Commentary | The Daily Chronicle

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, stands in the wings of the Senate floor at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, April 25.

John Braun: Deal in facts when reacting to federal budget actions, not partisan fiction

Gov. Bob Ferguson’s first speech to the Legislature included several declarations that were encouraging to Republicans in the audience. One was that he was not here to defend government, but to … more

Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 7/11/25

Sandy Grady's garden in Chehalis on Monday, Aug. 23, 2012.

Brian Mittge: The bounty of a mediocre garden

I grew up in a gardening family. My dad tilled a vast swatch of rich brown earth that he planted carefully in rows straight as an arrow. My mom put up all sorts of canned goods in big mason … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 7/11/25

Rep. Peter Abbarno represents the 20th Legislative District and is the House Republican Caucus Chair.

Peter Abbarno: Washington state’s child care crisis demands real solutions

Washington is in the midst of a child care crisis — and families across Southwest Washington are paying the price. In communities throughout the 20th Legislative District — from Centralia … more

Commentary by state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 7/11/25

The Mariners Moose mascot cheers during a game in Seattle on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.

Richard Stride: Baseball, hot dogs and American dreams — a Seattle Mariners story

There’s something about the smell of grilled onions and sizzling hot dogs wafting through a ballpark that feels like pure summer. It’s July, the sun hangs stubbornly in the sky long … more

Commentary by Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 7/9/25

Commentary: Washington state Supreme Court hides the ball on state employee compensation offers

In a shocking 8-1 ruling , the Washington Supreme Court has given its official blessing to a secretive process that allows the offers and counteroffers leading to more than a billion dollars in … more

By Jason Mercier / Mountain States Policy Center | 7/9/25

Julie McDonald: Romance author, W.F. West alum to keynote writers conference, Evening with Authors

“Falling in love makes us feel alive in a way we rarely get to feel,” Jane Porter says. “I couldn’t imagine not writing love stories.” In September, we’ll … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 7/7/25

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, looks through documents during the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, April 25.

John Braun: No one likes gas tax, but it isn’t the main driver of our high fuel prices

Many people are unhappy about the recent hike in the state fuel tax, especially since the average prices for gas and diesel were already much higher here than in every state except California and … more

Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 7/5/25

Brian Mittge: An example for the future from Centralia’s founder

As Centralia marks its 150th birthday and the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th, I’ve been thinking about the past and what it could mean for us in the future. Living in … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 7/4/25

Sean Swope is a Lewis County commissioner representing District 1.

Sean Swope: Lewis County will reaffirm that we are not a sanctuary county

In the coming weeks, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice w ill re-release the national list of sanctuary jurisdictions — communities they believe obstruct … more

Commentary by Sean Swope | 7/3/25

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez smiles during a tour of Napavine High School’s CTE program at the Tiger Sandbox on Tuesday, April 22.

Gluesenkamp Perez: With vote on big bill, Congress makes terrain more uneven for hardworking families

Editor’s note: Following is the full statement of U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, following the U.S. House passage of the budget reconciliation bill best known as the Big … more

7/3/25

Commentary: Changes made — and not made — to the WA Cares in 2025

Let’s start with a change that was not made to the WA Cares fund in 2025. Lawmakers did not pass a law requiring recertification from people who received exemptions from WA Cares because they … more

By Elizabeth New / Washington Police Center | 7/3/25

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

Commentary: Grades alone cannot measure knowledge and skill

With high school and college commencements wrapping up, employers now worry about the graduates’ preparedness to enter the work world. This year, 3.9 million students graduated from our … more

By Don Brunell | 7/2/25

Wayne Fournier is a Thurston County commissioner, former Tenino mayor, firefighter and lifelong community advocate. He believes that small towns are the last frontier of big ideas. He shares stories of civic creativity, leadership and community-building in his regular newspaper column.

Wayne Fournier: Growth, planning and the Thurston County of tomorrow

Every month, more than 300 new residents move to Thurston County. You can see the impact: rooftops rising, traffic thickening and housing costs climbing. When I took office as a Thurston County … more

Commentary by Wayne Fournier | 7/2/25

Earl and Faye Spencer are pictured in September 2023.

Julie McDonald: Earl Spencer’s legacy includes Southwest Washington Fair

I was saddened to read last week about the June 22 death of Earl Spencer, a longtime local resident whose dedication as Southwest Washington Fair manager for more than 14 years helped the fairgrounds … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 6/30/25

John Braun: State needs to make vulnerable individuals a priority again

Ideally, legislators would have to respond to most needs only once. Our branch of government makes the appropriate change in law, the executive branch implements it, and away we go. Back in … more

Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 6/27/25

Commentary: The story you're not being told about gas prices in Washington, Idaho

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth the drive across the border to fuel up in Idaho instead of Washington, the answer is a resounding yes — especially if you care about … more

By Chris Cargill / Mountain States Policy Center | 6/27/25

Maureen Harkcom grew up on a Lewis County dairy and operated a beef and native hay operation and developed an equine competition facility. She is a past president of Lewis County Farm Bureau and a current member of Washington Farm Bureau Board of Directors. She can be reached by email at maureen.harkcom@gmail.com.

Maureen Harkcom: A call to action for Lewis County farmers after assessor’s letter prompts concern

In January 2024, my phone went crazy with Farm Bureau members calling me. I was Lewis County Farm Bureau (LCFB) president at that time. They were very upset about a letter they had received from … more

6/27/25

Peter Abbarno: Washingtonians deserve better than record tax hikes

Starting July 1, Washington families, seniors and small businesses will begin feeling the effects of the largest tax increase in state history. Passed by a Democratic majority in Olympia — with … more

Commentary by Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 6/27/25

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal

Commentary: Reykdal confronted by state data, blames partisanship for bad results

Pointing to statistics from the Washington Policy Center's Report Card for Washington's Future showing student spending is up per pupil from $13,775 to $19,163, while student test scores show decline … more

By David Boze / Washington Policy Center | 6/25/25

Author Kathie Deviny of Olympia, right, introduces Browsers Bookshop owner Andrea Y. Griffith, left, and author illustrator Corrina Luyken, center.

Julie McDonald: Learning from librarians at a Pacific Northwest conference

If you have a Timberland Regional Library card, you can obtain a card for libraries in King County, Pierce County or even Fort Vancouver Regional Library, expanding your access to even larger … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 6/23/25