Columns

There’s no question that our country needs major income tax reforms to an IRS system that’s crookedly complicated, cruelly unequal, sizzled in politics, pocked full of loopholes, filled with shady tax shelters and the subject of heaping piles of misinterpretation and malicious favoritism.

Rainstorms in Sonoma usually mean snowstorms in Tahoe. As of Jan. 10, snowpack in the Sierra is 214% of normal, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Ski resorts around Tahoe are heavenly this year—double pun intended.  Whiteout conditions. Avalanche control in passes and...

“Always be funny,” directed a customer/reader at a farmer’s market one day, years ago. Ironically, it is funny that I can’t recall the person’s name or face but I can’t forget the wistful directive.

We’ve finally figured out why our government never gets around to really doing anything, like fixing potholes, getting our mail delivered on time or helping to cure cancer. It’s because they are too busy making up new taxes and collecting the bills. The more taxes...

For the most part, voters of Sonoma County have given strong endorsements to their local state senators Mike McGuire and Bill Dodd and assembly members Jim Wood and Marc Levine. These men just cast big votes to support affordable housing, parks and water projects, climate and environmental protection and for a sanctuary state declaration to limit federal raids on innocent undocumented residents.

Last week 99 U.S. senators took an oath to “do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws.” (Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe was absent due to a family medical emergency but will be sworn in on another day).