Let's draw the line between youth and alcohol | GUEST OP

As the end of the school year approaches, students and parents alike look forward with much anticipation, excitement, and reservation – graduation. Students and families are making plans for events that take place before and after graduation; as well as for the rest of the summer. Decisions made now can affect families for the rest of their lives.

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updated 4:21 PM June 12, 2013

By rejecting cost-savings proposals, the City does a disservice to taxpayers | GUEST OP

The City of Auburn doesn't know a good thing when it sees it. Like other municipalities across our region, the City is strapped for cash. But when its own employees make proposals in bargaining that would save the taxpayers money, the City balks. What gives?

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updated 5:19 PM May 22, 2013

State Senate holds line on no new taxes | Sen. Roach

Citizens of Washington do not want their taxes raised. That message has been driven home time and again. Yet, the demand for new taxes by Democrat leaders in the Legislature forced us into a special session.

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updated 5:36 PM May 15, 2013

Protect 911 funding | GUEST OP

This past legislative session, the Senate 2013-15 operating budget proposed diverting more than $15 million in 911 revenue to fund non-911-related programs. This proposed fund sweep could not only result in the loss of federal funding, but also could delay the implementation of "Next Generation" 911 by several years.

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updated 3:00 PM May 15, 2013 Kent Reporter

Legislature must support proven dropout prevention program | GUEST OP

Under the Washington State constitution, providing an ample education for all students is identified as state government's "paramount duty."

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updated 6:00 PM May 8, 2013

Protestors? Demonstrators? Nuts to that! | Whale

For yet another year, people, their faces swathed in bandanas or concealed under gas masks, hurled rocks and obscenities at police who had asked them to clear the streets.

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updated 5:58 PM May 8, 2013

Are we creating more poor people? | Brunell

There's an ancient Chinese proverb that says, "If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." In other words, it is better to teach someone to take care of themselves than keep them dependent on others.

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updated 5:50 PM April 24, 2013

Spreading the gospel of good health | Klaas

The youth pastor and veteran NFL fullback raised the fitness magazine for all to see. Such cover images of chisled, ripped bodybuilders, Eddie Williams warned his young audience at Auburn High School, send the wrong message to growing, impressionable teens. And those quick, even drastic methods for reaching physical greatness are chock full of lies.

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updated 3:31 PM April 24, 2013

Father, daughter enchant the soul | Whale

I don’t like to trot out this word, preferring to let the poor thing catch its breath and regain whatever strength it may have left. Problem is, I really don’t know how else to describe what happened at the Auburn Avenue Theater one night last week.

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updated 8:14 PM April 23, 2013

Let it be Sun-down in Pacific | Klaas

Frustrated Pacific continues to vent. Concerned citizens gossip on sidewalks. Angry business owners explain the problems on Facebook. Folks frequently ring our office, calling for the mayor's head.

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updated 5:53 PM April 17, 2013

New federal regulations will boost the costs of gas — again | Brunell

Imagine that you see a swimmer floundering in the water. You call the rescue squad and then you toss the swimmer a concrete block. Does that make sense? Of course not, but that's what's happening in Washington, D.C.

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2:12 PM April 12, 2013

Question of the Day

Are you satisfied with the performance of the state Legislature?