When newspapers go, partisanship grows and lies are believed | Brier Dudley Jul 16, 2026 9 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Americans generally understand that losing local newspapers is bad for democracy and their communities. Brier Dudley kAm%96J >2J E2<6 D@=246[ E9@F89[ :? E9:?<:?8 A6@A=6 4@F=5 DE:== 86E EC25:E:@?2= ?6HD 7C@> ?2E:@?2= @FE=6ED]k^AmkAmqFE E92EVD ?@E C62==J 92AA6?:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 5:DEC6DD:?8 DEF5J AF3=:D965 yF?6 ah :? r@>>F?:42E:@? #6D62C49]k^AmkAm(96? A6@A=6 =@D6 E96:C =@42= ?6HDA2A6C[ E96 DEF5J 7@F?5[ E96J 2=D@ 4@?DF>6 =6DD >2:?DEC62>[ ?2E:@?2= ?6HD]k^Am kAmx?DE625[ E96J 7:== E96 G@:5 H:E9 >@C6 A2CE:D2? D@FC46D[ 6DA64:2==J :7 E96JVC6 =:36C2=D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6D62C49 3J y:2?:?8 {:[ 2DD:DE2?E AC@76DD@C @7 4@>>F?:42E:@? 2E #FE86CD[ 2?5 |:4926= (28?6C[ 5:C64E@C @7 &(\|25:D@?VD ;@FC?2=:D> D49@@=]k^Am People are also reading… Manager at Roanoke kennel City Dogs charged with cruelty to animals Mitch McConnell's health absence a mystery with Senate poised to return Pirate Days returns next weekend at a new location amid drought 18-year-old Rocky Mount woman arrested after fatal stabbing Norovirus spreads among Appalachian Trail hikers in Virginia Emmy snubs! Jeremy Allen White, 'Stranger Things' missed by 2026 noms After vehicle chase, Franklin County deputies arrest man for felonies Sidewalk extension approved in Rocky Mount 'Heat distress' spurred investigation into City Dogs kennel by Roanoke police Mixed results in latest water quality testing at Smith Mountain Lake Roanoke police investigating kennel, urge owners to remove dogs High heat, low lake levels made for a quiet Fourth at Smith Mountain Lake Danny Rocco helping read the pulse of Virginia Tech football FOIA documents reveal months of talks on 'Project Flash' in Franklin County Smith Mountain Lake businesses feel the impact of low lake levels kAmx?DE625 @7 C6A=24:?8 8@@5[ =@42= :?7@C>2E:@? H:E9 8@@5[ ?2E:@?2= :?7@C>2E:@?[ E96JVC6 C6A=24:?8 :E H:E9 >@C6 :56@=@8:42= ?2E:@?2= :?7@C>2E:@?[Q (28?6C 6IA=2:?65]k^AmkAmxE 86ED H@CD6]k^AmkAmp>6C:42?D H:E9@FE =@42= ?6HDA2A6CD H9@ EFC? E@ A2CE:D2? D@FC46D 2=D@ 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 36=:6G6 =:6D AC@A282E65 3J 6=:E6D :? 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A=246] %96J 8:G6 A6@A=6 2 >@C6 32=2?465 D6?D6 @7 H92EVD 92AA6?:?8]k^AmkAm(96? =@42= ?6HDA2A6CD 5:D2AA62C[ E96 C6D62C49 DF886DED[ A6@A=6 364@>6 F?>@@C65 7C@> EC25:E:@?2= ;@FC?2=:D> 2?5 5C:7E E@H2C5 92K2C5@FD D9@2=D]k^AmkAmQ%96JVC6 =@D:?8 @?6 @7 E96 D@FC46D E92E C6A@CED ?6HD :? 2 H2J E92E E2<6D 4@>A6E:?8 D:56D D6C:@FD=J 2?5 EC62ED E96> 2D >@C6 9@?6DE 3C@<6CD[Q (28?6C D2:5[ QH96C62D 2 =@E @7 :56@=@8:42= ?6HD H:== EC62E @?6 D:56 H:E9 <:5 8=@G6D 2?5 E96 @E96C D:56 >F49 >@C6 D<6AE:42==J]Qk^Am Of course Donald Trump doesn't belong on Mount Rushmore | James Rosen President Donald Trump, some of his aides and supporters have proposed a number of absurd ideas to aggrandize him. By far the most absurd is t… kAmr@?D:56C E92E :? 4@?E6IE H:E9 E96 DAC625 @7 ?6HD 56D6CED :? E96 &]$] |@C6 E92? 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E96:C 4@>>F?:EJ[ 3FE 3642FD6 Q:EVD 2 5C:G6C @7 4@?D6?DFD 2?5 96=AD A6@A=6 F?56CDE2?5 E9:?8D E96J 92G6 :? 4@>>@?]Qk^Am Donald Trump belongs on Mount Rushmore for redefining American politics | John Fredericks When the history of the first quarter of the 21st century is written, one towering political figure will rise above the rest — President Donal… kAm(96? A6@A=6 :?E6C6DE65 :? 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E96 C6D62C49 3J {: 2?5 (28?6C]k^DA2?mk^Am kAm~E96C C6D62C49 6DE23=:D965 E92E A=246D H:E9@FE =@42= A2A6CD 92G6 >@C6 F?:?7@C>65 2?5 F?6?82865 G@E6CD[ H:E9 >2?J F?23=6 E@ ?2>6 E96:C >2J@CD 2?5 @E96C 6=64E65 =6256CD]k^Am kAmxE H2D 2=D@ E9@F89E E92E =@D:?8 ?6HDA2A6CD :?4C62D65 A@=2C:K2E:@? 3J AFD9:?8 A6@A=6 E@ ?2E:@?2= @FE=6ED E92E 6>A92D:K6 A2CE:D2? 32EE=6D]k^Am kAm{: 2?5 (28?6C 5C2H 2? 6G6? 4=62C6C A:4EFC6 @7 H92EVD 92AA6?:?8 E@ @FC ?6HD 5:6ED 2?5 9@H E96 =@42= ;@FC?2=:D> 4C:D:D :D 568C25:?8 >FEF2= F?56CDE2?5:?8 2?5 4:G:4 5:D4@FCD6]k^AmkAm{@42= ?6HDA2A6C 4=@DFC6D 2C6?VE ;FDE AFD9:?8 A6@A=6 E@H2C5 ?2E:@?2= D@FC46D] %96JVC6 2=D@ AFD9:?8 E96>[ 2?5 E96 ?2E:@?[ @77 2 4=:77]k^Am Dudley is editor of The Seattle Times Save the Free Press Initiative: bdudley@seattletimes.com. 0 comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! 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