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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Tuesday Medford schools restore parent-teacher conferences Most cities in Jackson County now allow pot dispensaries Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter Since You Asked: Disc golf course planned for Chrissy Park ... in distant future Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Man says he shot nagging girlfriend by accident Emergency Services, May 12 Medford man sentenced in home-invasion robbery Rogue Valley police receive training in dealing with LGBTQ community Man faces attempted murder in Medford choking case Politics and Elections Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Education Medford schools restore parent-teacher conferences Latino parents: More bilingual staff needed in Medford schools Medford schools still filling admin roles Appeals court rules against Central Point schools on bus outsourcing Hedrick principal to take helm at North Medford High School Environment Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford State News Mom plans to sue after autistic daughter removed from plane Oregon's snowpack at just 11 percent of average Dispute over local control drives Oregon pot committee to impasse Governor Kate Brown signs bill expanding gun background checks Josephine County preps for more budget cuts Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Doris Oka Chang Patrick Joseph Mulcahy Dr. Stephen Gallier Dippel Ronald Mitchell Betts Wallace Harry Greer Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Crusaders edge Challengers on Day 1 of district Warriors tie semifinal with rout of Grizzlies A few questions remain as Preakness nears Cavs coach Blatt owns up to late-game gaffes, LeBron bailout Comets’ surge is one to be admired Varsity 541 College Sports Oregon State AD De Carolis to step down Beavers, Utes tie in 15 OSU tosses second straight shutout Maguin steals the show Trio of Raiders shine as CC meet opens Pro Sports Warriors tie semifinal with rout of Grizzlies A few questions remain as Preakness nears Teague-led Hawks even series with Wizards Giants' Maxwell a welcome addition Brady Sacked Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Business Latest Stories Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Cars We Remember: Noted musician unravels 55-year Nash Rambler mystery Pacificorp plans solar farm at former Bly mill site People in Business Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Kent Bush: Moral and ethical standards need to be higher Our View: Abundant water no excuse for waste Letters to the Editor, May 12 Granlund cartoon: Grad party Dianne Williamson: Enough of ‘Say it isn’t so’ Editorials Our View: Abundant water no excuse for waste Our View: Mental health funding should be a priority Other Views: Court ruling means PERS reform is dead Our View: Could self-serve ban be on the way out? Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 12 Letters to the Editor, May 11 Letters to the Editor, May 10 Letters to the Editor, May 8 Letters to the Editor, May 7 Columns Kathleen Parker: Geller has the right, but commits speech abuse Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers George Will: The gospel according to Huckabee Dana Milbank: A performance by Lindsey and the Jets Charles Krauthammer: Free Willy! Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan Lifestyle Latest stories Blog: I should absolutely be able to expense the Captain America backpack I just found out existed Tammy Kelly: Add springtime crunch with cucumbers Options abound for gardens in shady spots Tricks and tips to enlarge your small bath Dr. Elaine Heffner: Mothers-in-law Food Tammy Kelly: Add springtime crunch with cucumbers Prudence Hilburn: Mexican-inspired dishes easy to make, delicious to enjoy Community blog: Kids in Brewpubs....... Community blog: Fruity french toast makes Mom's, or anyone's, day Community blog: Sorry, Mom, there's more than one beef stroganoff Home and Garden Options abound for gardens in shady spots Tricks and tips to enlarge your small bath Green roof gardens have several benefits Gardens: Simplicity, sanctuary, delight Furniture trends: Style and storage Health Brent St. Germain: Weight loss goes to the dogs Community blog: Don't Fall for This Part 2 Health Watch: Easy tips to drink more water throughout the day New cardiac rehab center opens at Asante RRMC Community blog: You and Me at 83... Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Milestones and Achievements Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom 5 picks for live entertainment Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest Dancing People Company presents 'Salon Series' Theater REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Music Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Tina Malia at SOU Music Hall in Ashland Earthquake benefit for Nepal Community Events 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo Movies Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Tom Hardy adapts to life as Mad Max Victor D. Infante: ‘Avengers’ begs the questions, ‘Why superheroes, and why now?’ Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ has a lot going on Dining Restaurant inspections: May 10, 2015 Wood-fired pies at Peace of Pizza Trium is a classic example of a boutique winery Restaurant inspections, May 3, 2015 Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter ... Our View: Abundant water no excuse for waste ... Mom plans to sue after autistic daughter removed from plane ... Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter ... Our View: Abundant water no excuse for waste ... Mom plans to sue after autistic daughter removed from plane ... ANOTHER VIEW Dana Milbank: A performance by Lindsey and the Jets MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 10, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted May. 10, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Sir Elton John, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, flew into Washington to testify Wednesday before members of the United States Senate — or, as they might more accurately be described, the Madmen Across the Water. He had been called before an Appropriations subcommittee to speak about the importance of foreign aid, and particularly international AIDS spending. But, as might be expected of a 68-year-old rocker who did a large quantity of banned substances in his day, the witness occasionally veered off message — as when he described his life before he took up the cause of AIDS. "My life was completely disordered," Sir Elton, seated to the right of the evangelical minister Rick Warren, told the senators. "I was a drug addict. I was a self-obsessed [bad word for anus]." On the dais, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the subcommittee chairman, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., until recently the president pro tempore of the Senate, could not hide grins. There were several such unusual moments over the course of two hours: Warren clasping the gay musician's hand and joking about them kissing each other, Graham telling photographers to get "back in your cages," Leahy addressing the gathering on the topic of his wife's popularity, and another committee member, Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., breaking into Spanish. Graham expressed pity for the stenographer. "Very earthy committee we have here," the chairman said. The Rocket Man's language may have been even saltier if he had been told what had happened before the hearing. Witnesses and senators alike talked about the crucial importance of foreign aid and the need to protect it from budget cuts. But the evening before, a majority of senators — including Graham — voted to approve a budget resolution that cuts foreign aid. Democrats complain that the Republican-authored budget resolution for fiscal 2016 cuts $1.1 billion from foreign aid next year and $47 billion over 10 years. President Obama had requested an increase from the current level of just over $50 billion. Members of the panel sidestepped this awkward situation, instead vowing to keep the foreign-aid budget from falling victim to even larger cuts that would have occurred under automatic "sequestration" rules. Graham said foreign-aid spending "is the smartest use of federal dollars of any place within the federal government." He vowed to make sure "we not abandon this account at a time we're so close to achieving the purposes of this account, which is to change the world in a positive fashion." Sir Elton, in rose-colored sunglasses and wearing a purple polka-dot tie to liven up his business suit, was pitch perfect on this point. "There is a window of opportunity before us, a window through which we can very clearly see the end of AIDS within my lifetime. We cannot afford to let the window close," he told the senators. "This is the most powerful legislative body in the world, and this Congress indeed has the power to end AIDS." But on Wednesday, the powerful legislators were star-struck. Leahy stood in the hallway with camera-toting tourists and staffers, waiting for the singer to arrive. "Sir Elton," the Democrat said in his opening statement, "we've known each other a number of years." Graham tried to one-up Leahy. "I'd like to mention that Bono could not be here today," he said. "He's had a very difficult accident. ... He's communicated with me several times regretting not being able to be here." (Bono sang Tuesday at the funeral for Dave Goldberg in California.) But Leahy was not to be outdone. "Can I just interject there?" he asked. "When I called him [Bono] after his accident — he was back in Dublin — he said the fellow members of the band said it's a good thing he was wearing his helmet so he didn't damage the sidewalks of New York." Graham, who posed for photos with Sir Elton after the hearing, was awed just by the simple act of the witness finishing his statement in the allotted minutes. "Ended right on time — it's amazing!" Graham said. Sir Elton, the aging pop star causing all this swooning, waxed philosophic about America ("This country gave everything to me as a professional musician, and it's given everything to me as a human being"). Graham thought the performance a triumph. "After this, how would you like to vote against this account? What would you say?" he asked. Graham should know. Only hours earlier, he and his Senate colleagues cast just such a vote. Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank. MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 10, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing 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. 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