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Need to push back
Compare these two statements: “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears” (George Orwell, from the novel 1984) and “What you’re seeing and hearing is not what’s happening” (Donald Trump, 2025). The summary execution of Renee Good in Minnesota is a chilling example of authoritarian excess.
A woman deprived not only of due process but of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Almost as scary are the immediate attempts by the regime to discredit her and justify the actions of armed thugs hired by said regime. No declarations find out what happened. No sympathy for a life cut short. Just the well-worn fallback to the most obvious lies. And to blame the victim. Nothing this woman did deserved a death sentence.
Have we sunk so low that we now accept whatever tripe the sociopaths running this country spit out? And give them a pass for murder? Remember, it is the ham-handed attempts to carry out their supposed mission, without restraints, that set this horror in motion. We the people need to use our voices and votes to push back hard against the continual travesties to our constitutional rights. We cannot let this become the new normal.
Steve Bennett Newport
Levy, bond provide needed resources
As parents and volunteers at Stratton Elementary, we see how important school funding is for students.
One of the strengths of Newport School District is its commitment to small class sizes. Smaller classes allow teachers to know each student, provide individualized instruction, and create a learning environment where children can thrive both academically and emotionally. These class sizes are not accidental-they are the result of intentional funding decisions that prioritize students. Continued levy support ensures this remains a reality.
The levy and bond also support STEAM education, encouraging creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, and ensure continued access to a school librarian, a vital resource for literacy, research skills, and a love of reading.
The bond’s investment in updating our high school is an investment in the future of our entire community. Modern, safe, and well-equipped facilities ensure that today’s elementary students-and generations after them-are prepared for college, careers, and life beyond graduation. When we strengthen our schools, we create a path of opportunity that supports students as they grow, learn, and pursue their dreams. Supporting this levy and bond means choosing a future where every child in our district has the resources they need to succeed, now and for generations to come.
Melissa Bonnett Newport
Why this levy is critical to school operations
While it’s logical to assume that state and federal dollars should cover the full cost of education, to the shame of our legislators, that is not the case. But don’t take my word for it, a quick Google search “Does Washington state fully fund schools” will confirm that school districts rely heavily on local levies. For all the money this state collects, they can’t/won’t/don’t fully fund education – but that’s a conversation for another day.
The Newport School District levy funds essential day-to-day operations that the state won’t cover. This includes classroom staff, nurses and counselors, an SRO and safety measures, technology, transportation support, all extracurricular activities, basic maintenance that keeps schools clean and functional, and much more. The levy is critical to bridging the gap between state funding and the actual cost of running our schools. Without levy funding, Newport would be forced to reduce services and programs that directly affect students.
This is a replacement levy (formerly known as Maintenance and Operations) of long-standing local support that allows the district to operate at a level our community expects and our students deserve.
Understanding how schools are funded is why I am voting yes on the levy.
Cheryl Bradbury Newport
Fifth Generation Warfare
Like many Americans, I was conditioned to believe that we were immune to the troubles of “third-world” countries. I believed we were immune to invasion: we have the mightiest military in history! So, when NAFTA sent our manufacturing industries to “third-world” countries, many suspected nothing. As poverty, homelessness, and drug addiction steadily increased, we believed people were “just lazy.” As illegal immigration ramped up, we believed their presence meant nothing more than people seeking a better life.
These are signs of tactics utilized in Fifth Generation Warfare “color revolutions.” Our enemies know they can’t militarily invade a superpower; so instead they employ stealth. They infiltrate leadership positions in every institution, who in turn hire more people loyal to their ideology. They use mainstream media to serve as their propaganda arm, spinning events 180 degrees from the truth. They trigger moral outrage by presenting opposite interpretations to left and right leaning audiences, stoking conflict. In the final stages, influencers begin to incite violent reactions to “the other side.” “Civil war” breaks out, providing the chaos shield needed for sleeper cells to rise up and overthrow the country.
It’s now possible to see how President Trump is steadily dismantling their operations.
Kamori Cattadoris Newport
Mail changes mean postmarks may be later
The USPS has implemented new procedures which mean letters, bills, tax forms, and yes, your ballots, will be postmarked when they are processed through sorting facilities instead of when they are dropped in any mailbox, whether at home or your local post office. Additionally, under the new rules, no evening mail pickup will occur for towns more than 50 miles from the processing center at the Spokane Airport. The significance of this is that mail dropped in Newport is not postmarked until the following day.
This may create real challenges for rural consumers dealing with deadline-driven mail, from IRS filings, property tax payments and Medicare documents to mail-in ballots, grant applications and government benefit notices. These rule changes affect about 70% of all Zip codes.
Small businesses that mail tax returns, payments to vendors, or other legal documents near a deadline may find the official postmark date is after the due date, potentially leading to late fees, penalties, or rejected filings.
So while election ballots may be the most publicized aspect of these rule changes, they have broader implications. That the USPS did little to inform us of the changes is indefensible.
-Roger Haick Loon Lake
Don’t understand MAGA
I have reached the point of not being able to understand why the MGA right can just sit by and allow people to be killed. Our country is no longer respected around the world. We are a laughingstock that has allowed a demented old crazy evil, hate filled man child to run our country into the ground. The reports leak through of one or two strokes in the he last six months that he had. I think when he wasn’t seen for a few days.
It should have been enough when Trump started the violent attack on our Capitol, but no. His entire cabinet needs to go.
As far as the Epstein files I, Iike all good Americans, want every name released no matter what the party they represent, Democrat or Republican. I just say enough! They all need to go!
Jeannie Hutchins Newport
Please vote yes for levy
As an 8th grader at Sadie Halstead Middle School here in Newport, I’m addressing this letter in support of the Newport Levy, because even though I’m not old enough to vote yet, the results of the upcoming school levy will affect my life and education experience. For a lot of us, school isn’t just about sitting at a desk and taking notes. It’s about the things we get to do after the final bell rings and the quality of education we will get to have. This Levy supports multiple things that will help our students and faculty.
Sports are a big part of my life and this Levy supports sports, which, from my personal experience, brings people together, brings a sense of inclusion and entertainment for students and family. It has also helped me learn discipline, teamwork, and how to handle both success and failure.
Additionally, this levy also supports the highly capable program and this allows students to become more confident with their learning skills and grow their talents. From my personal experience, it has helped strengthen my academic skills and has helped me build confidence in my ability to learn.
Caleb Hyland Newport
Could be turned on anyone
Washington residents should be paying attention to what’s happening in Minnesota. There are reports of ICE detaining people even after they present their passports. US citizens, just going about their lives, are being taken. I don’t want that to happen to me, my family, or my neighbors. I don’t want it to happen to anyone – but we could be next on the list.
The federal government is corrupt, and they’re taking it out on the people who haven’t even done anything “wrong.” Where are the folks standing up to tyrannical government? Speak up, tell Trump that this is an unacceptable and illegal abuse of power.
Think of these actions as a potential precedent. Nobody lives forever, and someday the folks in charge will be people you don’t agree with. A federal gestapo that acts outside the law could be turned on ANYONE. I don’t want to live like that. Do you?
Meg Lyman Deer Park, WA
Multigenerational Grizzly supports levy and bond
My name is Luke Nichols, and I have been lucky enough to be a lifelong Grizzly. Newport is where I have called home for my whole life, and as a multi-generational resident, my roots here run deep. I was fortunate to be a student in the Newport School District from preschool through graduation, and for the past three years, I have been even more fortunate to work within the district.
The support I have seen from this community is one of our greatest strengths. I remember the incredible feeling of state runs in basketball and football; seeing the stands packed and having the entire community behind us made those moments exponentially more special. Maintaining that Grizzly pride requires more than just spirit—it requires safe, modern, and functional facilities.
That is why I am back home working today, and why I strongly support the upcoming levy and bond. Our students deserve the same—if not better—opportunities and resources than those of us who came before them. By voting “Yes,” we ensure that the next generation of Grizzlies has a foundation they can be proud of. Please join me in investing in our schools and our children’s future.
Luke Nichols Newport
What will effects of rail improvements be?
The announcement that the Port of Pend Oreille has been awarded $1 million for rail service sounds like good news — and it may well be. Infrastructure funding usually is.
What I find myself wondering is what this looks like on the ground.
Rail funding often lives at a scale that feels abstract to residents: tonnage, capacity, regional freight movement, long timelines. Yet its effects, when they arrive, are anything but abstract. They show up as increased traffic, new industrial use, shifts in noise, commerce, and land value — or sometimes as changes most people never quite see, but live alongside anyway.
None of that is a criticism. It’s simply the nature of infrastructure projects that work quietly and reveal themselves slowly.
As this funding moves from announcement to implementation, it would be helpful for the community to understand how success will be measured, what changes residents might expect to notice, and how the benefits of expanded rail service are anticipated to flow locally.
Big investments shape small places over time. Asking what comes next feels like a reasonable place to start.
Saundra K. Park Newport
Idaho wins under President Trump
These important issues were reported by Senator Jim Risch as huge wins for Idaho due to President Trump’s support.
A new State Veterans Home in Boise, after two years of needless delays under Biden, the project finally broke ground last October.
The ROTC programs at the University of Idaho and Idaho State University are being preserved.
We secured the largest tax cut for working families in U.S. history, brought border crossings to a 25-year low, and protected women’s sports.
In addition, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), achieved $215 billion in taxpayer savings, derived from contract cancellations, lease terminations, the elimination of duplicate payments, and the reducing of fraudulent activities.
Here are a few more wins our President’s administration has ac-
SEE LETTERS, 7A complished this year.
With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, states are asked to remove junk food from food stamp programs.
In addition, more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies have entered into Most Favored Nation agreements by changing their practice of charging U.S. customers 400 percent or more for brand-name medications than they charge overseas customers. And how do you like the new gas prices? The list goes on and on. Thank you President Trump!
Maureen Paterson Priest River
Greenland
Some think Trump is crazy for his quest for Greenland for National Security. Actually, he is finishing what President Truman started right after WWII. Truman and top military saw Greenland as strategic for the US to own. In 1946 Truman offered Denmark 100M for Greenland.
In 1951, the Denmark Defense Agreement gave NATO the ‘right’ to expand military facilities.
That was never meant to be permanent. That gave the US the ability to ‘rent’ base space. In 1955, correspondence between Admiral Radford and Defense Secretary Wilson again showed the need to own it for National Security. ‘Renting’ was always plan B.
Trump was in Davos one day. His accomplishments were huge. He looked the global elites in the eyes and told them ‘their corruption was done.’ He continued, ‘the 2020 election was rigged and prosecutions will happen.’ Many in the room were uncomfortable.
Trump then met with other NATO leaders.
Several hours later he announced the framework for a deal on Greenland.
Denmark. would continue 600M/Yr payments to Greenlanders and no China or Russia. The cost? $0 other than defense.
Deal-maker-in-chief.
Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick
Increased tax burden deserves careful consideration
I am writing regarding the proposed school bond election recently noted in The Miner. Like many Newport residents, I value good schools and responsible public investment.
However, this request should be viewed in the context of the growing tax burden Washington residents already face.
The average Newport home is valued at about $234,000. At a bond rate of $1.75 per $1,000 of assessed value, that equals roughly $434 per year. Over the 22-year life of the bond, homeowners would pay about $9,548 for this single measure.
This comes at a time of significant tax and fee increases statewide.
Washington’s spending has risen from about $25 billion in 2020 to $54.5 billion in 2020, with projections of $119 billion in 2025. Since 2020, my own property taxes have increased by $549 annually. Fishing licenses rose from $45.50 in 2025 to $62.79 in 2026, a 38% increase. Additionally, Washington’s 55.4-cent gas tax is the highest in the nation.
Each increase may be justified individually, but together they place real strain on household budgets—especially for retirees and those on fixed incomes. With all these rising costs, I will have to give careful consideration before voting for a new school bond.
Scott Roberts Newport
Who is at the wheel?
In the recent Jack Smith hearing, House Judiciary Committee, Baumgartner displayed his uncanny knowledge. He opened his remarks with “who is Jack Smith?” His one question what do you know the City of Ben Tre [Vietnam]”?
This is someone who touts “serving Eastern Washington.” How? He supported cuts to Medicare/ Medicaid and brags about assisting farmers by not speaking out about the raising expenses caused by tariffs. Voted to not extend the ACA subsidy which resulted in increased insurance premiums I think the best quote of the day concerning the Republican members at the committee hearing was that Jack Smith being “the only sober person in a drunk bar at 1 AM.”
None of these members responded to the evidence.
In a separate venue VP Vance was speaking about the Trump economy. “You don’t turn the Titanic around overnight.” We all know the end result on the Titanic.
Appears we have a “ship of fools?” Robert W. Schutte Newport
Trump threw a tantrum at Davos
We just saw Trump take a big dump on the world stage in Davos. He threw a tantrum like a child wanting a Greenland toy. The USA pulled out of Greenland after the Cold War and the development of space based early warning satellites.
We have a 1951 treaty that allows us full access to Greenland for military or security purposes.
Trump likely wants to change Greenland into “Trumpland.”
Canada and Europe essentially told Trump that they are going to go on without America. Why are we turning the stable world order upside down just to feed Trump’s enormous ego? Trump said NATO has done nothing for America and insulted the NATO troops sent to Iraq and Afghanistan who died fighting alongside US soldiers. Trump doubled the insult by claiming NATO troops were in the rear. How can local veterans vote for Trump and his Republican congressional enablers?
Trump thinks the US military is his toy to play with.
If you have lived a life, you know that dumping on your family, friends and coworkers is bad.
You might have gained wealth, but everyone hates you. Still, you praise Trump while you watch him act in the worse way possible.
Pete Scobby Newport
We’re past point of no return
Let’s get honest here: we are past the point of no return. Our country will never be the same - not just because of the murder of Renee Good, or because every bootlicker in the White House is an absolute coward, but because this mess is our fault.
Neo Nazis in this country have convinced the vastly uneducated masses into believing that a person like Trump was a better choice than a woman. Or better yet, they chose to sit on the side and didn’t vote at all, hoping this would all go away. Not only that, but ICE escalates far too quickly because they are untrained and know that they can get away with it. They watched us while we stood by and let people of color be brutally assaulted and murdered by gun-happy cops.
Now they watch us panic and flounder while the innocent are stolen from their own homes.
If you agree with Trump and his ICE goonies then it’s obvious you don’t care about this country, or her people.
Just remember this while you’re still worshipping a convicted felon; give them enough time and they’ll come for you too.
Brianna Williamson Newport
