Opinion | The Daily Chronicle

Letters to the editor can be submitted to letters@chronline.com.

Letter to the editor: No mega-dam — let’s do what works instead

The waters were rising around my Rochester home back in the flood of 2007. When NOAA’s forecasting graph suddenly updated the level that the Chehalis River would crest at two additional feet, … more

1/9/26

Letter to the editor: Tribes are central contributors to Washington’s economy, workforce and public wellbeing

Your recently published article, “Washington’s tribes boost state economic activity with casinos, businesses,” highlights a reality that deserves broader recognition across the state and … more

1/9/26

Letter to the editor: A warning about a dangerous dog after attack in Centralia

Please be aware that there is a very aggressive black pitbull that is able to slip under the fence into Mountain View Cemetery in Centralia. On Jan. 5, I was walking my two dogs through the … more

1/9/26

Letter to the editor: Vote for better funding for better schools

On Feb. 10, voters in three Lewis County school districts have the choice to vote “yes” on their respective school levies and bonds. For Centralia voters, it means showing that we support … more

1/9/26

Letter to the editor: Why are people calling Trump fascist?

I am writing this letter to explain what a fascist is and prove that Donald Trump is in fact a fascist who is harming people similar to the way fascist Adolf Hitler did to Germans in the 1930s. … more

1/9/26

Letter to the editor: Twice broken as a creation of God

God created the Earth. God created animals. God created Man. God was happy. The animals were happy. Man was happy — for a while. Eventually, God surmised there was something amiss; … more

1/9/26

Letter to the editor: Even when it is inconvenient, the U.S. should conduct itself lawfully

I read with some bewilderment the commentary by Chad Taylor with regard to the abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro by U.S. military and law enforcement personnel. Mr. Taylor seems … more

1/7/26

Letter to the editor: With Somali childcare centers, the issue is fraud — not harassment

According to Newsweek and KOMO News, there are 275 to 293 Somali-speaking childcare centers in Washington state that participate in state subsidy programs. “Somali-speaking” typically means … more

1/7/26

Letter to the editor: Chronicle publisher underscores the selective constitutionalism that has come to define his party

Chad Taylor’s commentary attempts to sell a familiar sleight of hand: that questioning Donald Trump’s authority to order the removal of a foreign head of state somehow amounts to sympathy for … more

1/7/26

Letter to the editor: ‘Just following orders’ is not an effective defense

Apparently letter writer Mr. Ray Anderson misread my recent letter regarding the Uniform Code Of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the JAG Corps. I offered several examples of wannabe dictators like … more

1/7/26

Wayne Fournier is a Thurston County commissioner, former Tenino mayor, firefighter and lifelong community advocate.

Wayne Fournier commentary: When the campaign ends, the noise quiets and the responsibilities begin

January is a strange month in government. The campaign signs come down. The inbox fills back up. The adrenaline of election season fades, replaced by calendars, budgets, staff briefings and … more

By Wayne Fournier | 1/7/26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 29: In this photo illustration, ZYN nicotine cases and pouches are seen on a table on January 29, 2024 in New York City. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is calling for federal action on ZYN, a popular nicotine pouch in the United States. The senator is asking the FTC and FDA to investigate the companies marketing and the health effects of the nicotine pouch. (Photo Illustration by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Commentary: Washington state’s ‘Zyn tax’ destroys health and worsens lives

You stumble out of bed, eyes barely open. Make your way to your favorite chair, going slowly so as to not fall over in your half asleep condition. Open the little box on the table next to you, your … more

By Cameron M. Bailey | 1/6/26

Chad Taylor is co-owner and publisher of The Chronicle. He can be reached at chd@chronline.com.

Chad Taylor commentary: Hypocrisy on parade — when a dictator is bad until he isn’t

For years, Nicolás Maduro has been an easily vilified figure. While Maduro's critics easily described him as an authoritarian, brutal and illegitimate leader who destroyed his country's economy and … more

By Chad Taylor / For The Chronicle | 1/6/26

Peter Abbarno commentary: Normalizing dangerous drugs is creating a new prison system in Washington

Fentanyl and other deadly drugs continue to ravage neighborhoods across Seattle and Washington state. A recent decision by newly elected Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson to allow open use of … more

By Rep. Peter Abbarno | 1/5/26

Letter to the editor: Centralia school levy not about extras or extravagance

Families are stretched thin right now. Taxes are high, costs keep rising and many people are understandably worried about how much more they can manage. Those concerns are real, and they deserve … more

1/5/26

Letter to the editor: Who wins by invading Venezuela?

Interesting how the America First MAGA crowd is very silent about this latest move on behalf of the Trump Administration. Remember the Iraq war, Afghanistan or even Vietnam? Long, endless wars … more

1/5/26

Letter to the editor: An open space for facts, reason and logic

The recent praise The Chronicle’s letters to the editor section received from a contributor is entirely earned, and the distinction has been deserved for quite some time now. Personally, I am … more

1/5/26

From left, Paul Zander, Chase Conaway, Larry Zander, Nora Zander and Julie McDonald Zander pose for a photo.

Julie McDonald: Holidays leave glow after spending time in my happy place

It’s another year, and the warm glow of the holidays is fading once again. Surrounded by my grown children, I kept reflecting on how I’ve morphed into one of those people I often met in … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 1/5/26

In Valerie Buck’s class at Maywood Middle School, reading and writing skills are woven into lessons on other topics. There’s also an emphasis on hands-on learning in the class, part of Issaquah School District’s experimental microschool. (Photo by Donna Gordon Blankinship)

Commentary: How microschools and other innovative K-12 programs are catching on in Washington state

Educators are exploring new and creative approaches to meeting students where they are academically; for some options, regulatory and funding frameworks are still evolving When Cadence was … more

By Donna Gordon Blankinship / The Washington State Standard | 1/5/26

Rob Richards is a Navy veteran and former congressional staffer who has been an active community member in Thurston County for over two decades

Commentary: Fairness is not a ‘bait-and-switch’ — the case for modernizing Washington’s tax code

For decades, Washington has held an unfortunate title: having one of the most unfair tax systems in the country. Despite being home to some of the world’s richest people, our tax rules … more

By Rob Richards | 1/2/26