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Fire destroyed much of the town of Malden, Washington in 2020 after a tree reportedly snapped and fell into power lines operated by Avista. (AP Photo/Jed Conklin, file)

Opinion

Editorial: Return of wildfire season brings new concern

Utilities in the state will need to pay more attention to risks to powerlines from wind and trees.

Ballots for Tuesday's election are due by 8 p.m. (Sue Misao / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: New districts, more make for vital election season

Voters should check to see if they’re in a new district and prepare for consequential elections.

Ferries pass on a crossing between Mukilteo and Whidbey Island. (Andy Bronson / Herald file)

Opinion

Editorial: Up to graduates to take us where we want to go

A lack of workers has limited Amtrak and the state ferry system. Graduates need to train for those…

The COVID-19 ward at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett in May 2020. (Andy Bronson / Herald file) 20200519

Opinion

Editorial: Even after 1 million deaths, covid fight isn’t over

Most of us have put away masks, but case counts are rising again and vigilance is still paramount.

Members of PRISM close out a dance off Friday afternoon at the Stanwood-Camano YMCA in Stanwood, Washington on March 3, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Marysville board must keep focus on students’ needs

Discussion of LGBTQ clubs must tune out the culture war noise and focus on students and families.

A tiny homes program that opened in early July began with each unit claimed and a wait list of 60. Here Patrick Diller, head of community partnerships for Pallet, discusses the Pallet Shelter Pilot Project on June 29, 2021 in Everett. (Katie Hayes / Herald file)

Opinion

Editorial: Edmonds ‘camping’ ban won’t solve homelessness

The city first must be able to offer shelter opportunities before forcing people off the streets.

Freshman and sophomore girls from high schools in Snohomish County build wooden tool boxes as an introduction to the Regional Apprenticeship Pathways program at Marysville Pilchuck High School on Thursday, May 5, 2022. (Jon Bauer / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Trades program building students’ careers and lives

Girls Build introduced high school students to building trades apprenticeships and careers.

Leadership skill to lead company in crisis situation, manage to solve risky problem concept, confidence businessman leader acrobat walk balance on danger high rope and try to solve tightrope problem.

Opinion

Editorial: Closer to tax reforms, work group must find accord

With proposals ready for more analysis, the work group must reach consensus to fix an unfair system.

Swift Orange Line planned 2024 routes. (Community Transit)

Opinion

Editorial: The future’s riding on wheels of a bus

Innovation and investment in a new bus rapid transit route and electric buses can get us where we’re…

FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2020 photo a woman holds a Puff Bar flavored disposable vape device in New York. The Food and Drug Administration says it will soon begin cracking down on vaping companies that have used a now-closed loophole to escape federal oversight, including the company behind a line of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes that have become the top choice among teenagers. Under a new law taking effect Thursday, April 14, 2022, the FDA can regulate e-cigarettes and similar products that use synthetic nicotine. (AP Photo/Marshall Ritzel)

Opinion

Editorial: Playing whack-a-mole against teen use of nicotine

State and federal officials got in two good whacks against e-cigarette makers but the game isn’t over.

Photo by Bob VonDrachek Shot this morning (3/8/21) from the public parking lot at Hidden Beach in Greenbank. The whales were pretty far off shore at the time in mid channel.

Opinion

Editorial: Gray whales a reminder of what must be protected

The death of one whale and the visit of others calls to the impacts they and their habitat…

Speaking from the McLane Creek Nature Trail west of Olympia, Wash. on Wednesday, April 6,2022 Washington state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz announces an inaugural carbon project which will be located in selected locations on state trust lands. Joined by regional tribal leaders, representatives from the carbon market industry along with the environmental community. Franz outlined the agency's goals that include offsetting carbon emissions while the preserving thousands of acres of Western Washington's more ecologically valuable forest land. (Steve Bloom/The Olympian via AP)

Opinion

Editorial: A price on carbon will keep forests saving climate

A new DNR program will use carbon-offset credits to preserve state forestland and bring in revenue.

In this photo made on Thursday, May 6, 2021, a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E is seen as it is charging at a Ford dealer in Wexford, Pa. Ford is spinning off its electric vehicles and internal combustion businesses into separate units. The automaker said Wednesday, March 2, 2022 that its plan includes two distinct, but strategically interdependent, auto businesses – Ford Blue and Ford Model e.(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Opinion

Editorial: Switch to electric cars making increasing sense

A state goal will require new car sales be for electrics by 2030, but many may want to…

Students line up for meals Wednesday afternoon at Shoultes Elementary School in Marysville on October 24, 2018. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Voters can help rewrite Marysville schools story

The district has listened to voters, trimmed its levy requests and has made leadership changes.

FILE - In this April 12, 2018, file photo, a marijuana plant awaits transplanting at the Hollingsworth Cannabis Company near Shelton, Wash. Five years after Washington launched its pioneering legal marijuana market, officials are proposing their most ambitious overhaul yet of the way the industry is regulated, with plans for boosting minority ownership of pot businesses, spreading out oversight among a range of state agencies, and letting the smallest cannabis producers increase the size of the operations in an effort to help them become more competitive. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Opinion

Editorial: We can repudiate racism without erasing history

Wiping ugly history from textbooks, language and documents only serves to protect racism.

Opinion

Editorial: Steps to protect public, police will honor officer

During her state of the city address, Everett’s mayor outlines what’s needed to confront crime.

FILE - A full-scale mock-up of a high-speed train, is displayed at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., on Feb. 26, 2015. The California High-Speed Rail Authority's biennial business plan, released Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, shows the estimated cost of the project rising by about $5 billion, compared to the 2020 plan, up to as much as $105 billion. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Opinion

Editorial: Bullet train study should include other options

The state’s $150 million, joined by federal funds, will look at a bullet train between Portland and B.C.

March For Our Rights on the capitol campus. April 27th, 2019.

Opinion

Editorial: Voters shouldn’t ignore Rep. Sutherland’s reprimand

The 39th District Republican representative will have new voters this year he will need to answer to.

Sen. Andy Billig (D-Spokane), second from right, confers with Sen. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, right, in front of Sen. June Robinson's, D-Everett, desk on the Senate floor at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, during debate over a measure that authorizes legislative leaders to terminate any state of emergency called by the governor after 90 days if the Legislature is not in session. The measure passed the Democratic-led Senate chamber and now heads to the House, also held by Democrats, for consideration. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Opinion

Editorial: Voters can make call on lawmakers’ success, failure

Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature staked out clear budget and tax positions this year.

State Representative of the 38th Legislative District Emily Wicks raises hand during her virtual swearing in from her home on Friday, Jan. 8, 2020 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Opinion

Editorial: Better acccess to public meetings a covid-era plus

An Everett lawmaker’s bill will help update the state’s public meeting rules for the 21st century.