On July 4th of 1846, Oregon was not yet even an incorporated territory of the U.S., much less a state. But that didn’t keep Oregon’s earliest American pioneers from celebrating their country’s birthday on the Pacific shores.
Editorials
Prosperity Council delivers workable roadmap for state
Gov. Tina Kotek’s 15-member Oregon Prosperity Council released its 452-page prescription for Oregon’s ailing economy to great fanfare last week. Cutting through the report’s massive scope ...
State's school funding formula in desperate need of overhaul
Oregon’s school funding formula — last reconfigured in 1991, some 35 years ago — fails to provide more than 100,000 poverty-afflicted students with the extra help they desperately need ...
Now’s the time to be heard on sewage system funding
McMinnville has embarked, and wisely so, on planning for the next 20 years of operation, maintenance, rehabilitation and expansion of its sewage transmission and treatment system. The challenge is to ...
Don't just vote no on IP28; give it a blistering rejection
Initiative Petition 28 has succeeded in placing the PEACE Act, short for the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions Act, on Oregon’s November ballot. And that has, understandably, ...
Graduates let feelings known about who controls the future
There have been numerous news articles and viral videos this graduation season featuring the Class of 2026 raining a chorus of boos upon speakers promoting the wonders of artificial intelligence (AI). ...
Schools can’t afford to just kick the can down the road
The last of the big local public agency budgets, that of the McMinnville School District, won final committee approval last week. And after a long, steep and steady enrollment decline, one that’s ...
Positives to take from county election, no matter the victor
As with any election, there was much to like and not like about the races for Yamhill County commissioner positions. It appears that Jason Fields has avoided a November run-off by receiving more than ...
Public needs to face up to cost of providing services
It’s budget time for cities, counties and special taxing districts around the state, as the July 1 start of a new fiscal year looms. And the dominant local refrain seems remarkably consistent — ...
Mounting SDC burden will stretch only so far
Oregon has pioneered an array of governmental and environmental approaches envied by, and frequently adopted by, other states across the country. It was the first to claim public ownership of its beaches, ...
Neyssa Hays best choice for commission’s Position 3
In the race for Position 3 on the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners, being vacated by term-limited Mary Starrett, we reached a clear consensus in favor of outdoor enthusiast and science educator Neyssa ...
Letters
News-Register Letters Policy
The News-Register welcomes written opinions about issues of public interest and about the content of this newspaper. Letters from non-local writers are accepted only if they focus on local issues. This ...
Letters to the Editor: July 2, 2026
Hate is learned Dear Commissioner Starrett: Several years ago, I discovered a disturbing drawing on the sidewalk at Jay Pearson Park here in McMinnville. It depicted a person being lynched and was accompanied ...
Letters to the Editor: June 26, 2026
Respect for all I am writing to express my profound concern regarding recent comments made by Yamhill County Commissioner Mary Starrett. As an elected official, she holds a position of public trust and ...
Letters to the Editor: June 19, 2026
Wall of honor Adie and I just wanted to show you what we’ve done with all of your amazing work over the years. Thank you so much for shining a light on our special teammates, coaches and community! Adie ...
Letters to the Editor: June 12, 2026
Canary in coal mine As a former hospital administrator in both non-for-profit and for-profit systems, and senior manager in a major Medicaid program, I read your article on United Healthcare Advantage ...
Letters to the Editor: June 5, 2026
Revise terms? Our present three-member board of county commissioners has the potential for a major adjustment every four years. The possibility of having two-thirds of the board subject to change at the ...
Letters to the Editor: May 29, 2026
Crazed and unstable A slush fund of $1.776 billion to give money to the Washington rioters who wanted to abolish our freedom? Why aren’t more citizens angry? How can one unstable man, our president, ...
Letters to the Editor: May 22, 2026
Out of this world! I attended the Second Winds Community Band concert at the McMinnville Community Center. The theme was Space, Galaxies and Aliens. It was a wonderful, uplifting concert, keeping our ...
Letters to the Editor: May 15, 2026
Fiscal responsibility The Yamhill County Fair is the oldest in Oregon with nearly 170 years of building community. Its site is centrally located, making it fully accessible to all. In addition to the ...
Letters to the Editor: May 8, 2026
More follow-through The News-Register’s endorsement of Kit Johnston identifies serious concerns, but stops short of the obvious conclusion: After nearly four years in office, Johnston still has ...
Commentary
Adam Davis: Communities coming together to make more of nation's 250th
As our country reaches the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, we’re not gliding into the celebratory or joyous moment we might have been.
David Sumner: All men are created equal too powerful to be thwarted
Part of my teaching assignment at Linfield is “American Dreaming,” a course that tells the American story, from first contact to ChatGPT, through literature.
Kirby Neumann-Rea: O say, can you see rockets’ red glare?
On June 27, a week before Independence Day, someone began setting off illegal fireworks a block away. It started about 10 p.m., the same time as the night before.
Jeb Bladine: Changed America shares McMinnville birthday
Happy Birthday, America. My, how you’ve changed! I remember when you were a youthful 200 years old. Who could forget your 1976 McMinnville birthday party: huge parade with downtown streets packed ...
Margaret Cross: Nostalgic for true ideals of our founders
If you like fireworks, a steak on the grill and a day off, have a good time. Don’t whine about the cost.
Investigating the Bible: July Fourth prayers
Will Rogers was a beloved Native American humorist of the 1920s until 1935. A popular quote from him is about politicians: “Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate, now what’s going to ...
Quirk of the Week: Roadside roundup
“The whole universe is a complex of rhythms.” – Tom Robbins, “Another Roadside Attraction” The roadside roundup continues after last week’s start at the inimitable ...
What in the Yamhill: Carlton and Lafayette honor U.S. presidents on roadways
When you hear the names Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison, you likely think of the first four presidents of the United States. Those names are also ways to navigate the roads of Carlton and Lafayette. With ...
Sheri King: Looking back in history at Oregon's first Fourths
On July 4th of 1846, Oregon was not yet even an incorporated territory of the U.S., much less a state. But that didn’t keep Oregon’s earliest American pioneers from celebrating their country’s birthday on the Pacific shores.
Jeb Bladine: A time for public opinion on housing projects
Complex issues drive the development of McMinnville. Housing is one prominent topic these days, with complexities that extend to housing types and locations, traffic flow and safety, downtown parking ...
Kathryn Hickok: New York says “Yes” to scholarships — Oregon should, too
Governor Kathy Hochul announced May 5 that she intends to opt New York into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), pending additional information expected from the U.S. Treasury Department later this year. This good news makes Gov. Hochul the 30th governor signaling intent to participate in the FSTC and the second Democrat, after Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
Investigating the Bible: Be angry without sin
A man spent three and a half frustrating hours at the Department of Motor Vehicles and then went to buy his son a baseball bat. As he made the purchase, the woman clerk asked, “Cash or credit?” ...
Jonah Goldberg: Trump's second term an embarassing spectacle
About the writer: Conservative D.C.-based commentator Jonah Goldberg serves as editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, hosts The Remnant podcast, authors a weekly Los Angeles Times column, holds a chair with ...
Quirk of the Week: Not just another roadside attraction
Life was a service station for Chuck Kadell. And a fanciful gasoline service station honors the late community volunteer. No gas is pumped at Chuck’s Hwy Service, on the south side of the main ...
Gary Conkling: How to prevent an AI race to recklessness
About the writer: Gary Conkling started writing stories as a child and publishing them on his own hand-cranked printing press. Little did he know digital technology would make it possible to repeat the ...
Jeb Bladine: A worthy holiday delays newspaper delivery
We newspaper folks keep track of many, many things: Deadlines, for example; election dates; court schedules; names and numbers of local officials who return phone calls, and those who commit themselves ...
Investigating the Bible: A very good father
Erma Bombeck was a syndicated humorist, writing thousands of columns from 1965-1996. Here’s one from 1973: “When the good Lord was creating fathers, he started with a tall frame. A female angel ...
Jonah Goldberg: Let's hear it for Team Capitalism
I am not a huge fan of Elon Musk as a political activist or commentator.
Quirk of the Week: Pulling for a ‘Sweet Song’
Or, altar-native takes at the county Clerk’s Office When Quirk of the Week’s “The Gone Show” left off last week, it mentioned the old-but-new voting instructions in portable voting ...
