The mayor of New York City, Michael R. Bloomberg, has asked the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for permission to add sodas and other sugary soft drinks to the list of items that cannot be purchased with food stamps. The USDA finances the federal food stamp program and also sets the rules in terms of benefits and entitlements. Cigarettes, alcohol as well as certain restaurant foods and snacks are already excluded. A decision is pending.
Consider this your unofficial notice of public hearing.
You might already know that King County Sheriff Sue Rahr had planned to shut down Precinct No. 3 in Maple Valley, which is the main hub for sheriff’s deputies in the area. Earlier this year, we were told that this would happen in 3-5 years. That was shortened to about 1-2 years, and just last month, we learned that it’s going to start closing in January.
Last month I wrote about my return to the local library and, after reading the column, one of my readers was prompted to share with me the story of Mr. E.
Mr. E started working as a salesman after returning from World War II when he was 21 years of age. He supported a large (10 children) family over the course of his sales career and retired at age 60.
As Washington teens settle back into school, now is the perfect time for parents to talk to them about alcohol.
In the classic children’s story, “Alice in Wonderland,” a little girl falls down a rabbit hole and finds herself in a strange world where everything is upside down, where all the rules have changed and peculiar people do inexplicable things.
“Attend a debate between politicians? Nahhh, they’re all liars and crooks. Besides, William Shatner is in that new show premiering tonight, $#*! My Dad Says, and I don’t wanna miss that.”
A political season could not possibly take more twists and turns than the one playing out in the 31st Legislative District.
The race for the Senate seat offers high-profile incumbent Pam Roach, a populist lawmaker who has been taken to task by her own party, and challenger Matt Richardson, a Sumner city councilman who lands in the news for all the wrong reasons.
I have a sinking feeling that Maple Valley is about to become irrelevant in a few years, except as a provider of customers to Covington and Black Diamond businesses. The former alpha dog of the Valley towns is going to look more like the omega (last to eat) unless something changes drastically, and soon.
A major employer in our region is making big changes in its benefits package. Boeing’s non-union workers are going to pay more for their health insurance. And it’s likely that union workers won’t be far behind.
The news should serve as a dose of reality to private and public employees alike.
I just finished watching a political ad on TV from a local winemaker, who claims that they are going to go out of business if Initiative 1100 passes. The commercial shows smiling, hardworking Americans in very clean clothes making your booze on a sunny day in Washington (huh?). Well, this merits a few minutes of my attention.
The immigration bill should focus on providing a fair sensible program to satisfy the needs of the U.S. economy and it’s citizens. There are 12-30 million illegal foreigners in the United States dispersed in every state. They are situated in jobs that require the fulfillment by employers that appeal to mostly unskilled workers.
Congratulations are in order to the Washington State Council of County and City Employees. Members of Council 2, who work for King County, have voted to forego a cost-of-living increase for 2011.
The union becomes the first to partner with the county to cut county costs and help maintain public services.
Readers who have paid any attention to cable news channels or political journals lately have probably noticed that the Republican Party is already declaring victory in the 2010 midterms, cajoling the media to report that they’ve seemingly won before a single vote has been cast. The reality is that this is a very volatile and unpredictable election year. If anything is certain, it’s that nothing is certain.
You can tell by the letters to the editor that a number of Black Diamond residents aren’t happy about the forthcoming land development that just passed through their City Council. With more than 6000 new houses planned, the current residents are about to suddenly become a minority.
It’s been five years since the Covington-Maple Valley Reporter published its first edition, Sept. 7, 2005 and by some miracle I am still here.
Change is the only thing we can count on and much has changed here over the years. It seems I, somehow, remain the only constant and that never ceases to amaze me.
Wow, nearly 10 years in Enumclaw!
When I arrived in Enumclaw on a cold, rainy Jan. 1, 2001, I expected my stay to be five years; before I knew it five was seven and now seven is nearly 10.
For the past few weeks of the summer I have been informing you, the great people of Maple Valley, about the great things that locals in our community have done or are doing currently. However, unless you recognize my name, you have zero idea who I am.
Have we learned anything from British Petroleum’s debacle in the Gulf?
Frankly, I think we’ve learned just how much we don’t know.
And because of that, we should cease drilling in U.S. waters until there’s better science to be had.
I am really loving this top two election style, even though voters didn’t seem as willing to oust the incumbents during this primary. Fifteen candidates on the ballot for senator? It won’t take long until the ballot is as long as the voter’s guide, with over 50 or even 100 candidates for the best offices. I might even try to scrape up the money to run next time (Ryan Ryals, Prefers All Night Party).
Walking toward the Tacoma Dome Saturday evening for one of Lady Gaga’s shows on The Monster Ball Tour, her tour bus stands out in a sea of fans.