More than three-quarters of this year’s Oregon legislative races aren’t likely to be competitive. But that still leaves some competitive transition areas in parts of the state.
Editorials
Allow nothing to infringe on our sacred right to vote
Ensuring free, fair and universal elections has proven an uphill grind throughout recorded history, and no less in the United States than in its pioneering predecessors in Greece and Western Europe. If ...
Close call for mayorship; here's our take on the race
We are torn two directions on this year’s hotly contested mayor’s race in McMinnville. A strong case can be made for incumbent Remy Drabkin, who spent many years moving up the chairs as a ...
Cunningham best fit for Mac City Council
Furniture maker Chaz Gibbins made an encouraging first impression with our editorial board in his endorsement interview. We have no question about his sincerity in offering his services to his adopted ...
King would offer county welcome respite for re-set
Dear readers: We’ve chronicled every twist and turn of Lindsay Berschauer’s four-year tenure as a Yamhill County commissioner, including her narrow escape from recall at the hands of exasperated ...
Starr, Scharf and Elmer in local legislative races
Two weeks ago, we endorsed a trio of Democrats for top state offices — attorney general, secretary of state and state treasurer. This week, we are endorsing a trio of Republicans for top local offices ...
Salinas over Erickson for 6th District Congress
This year’s race is a re-run of the inaugural 6th District congressional race two years ago, and only one element has changed for us: While we came down emphatically for Democratic legislator Andrea ...
Yes on Measures 115, 116, an emphatic no on the rest
Dozens of measures were proposed for the November general election ballot, but only five made the cut. We can be thankful, because three are clinkers of the first order — as misguided as 2020’s ...
Rayfield, Read and Steiner get nod for top state offices
In an unusual twist, three major statewide offices feature open races this year — attorney general, secretary of state and state treasurer. Typically, at least one features an incumbent cruising ...
McMinnville teachers, district agree on three-year contract
McMinnville School District and its teachers’ union, the McMinnville Education Association, have agreed on a new three-year contract, effective July 1, 2024, and running through June 30, ...
Rent to budget gap needs addressing
This year’s edition of “Oregon by the Numbers” has just been released, and we earned a top ranking among the state’s 36 counties in one category. Unfortunately, it was average ...
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. Letters ...
Letters to the Editor: Oct. 25, 2024
Better grasp Relatively new here, I’ve made it a priority to understand how our city operates. Having met Mayor Remy Drabkin several times, I’ve been impressed with her professionalism, dedication ...
Letters to the Editor: Oct. 18, 2024
Leader we need Having known Kim Morris for many years, I’ve witnessed her dedicated leadership as the founder of the McMinnville Community Task Force. Kim has actively listened to and supported ...
Letters to the Editor: Oct. 11, 2024
A trusted leader I am writing to support re-election of Remy Drabkin as mayor. Remy is a trusted leader who has: - Successfully expanded access to affordable housing for local families and workers ...
Letters to the Editor: Oct. 4, 2024
Vision and dedication As the mayoral election approaches, it’s clear Kim Morris embodies the change our community needs. Her leadership offers a fresh perspective and genuine understanding of residents’ ...
Letters to the Editor: Sept. 27, 2024
Real change I was disappointed to read the News-Register’s endorsement of Dan Rayfield for Oregon attorney general, especially when his opponent, Will Lathrop, has the support of nearly all of Yamhill ...
Letters to the Editor: Sept. 13, 2024
Rest of the story While the idea given in the mobile home editorial of last week sounds good, I would suggest that the writer investigate the current rents for mobile homes in the parks mentioned. I ...
Letters to the Editor: Sept. 6, 2024
No cause to celebrate As the screaming military planes flying over my backyard disrupted my weekend, I couldn’t help but remember that similar F-16 jets have spread death and destruction around ...
Letters to the Editor: Aug. 30, 2024
Tunnel vision I’m responding to Robert Long’s Aug. 23 post. People have not stopped being good, Mr. Long. They just want a life with a home, family, friends and food on the table. They don’t ...
Letters to the Editor: Aug. 23, 2024
Missing the prince When my News-Register arrived in last Friday’s mail, I quickly scanned the obituaries and didn’t find myself listed there. I next moved on to the stories and pictures from ...
Commentary
Eric Schuck: Remember not war’s victors, but rather its hapless victims
Lebanon is an easy place to love, but not an easy place to live. I’ve been there twice, both times on the government’s dime.
Michael Mulkey: Reflecting on milestones of CEO tour at hospital
Earlier this month, I announced plans to leave my post as CEO at the Willamette Valley Medical Center.
As I shared with my team, this was a difficult decision for me and my wife, Tania, but ultimately the right one as we relocate to be closer to family. In my final days here, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the community of McMinnville and greater Yamhill County.
Whatchamacolumn: Poignant film depicts the demise of a newspaper
Texas newspaper publisher Laurie Ezzell Brown and filmmaker Heather Courtney were in McMinnville this week to present “For The Record,” a beautifully produced documentary about the demise of ...
Investigating the Bible: Better ways to communicate
By DAVID CARLSON PASTOR This election season there is a drought of clear communication. Politicians on every side are notorious for dissembling like Mike McCurry, the White House Press secretary for President ...
Calendar of Quirk: Ragged, rusted, muted and modest Quirks found all around town
This week, Calendar of Quirk revisits neighborhoods in a decidedly random look around McMinnville. Oct. 23 Along Three Mile Lane, the rusted rod is hard to miss at the south exit from town, at the base ...
Neal Hulkower: Reject rank choice voting; a better option is out there
Voting is easy when there are just two candidates. Our current plurality voting method works just fine for that.
But things get complicated when there are more choices.
Randy Stapilus: Four regions feature most of the tight legislative races
More than three-quarters of this year’s Oregon legislative races aren’t likely to be competitive. But that still leaves some competitive transition areas in parts of the state.
Investigating the Bible: Empty the trash basket
Journalist John Stossel interviewed Eva Kor, a survivor of the holocaust and Auschwitz. She and her sister had been test subjects of Dr. Josef Mengele when they were only 10 years old. Eva was used as a guinea pig to learn how much blood a person could lose and still live. Somehow, both Eva and her sister survived; however, her parents and other family members all died in the camp.
Whatchamacolumn: Public support quiet in our Trump-voting county
Why should people vote for Donald Trump to regain the U.S. presidency? Editorially, the News-Register decided to forego that presidential debate question in 2024, for reasons explained below. Instead, ...
Calendar of Quirk: An archipelago of oddities found in and around downtown public buildings
A theme of a different color this week: public buildings. Our government buildings are no less quirky than other facilities. These locations are all within a few blocks of each other in downtown McMinnville: Oct. ...
Whatchamacolumn: Drug programs ‘building the plane while it’s flying’
Oregon’s experiment with drug decriminalization became a governmental, political, social and financial fiasco. But for better or worse, the money keeps on flowing. It’s impossible to quickly ...
Investigating the Bible: Words possess great power
The outspoken and sometimes outrageous daughter of President Teddy Roosevelt, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, said, “If you can’t say something good about someone, sit right here by me.” Criticizing others in their absence is common. The old children’s rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is quite untrue. The Bible teaches that words can harm or heal.
Calendar of Quirk: Just in time for homecoming week, the Linfield edition
This is homecoming Week at Linfield University. Time to turn our attention to the many examples of Quirk to be found on the Wildcat campus. It’s fertile grounds for Quirk and you could say I’ve ...
Investigating the Bible: When a child dies
Claire Aagaard had two children, 4 1/2-year-old Christian and 20-month-old Eric. Early on the morning of November 1984, little Eric sat on the potty and successfully produced solids for the first time, bringing laughter and joy. Then they traveled to a friend’s farm home for a visit.
Chris Chenoweth: Shining some light on local tax policy
I am writing in response to an opinion piece by Brady Shields published in the Sept. 6 edition.
As a city councilor, I believe one of my roles is to inform the public. I would like to take this opportunity to shine a little light on the process.
Whatchamacolumn: Presidential campaign ignores climate change
Here’s a bit of political contradiction: A majority of Americans (52 percent), taken from a September 2023 opinion survey by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, “see climate change as a ...
Letter to Readers: Time to spread the news
In our editorial board interviews with council candidates this week, the issue of communication and transparency was discussed often — as it always is. It has been a common question with nearly ...
Calendar of Quirk: Crush, keepsakes and ‘Pinot Square’ mean this place ain’t just ‘any-noir’
Call this the “crush edition. Sadly, no event called “Carlton Crush” happens this year, but throughout the county the season of harvesting grapes and turning them into juice is fully ...
Rising death tolls dictate putting priority on safety
About the writer: Casey Kulla is a farmer, former Yamhill County commissioner and forest policy nerd with Oregon Wild. He lives on Grand Island with his family, and is committed to walking, hiking and ...