissioners as her partners in government, not mere stakeholders.
I admit it, we don’t have the tidiest yard in the neighborhood.
The powers that Google and Facebook have over economic and political power in society — especially over the news industry — has caught the attention of lawmakers in Washington, D.C. After a cl…
I enjoy the holiday season — well, except the bone-chilling cold that typically accompanies it. I really think bears have it figured out with the whole hibernation thing.
These are tough times in so many ways, but at least this Thanksgiving Day many of us will be able to sit down with family and reflect and be thankful for all of the abundance we do have in our lives.
Mismanagement of public lands. This bumper sticker phase is often used, yet the complexities are seldom explored. As a society, we are long on finger pointing and short on solutions.
In planning the last details for our Thanksgiving celebration, I always enjoy thinking back on past gatherings, many involving travel to join with extended family.
For the past few weeks, dozens of turkey vultures have been circling on thermals over my house in Oregon, preparing to soar away south into California. Not long ago, I saw a late monarch butte…
During the early morning hours of Nov. 5, a major windstorm with wind gusts as strong as 77 mph at the Eastern Oregon Airport damaged many buildings and trees with downed power lines that cont…
Question: I’ve read some of your other articles and thought you might be able to help.
Democrat Tina Kotek will be Oregon’s next governor.
