Thumbs up
Valentine's present
To Mid-Columbia voters for supporting our kids. Each of the 21 school levies in the region's seven counties were approved by comfortable margins.
It's true, each measure that passed was an extension of an existing levy and not a new tax, but voters could have opted for a tax break instead of continuing to invest in our future.
They didn't, and the outlook is brighter as a result.
Electrifying development
To HAPO Community Credit Union and Windermere Tri-Cities for their contribution of $15,000 to ensure all 90 commissioned Kennewick police officers will be equipped with a Taser.
Chief Ken Hohenberg said the Tasers already in use have decreased the number of injuries to police from those who tried to resist arrest.
Putting this tool in the hands of every officer means fewer injuries yet. The men and women who put themselves in harm's way to protect our community deserve the best tools available.
Thumbs down
Lesson learned
To us, for giving a thumbs up to the Tri-City Americans after establishing the franchise's longest winning streak at 13 wins in January.
When we extended our congratulations, the team had 33 wins and nine losses for the season. In the 11 games between that reckless recognition and Friday, these talented skaters found themselves on a 5-6 losing streak.
So today, we're rescinding our thumbs up and, we hope, the jinx that went with it.
Who does it hurt?
To the state Department of Ecology for levying an $8,000 fine against Ben Franklin Transit because storm water pollution rules.
Fining public agencies isn't a brilliant idea in any case, because the public ultimately bears the cost with no real harm to the culprits.
But in this case, the fine seems harebrained. Even if Ben Franklin is out of compliance -- which is in dispute -- the money would be better spent on improvements to its stormwater system.
Ecology has some logical criteria for deciding when a fine is appropriate. The assessments are reserved for serious violations or when noncompliance continues after Ecology has already issued warnings or technical assistance.
If those conditions were applied in this case, we don't think there would be a fine.
Advise already
To the Hanford Advisory Board for letting a little confusion delay its guidance on safety concerns at the vitrification plant.
Certainly, the board might never have a thorough enough understanding of the underlying issues to make specific recommendations on what ought to be done to improve the safety culture at the $12.2 billion project.
But that doesn't preclude HAB from providing meaningful input.
The Department of Energy's Office of Health, Safety and Security concluded that managers at the vit plant "do not have a full appreciation for the current culture or the level of effort needed to foster a healthy culture."
It's well within HAB's purview to encourage the plant's managers to develop that appreciation. There should be no more delay.
