Author Archive
Phil Busse

A Local Story About Agent Orange: Erin Brockovich: Douglas County Edition
Agent Orange is one of the horrors of the Vietnam War. A defoliant produced by DOW Chemical and dropped from war planes; burning trees as well as people, it was like raining fire—and, has continued to plagued southeast Asia for decades with poisoned water sources and human deformities. Banned from

17 Blocks: The Best Documentary Ever?
A remarkable archival project and an emotional rollercoaster, 17 Blocks was filmed over 20 years and tells the story about one family that lives in Washington DC, but more broadly about the problems and pitfalls for many poor black families in America. Living just blocks from the U.S. Capital, the

Tender and Poignant, Through The Night Is Part of AIFF’s Black Voices Series
Through the Night is a documentary as tender as it is painful; tender in the moments it captures at a daycare center, painful in the recognition of the parents’ stresses. Focused on a 24-hour daycare that provides for parents who work off-hours, often overnight shifts, the movie addresses one of

Leaning In: Grants Pass New Mayor Wants to Make Changes
Sara Bristol stepped into the mayor position in Grants Pass with a certain gusto–and a promise to celebrate what’s great about the city, but also not to shy away from its problems. As she finishes her first busy month as the mayor, the Messenger asked a few questions. Rogue Valley Messenger: In your

City of Phoenix Shows Heart! Excuses Past Traffic Fines.
Bill Clinton was still president when Tracy Chavez was pulled over in Phoenix, Oregon. It was a minor traffic violation, but the result was a $200 fine—an amount she could not afford outright, and over the past decades only has grown with overdue fines and menace. The debt is so