An Amazon Web Services data center in Boardman, Oregon, is shown here.
Cooling for data centers
My and everyone's concern about Project Blue's construction is water. As is the way of business they seek the easiest solution to an impediment of their progress. That happens to be a severe allocation of our spare water supply and they don't care if our taps run dry. A widely used form of refrigeration uses liquid ammonia as the refrigerant, is used in a closed system, is 3-10% more efficient as CFCs and less harmful. No need for Project Blue to use our water except to flush its toilets. It's probably too late to get Project Blue to change its plans but a future requirement for data centers should be that they shall use ammonia to cool them.
Daniel Poryanda
Southeast side
New Supreme Court
Just when you thought there was enough to worry about, by the end of 2028 two conservative Supreme Court judges will reach the average retirement age. If they retire the President could nominate conservative judges to replace them which would preserve the conservative majority in the court. This assumes the Republicans retain control of the Senate after the 2026 elections. Consequently to be safe this change would have to be done in 2026. If postponed until after the 2026 election, there might not be enough time before the end of the year. To be really safe this change needs to be done well before November. The Supreme Court goes on summer break at the end of June. That leaves July through September as a “safe retirement window.” Something else to keep an eye on.
People are also reading…
William Brandt
Oro Valley
Reality versus rhetoric
I read about all the things people want to gripe about and how we need billions for war, a ballroom and an arch. As I look at the overall, I see 25 to 30 percent of the USA's infrastructure needs repair, estimated cost of $9.1 trillion investment. 13.7 percent of the USA is without reliable food source, 18.3 million individuals. Worldwide, 20 percent face food shortages. At this time 30 percent of the world is in drought adding to water and food shortages. 2/3 of the world, 4 billion people are experiencing water shortages. We don't need a ballroom, we need infrastructure repair. We don't need more for war, we need to look at how to feed the hungry, and conserve water. We need leaders who want to solve the problems if we can. I guarantee that mother nature is trying to eliminate the infection of humans, and we are helping our own demise if we don't start looking at real issues rather than manufactured threats.
Charles Hammond
West side
Senator Kelly's reminder
In regard to Senator Kelly and other Congress members' remarks: They are correct that active duty and retired military can legally refuse illegal orders: Per UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice: "Active duty and Retired are legally required to refuse illegal orders under the UCMJ and international Law (Nuremberg Principles). Obedience is required for legal orders." For example in the My Lai massacre, Lt. Calley ordered the the massacre of 22 civilians, women and children. Several soldiers laid down their weapons.
Shiela Carlson
Southeast side
Kimmel not the problem
Jimmy Kimmel’s joke is not the problem of inciting violence. The problem is the role model in the White House who churns out daily hate and vile rhetoric.
Mr. Trump regularly attacks, threatens, and demeans judges, reporters, women, members of Congress, and anyone who he does not like or perceives as his enemy. Don’t tell me that Jimmy Kimmel’s joke was worse that Mr. Trump saying he was glad that American hero Robert Mueller was dead, or that he called for the execution of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Liz Cheney, or asking his followers to use their 2nd Amendment rights.
We do not need a ballroom to protect the president. We need common-sense gun laws and regulations for social media companies that profit off creating hate and division. We need a president who does not govern by retribution and vengeance. Besides his ballroom Mr. Trump’s priorities are grifting taxpayers, paying off his oil buds, and keeping himself out of the Epstein files.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
Do no harm
The opinion piece by Cathy Koluch in the April 30 issue is interesting. According to the piece, the proposed federal "Do No Harm" rule would compare the average income of graduates of vocational training schools to the average income of high school graduates to determine if the school should continue to get federal grants. Ms. Koluch does not like this approach for a variety of reasons. One mentioned reason is that "federal data systems fail to capture [tip income] accurately." Of course, this is not a failure of the "federal data system," but, instead a failure of the individual to report all their income. Ms. Koluch says "Accountability in education is important," but offers no alternate solution to the poor accountability. I'm interested in seeing measurements that can be made to determine the success of a training program.
Harold Hallikainen
East side
TUSD school closures
TUSD may close more schools. Mine closed in 2013, and while I would have been happy to stay, my co workers and I were offered positions at other schools. Like I tell my students, "Not what you wanted, but what you have," and my new students, staff, and principal were really cool. Closures went as well as could be, the sky didn't fall, sun came up, and I still had my job and paycheck. Change is what you make it.
Scott Thompson
East side
Rocket Man
While meeting with the crew of Artemis II, Donald Trump proclaimed he was fit enough to become an astronaut — said he could make the cut! He acknowledged that one has to be very smart, and in superb physical condition. He assured everyone "I'm physically very, very good". Oh really? Maybe all mirrors (except Melania's of course) have been moved — relegated to a restricted area of the White House, out of public view, as was done with portraits of Obama, both Bushes, and Clinton. I'm curious if NASA has space suits in XXL? Think Donald was joking? Very doubtful. A person of such arrogance, hubris and self-delusion spews such absurd braggadocio with great ease, as he's shown us over and over.
"Hey, Mr. Spaceman
Won't you please take me along?
I won't do anything wrong
Hey, Mr. Spaceman
Won't you please take me along for a ride?"
— Roger McGuinn, The Byrds
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Say what?
4/30/26, page A6: Medicaid rule targeting abortion providers to expire.
“We stand here today with one united voice to affirm the federal government should not be subsidizing any industry that profits from the elimination of human life,” (Mike) Johnson said, unless the federal government is subsidizing the “military-industrial complex” with a proposed budget of $1.5 trillion. It’s not like the military kills unborn babies intentionally. It’s just collateral damage, not Democrats' "dead people propaganda."
“If they would rather die, ... they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.” Think how much we’ll save on SNAP benefits that would be given to those layabouts.
Same old Republican posturing hypocrisy.
James Abels
Midtown
Which policy will kill you?
The Lancet collated the deaths caused by Trump/Republican policies through his first year: 613,365 deaths. Which policy will cause your death?
• Losing coverage for your diabetes or heart disease drugs because they cut health care?
• A miscarriage because they banned the necessary medical procedure?
• A preventable disease because they won’t vaccinate and you are immune compromised?
• Starvation because they cut off your food stamps and increased the cost of food?
• Cancer caused by canceled EPA regulations assuring clean air and water?
• Injuries in their war of choice?
• Despair from losing your job to their ill-considered and unregulated support for AI?
• Being shot by a lunatic allowed to freely buy a gun?
• Not being able to read a written warning because they de-funded your education?
• A Christian Nationalist calling you the anti-Christ because you are a different religion?
• A Proud Boy because your skin is not white?
Protect yourself and your family from this cruelty and hate. Vote Republicans out of office.
Dee Maitland
Marana
