“The world has changed, and it is time that men and women are selected on their qualifications and nothing else.”

Dawn Ramsey, mayor of South Jordan, Utah, regarding the scores of dried tumbleweeds that bounced into the city after several days of high winds. Crews were able to remove about 13 dumpster loads of tumbleweeds. (Associated Press — March 5, 2024)

Greg Reilly, a southeast marine campaigner for International Fund for Animal Welfare, regarding the year’s first confirmed death of a baby right whale from collision with a ship. There are fewer than 360 North Atlantic right whales left in the world, making every baby vitally important to the future of the species. The federal government has been working on new ship speed rules designed to protect whales from injuries and deaths, but new policies have not been finalized. (Associated Press — March 5, 2024)

Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips, referring to an NYT/Siena poll that showed him taking 12 percent of the party’s vote against President Joe Biden. (X — March 3, 2024)

Oregon state Rep. Ed Diehl, regarding a bill that would recriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs in the state. (OPB — Feb. 29, 2024)