Cheers: To a new arrival. Officials at the Oregon Zoo have welcomed a baby elephant. Rose-Tu, a 30-year-old Asian elephant, gave birth recently after a 20-month pregnancy. The offspring appears to be female and weigh approximately 200 pounds, but zookeepers are keeping their distance for now.
“Rose is a fantastic mom,” one official said. “She’s so gentle and protective, and the calf is already nursing well. These are signs that they will have a strong bond, which is exactly what we want to see.” The calf is not yet ready for public viewing, but it is a welcome addition to the zoo’s pachyderm population.
Jeers: To government salary increases. An independent 17-person salary commission has approved a 16 percent pay hike for legislators over the next two years and 14 percent increases for the governor and attorney general in that span. The commission also approved cost-of-living salary increases for other officials in the executive and judicial branches.
Washington’s system for determining government pay appears to be well-thought-out, but there needs to be a timing component. The commission includes residents randomly selected from throughout the state, plus representatives from a variety of professions. And good arguments can be made for paying enough to attract qualified candidates for elected office. But with the state expecting to face a revenue shortfall in the coming years and with difficult budget decisions looming, more fiscal prudence is warranted.
Cheers: To a heroic bystander. According to the Vancouver Fire Department, a bystander rescued a driver from a burning vehicle last week along Interstate 205. Following a single-car crash, the Samaritan cut the driver’s seat belt and pulled them from the vehicle.
The Columbian reported: “When Vancouver fire crews arrived, the fire had spread to the entire vehicle and the driver was outside the vehicle on the ground.” Responders treated the driver, who was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The name of the Samaritan and the driver have not been reported.
Jeers: To tinkering with parental rights. Last year, the Legislature passed Initiative 2081, establishing a parental “bill of rights.” The initiative had gained enough signatures to land on the ballot, and lawmakers opted to pass it as written rather than send it to voters. Now, they are on the verge of altering the measure.
Democrats in the Senate have approved Senate Bill 5181 to change some language in the law and have sent the bill to the House. Republicans argue that the changes water down the rights of parents to examine school curriculum and opt their students out of some assignments. If lawmakers last year thought the measure was worthy of approval, they should at least leave time to assess its impact rather than jumping to make changes. The bait-and-switch poorly serves constituents.
Cheers: To Craig Brown. After more than two decades at The Columbian, including the past seven years as the newspaper’s editor, Brown has entered semi-retirement. He will remain a member of the Editorial Board but has handed day-to-day newsroom operations over to Will Campbell.
The Columbian is an increasingly rare example of a locally owned outlet that focuses on news that impacts the community. Brown was committed to that civic duty and enhanced the community with his dedication, humility and even-handed leadership. As he wrote in a farewell column: “Thanks to you for reading my column, subscribing to The Columbian and supporting our local journalism. This is how our democracy is sustained.”
