If you seek public input, you commit to heeding it
Here at the News-Register, we used to stage an annual You Be the Editor exercise for current and future civic leaders. The core element was asking them to play editor for a day by making up a front page ...
Big issues demand attention on sustained long-term basis
On the surface, the international climate crisis and national homeless crisis might seem markedly dissimilar. However, they share some parallels worth considering as we struggle to address their ruinously ...
Boost in court resources may be money well spent
There are no courts closer to the people than the municipal courts serving cities and justice courts serving counties. But their jurisdiction is limited to the realm of ordinance and traffic violations, ...
Rubber site a rare opportunity for visionary redevelopment
Thirty years ago, McMinnville’s downtown core was virtually at death’s door. Third Street’s largest and most prominent landmark, the venerable Hotel Oregon, was in a sad state of disrepair, ...
Local fireworks response first step on a long road
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress formed by the original 13 states, is revered as the foundational document for our nation. We celebrate Independence ...
One thing left utterly undone: campaign finance reform
This year’s 160-day Oregon legislative session featured a 42-day walkout by conservative senators, all Republican except our own Brian Boquist, a longtime Republican now claiming independent allegiance. But ...
Finding reason to harbor hope may prove useful start point
Pardon us if we seem to be discovering a dollop of hope where there is none, or ginning up a modicum of optimism when none is warranted, but we thought we detected some encouraging echoes of meaningful ...
Create community by showing up, or helping out
Creating community requires three main elements: time, space and people. Summertime in Yamhill County is the perfect time to gather, and numerous events and locations stand ready. What they require, to ...
Let's not toss the park out with the fish water
The Yamhill County park system features almost three times more undeveloped, natural or restricted-access properties, some 164.3 acres, than it does actually developed and publicly accessible properties, ...
One big project spiked, but change still in offing
It’s final. The last word has been said. Downtown McMinnville will not be getting a six-story, $60 million resort hotel. The Gwendolyn’s Portland developer has raised the white flag by letting ...
Shooting case conclusion leaves much unanswered
The expression “raises more questions than answers” has come into such wide use over such an extended period of time that its origins seem to raise more questions than answers in their own ...
City budget pressure eases, but by no means disappears
The city budget process was raucous, heated and disjointed last year. Facing a $2 million general fund shortfall, a badly divided council ended up: 1) rejecting two of four staff revenue proposals; 2) ...
Voters turn tide this time, embrace good government
In May balloting two years ago, voters in neighboring Newberg were swayed by an infusion of PAC money into installing three right-leaning culture warriors on their local school board. The disruptors joined ...
End the walkouts and stalling; get back to pressing business
The stage for the recent Republican legislative walkout, latest in what’s fast becoming an annual piece of pointless political theater in Salem, was set on two dates in 2022: First, June 24, when ...
Resignation rights the wrong, but doesn't undo the damage
The original intent of this editorial was to call for the resignation of Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, citing lapses of integrity and judgment so flagrant they served to betray the trust of all Oregonians. At ...
