Columnists - The Journal

Flying today is an insult to cattle

I saw a recent cartoon that depicted a couple on an airplane having dinner circa 1960 to 1970s. They were dressed for fine dining, complete with a white tablecloth, expensive place settings,...

DATE: Nov 10, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Farewell to wildly different radicals

The West lost two larger-than-life conservationists this year, and while I considered both friends, they couldn’t have been more different. Yet both were radical in their own ways. One was r...

DATE: Nov 8, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Words matter, represent what we stand for’

Offensive place names stain public lands across the nation. In Colorado, we’re changing that narrative. Legislation was recently introduced in Congress to change Mount Evans Wilderness to Mo...

DATE: Nov 5, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Check facts’: Vote ‘yes’ on Prop. II

We all live in a bubble of information of one kind or another. We defend our families, believing they can do no wrong. Our bubble of love prevents us from seeing a possible reality. We belie...

DATE: Nov 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Local hunters should come before nonresidents

Hunting may be losing popularity nationally but in the West, the number of hunters is climbing. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2022 there were 10% fewer hunters across t...

DATE: Nov 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Welcome back, Nuggets. Something to cheer for again

Finally, some great news. Our NBA-title-defending Nuggets tipped off the basketball season on Tuesday with a 119 to 107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Before the game, NBA hoopla included ...

DATE: Oct 27, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Creative builders get rural housing done

Here’s a statistic to be unhappy about: Colorado and Utah host the fifth and sixth most expensive housing markets in the country, according to Bankrate.com. But here’s the good news: Two rur...

DATE: Oct 25, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘River illustrates paradox well’

Our state Legislature outlined a path for Colorado to take bold moves to address the aridification within our state. The Colorado River Drought Task Force, created by the new law, has been d...

DATE: Oct 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Prop HH responsible tax cut, net benefit for Coloradans

Over the past two years, Colorado has witnessed a shocking 40% surge in housing costs, an alarming trend that has left Coloradans grappling with financial strain as their incomes struggle to...

DATE: Oct 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

When a skunk goes after your garden

Skunks love autumn as our backyard gardens fill up with ripe vegetables. But in my northern New Mexico corn patch, that meant a determined skunk chowing down on ears of corn every night. Wha...

DATE: Oct 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Cheap, easy’ to fix Malfunction Junction

There is an old adage that says for every problem, there is a solution that is simple, easy – and wrong. And there is a lot of truth to that. It does not follow, however, that all valid solu...

DATE: Oct 20, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Where wild-horse herd management goes right

The sun is low on the horizon, casting soft light on the crimson boulders and cliffs of Spring Creek Basin. Bands of colorful wild horses dot the folded landscape as it gently dips toward th...

DATE: Oct 15, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion