Nathan Weyand: What does America deserve?

I have made an exercise of asking people I meet what they think America deserves. The answers range.

 

Erma Vasquez: Have we lost our way? Let's honor our values

About the writer: After many years as a teacher and social worker, Erma Vasquez capped her career serving as director of the Oregon Youth Authority. She makes her home in McMinnville with her husband, ...

##Jonah Goldberg

Jonah Goldberg: Try voting on basis of character

I often am asked for my advice on how to vote. I’m the first to concede these requests come from a very niche slice of the electorate — that tiny remnant of people who know who I am, value my opinion and share my exasperation with both parties.

 

Jeb Bladine: New systems identify and track moving vehicles

Thirty-year-old technology designed to help police identify license plates has evolved into controversy over allegations that vast, warrantless databases of vehicle movements amount to continuous surveillance ...

Investigating the Bible: All that is grand

The title is recognized as the longest word in the English language. It became a popular song in the 1964 film, “Mary Poppins.” The word, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, ...

Emily Bonsant/News-Register##Dayton’s Courthouse Square Park never housed a court, despite founder Joel Palmer and others’ attempt to bring the Yamhill County government to the town in the late 1850s. Instead, the park became home to city hall, a water tower and now is the community gathering space.

What in the Yamhill: Courthouse Park, but no courthouse

Dayton has a park called Courthouse Square, but no courthouse was ever built in the town. The block was donated by the town’s founder, Joel Palmer, in hopes the city would become the county seat. ...

Investigating the Bible: The foundation of faith

After glowing introductions, President Lyndon Baines Johnson began his speeches with a touch of humility. “I wish my mother and father might have been here to hear that introduction. My father would ...

Jeb Bladine: City council gets to make final housing decision

One of democracy’s most memorable quotes – too often ignored – came from American abolitionist Wendell Phillips in 1852: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; power is ever ...

We need policies to ensure our news is fair and factual

By JERI LYNN PAULLOne of the biggest differences between the year 2026 and the years when I was growing up, the 1960s and ’70s, is information and technology. In the ’70s and ’80s, news ...

Tim Nesbitt: Are we letting Oregon's initiative process become a playground for political weirdness

By TIM NESBITT When Initiative Petition 28 failed to qualify for Oregon’s November ballot last week, my first reaction was relief. IP 28 would have banned all hunting and fishing and most ranching ...

Jonah Goldberg: Trump a legend in his own mind

Trump a legend in his own mindBy JONAH GOLDBERGIn January, The New York Times asked President Donald Trump if there were any limits on his global powers.“Yeah,” the president responded. “There ...

Kirby Neumann-Rea/News-Register##Joe Dancer Park sign provides a roundabout sort of orientation.

Quirk of the Week: We break for signs

The 1971 Five Man Electrical Band song (surely you remember!) told of signs: “blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind.” On the other hand, throughout Yamhill County, many signs ...

##Goldberg

Jonah Goldberg: Socialtists pose no real threat in America

I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but it’s almost like the GOP is secretly promoting the Democratic Socialists of America, which is now producing much of the energy and excitement within the Democratic and Republican parties.

 

Jeb Bladine: A daily flood of consequential surprise stories

Flash floods through the Midwest-South-Appalachian corridor have dominated summer news, often overshadowing a flood of consequential surprises in our daily news feeds. That thought surfaced this week ...

Investigating the Bible: Putting feet on prayers

A little girl was very upset that her brother made a trap to catch birds. Later the same day, her mother saw her daughter smiling and cheerful. Curious, she asked her why. “First, I prayed that my ...