New findings this week about Oregon’s system for the criminally insane adds urgency to the need for reform. Too many Oregonians are facing too much risk of harm. The state is freeing those found guilty except for insanity, turning then out into communities and then looking the other way as[Read More…]

Area reservoirs, like the Owyhee (above), are running low, potentially creating serious challenges for Malheur County’s agriculture industry in the coming years. (The Enterprise/File) Low water levels in Malheur County reservoirs could be marked with a big red sign: WARNING. There is danger to the agricultural economy in this status,[Read More…]

The holiday season is the giving season, and charity hits its peak. Adults across Malheur County can give a special gift this season – educating children how to be charitable. This is a gift that would last for years for children and for the community. A fact of local life[Read More…]

Reforming how the state protects Oregonians from the criminally insane needs the unwavering attention of Gov. Kate Brown, legislators and state agency officials. Since the Anthony Montwheeler case seized public attention nearly two years ago, precious little has changed. Our investigation into the dangers of the system should sink spurs[Read More…]

We doubt anyone in Malheur County is surprised that local election results don’t mirror the state totals. Voters here by a big margin backed Republican Knute Buehler in his failed bid for governor. On four of five ballot measures, Malheur County voters chose differently than the state as a whole.[Read More…]

Across Oregon, more than 310,000 people can say proudly, “I’m a vet.” That includes 25,600 women and about 2,000 military veterans in Malheur County. Sunday is Veterans Day, and especially now, it ought to be more than an excuse for a Monday holiday from work or school. Every veteran who[Read More…]

Voters in Ontario need to consider the town’s future as they decide who to elect mayor. The city has had a rocky year and the challenges ahead are immense. The next mayor needs experience in navigating such challenges and leading to solutions the community can embrace. Of the four running,[Read More…]

The top job facing Ontario city officials right now is to build the trust of local residents. A string of city decisions recently has left too many doubting who the city serves. Voters can restore that connection with their choices for three city council seats on the ballot. Seven people[Read More…]

Ontario voters are having a second run at marijuana this election. This time, they’re voting whether to drop the city’s ban on recreational sales and open the town for business. The arguments for and against the measure range from reasoned to shrill. The choice for voters isn’t clear. Those supporting[Read More…]

Unless voters decide otherwise, hundreds of kids in Malheur County will be without sports and other programs next year. The Ontario City Council has decided to chop the city’s recreation program by the end of this year. A measure on the Nov. 6 ballot would fill that void with a[Read More…]