I am writing this on February 14, 2021, Oregon’s 162 birthday. The commemoration of the creation of the beaver state is a good time to reflect on the vast history of the place we now call Oregon.

The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges are echoing with sound now: the honks of geese, the quacks of mallards, the whistling of wigeon, the bugling of cranes. March is peak migration time, and the abundance of waterfowl is a heart-lifting spectacle.

As journalists, our currency is words. We understand their power and we strive to wield our words with respect for that power and for the place of responsibility we’ve been granted in our society.

The Ashland Independent Film Festival has been a growing cultural force in our region, and increasingly around the country, over its 20 years in existence. Yes, 20 years.

Like so many people, the events of January 6th commanded my attention. I was working at home that day and connected to JPR’s News & Information Service webstream, which provided regular newscasts throughout the day.

So you want to see pictures of my new grandson? Sure you don’t, but that won’t stop me. He’s only the best baby ever, said the grandmother before the readers turned the page to study the JPR Program Schedule.

“I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!” screams the exasperated Jacobim Mugatu, Will Ferrill’s fashionista character in the 2001 comedy Zoolander.

In the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, there has been plenty of teeth gnashing and hand wringing among the media and members of the press.

A few months back, I wrote about how we were living through history, and boy have we lived through some history since I typed those words.

One of the great things about being a journalist is that it’s rarely boring. It’s called “news” because new things are happening all the time.