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Diversity
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News
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Opinion
Sports News
May 04, 2022
Vol. 122 NO. 5
By the students, for the students
CWU’s Health Sciences building grand opening
Kittitas County law enforcement cracks down on fentanyl distributors By Wayne Gray Staff Reporter The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington indicted Jonathan Rivera-Venegas on charges of conspiracy and distribution of fentanyl in Ellensburg on April 5. According to a release by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Rivera-Venegas’ distribution has been connected to two known fentanyl overdose deaths. Initially charged in Washington state court, the U.S. Attorney is moving to charge Rivera-Venegas in federal court as part of Operation Engage Spokane, a joint operation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), according to the release. In the release, U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref said the fentanyl crisis will be addressed by working with communities, local governments and law enforcement agencies. In another incident, Ellensburg’s Anti-Crime Unit arrested a 36-year-old Ellensburg resident for delivery of a controlled substance and discovered 2,000 fentanyl pills on March 17, according to an Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) Facebook post. According to the post, the arrest was made following a lengthy controlled substance investigation. The post said the stash was found while executing a search
warrant of the suspect’s residence and vehicle and estimated the street value of the pills at $20,000. The suspect was processed at Kittitas County Jail and charged with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance. In recent years fentanyl continues to be an issue in Ellensburg. Last year six Ellensburg residents died due to fentanyl related overdoses. In “Community raises awareness for fentanyl overdoses,” The Observer covered an Ellensburg protest conducted by members of the community in response to the deaths. In that article, Rick Jackson and other members of the community wanted to bring awareness to fentanyl related overdoses as well as youth mental health needs. In 2020, Washington had 652 fentynal related deaths according to the UW Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute. In another article, “Local first responders and police work to combat fentanyl overdoses,” The Observer covered the efforts made by Ellensburg first responders to address fentanyl related deaths in our communities. In that article, Captain Dan Hansberry of the EPD said that fentanyl is entering the U.S. primarily from Mexico through the southern border. Hansberry also stated the unpredictably potent fentanyl is being sold as other drugs, like Percocet,
unbeknownst to buyers. Fentanyl is so concerning to first responders because, according to the DEA, it is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. According to the DEA, the synthetic opioid was originally developed for pain management in cancer patients, and it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fentanyl overdoses are part of a larger opioid problem, and that problem isn’t exclusive to Ellensburg. According to the Washington DOH, overdose mortality data for the state, opioid related deaths have been on the rise. At the national level, the U.S. has seen deaths from opioid overdoses sharply increase over the last six years. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioid related overdose deaths were estimated at 68,630 in 2020. Synthetic opioids including fentanyl accounted for 56,516 of those deaths. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 9,649,551 pills containing fentanyl were seized by law enforcement in 2021. To further put that in perspective, the 2,000 fentanyl pills discovered in March by EPD only accounts for less than 1% of total pills containing fentanyl seized by law enforcement in the U.S. when compared to figures from 2021.
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Apology from Jeffrey Stinson Dear Ms. Diavolikis, I am writing to share with you my regret at having moved several copies of The Observer away from the main entryway of Shaw Smyser to a place near the elevator. Although the copies were not destroyed, stolen, or removed from Shaw Smyser, I do understand why Observer reporters and you were upset. My actions were impulsive and will not happen again. Free speech and freedom of the press are basic American values and essential to sustaining democracy. As well, these values are the bedrock of academic free-
dom. It is incumbent upon all members of the university community to steadfastly promote freedom of thought and speech and to encourage robust and insightful electronic, print and digital student news coverage. I will redouble my efforts to do so. Often, making a mistake is the best form of learning. I made a mistake and have learned much from that mistake. In hindsight, I should have more fully taken the time to consider my action. I apologize. Sincerely, Jeffrey Stinson, Dean College of Business
Letter to the Editor: Censorship outrage at CWU Please excuse my anonymity. I am concerned about retribution if I am identified. Regarding the letter from the Student Press Council on censorship in the Business College’s Deans’ office, Stinson’s letter of apology is disingenuous at best and and dishonest at worst. He says he “..removed several copies of the Observer away from the main entrance of Shaw Smyser to a place near the elevator. ..the copies were not not destroyed, stolen or removed from Shaw Smyser...” Go over to Shaw Smyser and check out the “place near the elevator.” There is no place there that distributes the
Observer. You know what’s in that “place” -- the recycling bin! So, yeah, I guess that’s the basis of Stinson saying the copies were not “destroyed” (what would we call “they were thrown in the recycling bin”? Sounds like destroying to me!) and not removed from Shaw Smyser. There needs to be an investigation launched by the University. It sounds to me like the Dean of the Business College is NOT being transparent and seems to be lying to protect himself. Does CWU care about censorship or not???? - Anonymous (via email)