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Since 2005 as a country, we have lost over 2,500 newspapers, many in rural areas.
The term is being used, “news desert,” to describe local, rural communities without local newspapers. There are many negative aspects especially for rural areas in the loss of local news.
Counties and communities with no local news leave residents without a source of information about local government, community events, local human interest, sports and source of opinion/letters to the editor. This lack of local news makes it harder for communities to hold local officials accountable and the ability of knowledgeable participation. This indirectly impacts local decision making.
National news sources do not normally provide a local perspective. It many times only contributes to polarization since the information is based on a national or state perspective only.
Our community is fortunate to have The Miner. The Miner provides factual reporting on local government, political entities, sports, events/celebrations and even the Letters to the Editor page. The latter being an opportunity for diverse opinions. In the north end of the county, we have the Selkirk Sun.
Support our local newspaper. Invest in our community[ies]. Subscribe.
-Robert W. Schutte Newport
Baugartner’s office response
inadequate
Over the past 10 months, I have called and messaged the office of our Representative, Michael Baumgartner, on a variety of topics. I have been profoundly disappointed by the responses.
I have received no reply to most messages; other replies months after the original message. I have repeatedly received identical messages in which the topic is impossible to discern, but implying he disagrees with me. I have received replies with multiple typos; and spoken to office workers who state he has not communicated a stance on the issues I called about, so they cannot answer my question. I have received multiple messages replying to the opposite of what I sent.
This ongoing refusal to respond in a meaningful manner gives his entire office an air of incompetence, mismanagement and apathy toward constituent communication which is unacceptable and unbecoming of a Representative.
We deserve better than this.
-Jessica Adams Colville
Time to invoke 25th Amendment
There is no question in the minds of most Americans about the sanity of our current president of the United States. This man is constantly deflecting what he has done onto Joe Biden. He downgrades our past president and blames him for all of the problems he has caused. He’s killing people, ordering them killed because he suspects they might be bringing drugs into the United States. As I recall that was why he put up the border wall because he said that all the drugs were coming in from Mexico. He’s talking about not really declaring war but just killing people. He wants all his enemies to be arrested, just because he doesn’t like them, or because they had the guts to stand up against him.
It is past time to invoke the 25th Amendment and to have this crazy man relieved of all his duties and put into a nursing home. He really shouldn’t be doing any of the things that he is doing, he’s doing it because Congress is full of gutless cowards. No one wants to stand up to the to the bully of the United States.
-Jeannie Hutchins Newport
Special Education shouldn’t depend on a ballot
When special education shows up on a ballot, it means the system has already failed the families who depend on it.
Local levies were never meant to fill a federal promise. Yet, as the article from Idaho Education News points out, school districts are now asking voters to approve millions just to meet federally required “maintenance of effort” standards. That’s not transparency — that’s desperation disguised as democracy.
Parents shouldn’t have to vote for their child’s right to learn, and teachers shouldn’t have to justify the cost of inclusion. When we treat special education as an optional line item, we risk telling students with the greatest needs that their place in the classroom is conditional.
It’s time for the state and federal governments to honor the full funding they promised decades ago — before the next generation learns that equity depends on Election Day.
-Saundra K. Park Newport
Trump’s ego bigger than Washington Monument
I will gladly vote for any presidential candidate for 2028 that promises to tear down Trump’s oversized White House ballroom addition. Perhaps they could move it to one of his golf courses. Trump will name it the “Trump Ballroom” since his vanity is larger than any D.C. monument.
I get that MAGA needs a physical god-like figure to worship as Jesus may not return in their lifetimes. Humans have a need to adore something to fill their lives with joy. It can be their family, nature, art or a deity. I have no need to adore a politician, celebrity or king.
A friend said that there is no cure for Trump Derangement Syndrome because I don’t have the level of gullibility needed to make it go away. My house is going to last much longer than MAGA or Trump. Perhaps RFK Jr. will identify the vaccine voters took to make them vote for Trump and how it made them more gullible and willing to accept social political nonsense like the belief that making rich people richer will make poor people prosper. In the future my great grandkids will correct their kid’s poor behavior with “Hey, stop acting like a Trump.”
-Pete Scobby Newport
Profit or compassion?
Soon after a meeting with V.P. Vance and Secretary of Transportation Duffy, major airlines American, Delta, Southwest, and United called for Congress to approve the Republican-backed “clean” spending bill so the Federal government can reopen. This is an ugly reminder that many corporations have the power and will to promote profit over human suffering. Health care insurance premiums are rising sharply enough that low-income families are priced out, and SNAP funds are ending for the poorest of us.
Such inequality spikes my anger because the companies didn’t even use that opportunity to pressure the parties toward public negotiations within a set timeframe. Making negotiations public would add accountability. Being a realist, I know that won’t happen. The MAGA movement and inequality are threatening our stability and credibility as a civil nation.
-Ed Styskel Newport
Baumgartner protects own narrative
Day 35 of the shutdown: What’s Michael Baumgartner doing to end it and his paid vacation? Nothing that I can see.
He’s parroting Republican talking points blaming Democrats for the shutdown while ignoring constituents who are begging him to do something about exploding healthcare costs. He’s taking photo ops while his constituents try to figure how they’re going to afford food and rent or mortgage payments. He peddles insults while our farmers very possibly lose their lands.
He’s laughing it up with donors while our public monuments are demolished in violation of the law and decency. He says nothing about the president’s extrajudicial murders, increasing lawlessness, and disgraceful pardoning of criminals.
Even when in DC Baumgartner doesn’t bother to provide congressional oversight. He stands by and so, is complicit with executive overreach. And, he protects pedophiles by voting against release of the Epstein files.
Then he attempts to tell voters he’s bipartisan. But every vote, every talking point, and every media hit puts him squarely in MAGA’s corner. He’s not “reaching across the aisle” — he’s reading from a script.
When he talks about “protecting families,” remember this: the only thing Baumgartner is protecting is his political narrative.
Tell me again: What is the use in him being our representative? Vote him out.
Lisa Wolfe Kettle Falls
