Opinion | The Daily Chronicle

Dr. Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad, a principal research scientist at KenSci Inc., a company focused on AI in healthcare, and affiliate assistant professor in the University of Washington Computer Science Department, gives a presentation titled “When Your Grandpa Is a Bot: AI, Death, and Digital Doppelgangers.”

Julie McDonald: Professor talks about using AI to re-create deceased loved ones

When a cardiologist diagnosed me with a heart blockage in early January and scheduled the procedure to fix it in early March, I had two months to consider my life and possible death. What did I need … more

By Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 4/8/24

Letters to the editor can be submitted to letters@chronline.com.

Letter to the editor: The original mission of the Sisters of Providence has indeed been compromised

It was very difficult for me to read through the commentary of Julie McDonald in the Tuesday, April 2, edition of The Chronicle. McDonald recapped her experience at the Providence Centralia Hospital … more

4/8/24

Letter to the editor: Tolerating the mistreatment of trans women encourages the mistreatment of all women

International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, took place in March. To honor this year’s theme, “Inspire … more

4/8/24

Editorial: Zero traffic deaths by 2030? Put more emphasis on law enforcement

The recent spate of horrendous collisions and nose-thumbing at rules should prompt some serious thinking around the laudable state and local goals of no traffic deaths in six years. It's not … more

The Seattle Times Editorial Board (TNS) | 4/8/24

Mount St. Helens itself was hiding behind the clouds, but the jagged foothills around the volcano made for a picturesque setting as columnist Brian Mittge and his family walked on the boardwalk at Coldwater Lake and later on the nearby Hummocks Trail.

Brian Mittge: Spring beauty among the volcanic rubble

COLDWATER LAKE, Cowlitz County — When spring weather can't make up its mind, perhaps the perfect place to take a walk in both the sun and the snow is at Mount St. Helens, which offers its own … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 4/5/24

President Kris Johnson, with the Association of Washington Business, smiles and greets Edna Fund as he visits Churchill Glove Co. in October 2019 in downtown Centralia for Manufacturing Week.

Commentary: Celebrating 120 years of employer advocacy

In 1904, the ice cream cone was invented, the United States began construction of the Panama Canal, and a group of employers came together in Seattle to form the Citizens’ Alliance — … more

By Kris Johnson, Association of Washington Business | 4/5/24

Letter to the editor: Chronicle doesn’t support local teams

I am outraged that your paper chose to put a very large picture of the Tumwater doubles team on the article about the tennis match with Centralia. I thought the Chronicle was a hometown paper. I … more

4/3/24

Letter to the editor: Bridge replacement over Columbia River must be overseen with competence

One of the most important issues facing the Pacific Northwest concerns the Interstate 5 bridges over the Columbia River at Vancouver. After generations of faithful service, these two parallel … more

4/3/24

Richard Stride commentary: The great escape! Cookies on the bottom shelf

The greatest escape story in history that you may have never heard about happened on March 24, 1944, when 76 Allied aviators escaped from a Nazi POW camp. Historians have called it “the … more

4/3/24

John McCroskey commentary: Seconds to make a decision, serious consequences that follow

An old saying goes something like this: If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make noise? The obvious answer is it surely does. The modern version of this is more relevant today: … more

By John McCroskey | 4/3/24

Providence Centralia Hospital is located at 914 South Scheuber Road in Centralia.

Julie McDonald: A tale of two emergency rooms

A year ago, the day after attending a memorial service for our good friend Ed Fund, I experienced unexplained pain in my left arm, so I called the nurse line on my insurance card. She recommended I … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 4/2/24

A giant pirate ship sails among Pe Ell River Run paddlers in this AI photo composite illustration.

Brian Mittge: Odd news in advance of a foolish day

Truth be told, none of these stories are true. Enjoy some early April 1 balderdash. Adna pirates maraud down Chehalis River Not content with their namesake mascot presiding over … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 3/29/24

State Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia

Sen. John Braun: Initiative critic wants ‘constructive measures’ — and Republicans have them

Knowing what the Legislature did and didn’t do this year with the six initiatives submitted to it by the people of Washington, I couldn’t help noticing what a big-city newspaper columnist … more

Commentary by Se. John Braun, R-Centralia | 3/29/24

Letter to the editor: Hydrogen energy push mirrors failed Obama-Biden investments

I have been reading and listening to the community, state and federal discussions regarding the development of hydrogen energy to reduce carbon emissions and move us to a green energy economy. … more

3/29/24

Letter to the editor: There’s a reason county parties are backing Bird for governor

Chronicle columnist Brian Mittge’s description of Dave Reichert as “a principled conservative” apparently is intended to cleanse Mr. Reichert of any personal responsibility for the … more

3/27/24

Letter to the editor: An open letter to the Lewis County commissioners on the needle exchange

It is honorable and Christian to help poor and unfortunate people. In the Bible, Jesus told the parable of the “Good Samaritan” in which the Samaritan helped the robbery victim. Notice … more

3/27/24

Letter to the editor: Trump has no values at all

At a recent political rally in Ohio, Donald Trump fully displayed the toxic serum he has been injecting into the American "body politic" for the last nine years. Trump said, "If I don't get … more

3/27/24

John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@gmail.com.

John McCroskey: Sasquatch, underwear and an about-face for Bob Ferguson

The past week, The Chronicle had several stories I found of interest, two of them local. The stories focused on bigfoot, an underwear-masked alleged thief and a candidate for governor who … more

Commentary by John McCroskey / For The Chronicle | 3/27/24

Yelm Community Schools buses sit ready to be driven next school year.

Commentary: In a sign of distrust, voters reject two out of three local school bond proposals

In the latest sign of declining public confidence in the education system, voters in February turned down two-thirds of proposed local school bond measures, rejecting 14 out of 21 proposals. The … more

3/27/24

Attorney General Bob Ferguson talks to members of the press during a legislative meeting inside the John A. Cherberg building in Olympia in February 2023.

Commentary: Coming about! What it means that Bob Ferguson just tacked right on cops

About a year ago, Bob Ferguson made what looked at the time to be a political blunder. For his burgeoning governor's campaign, the Democrat sent out an endorsement announcement that went down … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/27/24