
Readers are invited to weigh in on how the past year has affected them
Rising prices, wages, and the broader direction of the economy remain top concerns for many Americans. With inflation trends shifting and national leadership under continued scrutiny, this week’s poll asks readers to reflect on their own circumstances and decide whether they feel better off than they were a year ago — or if it’s still too early to make that call.
Also read:
- NBA vote clears way for expansion to SeattleThe NBA Board of Governors has voted to explore adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, moving Seattle closer than ever to hosting pro basketball again.
- Opinion: The legislature has committed $2.4 billion to recurring pension increases since 2018Six legislative COLAs have raised public employer costs by $2.38 billion since 2018, driving up unfunded pension liabilities and increasing burdens on county and city budgets.
- Opinion: ‘Just because they got away with it doesn’t mean they weren’t wrong’A Skamania County deputy’s report found violations of county rules and the Open Public Meetings Act, but no prosecutor acted on the findings.
- More drama at Clark County Council in regard to its representatives on the C-TRAN BoardCouncilors debated whether C-TRAN board representatives must follow group mandates, with Michelle Belkot refusing to commit to new voting rules and Glen Yung opposing her nomination.
- Opinion: Small things grow great by concordWashington’s initiative process gives citizens direct power to challenge lawmakers. Failed restrictions and new measures on girls’ sports, parental rights, and citizenship prove the influence of grassroots action.
- Opinion: California’s $20 fast food minimum wage creates less jobs and lower incomeStudy data show California fast food workers now face fewer shifts, higher menu prices, and widespread automation after the $20 wage hike.
- Gov. Ferguson signs law to undo WA estate tax increase enacted last yearWashington rolls back its estate tax hike, restoring previous rates and prompting uncertainty around $340 million in expected revenue for education.








