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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Thursday, April 16 Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Jackson County led way in building historic Highway 99 in Oregon Police Reports Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Ashland Fire & Rescue Alarm Box: There are good fires and there are bad fires Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Business Chamber celebrates innovation in the food, wine and beer industries Cars We Remember: 1964 Olds F-85 owner seeks information Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Odyssey Silvio Calabi: Passat 1.8T Sport is satisfyingly rational Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable State News Oregon lawmakers begin minimum wage debate Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Death Notices Anna Mae Hassell Death Notices Death Notices Jack E. James Shareable Sports Latest Stories It's not getting any easier AHS girls edge Roseburg Westbrook burns Blazers Raiders remain No. 1 in spring poll Fantasy Sports: Injuries piling up to start season High school AHS girls edge Roseburg Raiders remain No. 1 in spring poll Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Southern Oregon University Raiders remain No. 1 in spring poll Grizzlies blow away Eagles Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Voices Latest Stories Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Memories of Oklahoma City bombing still fresh 20 years later Our View: Jackson County should say yes to Circle of Teran rehab request Film fest is the best Our View: New cat on the block in Ashland Editorial Our View: Jackson County should say yes to Circle of Teran rehab request Our View: New cat on the block in Ashland Our View: Ashland High benefits as cycle racing club gets rolling Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Letters Letters to the Editor, April 14 Letters to the Editor, April 13 Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Columns Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Memories of Oklahoma City bombing still fresh 20 years later Film fest is the best Mochas, midrash and mysteries: Meeting G-d in the middle Council Corner: Ashland deserves respect, not a just a rest stop Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories A tale of two plays at OSF Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Five picks for entertainment this week Community blog: Rabbi David Zaslow teaches poetry Community blog: Submit a poem Theater A tale of two plays at OSF Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director Backstage: 'Poof: Something that wasn’t there is there' Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Intriguing time on the Hot 100 Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies 'Cinderella' revisited is stunning, magical Ben Steelman: Big-screen showings to mark anniversary of ‘Sound of Music’ 'Western,' 'Imperial Dreams' win top film jury awards A scoop from the ocean: Reviews of four festival films What was your favorite film? Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Religion News: John Travolta defends Scientology Marketta Gregory: Breathe in God’s peace and exhale grace 'Cinderella' revisited is stunning, magical Backstage: 'Poof: Something that wasn’t there is there' Tom Grady: Finding the right animal companion in your twilight years Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Jackson County led way in building historic Highway 99 in Oregon ... Our View: Jackson County should say yes to Circle of Teran rehab request ... Film fest is the best ... Jackson County led way in building historic Highway 99 in Oregon ... Our View: Jackson County should say yes to Circle of Teran rehab request ... Film fest is the best ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, April 11 Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Apr. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Apr. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Yes to higher limits In response to Alan Ives (April 8), I'd like to offer some insights. I should first mention that I normally cringe whenever an elected representative brings up speed limits or anything else pertaining to rules of the road. I've spent close to 25 years in transportation/traffic planning, and usually find their technical rationale to be flawed. This case is no exception. Airbags and seat belts are after-the-fact devices, valuable in all driving environments, but GPS can be as much of a distraction as a driver's aid. However, GPS isn’t scrutinized that closely by most drivers in the limited-access driving environments identified by Representative Bentz. Now, down to basics and a salient case for increased limits in Oregon. The most obvious factor is that both California and Washington commonly post 70 mph on their interstates. I've also seen some non-interstate limited-access routes with 70 mph and a few remote areas with 75 mph. No flying debris and flashing emergency lights; just efficient mobility and good compliance. Considering the design speed for these highways was set many decades ago, 70 mph is more than adequate for safety given today’s automotive engineering. Our original interstate/limited access designs are based on German Autobahns. They’re not copies, but they’re darned good. I would urge Mr. Ives to consider this the next time he frets about speeds that are half of what many Germans normally drive. The Bentz proposal is neither "reckless" nor "socially undesirable." I support its intent and hope it passes. Andrew Kubik Ashland Deniers retreating Many congressional representatives continue to stick their heads in the sand, and many state and regional representatives do the same. Yet, even the hardiest of climate science deniers outside Congress are now retreating as they recognize the absurdity of positions that have been obviously flawed for years. The American Legislative Exchange Council long promoted efforts to undercut proposals addressing global warming — even in Oregon they opposed eminently sane renewable energy standards for utilities. ALEC continued promoting the falsehood that scientific uncertainty about global warming and its causes exists when, in reality, no uncertainty has existed for years. ALEC has now decided its previous position is untenable and has threatened legal action against organizations identifying what were obviously its convictions. The Heartland Institute, a right-wing think tank, has promoted climate denial for years, publishing articles by climate deniers that could never get published in credible peer-reviewed scientific literature. Now, a prominent Heartland spokesperson declares it “a rather extreme position to … allow dangerous pollutants to destroy the only planet we know of that can completely sustain human life …” and argues we should reduce carbon dioxide emissions. It is time for all climate science deniers to open their eyes and think. Alan Journet Jacksonville SOU's needs differ The outcomes-based funding model proposed by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission does not offer new funding, it changes the way the money is distributed to a zero sum game, where all gains in funding come at the expense of another institution. Changing to this model would negatively impact rural institutions like Southern Oregon University, Oregon Tech and Eastern Oregon University. Our universities meet different needs than the larger universities and serve smaller communities. We face higher operation costs because of the communities we serve. Additionally, we serve a substantial number of students in a rural university while completing general education requirements who then transfer to other institutions that match their discovered ambitions, such as the OHSU satellite near Southern Oregon University. Our regional universities are a key point of access for rural Oregonians to attend college. This purpose serves the local community and the state. Basing funding for these colleges on the number of degrees produced is short-sighted because the number of degrees given out is only one metric of success among many. Oneta Cantlon Ashland Liberal cowardice The folks at JPR are fond of touting their delivery of "fact-based" news. I find this amusing as it is a twee manner to deny that conservative organizations also deal in facts. I phoned in my usual pledge and offered to double it if they mentioned I also get my news from the FOX network. To my astonishment (according to a phone volunteer), they "decided not to read it." Is this evidence of backwards thought from a minor market station or a peek in to the depths of liberal cowardice? Hubert Smith Jacksonville DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Apr. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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