Gang violence seems to be everywhere today, even right here in our own suburban neighborhoods – and it’s mobile, moving across city borders. So, how can south and east King County communities work together to deal with it?
With students in the Kent and Tahoma School Districts about to begin another school year, I can’t help but think of my first day as a student at Sammamish High School. Actually, it wasn’t the day I remember so much as the angst-filled morning precipitating it.
Technology is moving at an insane pace now.
And while adults are struggling to keep up with the fast pace, kids are using technology earlier because they will be expected to have it mastered by the time they get in the work place, whether that’s the first job at 16 or an internship the summer after junior year of college.
A political dust storm blew through Maple Valley during the past couple of weeks.
Political twisters are entertaining to watch at times and can make for good copy for news writers.
There is a lot of talk about teaching and teachers these days.
Educating kids has been a political punching bag for decades, particularly since the 1980s when we started hearing stories that our kids were all dummies and children from some country over there all earned a PhD at 3 years old.
I have been spending some time handicapping races recently. First, the Longacres Mile that is coming up at Emerald Downs Aug. 21 and also the paths of a few up and coming south King County politicians.
Every summer I put together at least one story about drag racing in anticipation of the National Hot Rod Association rolling into Pacific Raceways.
While other recently graduated high school students are enjoying their final summer before going off to college, 19-year-old Cory Allyn Duke of Renton is in jail facing charges of vehicular homicide.
The King County Council plans to vote by Aug. 15 on a proposal to institute a $20 car-tab fee to bail Metro Transit out of a $60 million hole. When that vote comes, the final decision should be left to the voters.
Last week Ryan Ryals announced his weekly column has come to an end.
For nearly two years Ryan has written a column for The Reporter. Producing a column every week is a much more difficult task than most folks imagine.
Food in a family is a precarious thing. Everyone has their likes and dislikes and finding a balance is a challenge for moms everywhere. I have learned to pick my battles.
I finally finished a four-week road trip around the country this past week, driving nearly 8,000 miles. It was great, and I learned a lot of things I didn’t know before, such as:
I recently used this column to suggest that our towns aren’t interesting enough, and that our business leaders should be more creative. Most of the readers’ emails were supportive, but one of them thought it was terrible, and that if I thought I was so smart, maybe I should come up with my own ideas (thanks, Mom).
In late April I walked into Darren Collins’ portable classroom at Tahoma High and thought to myself, “Ah, so this is what they mean when they say the portables smell.”
Talking to the Dogrukols about their effort to remain in America to have access to medical services for their daughter made me think hard about the American Dream.
Last week, I hit the road and drove around the west coast and the southwest, armed with a book on scenic drives and another book on interesting places in the USA. Forget what you hear about a slowdown in summer travel — nearly every motel was full.
My friend and colleague Dean Radford, editor of the Renton Reporter, wrote a story recently that attracted my feeble attention.
Apparently some of the Valley Medical Center board members decided a code of ethics, or how to act like mom said we should, was a good item.
It was a hot week for political announcements and the making of a political career.
Gov. Chris Gregoire announced she was not running for a third term as governor, Attorney General Rob McKenna said he was running for the Olympia sleepover in the mansion and King County Councilman Reagan Dunn said he intends to fill McKenna’s vacant chair.
When I first read about the 75 medical marijuana supporters who visited the Kent City Council chambers last week, I sympathized with their cause, and with the Kent officials who were forced to shut down the marijuana dispensaries.
When I first came out here 20 years ago, my uncle took me tubing down the Cedar River on some tire tubes we found in the barn. For a beach bum from Florida, it was a real change of scenery, and I’m still convinced it’s the best way to see nature in Washington.
