Another war death hits home.An Army sergeant from Spokane was killed along with four other 4th Infantry Division soldiers on Monday when a roadside bomb exploded, destroying their vehicle in Mosul, Iraq.Sgt. James E. Craig, 26, was married in Spokane in July and deployed in…
Yes, there's an unusual amount of snow, but so much that schools need to close for an entire week? So much that vulnerable people are reduced to being shut-ins? So much that commerce must grind to a veritable stop?No. In today's editorial, we make the…
The plan is simply election-year pork we'll all have to pay back, with interest, someday in the future. Therefore, I can't support it. It's thinly disguised income redistribution; tax the "rich" and give it to the middle and working class. While this is a noble…
Travel can be broadening. It's also a good way to pick up ideas that work elsewhere, in Our View. Excerpt:No more plastic bags? Ultra-clean vehicles? Imagine. But remember when it seemed beyond imagination that states would ban smoking in bars? Or make it illegal to…
St. Vincent de Paul's Family Services to close due to financial difficultiesThis is a huge blow to the city. Excerpt:The service center, which provided food and other emergency services to 60,000 people a year at North Regal Street and Trent Avenue, will close Feb. 29,…
Yeah, I swiped that from weatherman Brian Albrecht.So, last night on the drive home I became that other driver you need to look out for. I took my usual safe route up the South Hill, Cedar, which is a gradual climb. I usually turn left…
(Christopher Anderson photo/S-R)Three of the folks working hard on the updated Downtown Spokane Plan -- Downtown Spokane Partnership President Marty Dickinson, Melissa Eadie, a Spokane city planner on loan to the updated plan process and Jeffrey Callahan Nave, a member of the DSP board, met…
This line in Sunday's Our View editorial has caused much consternation.Lawmakers are considering two bills. The Senate version would mandate that districts use a specific formula for spending on libraries. The result would be more money for librarians, but Spokane Public Schools says that would…
Governments had a spotty performance in dealing with the snow. That's too bad, because it was a chance to demonstrate the allure of alternative transportation, namely the bus.
Who is winning this war? Private contractors and Cheney's old company. We the people have invested almost $700 billion for war since 9/11. Do you feel a trillion dollars safer? I think our actions have fueled the hatred in the world, not abated it. And…
In my Sunday column, I said most boomers have one of two regrets about their college years. Those who partied too much wish they'd studied more.Those who studied too much wish they'd partied more. Boomer U will make wishes come true.My idea is to let…
In Monday's editorial, we advocate legislation that would allow student journalists to deal with real-world First Amendment challenges.We agree that there ought to be some boundaries -- obsenity, libel, privacy -- that adults must supervise, but censorship based on truths that cause discomfort is going…
Mr. Smart Bombs weighs in on the subprime lending mess and wonders whether the country will fall for the next too-good-to-be true trend in the economy?What do you think?UPDATE: A "recovering banker" named Richard Martens (see his blog here) sent me this YouTube link to…
One of our writers appears to have had an inkling about what was coming over the weekend:Being a newcomer, I need to further my education about Northwest ways. I moved here from the Midwest, and I am accustomed to snow, cold weather and icy conditions.…
The snow has begun and is falling steadily enough to convince me the 2- to 4-inch prediction I heard is credible. Enough to drive me inside from an apple tree pruning chore I've been putting off. Got far enough into it to discover that today's…
Clark County Republicans were so moved by a pass-around e-mail about Barack Obama they posted it on their Web site. It was then taken down.Emails saying Obama is Muslim and doesn't recite the Pledge of Allegiance get passed around all the time. A lot political…
As an American, I take great pride in the fact that a woman and a black man are potential candidates for the presidency of the United States. No matter what your political party..that has to be evidence of great change. Imagine what MLK JR would…
Friday's loose thread has generated a vigorous conversation about racism. Check it out. Join in if you feel so inspired.Or, if you want to talk about other topics, here's your chance. Click on the comments link and post away.
Friday's editorial cheers the idea behind a bill in the Legislature to prevent government agencies from using the threat of lawsuits to chill citizen oversight.
Yesterday at work, I was introduced to a variation of this scam. But instead of getting a postcard warning me that my car warranty was about to expire, I got an automated phone call telling me the same and that the consequences would be dire.…
Our editorial today begins:Are you having a pleasant day? Got enough sleep? Coffee's especially soothing? The kids got off to school with minimal mayhem? Well, here's one way to ruin it: Visit one of those online cost-of-college calculators and figure out how much it's going…
A Matter of Opinion is really a matter of three opinions – those held by the people responsible for the opinion pages of The Spokesman-Review. Check in regularly to find out what they’re up to, what they think and where they differ and to joust with them if you want.