Starbucks likes to call its employees “partners.” But if the work is the same everywhere, why isn’t the pay? Behind the company’s polished image lies a variable wage system that quietly assigns different values to identical labor — and workers across the country are pushing back. As baristas organize, strike, and call for a holiday boycott, they’re raising a bigger question about fairness, consistency, and who really gets to define the worth of their work.

If Starbucks wants true partnership, it starts with equal pay. Until then, workers are demanding what the company hasn’t delivered and they’re asking all of us to stand with them.

Read more to learn why this fight matters, and how you can support it.

Walla Walla County is locked in a 19th century form of government that concentrates all of the power in the hands of just three people.

The people hold the key to unlocking Walla Walla County’s future in the 21st Century.

On Tuesday, November 18, six Congressional Democrats, all of whom are veterans, posted a moving message to members of the U.S. military and intelligence agencies, reminding them of their oath of allegiance to the Constitution and their right to refuse to follow illegal or unlawful orders. Trump responded with threats of jail or even death.

The chaos brought by the current administration and our representatives in Congress including Michael Baumgartner, the most vulnerable among us are experiencing greater challenges. We’re highlighting agencies that provide resources.

The trial of Henry Contreras—“Chalk Guy”—concluded with Contreras being assessed $5000 in fines. Who goaded him on? Should those individuals help pay Contreras’ fines?

ICE invades Chicago, breaking down doors and arresting half-dressed children and old women in the middle of the night. Some are seen in zip tie style handcuffs, crying and frightened.

On Tuesday, November 4, America received an unmistakable message—voters are fed up with the direction of the country under the Trump Administration. From coast to coast, Democrats achieved a resounding sweep of their Republican opponents, and the results are a clear referendum on the direction of the country and the leadership of Donald Trump and our Republican representatives in Congress.

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On September 22, Sheriff Crider submitted a proposal to privatize security at the County Courthouse. What is this proposal all about?

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On September 22, Sheriff Crider submitted a proposal to privatize security at the County Courthouse. Should privatization be such a priority? More importantly—is it the best option?

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On September 22, Sheriff Crider submitted a proposal—without detailing potential costs or security implications—to privatize security at the County Courthouse. The proposal was hastily removed from the agenda when two of the commissioners raised questions.

Residents of Walla Walla County are realizing that change is possible. Frustration with rising taxes, leadership missteps, and a lack of accountability has sparked a growing movement for a home rule charter. People see that our communities—whether Walla Walla, Burbank, Waitsburg, or Prescott—deserve representation that understands their unique needs. This is a chance to create a government that works for everyone and builds stronger, thriving communities.

The result of the Trump Administration and Michael Baumgartner’s stripping support away from those who need it most through the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” will ultimately lead to increased pain and suffering in the Walla Walla Valley… and beyond.

The Official Walla Walla County Voters’ Pamphlet. November 4, 2025 General Election.

The state of health care in the United States is perilous as Republicans cut funding to pay for tax cuts for the richest among us. To understand the choices regarding the threats we face, we need to dig into the issue.

A core principle enshrined in our Constitution is that the military and policing are accountable to the electorate they serve.

At the County Commissioners meeting held September 22, one of our citizen reporters learned that this principle may potentially be eroded by a proposal submitted by Sheriff Crider that would privatize courthouse security in Walla Walla County.

The Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order is not merely a handshake, it’s a federal consent order, enforceable in court.

The world’s largest soybean importer, China, has not placed a single American cargo order for 2026. This isn’t just a minor hiccup, it’s an economic disaster for farmers and rural communities. Soybeans are the second largest crop in the U.S. and China has historically been our biggest buyer. With that market now gone, farmer’s silos are overflowing, prices are collapsing and families across America’s heartland are staring down financial ruin.

“Between the federal government’s heightened vetting of student visas and President Trump’s travel ban, the number of international students newly enrolled in American universities seems certain to drop — by a lot.” (nytimes.com)

In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris issued a warning that many dismissed as hyperbole: Donald Trump could deploy the military against the American people. Today, that warning reads less like political theater and more like a prescient assessment.

Harris was not lying.