Bert Caldwell

The lineup of columnists and cartoonists featured on The Spokesman-Review editorial pages has changed very little for at least three years. It will change a little more this week.

Smart Bomber Gary Crooks is off reloading, which gives me an opportunity to revisit our letters policy. Didn’t see any in The Spokesman-Review on Wednesday, did you?

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduates about 1,000 second lieutenants each year. Although trained to command men and women in combat, many leave the Army when their hitch is up and look for opportunities to use their leadership skills in civilian arenas.

Employment in Washington fell by 700 in May, the first decline after eight months of increases, the Employment Security Department reported today.

Officials at 49 Degrees North on Tuesday said the resort near Chewelah will add another chairlift and a mid-mountain lodge, but construction will likely not begin until next year. Spokesman Brad Northrup said the lift purchased from Copper Mountain in Colorado will be delivered Thursday. When in place, the lift will move 1,100 skiers per hour to the summit of Angel Peak, bringing the area’s total lift capacity to 7,700 per hour, he said.

The owner of the Spokane-area Perkins franchises said the Monday bankruptcy filing of the chain’s corporate parent will not affect local operations, but added that news reports and the closure of the Spokane Valley Marie Callender’s are creating some heartburn. Perkins & Marie Callender’s Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, brought down by tough competition, the weak economy and rising food costs.

If you want to thank anyone for enactment of President Obama’s health care reforms, those anyones would be Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross. That state’s two biggest health insurance providers announced huge premium increases — 39 percent for Anthem — as debate on the reforms reached its final, fevered pitch last spring. Apparently, they took California’s nickname “Golden State” literally.