Last week a politician speaking on National Public Radio against gun regulations stated that an assault rifle like the AR-15 is no different than a hunting rifle. “It shoots the same ammunition,” he said.

When I first started working at Hood River News (11 years ago, but who’s counting?), I had this idea that being a reporter was just about words. So that is what I concentrated on when I was assigned my first story: I researched, I interviewed, I wrote, and I filed the finished article.

In the early days of the pandemic — a lifetime ago it seems now — the Columbia Gorge News invited readers to share how the pandemic was reshaping their lives, and how they were learning to cope with those changes. Their stories were published under the heading “Coping with COVID.”

Why do we place certain news items on some pages, but not on others? Why can’t we slip in a short press release about — for example — a city council meeting on the sports page? Why isn’t there wiggle room on letters to the editor, but there is in press releases?

Winter in the Columbia River Gorge can be stark, cold and dangerous. For those living with limited means and resources winter, can be a nightmare of cold and discomfort and sometimes tragedy.

OLYMPIA — The Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) and the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) have responded to increasingly hostile and aggressive public behavior in school board meetings and online discussions, as well as in-person confrontations direc…

Recent questions to our letter to the editor rules have prompted us to clarify our policy.

These days it seems we are craving the simple manners of being kind. Sometimes I am amazed by kindness beyond words. The kind that touches your soul and reminds you of the ways in which we thrive.

“The Democratic National Convention is happening under a police state.” — Walter Cronkite, in a real clip from the film “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”

I’ve lost track of how many years I kept a running list of our letter writers for Hood River News’ opinion page — maybe 5? — but I’m glad to be able to continue the tradition in Columbia Gorge News. Letters to the editor are an important part of any newspaper, and we give credit here to thos…

Letter writers to Columbia Gorge News, April 8 — our first edition — through Dec. 30. An asterisk (*) indicates a co-signed letter. The number following a name indicates total number of letters written; names appear in alphabetical order.

Thirty years ago, I remember doing some quick math as I watched the news magazine show 20/20 with Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters: In the year 2020, I’d be the unimaginable age of 48.

We’ve moved not once, not twice, but three times!

My last Behind the Scenes ran April 1 in the Hood River News, and it was a goodbye column.

Commit to mask use

Editor’s Note: The following is a joint statement by the News Media Alliance, America’s Newspapers and the National Newspaper Association.

Uninformed mediaIt’s so unfortunate so many people believe in the media’s reporting of what is actually happening in Washington. You hear information directly from the people in the White House. Most of it is fact, some is possible and some is “we will see.” The stuff reported in the media h…

Readers of the Hood River News and The Dalles Chronicle alike will have received this combined edition of their twice-weekly community newspaper with surprise. The Dalles and Hood River? Together? What is going on?

Our newspapers, The Hood River News and The Dalles Chronicle, remain committed to the communities they serve.  The health and well-being of our employees and our readers will remain a top priority. Over the upcoming weeks, you will find both offices will have limited office hours. Many of ou…

Who knew Tom Brady was such a philanthropist?Tuesday morning, in the wake of quarantining and mass closures, came the news of a 42-year-old quarterback who is going to take his ball and play somewhere else.Thanks go to the NFL, and Newport Police Department, for providing us some needed dist…

I had learned that you should always shout louder than your aggressor.” — From “Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood” by Iranian emigre Marjane Satrapi.

Looking ahead to 2020, there is  much to be excited about.Yes, it’s an election year, and the fractious nature of the American body politic is a clear cause for concern — though here in the Gorge, the votes will also include a number of key leadership roles in local government, and these are…

Letters to the Editor submissions were down all around in 2019. We received 639 letters from 379 writers this year. Contrast that to 2018, when the News received 865 letters by 476 different writers — that’s 226 fewer letters and 97 fewer writers this year.

The most surprising thing about the last month of 2019 is that we have not seen more “end of decade” coverage in the media.