Bladine: Is this McMinnville, or smaller Portland

Last week, three high-interest stories were combined under a single headline: “Drabkin sworn in, quickly faced with tough issues.” Story #1 portrayed the warm reception for Remy Drabkin as ...

Bladine: New law can delay final election results

Election officials in Oregon counties apparently were ill-prepared this year to manage a new law that requires accepting mailed ballot returns for a week past election day. Perhaps lessons learned in 2022 ...

Bladine: Amid risks, still a spirit of giving

I’m thankful that December comes just once a year — a festive and cheerful time, for sure, but imagine the strains on our physical, emotional and financial conditions if every month were December. It’s ...

Bladine: A dubious decade of financial trickery

There no longer is any doubt: J.W. Millegan of McMinnville is smart, competent, slippery, financially adept, and gifted in using legal ploys to delay or overcome civil and criminal convictions. All of ...

Bladine: Intense analysis of our county election

News flash: After intense investigation and careful analysis, here is the real message of this week’s election in Yamhill County. (Drum roll) — Republicans voted for Republicans; Democrats ...

Bladine: It's a news story too complex to tell

Often – more often than you might think – reporters hear compelling stories that are too complex or too time-consuming to pursue. Some such stories exceed staffing capacity; some lack any ...

Bladine: No voter-surprise with anti-vax stand

Health and Human Services Director Lindsey Manfrin anticipated quick action by the Yamhill County Commission when, on Oct. 7, she reported availability of an additional $68,700 in state funding for local ...

Bladine: Campaign database’ follows the money’

In an election year, Oregon’s most interesting database is the Secretary of State’s compilation of campaign finance activity for all candidates and ballot measures. That interest was most ...

Jeb Bladine: Tax time cometh, with abundant data

It’s almost property tax time. Tuesday, under the direction of Assessor and Tax Collector Derrick Wharff, Yamhill County will mail 46,600 tax statements seeking payment of $151.5 million from county ...

Jeb Bladine: Stiff drinks lead to stiff DUI penalties

We may live in “wine country,” but penalties for “driving under the influence of intoxicants” are the same here as throughout Oregon: Stiff! That one-word analysis is confirmed ...

Jeb Bladine: Local debate drawn to downtown hotels

Full disclosure: The writer has a financial interest in this subject. Our family and newspaper company own two of three Third Street buildings that developers propose to buy, tear down, and replace with ...

Jeb Bladine: Abortion rights rise in Oregon campaign

Quick: What group has the largest number of registered voters in Oregon? Hint: It’s a trick question. Remembering that the reference was “group,” not political party, you might name ...

Jeb Bladine: Cybercrime finds victims worldwide

Cybercrime, ranging from minor irritations to financial devastation, is rampant worldwide. Cybercriminals don’t know you, and wouldn’t care if they did. They are faceless, nameless scourges ...

Jeb Bladine: Important year at Linfield University

September begins an important school year for Linfield University, and in many ways for rekindling long-time ties between Linfield and the McMinnville community. We are reminded from Linfield’s website: “Linfield ...

Jeb Bladine: New reporter gets a happy reception

We didn’t throw a party when Scott Unger joined the News-Register reporting staff last week. But we thought about it. Unger, an experienced reporter, hit the newsroom floor running after a few deep-dives ...

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