Whatchamacolumn: Political courage to fight polarization
It seems that partisan politics will dominate national public discourse for the foreseeable future. As evidenced this week, eight Republican presidential candidates were asked if they would support Donald ...
Whatchamacolumn: It's time to chop downtown trees
Part 2 of a recent column about McMinnville trees begins with a provokement: It’s time to start aggressively removing trees in downtown McMinnville. Astonishing? Outrageous? If so, you haven’t ...
Today's sad stories produce memories
Sometimes, sad stories will spark good memories. Many people have great memories of Tim Roberts, who settled in McMinnville to raise an extended family, provide quality dentistry and serve his adopted ...
Whatchamacolumn: Don't forget to pull that gas nozzle out
Today, some Oregon drivers will forget to re-attach gas tank caps before leaving their first in-state experience with self-service gasoline. I just hope they all remember to pull out the nozzle before ...
Whatchamacolumn: Lots to know about McMinnville's trees
Our July 18 news story about responsibility for “street trees” included a candidate for understatement of the year by describing concerns that “there’s a disconnect between city ...
Whatchamacolumn: Salem overreaches with new payroll tax
In classic government overreach style, Salem City Council last week approved a payroll tax of 0.814 percent on the earnings of people doing work inside the Salem City limits, regardless of their residency ...
Whatchamacolumn: Name changes that recalibrate history
Columbus Day remains a federal holiday (second Monday in October), but Columbus School is ending its 131-year life in McMinnville. We’ve joined communities nationwide that have eliminated “Columbus” ...
Whatchamacolumn: Dosages and costs for pain medications
Life’s aches and pains may come from injuries or just normal wear and tear, and Americans continue to lead the world in use of prescribed and over-the-counter pain medications. It can be a good ...
Whatchamacolumn: Finding the humor in politics of 2023
Beckett and Moliere, even Shakespeare, were virtuosos of farce, a genre passed down to the likes of Mel Brooks and Monty Python. Chaucer, Swift and Voltaire all excelled at satire, much later celebrated ...
Whatchamacolumn: We watched her world 'Through Rohse-Colored Glasses'
After decades of writing News-Register news and feature stories, Elaine Rohse settled into 40-plus years of creating an estimated 2,250 episodes of her human-interest column, “Through Rohse-Colored ...
Whatchamacolumn: This rural estate has stories to tell
Looking for a house with a history? Do you have a spare $5 million and a passion for isolated rural life? Just head to Sheridan, turn right at the Highway 18 Dairy Queen, and back-road navigate toward ...
Whatchamacolumn: System tries to ID political influencers
Campaign finance databases reveal much about cultural values, political influence and interesting trends. We found that, and more, in a recent News-Register investigation into local political fundraising. One ...
Whatchamacolumn: Just like that, my column is done
Artificial intelligence (AI) — a revolution brewing in our media world — already is spilling into your daily lives. Don’t believe me? Read on. My recent vacation, virtually devoid of ...
Whatchamacolumn: And that's just how political funds work
There are some misconceptions about reporter Nicole Montesano’s investigation into political finances flowing from the George family to candidates, measures, political action committees and political ...
Whatchamacolumn: A modest proposal for financial sanity
This week, President Biden, Speaker McCarthy and a cast of featured and bit actors are playing games with a financial nuclear weapon aimed at the heart of America’s economy. Tuesday’s face-to-face ...
