Most of us know what it's like to sit at the kitchen table and make the numbers work for our expenses and revenue. Over the past year, grocery prices in our area rose 4.5%, and energy costs jumped …

As families across Snohomish County continue to face rising costs, local government should be looking for ways to ease the financial burden on taxpayers, not add to it. The County executive’s …

As mayors from communities across Snohomish County, we know firsthand that local government is where the difference is made in most people's lives.  When our residents stop us at the …

Oct. 1 marked my five-year anniversary at Washington State Ferries. I joined WSF in 2021 as operations director and stepped into my current role in the spring of 2024. When I arrived, we were …

Our response to the crisis of drug addiction should be focused on a clear objective: helping people escape addiction and move toward treatment and recovery. Unfortunately, too much of what is called …

New federal requirements are coming to Apple Health for some people. We break down what enrollees need to know to be prepared – and to stay covered. Federal legislation. New rules. Work …

Surprises can be deadly. A devastating flood recently hit Nepal and China. A glacier collapse caused a massive flood that killed over 1,300 people and left more than 5,000 missing. The flood …

If you email a European college professor any time after Friday at 4 p.m., they will not respond to you until after the following Monday’s lecture. Trust me, I speak from experience. Though my …

The day after America celebrated 250 years of independence, I found myself thinking about what freedom really means – and who gets to feel it. I am an Iranian American woman. I have lived in …

Editor’s note: Former Beacon reporter Beth Bond recently came across a copy of this letter, called “The American’s Creed,” in her education files. It was written by William Tyler Page, clerk …

Data centers have become a significant topic of public interest and concern. While these facilities play a role in supporting many digital services, their impacts on land use, infrastructure, energy …

The Sno-Isle Libraries Third Graders Read Together program makes reading fun, prepares students to thrive in school, and sparks a lifelong love of learning. The program features book nominees from …

Currently, I live with a view of the Muckleshoot Casino and see its fireworks displays advertising their “Boom City” and heralding their upcoming end-of-June fireworks display. With …

As a young child, I would garden with my father, and our conversations always revolved around “The Art of Living” as he called it. Creating a destination where you want to stay and spend quality …

For decades, governments at the local, state, and federal levels have approached homelessness and addiction with good intentions. At this point, billions of dollars have been poured into programs, …

In the realm of gardening, patience is not merely a virtue; it is a fundamental lesson that unfolds over time. Each seed planted in rich soil holds the promise of potential, requiring care and …

In 2025, we carried 20.1 million customers, nearly 1 million more than the previous year. That translates to 152,592 sailings. Each one starts and ends at a ferry terminal. Only 22 trips were …

If you're job hunting in Washington, here's something you need to know: Employers are looking at more than your resume. According to a new regional analysis from  Western Governors …

Every Wednesday, a retired vice president of operations from Edmonds shows up at a local senior’s door with a hot meal and a few minutes of conversation. On Tuesdays, a bilingual volunteer in …

We often hear about the importance of transparency in government, but in practice it requires intentional effort by policymakers to ensure constituents are aware of proposals that may affect them. …