Columns
See the latest columns from CDA Press!
PYP: One voice a disservice to all
While I have concerns about the Coeur d'Alene School Board's recent decisions on the IB/PYP programs, what concerns me even more as a longtime citizen of this community is the lack of diversity of opinion on this s…
Teachers, elected leaders demonized
A full page ad entitled "Unions Declare War on Idaho Kids!" has appeared in many Idaho newspapers. It was paid for by right-wing agitator Frank L. Vandersloot, Dutch for "from the ditch," which describes the nature…
County: No time for big change
The citizens of Kootenai County should be very wary of the upcoming ballot measure to "Change the Form of County Government." The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in a departure from their campaign promises of …
Mama's boys: Pass on that pacifier
I'm just not sure how to react to this one. News flash: Pacifiers may be bad for babies, but only boys. Why can girls keep them? Because we communicate better, of course.
Business group urges collaboration, stable funding to reform Idaho education
Experts predict that by 2020, 63 percent of Idaho jobs will require a career certificate or college degree. Currently only 34 percent of Idaho adults ages 25-34 have an associate degree or higher. For our young peo…
All about the truth
I never thought I would find myself in agreement with Mike Ruskovich. However, I am very much in agreement with Mike's recent My Turn about truth. Americans want more than deceptive words, phrases, and political co…
My 5 cents: Thoughts from a Russian immigrant
I was asked to write this column, and truthfully, I have been seeking a way to tell people my views before it is too late. So here it is - hopefully worth a little more than 2 cents.
Cd'A home to Library of the Year
I've tried, but it's just not the same. I can't curl up with a Kindle; even its subdued screen feels too much like working at a computer. The iPad is too bright and the fingerprints distract me. My tired eyes need …
We can 'blame the sun' for our Pacific Northwest drought
It remains my firm climatological opinion that the combination of a weak 'El Nino' sea-surface temperature event in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and relatively high sunspot activity in 2012 as expected, has led …
Superfund Straight Talk Answering Citizens' Questions about the Coeur d'Alene River Basin Cleanup
Q: What is being constructed along I-90 between Smelterville and Pinehurst?
Students must come first
We will all be faced with a deciding vote on the first steps of education reform in November and it is important that everyone understand what is proposed and what is at stake. Idahoans will vote on three referenda…
Q&A on form of government
There has been a great deal of discussion on the commissioners' proposal to change the form of government. Many of us know little about the proposal so it might be worthwhile to take a closer look. I was surprised …
Vote 'yes' on Prop 1
Idaho voters will find three education reform propositions on their November ballots addressing the Students Come First legislation passed by the Idaho Legislature and signed into law by Governor Otter.
The flawed concepts behind county impact fees
There are many reasons the Kootenai County impact fee program should be suspended and the collected amounts refunded to those who paid them - so many I cannot dive into them all in this brief column. I'll limit my …
Live in the question
Part of the human condition is to struggle with decisions. The more connected the decision to perceived happiness, the more we tend to struggle. In his "Letters to a Young Poet," Rainer Maria Rilke told a young man…