LETTERS OPINIONS
River News: Our View
Wisconsin has never lacked for political passion, and that’s an understatement. From the Progressive era’s dismantling of the patronage system to Scott Walker’s toppling of public-sector unions that provoked tumultuous protests, the state’s residents are ready to have a go on almost any issue at almost any time, and from …
Secretary of embarrassment: Mr. Ethos goes to Washington
If you were looking for a great choice for a terrible Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth was always your man. It was entirely unsurprising that President Donald Trump picked him. No rational person could want Hegseth anywhere near America’s chain of command, and it’s unclear that any rational person ever …
Politicians, please drop your creepy Joker smiles
It seems half the country’s political figures have been instructed to grin like a theme-park greeter. Supposedly, that makes them seem friendly, approachable, relatable. When I want humanoid patter, I turn to chatbots. They’re more convincing.
Wikipevil?
Wikipedia is “Wokepedia,” complains Elon Musk. That’s because it’s become so left-wing. “It’s designed to push an ideological agenda that you can’t see,” says journalist Ashley Rindsberg in my new video. He runs “Neutral Point of View,” a Substack publication that exposes Wikipedia bias.
Trump’s war on drugs could be lunacy
Since President Richard Nixon declared a “War on Drugs” in 1971, federal, state and local governments have spent an estimated $1 trillion fighting it — and losing. Donald Trump now seems fully engaged in that futile conflict, adding his own twisted brand of violence.
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Disparate impact
Google settled a racial bias lawsuit for $50 million. Merrill Lynch paid $20 million. Maryland taxpayers will have to pay $3 million to make a racial discrimination suit go away.
River News: Our View
What happened on Oneida County roads over Thanksgiving — or didn’t happen, as the case may be — was not merely a matter of routine public-sector incompetence but a complete and abominable public-safety failure. County highways remained snow-covered and icy through two of the busiest travel days of the year, …
Thank You Sheriff Joe Fath!
To the Editor: After more than four decades of dedicated service, Vilas County Sheriff Joe Fath will be retiring this December. As someone who has known Sheriff Fath for many years, I want to take a moment to publicly thank him for his extraordinary commitment to the people of Vilas …
Gwendolyne Kerchefski (nee Mohr)
With her journey here on earth ending, Gwendolyne Kerchefski (nee Mohr) met peace and joy with our savior on November 30, 2025. She was born December 31, 1941, to late Raymond and Ruth V. Mohr. Also predeceased by her brother Leonard Mohr, nephew Richard Mohr, and special friend the late …
Mamdani could ease Trump’s return to New York
There’s no mystery why Zohran Mamdani wanted to get along with Donald Trump. The president threatened New York City with funding cuts, deployment of federal forces and other unpleasantries if its voters elected the self-described democratic socialist as mayor. But why after calling Mamdani all kinds of names, even warning …
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River News: Our View
The Rolling Stones, in their inimitable, ageless way, once offered up some wisdom for the ages in a single verse: “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find that you get what you need, oh yeah.” Oh yeah.
Gratitude for music fest fundraiser success
To the Editor: On Nov. 9 the Northwoods community gathered to enjoy 75 talented area volunteer performers for the 4th Annual Joyful Song Ecumenical Music Fest. Those of us who had spent months organizing this fundraiser set a seemingly unattainable goal of $10,000 to support three area nonprofits in an …
How low can deviancy go?
The central scandal in the Epstein’s sex abuse ring targeting children is not the sex. It’s the children.
Our golden age
We media types obsess about America’s problems. But we should acknowledge that today, life in America is better than life has been anywhere, ever. For most of history, the norm was hunger, disease, illiteracy, slavery and war.
River News: Our View
First things first, let’s give credit where credit is due. Our Northwoods representatives, Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) and Rep. Calvin Callahan (R-Tomahawk), were right to vote against the rushed reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program last week, as we report in today’s edition.
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