Columnists - The Journal

The cup is half-full

White to move and win DIAG 1 The World Cup in India this November is one of the most important chess tournaments of the year. That’s because the top three finishers qualify for three of...

DATE: Nov 17, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Colorado River crisis demands leadership before Washington takes the reins

On Nov. 11, the seven states that share the Colorado River missed a critical deadline. The Department of the Interior asked them to agree on the bones of a post-2026 management plan – the ru...

DATE: Nov 16, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Funding for Healthy School Meals for All means active kids and business for local farmers

I’m proud to say that Election Day was a win for Colorado families with the passage of Propositions LL and MM, which will extend the Healthy School Meals for All program and boost SNAP assis...

DATE: Nov 14, 2025 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

The power of looking for the good

Gratitude isn’t just a feeling – it’s a lens that changes everything you see.

DATE: Nov 12, 2025 | CATEGORY: Lessons from the Sandbox

Pseudo pins

DIAG 1 Lions use teamwork to hunt bigger prey like water buffalo and giraffes. In chess, black’s bishop and knight use teamwork to take down bigger prey – namely, white’s queen. White’s...

DATE: Nov 10, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

From a modest win to bigger goals: Delivering for Colorado

On Oct. 24, my first bill as your congressman, the Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act, passed both the House and Senate. I’m proud to be among the first freshmen in this Congre...

DATE: Nov 7, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion

One sacrifice too many

The chess community was recently shocked by the sudden death of 29-year-old Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky. As one of the world’s most popular and well-liked players, he was omnipresent on th...

DATE: Nov 3, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Repeal of the Public Lands Rule endangers the West’s lands and livelihoods

For those of us living in the West, public lands are deeply woven into our culture. They offer habitat for wildlife, access to rivers, recreational trails, cattle grazing, and oil and gas de...

DATE: Nov 2, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Strong communities rely on engaged citizens who show up and get involved

Though national politics often garner the lion’s share of media coverage, many will tell you that it’s local government that most directly impacts citizens’ day-to-day lives. Look at your ro...

DATE: Oct 31, 2025 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

More light, less heat

How objective standards can prevent heated arguments.

DATE: Oct 30, 2025 | CATEGORY: Lessons from the Sandbox

Knight of the vampire

DIAG 1 As agreed, Count Dracula pulled up a chair and sat across from Van Helsing at the marble table. The wooden chess set that rested between them was a gift from Russia’s Ivan the Te...

DATE: Oct 27, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

A uniquely American heartbreak: Combating isolation and violence through mentorship and community care

Only in America do parents have to send their children to school with the fear that they may not come home because of a shooting. As a mother to a 9-year-old, this is extremely concerning to...

DATE: Oct 22, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion