Oregon's Les Zaitz: Strong journalism key to local news success Oregon's Malheur Enterprise is closing this month but the feisty weekly leaves a strong legacy and potentially a model for other local newspapers to succeed.

Les was always a hero of mine. It's sad that his newsroom is folding. (And, yes, I have been to Vale.)

Egypt, Trump and America's 'Morsi moment' | Rick Steves Op-Ed The trajectory of U.S. politics is an echo of what happened in Egypt after the Arab Spring uprising that toppled the government and allowed extremism in.

New op-ed from @ricksteves.bsky.social about Trump, Egypt and our 'Morsi moment'

www.seattletimes.com/opinion/egyp...

Exclusive: U.S. CDC plans study into vaccines and autism, sources say The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning a large study into potential connections between vaccines and autism, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, despite extensive scientific research that has disproven or failed to find evidence of such links.

Dear Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and the entire Senate GOP, all of whom obeyed the wanna-be king and voted yes on RFK Jr.: Thanks for nothing. Relitigating settled science won't save money. But it will almost certainly cost lives. www.reuters.com/business/hea...

I'm a Seattle doctor. Here's what I need you to know about measles | Op-Ed Measles is no longer a disease of the past or a problem that only occurs in faraway places. Measles is here today.

Doctors are going to keep banging this drum and so am I. Vaccinations save lives. Get them. This outbreak and its spread was entirely preventable.

Empower local WA communities to sail their own ferries The Legislature has a chance to help jumpstart local foot ferries at a time when they're needed most.

What if communities that needed ferries could bypass the cumbersome state system and get their own? The editorial board floats the idea:
#washington #ferries #legislature

Here's what The Seattle Times editorial board recommends for Seattle Public Schools' two levies on Feb. 11 ballot | Editorial Seattle is proposing two levies to voters that it bills as "renewals" of prior spending plans. Yet the price tag is higher than ever.

Seattle voters: Seattle Public Schools' ask for levies could cost you -- a lot. We recommend you do your homework before you vote. Start here:
#election #education

Trump Jan. 6 pardons show us what we're in for | Editorial The bullet directly to the heart of democracy is the sweeping pardon of nearly 1,600 who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

What we saw yesterday, from Elon Musk's Nazi salute to the renaming of Denali to the Jan. 6 pardons, is not normal, or OK, or "part of politics." It strikes right at the heart of our democracy.

Seattle to LA: We are here for you | Editorial Los Angeles, your tears are our tears. From one West Coast city to the other, we stand with you and grieve with you.

From the editorial board @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social:
There will be time later for scrutiny. We need to stand with Los Angeles and share its people's grief, not take the opportunity to grandstand. Be decent.

Your anti-vaxx email is making me sick We already know some are not heeding the recommendations because 27 of Washington’s 39 counties recorded cases of whooping cough this year.

In light of news on @nytimes.com about childhood vaccination rates, a wee rant:

Businesses ‘onboard’ new hires. Maybe Seattle should try it | Op-Ed Social isolation has become an invisible threat to our democracy, impeding our ability to come together to solve complex challenges.

Seattle Freeze is real, many op-ed writers have shared, but solutions are few. Here's a resident who did something about it:

Why appointment is only part of the solution for a better WA judiciary | Op-Ed The problem is not that we elect judges in our state; the problem is that we have no check and balance on how we fill vacant judicial positions.

An op-ed writer suggested we appoint, rather than elect, judges in Washington. But wait, 83% of our judges were appointed. Now what? A judge weighs in:

Vinyl on Capitol Hill. Drink/listen local, y'all. @theurbanologist.bsky.social

The Times They Are A-Changin’ Staffers at the Los Angeles Times described to Status a demoralized publication depleted of its spirit in which employees are "confused," "offended," and "frustrated."

Scoop: After the LA Times published a piece about Elon Musk that carried a headline owner Patrick Soon-Shiong didn't like, a new rule was implemented: Prior to publishing opinion stories, headlines must be emailed to Soon-Shiong, where he can then choose to weigh in. www.status.news/p/los-angele...

Closure of WA glass plant shows need for reforming recycling system | Editorial The failure of a Seattle glass manufacturing facility exposes a weakness in Washington’s recycling system that lawmakers should fix.

Glass can be recycled infinitely and born anew. Why isn't it? Here's why:

Observe, wait, listen: How to bridge our differences in D.C. and in WA We must remind our leaders of these basics: Listen deeply and well, and work toward common ground.

This Saturday's My Take essay, about immigration, is by a woman who has "welcomed the stranger."

Trump Tells Republicans to ‘Kill’ Reporter Shield Bill Passed Unanimously by House The bill, known as the PRESS Act, would codify protections against federal investigators seizing reporters’ records. It is now less likely the legislation would clear the Senate before the current ses...

The journalist shield bill passed the House unanimously. It has support from Jim Jordan, Mike Lee and Tucker Carlson.

But now Trump says "REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL!"

The bill would codify protections against the feds seizing the records of journalists.

www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/u...

Seattle’s winter eviction moratorium is endangering affordable housing It has become easy for those who don't need eviction protection to simply stop paying, endangering affordable housing programs.

Seattle's winter eviction moratorium demonstrates the Law of Unintended Consequences, two op-ed authors opine.

Why I haiku the way I do in the age of AI A teacher shares the essence of haiku with his students, secretly hoping to sidestep AI.

A stunning essay about haiku in the age of AI. (If you'd like to submit an essay or op-ed to The Seattle Times, go here: st.news/write)