Make the McKenzie Connection!
Make the McKenzie Connection!
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EVs are not necessarily heavier than gasoline cars. The best-selling EV in the world is the Tesla Model Y, which weighs about 4,300 pounds. My Honda Pilot weighs 4,500 pounds, a Ford F-350 7,400 pounds. An 18-wheeler comes in at 66,000 pounds... If you have trouble believing that, realize that while batteries are heavy, EVs don’t need a transmission, need far less steel, and can use more aluminum. Tesla is working on a structural battery pack, which would require even less excess material. Yes, EV batteries can catch fire, but it is much m...
The federal government may soon finalize guidance that could weaken ownership of intellectual property throughout the U.S. economy. This would affect a huge swathe of industries, among them biotechnology, clean energy, agriculture, and defense. More specifically, the new guidance would cause companies large and small, as well as their investors, to balk at licensing and developing promising new technologies -- with severe consequences for American innovation. Shepherding a promising idea from lab to marketplace is already a daunting task, as I...
Saturday night’s guitar duo concert at Vida McKenzie Community Center turned out to be one of those summer evenings when everything felt right. The audience was warm, neighborly, and engaged. The musicians were very accomplished but in an “unfussy” way. Their openheartedness was palpable while they played and interacted with the audience. VMCC thanks Jerry Zybach and Stan Welsh for transforming this gathering space into a true “listening room.” Here are an upcoming few VMCC events to put on your calendar: Bingo at the Center occurs the secon...
Oregon politicians banned the use of coal for electricity generation by 2030 and natural gas by 2040, pushing utilities to rely more on wind and solar energy. These sources often produce less than 10% of Oregon’s electricity needs, forcing utilities to engage in a costly overbuild of wind and solar infrastructure. Given that weather is unpredictable, how much overbuilding will be required to meet demand is unknown. The grid must always balance supply and demand, and dispatchable energy must quickly adjust. Currently, energy storage at the g...
President Biden wants to lower drug prices. While that is a laudable goal, we can’t afford to undermine the intellectual property rights that helped produce these innovative drugs in the first place. A recent proposal would do just that, and it’s not limited to drugs. The proposed policy change would reinterpret a 1980 law that ushered in a new era of American innovation and collaboration between the public and private sectors. But if this proposed policy change is finalized, it will cause a wide swathe of our high-tech sector to stall out...
As parts of Oregon have gone more than two months without rain, conditions are optimal for wildfires. Even for areas not yet affected, things could change in an instant. Preparing ahead of time can help ensure you have everything you need in the event of an evacuation. Pack a bag for yourself and one for your animal companions containing enough supplies to last for at least one week. Keep everything where it’s easy to grab in a hurry. For animals, include their medical records, food and water, bowls, medications, and a special toy or b...
When an Electric Vehicle is marketed as “zero-emission,” consumers expect their car does not cause pollution, right? Well, in the case of zero-emission vehicles, the phrase only refers to “tailpipe exhaust emissions of certain pollutants or greenhouse gases,” according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Many miss this fine print and buy EVs, believing they are helping the environment. In reality, while removing the element of exhaust, EVs emit 20-26% more tire dust annually than gas cars due to their added battery weight. That ba...
As a student at Lake Oswego Junior High, I first learned about tobacco, smoking, and e-cigarettes. It was viewed as a fun but costly activity to do with friends. Then in the seventh grade, my health teacher warned us of the dangers of smoking. I remember looking at my friend and laughing. Who would knowingly poison themselves? Now, as I prepare to become a high school senior, I understand why many young people become addicted to tobacco: It is sold in a wide variety of flavors that appeal to kids. It is promoted as a stress reliever, and a...
Big Tech is building its latest technology on intellectual property and uncompensated use of expression, content, and data collected online and in databases. Journalistic content, which is far more than just a collection of facts and is often gathered at great costs to the journalists who report the news, is indispensable to these new AI technologies. The legal regulatory system has lagged behind recent rapid-fire developments in AI. By failing to enforce intellectual property rights, regulators have allowed a handful of companies to further en...
I didn’t recognize the name or return address on an envelope before opening it recently. The note I read was a total surprise. “About forty years ago I pulled my uninsured vehicle out onto Hilyard St. in Eugne right in front of your oncoming small Honda. Your car had been ready to sell but was significantly damaged. My recollection is that you mentioned a big deductible on your insurance coverage and requested I send money if my fortunes ever improved. I felt bad about the situation. I have been steadily employed at a good job for over a doz...
For two years now, Oregon’s wage floor has been stuck in place. It’s run aground at a place well short of what families need to make ends meet. That may seem strange to say given that Oregon’s minimum hourly wage went up 50 cents on July 1, but that increase only keeps pace with inflation. It’s just enough to not fall behind the rising cost of living, but not enough to make progress. Progress on wages is essential to remedy the widespread economic insecurity afflicting Oregonians, and there are...
You can’t understand the scope of 122,000 names until you see them on a wall. Stand at the foot of the National Monument to Freedom, recently dedicated by the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, and you’ll see all of them, soaring three or four stories above your head. Each name, taken from the 1870 Census, belonged to a former enslaved person. These are surnames. Family names. Combined, they represent about 4 million people who emerged from bondage. Each one stands for an American once tre...
It seems as if every community, big or small, has been impacted by the problems associated with substance use and drug overdose. Within these communities, these problems extend into the family unit, with people becoming addicted and dying because of drugs. However, community drug education and prevention programs can be a first line of defense. There is hope for the younger generations as they have more access to online prevention and education resources to help them make informed decisions. In...
Two big slices of news about Oregon newspapers fell shortly after Memorial Day, sending shock waves across the state. One was the sale of one of the largest Oregon newspaper groups, Portland-based Pamplin Media, and the other was the announcement of major cutbacks in another, EOMedia, which owns the Bend Bulletin and other newspapers. Both show the immediate urgency for finding a way to rescue community news in Oregon – sooner, not later. Among other things, the Oregon Legislature urgently n...
It is a truly sad state of affairs here in the Beaver State: Our salmon stocks are struggling mightily, biodiversity is crashing under the weight of human activities, climate change is accelerating, drought is greatly affecting regional agriculture and wildfires threaten our communities every summer. But there is a nature-based solution that could help. Protecting our state animals could greatly assist human and wildlife communities adapt to the many challenges we face. The wetlands and...
7 is being called the “Year of Universal Education Choice,” and for good reason. According to the nonprofit organization EdChoice, policymakers in 40 states debated 111 bills to expand education options for K-12 students. Lawmakers in seven states enacted new choice programs, and ten states expanded already-existing ones. As of March 2024, eleven states now have universal or near-universal school choice laws. Approximately 20 million American children are eligible to participate in a private choice program. Oregon parents should be able to...
Every year, USACE publishes updated statistics for water safety (or lack thereof) at its project locations throughout the country. In the eight years I’ve been working for USACE, the statistics on drownings have not significantly changed (that I can recall), regardless of the amount of focus and messaging the enterprise has published. Again, it’s no surprise that USACE data from 2023 shows that drowning victims at our locations are 88 percent male and 89 percent who weren’t wearing life jackets. This is an important topic for many of our staff...
Why did PETA supporters steal the show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show with a sign urging everyone to “Boycott Breeders”? Because “Best in Show” is the worst for dogs. As a licensed veterinary technician, I have seen firsthand the harms of selective breeding, which causes most, if not all, purebreds to suffer from debilitating health issues—and even shortened lifespans. Breathing-impaired breeds including shih tzus and bulldogs have intentionally flattened faces and distorted airways that leave them struggling for every breath; d...
Summer officially begins this weekend and most of us love summer. Millions of Americans will enjoy having a weekend free from work next weekend. However, not everyone will be vacationing. Keep in mind that many Americans will keep convenience stores, grocery stores, restaurants, and many retail stores open for your shopping pleasure. Many of these hard-working people will have a day off but it may not be Monday or even during the weekend. They are a hard-working group in our country who will make it possible for you to be out and about having...
On behalf of McKenzie Community Track and Field I (Cliff Richardson), I would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to all the volunteers who worked the two Track meets this past week. Your commitment to our youth and those from other communities helped put a cap on the 2024 Track Season at our beautiful Aaron and Marie Jones Community Track. Many of the visiting teams, their fans, and coaches thanked and appreciated the work you all accomplished. Our 2024 Track Season at the Aaron and Marie Jones Community Track has been declared a success,...
On April 24, 2024, President Biden signed as part of a foreign aid package passed by Congress a law that could ban the video app TikTok. But can the federal government ban an entire social media platform or other form of communication? Or does that violate the First Amendment? Because it’s almost certain that one or more lawsuits will be filed, we explore whether banning TikTok violates the First Amendment. What does the TikTok law do? The law was originally proposed as HR 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled A...
The League of Women Voters of Lane County (LWVLC) wants to help you prepare for the primary election coming soon on May 21st. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that is dedicated to helping voters become informed about and actively participate in government. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate. However, the League does advocate for important social policy issues but only after rigorous study and a consensus building review by members. The League of Women Voters produces a...
Now there’s a movie, “Civil War,” that projects the trumpian breakdown of America, with breakaway regionsband malignant militias. I didn’t go see “Civil War,” even though it’s an easy walk down to our charming old neighborhood theater, where they sell good beer that you can take to your seat along with a bag of decent popcorn. The $5 Tuesday tickets are a bargain, but I still didn’t go. I’d been reading quite a bit about “Civil War,” but by the time I worked up the determination to walk...
Carol’s and my families have lived on the McKenzie River since 1954. We believe McKenzie Fire & Rescue is a major benefit to our community. Next week each home will receive a 20-356 Operation Levy Fact Sheet in the mail. We encourage you to read these one-and-a-half pages. It briefly discusses all the benefits of supporting the upcoming Levy in the May 21, 2024 Election. Voter support enables McKenzie Fire & Rescue to maintain current staffing levels, response-ready apparatus, and equipment, continue Student Fire Fighter Programs, and allows f...
They said it couldn’t be done, They said it couldn’t be done, but Oregon will finally more closely resemble most other states in how it regulates campaign finance. Thanks to a bill passed during the just-wrapped legislative session, contributions to state candidates will no longer be able to stretch to infinity. House Bill 4024, which Gov. Tina Kotek signed, takes effect in 2027. That is cause for celebration. But Oregonians should keep their expectations in line and take personal responsibility...
