Reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future is a time-honored New Year tradition for many of us, but even more so in 2020 as we leave the teens behind for a new decade.
The Imbler classified union and the Imbler School District have been negotiating since last spring for a new contract. While we have found common ground on issues, the district has been unwill…
Oregon is not a wait-and-see kind of state. So it’s time to stop waiting for more research about providing a Universal Basic Income. Instead, it’s time we adopt a UBI and fine tune it as we go…
The Oregon Senate’s Interim Committee on Environment and Natural Resources has unveiled the Legislature’s latest version of climate change legislation.
Oregon lawmakers have tried at least a couple of times to make it more difficult for parents to avoid vaccinating their children, unfortunately with little success.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to sign phase one of a U.S.-China trade deal on Jan. 15 at the White House.
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In Union County, being a cyclist is dangerous. Cyclists may refuse to yield to one another, to vehicles and cutting people off at will at crossings — because they don’t trust others to give th…
A new year signals a new beginning for all of us. While many of us will make our standard new year resolutions, as a community there are several pledges we should make for 2020.
As we enter 2020, the year in which we will elect a new president of the United States, let's pause to consider some differences a new president could make.
The United States of America Commemoration of the Vietnam War is currently ongoing. This national commemoration was authorized by Congress, established under the secretary of defense and launc…
There's an old journalism cliche that goes something like this: "If your mother says she loves you, get a second source."
The results of a study of stakeholder attitudes regarding the proposed breaching of Snake River dams were hardly surprising, but ag interests say the document may serve to educate proponents o…
Considering Mrs. Dutto’s response to my letter about the now implemented non-horn status of the five main UP crossing through La Grande.
Happy New Year. The calendar has taken another faithful leap from the end of one year to the beginning of another and hopes are running high. January is often prime time for personal and profe…
As someone who owns and operates a cattle ranch, I take pride in saying Congressman Walden is working harder than anyone in D.C. to cut through the red tape that we farmers and ranchers live w…
It is the wonderful week between Christmas and a new year, a time for spiritual renewal including for many of us pondering the words of Jesus, as well as commitments to ourselves of something …
Remain steadfast in your convictions. Live freely. Increase knowledge. Vote.
To the Editor:
What contributes to student success? Across Oregon, educators, parents, students and community members are gathering to discuss just that, and to determine how funds from the recently enacted …
A recent run of syndicated columnists appearing under Other Views" in The Observer was disturbing.
In an era of bare-knuckled politics, the career of William Ruckelshaus provides valuable lessons. He was the first administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
When the La Grande City Council voted unanimously on Dec. 4 to allow the Union County Warming Station to operate in its new location, we moved closer to meeting the emergency needs of some of …
Union County Warming Station goals are to provide a warm place at night for the homeless living in La Grande. That goal will be partially reached when the shelter on Third Street is functional…
The Independent Party of Oregon, all 124,777 of them, is giving nonaffiliated voters in the state something the two majors refuse to do. It will allow the 948,697 (as of October) nonaffiliated…
It didn’t take long.
The impeachment hearings have revealed a gang of cowardly craven apologists for Trump who no longer care about the U.S. Constitution or the criminal conspiracy that is manifest in Trump’s beha…
On Dec. 6, I opened The Observer Opinion page. This is often the first page I read when the newspaper arrives in our bright orange newspaper box. I was disgusted to see a huge, color, racist h…
To the Editor:
Since taking the role of editor at The Observer, my list of changes to improve what we do continues to grow.
This letter is directed to the people of La Grande.
The La Grande City Council had little choice in deciding Wednesday night to allow the Union County Warming Station to open. Oregon's land use laws meant the council only could consider certain…
The superlatives do not soon run out.
Chief Petty Officer Eddie Gallagher is a highly decorated combat veteran who made the mistake of posing for a photograph with a dead ISIS combatant.
Ryan Moore is a writer, songwriter and social media strategist. Ryan has adopted a cat and rabbits that were victims of animal testing and a dog from a puppy mill that was shut down. He is @Ry…
If you have been reading Oregon news the last couple of years, you probably noticed a trend: The most interesting news stories are coming out of rural Oregon, often Eastern Oregon.
To the Editor:
To the Editor:
To the Editor:
To the Editor:
To the Editor:
Before moving to La Grande I interviewed in a small town in rural Arkansas. Over dinner on the first night we somehow got onto the topic of where I grew up. I shared how I felt I was fortunate…
Diversity, the mere mention of the term alone, especially in the realm of politics, more often than not, evokes polarizing perspectives. Many heated debates have ensued in the open market of i…
Here are a few conservative ideas regarding health care.
A recent study produced by the Knight Foundation and Gallup probably didn’t grab the attention of a lot of county residents, but it sure caught our gaze.