Subscribe

Columns

June 14, 2018

Straw pulp looks like win-win

Here’s a switch: Rather than closing another pulp and paper mill, a new one is under construction right here in Washington.

May 31, 2018

Stand up to ‘swampiest’ president

As a boy who grew up on skates in Minnesota with my Dad as hockey coach, I vividly recall that he frequently echoed the old adage, “The best defense is a good offense.” Someone evidently told that to Donald Trump too, and we see it play out constantly.

May 10, 2018

Super wildfires demand new tack

With western wildfires growing in size and destroying more homes, farms and businesses, there is a need for new tools and approaches. The infernos are spreading so fast they are outstripping our ability to fight them in traditional ways.

May 3, 2018

‘Bee City’ Buzz: Helping bees thrive

They were not making it easy. They could have landed on a low, dangling branch. I have a lot of those in my yard. But they landed on four old, decaying fence boards. I “guesstimated” they numbered over 30,000 — a fine spring swarm of beautiful, amber-colored honeybees.

April 19, 2018

Trade war may hit Washington hard

Any trade war between the United States and China is worrisome, but if it escalated and tariffs are imposed, it will hit Washington particularly hard. Avoiding that possibility should be our primary goal.

April 12, 2018

Water pressure mounting in West

As we deal with our population growth, we must address sufficient supplies of drinkable fresh water for residential, commercial, agriculture, fisheries and industrial needs.

March 22, 2018

China now driving car market

In the 1950s, America’s “Big Three” automakers (General Motors, Ford and Chrysler) were the pacesetters for our industrial dominance. They had the skilled workers, financing, mass production technology, sales networks, supply chains and customer base. In short, they had it all.