Columnists - The Journal

For waste and inefficiency, you really can’t beat corn ethanol

Corn ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, has been burned in gasoline engines and human stomachs since before Henry Ford was born. It’s hard on both, so until 35 years ago it never caught o...

DATE: May 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Cut a rug

DIAG 1 On the chess board, the bishop pair is like the legendary dancing pair Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers. Together, the bishops can dance across the floor and deliver checkmate with ...

DATE: May 18, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

2025 legislative wrap-up: Lower health care costs, lodgers tax, rural hospital and education support

The legislative session wrapped up this past Wednesday after weeks of long days on the House floor. Four of my bills passed this year with bipartisan support, and I also picked up three more...

DATE: May 16, 2025 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

The best medicine

DIAG 1 Penicillin was discovered because a petri dish was unchecked over the summer of 1928. With this hint in mind please try to find white’s best move. In this week’s position, white ...

DATE: May 13, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Rep. Hurd fights to protect national forests, advances bill to fix them before they burn again

Our forests are burning. And Washington can’t keep standing by, stuck in process and politics, while homes go up in smoke. Over the past decade, we’ve watched catastrophic wildfires sweep ac...

DATE: May 7, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion

A theater of romance

White to move and win The chess board is a theater of romance and seduction. When a knight flashes both its right angles, linear-minded rooks are lured into a natural checkmating position. T...

DATE: May 5, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

At the front lines fighting for Colorado

We live in a challenging time. Rising costs make Colorado more unaffordable for working families; climate change creates serious risks for our land, air and water; unnecessary red-tape block...

DATE: May 4, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Cutting Medicaid will hurt people we know, our community’s health care system and economy

Medicaid is a hot topic featured on the nightly news, in local newspapers, and at county commissioner meetings. So why another Medicaid article? Because, it is important to focus on this iss...

DATE: May 2, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Overconfidence

The Battle of the Champions in 550 B.C. was fought between the Greek city-states Argos and Sparta. The two city-states agreed that only 300 warriors on each side would fight. It transpired i...

DATE: Apr 27, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is eroding the rule of law

“I got lucky,” José told me. “Because they got the wrong person.” José, 28, who did not give his last name for fear of retribution from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said he was ...

DATE: Apr 23, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Chinese proverbs

DIAG 1 The Women’s World Chess Championship match concluded mid-April. Reigning Champion Wenjun Ju faced fellow countrywoman Zhongyi Tan of China. Ju dominated the match and won before ...

DATE: Apr 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Earth Action Day: Unleashing our power for our planet

April 22nd will mark the fifty-fifth anniversary of Earth Day. The power of those 20 million voices that came out on the streets that first Earth Day led the U.S. to create the EPA and the ...

DATE: Apr 20, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion