Opinion
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Keep our legislative sessions open
My first session was way back in 1993, and as a freshman state representative, I was very humbled and excited about being elected to serve the people of the 9th District in the House. Now, almost 30 years later, I’m still... — Updated 1/13/2022
Hydroelectric storage yields benefits
Increasing river flows to wash young salmon to sea works; however, once water goes down stream, it is gone. What if we could recycle it in key parts of the Columbia River system... — Updated 1/13/2022
Looking beneath the labels
What’s in a word? Think tanks have been very successful in directing our thoughts to the way they want us to act. Lakoff’s book, Don’t Think of an Elephant, suggests that the words we use have consequences. Words often... — Updated 1/6/2022
No shortage of press problems
The last year ended with a bang. Well, more accurately, 2021 ended in smoke, at least here at the newspaper. That smoke came from the meltdown of our labeling system. And as a... — Updated 1/6/2022
Homeschooling will boom long after COVID-19
Public school student enrollment has nosedived as parental disgust with school COVID-19 policies, student learning losses and controversial curricula has gone through the roof. In the wake of this enrollment implosion,... — Updated 12/30/2021
Washington needs a competitive energy market
Washington motorists have choices when it comes to fueling their vehicles, thanks to the free market – but the benefits of competition, beginning with cost and quality, aren’t consistently available throughout our state’s ene... — Updated 12/30/2021
Parents shouldn't indoctrinate children
As a university math teacher, then K-12 mentor in afterschool programs for 22 years in retirement, I can assure you that most white students in our country experience more psychological stress and anxiety when learning math than... — Updated 12/30/2021
Grinch has slipped into schools
Merry Christmas! There. I said it. Not happy holidays, but Merry Christmas. It’s Christmas time here and around the world. Throughout our region, families are shopping for... — Updated 12/23/2021
End teacher union power to improve education
Earlier this year, state legislative leaders said they wanted to reduce institutional racism in the public schools by enacting Senate Bill 5044 and similar bills to require that school and university employees attend mandatory... — Updated 12/23/2021
Gov. Inslee should offer tax relief
With Christmas coming up, I’ve been out shopping for gifts for family members. During these busy times, I’m sure all of you have noticed (like I have) that many items in stores – especially groceries – have increased quite... — Updated 12/23/2021
Americans must return to work
In a U.S. Chamber of Commerce poll released in early December, the findings spell trouble for America’s employers – both private and public. It found that more than 60% of the... — Updated 12/16/2021
Plan fails to provide climate benefits
This morning, Gov. Jay Inslee announced his latest climate proposals for the 2022 legislative session. Despite proposing hundreds of millions of dollars in additional spending, none of the governor’s proposals today will reduce... — Updated 12/16/2021
CRT-activists targeting farmers markets
In recent years, Democrats have taken issue with a number of harmless things (math and advanced academic classes, for example), deeming them racist and demanding their removal. We’ve seen progressive outrage over historic... — Updated 12/9/2021
Reader requests clinical accuracy
Instead of the front page headline “High school vaccine clinic causes concern” (Cheney Free Press, Nov. 25, 2021), how about a more relevant headline such as “High school vaccine clinic proves popular,” with the... — Updated 12/9/2021
Unemployed residents may have to repay their unemployment benefits
Due to the federal government changing the unemployment benefit eligibility rules mid-pandemic, some Washington residents, who have been receiving unemployment benefits, will now have repay the benefits despite being approved to... — Updated 12/9/2021
Electric heating costs similar to natural gas
Last week, the Cheney Free Press ran a column with statements which I find incorrect or misleading. For example, in regards to Senate Bill 1084, the column states, “Prohibiting natural gas is expensive for home and building... — Updated 12/2/2021
Ignoring debt is not an option
Remember the television ad where the auto mechanic looks viewers straight in the eye and says: “You can pay me now or pay me later!” The message: if you change your car’s oil... — Updated 12/2/2021
Water rights should remain private, local
Under the guise of water conservation, the state Department of Ecology is once again moving to take water rights from farmers, ranchers and other private holders. Last month, the... — Updated 12/2/2021
Time to recall, reconnect, give thanks
The last 20 months have been exceedingly difficult for most Americans. A-cross the country there have been coronavirus mandates, riots, increasing taxes, job losses and more. The... — Updated 11/24/2021
By George, McGovern was right
Sen. George McGovern of South Dakota was never a darling of conservatives; however, in his later years he shocked fellow Democrats by his outspoken backing for streamlining... — Updated 11/24/2021
State Supreme Court rules Governor issued illegal vetoes
In a 7-2 ruling this morning, the State Supreme Court said the partial vetoes the Governor made in the 2019 transportation budget were unconstitutional. When issuing those vetoes the Governor said: “While my veto authority is... — Updated 11/18/2021
Oppose forcing COVID vaccine on kids
Last Wednesday, the Seattle School Board was set to vote on a resolution asking the state of Washington to force public school students to be injected with a COVID-19 “vaccine” to attend school. The board, however, decided... — Updated 11/11/2021
Anti-mask 'freedom' denies others
Your “freedom” not to mask nor vaccinate denies others their freedoms to stay safe and alive. Norm Luther Spokane... — Updated 11/11/2021
Outgoing board members served with integrity
Outgoing Cheney School Board members Marcie Estrellado and Suzanne Dolle, with 30 years of experience between them, have wisely led Cheney public schools through some of the most challenging times in recent educational history.... — Updated 11/11/2021
Cheney High School Key Club is amazing
In the aftermath of Nov. 1, I answered a knock at my door to discover dozens of students raking and bagging leaves in my front yard, sidewalk and driveway, as well as those of my neighbors on North Fifth Street. Cheerful,... — Updated 11/11/2021
