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Devotees of TikTok, Mona Swain, center, and her sister, Rachel Swain, right, both of Atlanta, monitor voting at the Capitol in Washington, as the House passed a bill that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app if its China-based owner doesn't sell, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Lawmakers contend the app's owner, ByteDance, is beholden to the Chinese government, which could demand access to the data of TikTok's consumers in the U.S. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Opinion

Editorial: Forced sale of TikTok ignores network of problems

The removal of a Chinese company would still leave concerns for data privacy and the content on apps.

Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, watches the State of the State speech by Gov. Jay Inslee on the second day of the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Opinion

Editorial: Legislature has its own production of ‘The Holdovers’

What state lawmakers left behind in good ideas that should get more attention and passage next year.

FILE - The afternoon sun illuminates the Legislative Building, left, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., Oct. 9, 2018. Three conservative-backed initiatives that would give police greater ability to pursue people in vehicles, declare a series of rights for parents of public-school students and bar an income tax were approved by the Washington state Legislature on Monday, March 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Opinion

Editorial: What lawmakers accomplished in a quick 60 days

The legislature adopted a supplemental budget, initiatives, a $200 rebate and barred octopus farming.

Big piggy bank, woman is sitting with laptop, graph up, stack of gold coins. Bank, budget, finance, money savings concept. Isolated vector illustration for flyer, poster, banner, advertising.

Opinion

Editorial: Bills offer financial health for residents, state

Legislation seeks to provide financial literacy to students and make retirement investing simpler.

AI ethics or AI Law concept. Developing AI codes of ethics. Compliance, regulation, standard , business policy and responsibility for guarding against unintended bias in machine learning algorithms.

Opinion

Editorial: Schools need to adopt policies on use of AI tools

Districts, like Edmonds, have codes that outline rules that prevent abuse yet allow student use.

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste, center, greets a new trooper during a graduation ceremony, as Gov. Jay Inslee looks on in the Rotunda at the Capitol Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Olympia, Wash. The class of 31 troopers completed more than 1,000 hours of training and will now work for the WSP across the state. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Opinion

Editorial: Lawmakers miss good shot for fewer traffic deaths

Legislation to lower the blood alcohol limit for drivers didn’t get floor debate and vote in Senate.

A model of a statue of Billy Frank Jr., the Nisqually tribal fishing rights activist, is on display in the lobby of the lieutenant governor's office in the state Capitol. (Jon Bauer / The Herald.

Opinion

Editorial: Two works in progress to save Columbia Basin salmon

Sculptures of an Indian fishing rights activist will guard commitments to save salmon and honor treaties.

FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2015 file photo, a tanker airplane drops fire retardant on a wildfire burning near Twisp, Wash. Three firefighters were killed battling the blaze. The story was a top Washington state news item in 2015. Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz has proposed a plan to strengthen the ways that Washington can prevent and respond to wildfires. Franz released the 10-year plan last week as part of her $55 million budget request to the Legislature to improve the state's firefighting abilities (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Opinion

Editorial: Wildfire threat calls for restoring full funding

Lawmakers should restore funding for fighting wildfires and call on one furry firefighter in particular.

Jaime Benedict, who works as a substitute teacher, waves to drivers on the corner of Mukilteo Speedway and Harbor Pointe Boulevard while holding a sign in support of the $240 million capital bond proposal for Mukilteo School District on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 in Mukilteo, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Bar set unfairly high for passage of school bonds

Requiring 60 percent approval denies too many students the schools and facilities they deserve.

A leasing sign in visible outside of A’cappella Apartment Homes on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Cap on rent can keep more people in their homes

The legislation balances affordability with the need to encourage growth in the stock of housing.

Election signs line a section of Mukilteo Blvd. in Everett. (Sue Misao / Everett Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Switch of local elections may be premature

Adding local elections to even-year ballots could boost participation but election officials have concerns.

FILE - In this Monday, March 1, 2021 file photo, The first Alaska Airlines passenger flight on a Boeing 737-9 Max airplane takes off on a flight to San Diego from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle. A Boeing pilot involved in testing the 737 Max jetliner was indicted Thursday, Oct. 14,2021 by a federal grand jury on charges of deceiving safety regulators who were evaluating the plane, which was later involved in two deadly crashes. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Opinion

Editorial: Boeing safety failures draw more eyes on its jets

Ultimately, more scrutiny from the FAA and others can restore confidence in its planes’ safety.

"Law & Order" cast members (from left) S. Epatha Merkerson, Jeremy Sisto and Anthony Anderson are shown with episode director Marisol Torres on the show's set in New York, in April 2008. (Bernadette Tuazon / Associated Press file photo)

Opinion

Editorial: Leave the interrogation ruses to the TV cop shows

A House bill would limit the use of deceptive interrogations that have resulted in wrongful convictions.

Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. The college’s youth-reengagement program has lost its funding, and around 150 students are now without the money they need to attend classes. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Year of free college a boost to students, state

Legislation would fund a year of community college tuition to increase enrollment and degrees.

A classroom with folding walls inside College Place Middle School in Lynnwood, Washington, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2023. Noise transfers easily between rooms. If approved, a capital bond measure on the February ballot would allow the school district to rebuild both College Place Elementary and Middle. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Bonds, levies key to students’ educational needs

Five area school districts are seeking approval of levies or bonds to provide a full education.

Items are sorted for recycling inside the Waste Management Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville, Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Recycling bills could use a little reuse, refocus

Three bills each contain elements that can be combined to increase the state’s recycling success.

People talk and enjoy food at Everett Recovery Cafe during the launch party for the Snohomish County Recovery Coalition in Everett in October, 2023. (Sophia Gates / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Rep. Larsen outlines ‘to do’ list for opioid crisis

Much of what’s outlined in policy and funding solutions works, but needs expansion and our support.

Zachary Pfrimmer gets together with a group of students to help them through an assignment in his fourth-grade classroom at Cedarhome Elementary on Wednesday, Sep. 21, 2022, in Stanwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: School absenteeism crisis needs an all-hands effort

Legislation seeks to enlist schools, community groups, tribes and more to reach out to struggling kids.

Happy family time together set vector illustration. Cartoon young father holding son in hands, dad and kid study with book at home, mother and baby sitting in kitchen chairs to eat healthy food

Opinion

Editorial: Panel on concerns of boys, men deserves hearing

Legislation for a commission could add to efforts and investments that lawmakers have prioritized.

People gather at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial during the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Wreath Laying Ceremony in Washington, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Opinion

Editorial: What King brings to discussion of gun safety bills

The slain civil rights leader was cited by supporters and opponents of a gun permit bill before lawmakers.