Editorial by Eli C. Owens | September 1, 2025 Tags: #Agriculture, #Economy, #WorkingFamilies, #TradePolicy I live on a farm now, and I see firsthand how decisions made in Washington affect families in rural communities. Tariffs are often sold as tough negotiation or strategic pressure. In reality, tariffs are taxes. They increase costs for families, strain small businesses, and hurt farmers long before they affect foreign governments. I have personally felt the financial we

Editorial by Eli C. Owens | September 10, 2025 Tags: #RuralIssues, #UrbanIssues, #CaliforniaPolicy California is often described as one place, but it is many different places with different realities. I lived in the heart of Los Angeles for ten years. I now live in the California desert in Blythe, one of the most rural parts of the state. I understand both realities because I have lived both lives. Urban communities deal with housing shortages, high costs, traffic, and comp

Editorial by Eli C. Owens | September 20, 2025 Tags: #Housing, #Homelessness, #Affordability, #CommunityPolicy Housing affordability is one of the most urgent challenges in California. I have walked and talked with people living on the streets in cities and in desert communities. I have listened to people dealing with addiction, untreated mental health challenges, and poverty. Many are not who people assume they are. Some work full time and still cannot afford a place to liv

Editorial by Eli C. Owens | November 5, 2025 Tags: #Elections, #Democracy, #Participation, #VotingRights The results of this year’s special elections sent a clear message. Voters across the country showed up and demonstrated that they want leaders who will stand up for them. In some states, turnout reached levels not seen in decades. People responded when candidates spoke with honesty and conviction. When I visited my local polling place, the voting team recognized me and we

Editorial by Eli C. Owens | August 15, 2025 Tags: #Immigration, #HumanRights, #Enforcement, #Families, #CommunitySafety A recent Supreme Court decision expanded federal enforcement authority in ways that will significantly affect families in Southern California. Supporters describe it as a law-and-order approach. Many families experience it as fear and uncertainty. I have met parents who leave for work unsure if they will return home. Children who arrive at school worried t

Editorial by Eli C. Owens | August 22, 2025 Tags: #Climate, #Utilities, #CleanEnergy, #Affordability, #CorporateOversight California passed new clean energy laws this year. Progress matters, but real leadership is measured by everyday results. Families need electric bills they can afford. Communities need protection from fires. Clean energy must be accessible to everyone instead of becoming a privilege for a few. For years, major utilities raised rates, resisted rooftop sola

Editorial by Eli C. Owens | August 29, 2025 Tags: #Healthcare, #PublicHealth, #Access, #Prevention, #Equity Budgets reflect priorities. When tax breaks for the wealthy remain untouched while health programs for families are cut, something is fundamentally out of balance. Cuts to Medi-Cal do not reduce waste. They reduce access to care. Rural clinics close. Vaccinations are delayed. Seniors go without dental treatment. Pregnant mothers wait longer for vital appointments. Le

I was in Las Vegas for a convention in early 2020, staying at the Wynn Encore. That evening, I happened to walk past a blackjack table. I’d never played before, but I struck up a conversation with the guy sitting there. He was friendly, quick with a smile, and offered to show me how the game worked. He looked familiar, but I still couldn’t quite place him. He explained the game and showed me how he usually played. Not long after I sat down, he won two very large hands back to

from Charlotte in Denver, age 8 - she loves the Rockies

I’m Mark. I served eight years in the Army, did two tours overseas. When I finished and left, I had to take a job at a lumberyard but it didn't pay much. That’s when I began noticing I was having trouble hearing people. After years of VA appointments, they told me I had a disability from the work I did at a firing range. They said there would be some payment for it, but I’ve never received anything. In the meantime, I’ve been trying to get by with a hearing aid so I can do my

I don’t usually write letters like this, but I saw your post and wanted to share my story. It’s rough, and I don’t think it’s my fault. Two years ago, my mom had a stroke. I used all my FMLA time trying to take care of her, hoping she’d recover enough to live on her own again. She didn’t. When the leave ran out, I lost my job. Now I’m making about half of what I used to, and my husband’s income hasn’t gone up in years. We had to move her into our house, but we can’t give her

My name’s Jason. I was married once, now divorced, and I’ve been a lineman almost 15 years. I usually take “storm call” and travel to other states during emergencies, like bad ice storms, and hurricanes, because it pays more. Even with that, I’m still not breaking even these days. The time away is unpredictable, but if I don’t do it, I’m barely making enough to cover my own expenses. It was during one of those long stretches away that I noticed the cell phone bill didn’t look

Hello, I was born in Mexico, but I’ve lived in Arizona since I was seven. I’m 38 now, married, with two kids in grade school. They were both born here and are U.S. citizens. I’m not. I’ve done everything immigration has ever told me to do. Filed the forms. Paid the fees. Showed up for every appointment. I’ve never been in trouble. But in June, my friend went to her hearing and never came home. ICE picked her up right there at the courthouse. Since then, every time I have to g

I went to college for business and landed a project manager job right out of school. I thought I was set. Then they downsized and hired an Indian company to do all my work for about a quarter of what they were paying me.I’ve been trying as hard as ever to get hired doing what I went to school for, but every job has hundreds of applicants. It’s impossible to even get an interview. I ended up taking a job that pays about half what I used to make, and in the same time rent costs

Liam from Los Angeles sent this colorful, correctly scaled, U.S.A.

Tommy from Las Vegas is getting in the spirit for Halloween

Faith in Oakland, who is 8, traced this picture of the iconic bridge we all love.

5-year-old Emma, from Palm Springs, colored Lady Liberty in and added a storm.

Finnegan, a 7-year-old from Maine, drew this flag on the Fourth of July to decorate his home.

Political violence has no place in this country. I say that as someone who survived a violent attack years ago when I was stabbed three times by four young men who were trying to earn gang status. Doctors told me that two millimeters deeper, and I would not be alive today. I understand how quickly anger can turn into tragedy. The killing of Charlie Kirk was tragic and wrong. We should be able to disagree without losing our humanity. When outrage becomes a source of profit for