Opinion

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

Vaccinations improve our health and employment numbers | Brunell

It is not surprising that COVID-19, which ravaged the world, was disastrous for our country’s economy. Millions died from COVID complications. Offices, stores and factories… Continue reading

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Providence employees look at anti-vaccine mandate protesters as they cross the street outside of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett on Aug. 18, 2021. Olivia Vanni/Sound Publishing

Editorial: A message to the unvaccinated and unmasked

We know you’re frustrated with mandates and advice, but consider our frustrations and, yes, our anger.

Providence employees look at anti-vaccine mandate protesters as they cross the street outside of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett on Aug. 18, 2021. Olivia Vanni/Sound Publishing
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Back to the classroom during abnormal times | Roegner

If it didn’t feel so normal, we might forget about the coronavirus and the impact it has had on our lives. Gov. Jay Inslee has… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
9/11 Memorial in Cashmere, Washington. Photo courtesy of Greg Asimakoupoulos
Greg Asimakoupoulos

Twenty years after tragedy brought us together | Guest column

Recently, I was reflecting on where I was and what I was doing when I learned of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in… Continue reading

9/11 Memorial in Cashmere, Washington. Photo courtesy of Greg Asimakoupoulos
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Next year’s elections are already underway | Roegner

The 2021 session of the Washington State Legislature was dominated by the Democrats, who controlled both Houses and the governor’s office and was one of… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Screenshot of Voice of America footage from the August 2021 scene at Kabul’s international airport in Afghanistan.
Jayendrina Singha Ray

What the Afghan wants to say | Guest column

The American interest in Afghanistan goes back to the Cold War era, when its intervention was considered apt to contain the strain of Communism flowing… Continue reading

  • Aug 27, 2021
Screenshot of Voice of America footage from the August 2021 scene at Kabul’s international airport in Afghanistan.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

King County executive wins battle with suburbs over inquests | Roegner

Since 1854, when Washington was a territory, inquests have been required whenever a person dies from interaction with a police officer. That requirement is now… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
In a three-day event ahead of the November 2020 elections, the voting center at Federal Way’s Performing Arts and Event Center saw 1,433 voters, which included 466 newly registered voters. File photo
Editorial

Editorial: Baseless claims of fraud threaten voter confidence

Without evidence of fraud, it’s those alleging irregularities who are a threat to election integrity.

In a three-day event ahead of the November 2020 elections, the voting center at Federal Way’s Performing Arts and Event Center saw 1,433 voters, which included 466 newly registered voters. File photo
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal told a crowd in Port Angeles he would like to see school districts have the ability to increase their local levies. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Message from state superintendent regarding school employee vaccinations

After a year and a half of remote and hybrid learning, my top priorities as our school buildings reopen for full-time in-person learning are providing… Continue reading

  • Aug 21, 2021
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal told a crowd in Port Angeles he would like to see school districts have the ability to increase their local levies. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Health Through Housing needs more local leadership | Roegner

How two South King County cities are addressing the program.

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
A Sept. 10, 2020, satellite image shows smoke from U.S. wildfires blanketing the majority of the West Coast. (European Space Agency)
Editorial

Editorial: The UN climate report, ‘The Lorax’ and us

The report and the Dr. Seuss classic offer a dire warning — and hope — for responding to climate change.

A Sept. 10, 2020, satellite image shows smoke from U.S. wildfires blanketing the majority of the West Coast. (European Space Agency)
Maria Gulchuk, a teacher in Federal Way, chats with her students via Zoom during online class on in 2020. File photo
Jayendrina Singha Ray

Technology and the post-pandemic restructuring of education | Guest column

As Simon Jenkins notes in an op-ed piece in The Guardian, “Great institutions traditionally need traumas — wars or pandemics — to force them to… Continue reading

  • Aug 14, 2021
Maria Gulchuk, a teacher in Federal Way, chats with her students via Zoom during online class on in 2020. File photo
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Look forward to an exciting November election | Roegner

King County Executive Dow Constantine was expected to win the August primary, and his likely goal was to break 50%, which makes it hard for… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

It’s time to rethink Washington’s long-term care law | Brunell

Time is short, but action is necessary. Gov. Jay Inslee and Democrats who control the state Legislature need to postpone implementing the sweeping “Long-Term Services… Continue reading

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Dr. Bob Baugher is a professor in the Department of Psychology Highline College. Contact BBAUGHER@highline.edu. Contributed photo
Guest column

Love and death: We don’t have forever, so we better do it now

By Dr. Bob Baugher, guest columnist

  • Aug 7, 2021
Dr. Bob Baugher is a professor in the Department of Psychology Highline College. Contact BBAUGHER@highline.edu. Contributed photo
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Back to work? With new virus strain, maybe not | Roegner

COVID-19 has made the workplace more hazardous because the virus, particularly the delta variant, gets transmitted by air and proximity to infected people. What value… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

King County primary election candidates to watch | Roegner

With the Aug. 3 primary election, the public will narrow the field to the finalists as only the top two advance in each position to… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

Massive reforestation effort needed in Washington and beyond | Brunell

Massive forest fires in the western parts of our country are not only choking us with layers of thick smoke, but are leaving behind millions… Continue reading

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

U.S. Supreme Court: One right, one wrong | Roegner

Here’s a tale of two United States Supreme Court decisions — one right and one wrong. Despite two clear examples of discrimination, the court ruled… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

Silver lining from Washington’s brutal heat wave | Brunell

How about some good news coming out of our record-breaking (extreme) heat wave? Luckily, we live and work in the Pacific Northwest. We are reaping… Continue reading

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.