The census count should matter to you
March 17, 2010
NEW — 1 p.m. March 17, 2010
Check your mailbox this week for your household’s census survey. Oh, that’s right, you already know about that, thanks to last week’s letter notifying you that another letter is coming. That first letter cost $57 million to send, in hopes that fewer in-person census takers will be needed.
No Saturday mail beats another price increase
March 11, 2010
The United States Postal Service is projecting a $7 billion loss this year, and the picture looks even bleaker in the coming decade. Cutting Saturday delivery is a controversial cost-saving proposal for many. It shouldn’t be.
Fight compassion fatigue to help Chile quake victims
March 3, 2010
NEW — 1:30 p.m. March 3, 2010
The victims of the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile on Feb. 27 face an added danger beyond crumbling buildings or their need for food, water and medical care. That danger is compassion fatigue.
School tax change bill bears consideration
February 25, 2010
A proposal in the state Senate to shift local levy taxes to the state to pay for education has the seed of good public policy, but must be explored further. The Legislature must consider the effects on individual school districts.
State budget challenges both sides of the aisle
February 18, 2010
In a better world, Republicans would be right on opposing the Democratic-controlled Legislature’s effort to relax Initiative 960’s requirement of a two-thirds majority in the state Legislature to raise taxes.
Calling all legislators: pay up for schools
February 10, 2010
King County Superior Court Judge John Erlick’s ruling that the state is not adequately funding public schools came as no surprise to anyone familiar with public education in Washington. Or to any voter who has been asked to vote for or against a school levy. Read more
School levy requests—both deserve yes votes
January 27, 2010
NEW — 2:22 p.m. Jan. 27, 2010
Snoqualmie Valley School District is asking for voters to approve two levy propositions — a maintenance and operations levy and a technology levy. Voters should vote yes for both levies and return their ballots by Feb. 9 Read more
Haiti earthquake calls for global response
January 20, 2010
There is no doubt the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince Jan. 12 was felt around the world. That can be seen from the international relief effort that has poured into the impoverished Caribbean nation. Read more
School board must hold strong without Edwards
January 20, 2010
When Rudy Edwards left the Snoqualmie Valley School Board, he took with him 20 years of institutional knowledge. No current board member has served more than one term. Most of the school district’s administrators have been in their current positions longer than the school board. Read more
Creativity, skill needed to bridge budget gap
January 13, 2010
Washington legislators face a nearly overwhelming task of balancing the state’s budget. Currently it’s $2.6 billion short. The budget gap is proportionally close in size to the shortfall that forced California to issue IOUs. Read more
