Kennewick Schools shamed itself by censoring student with Mexican flag | Opinion
Waving Mexican flag is no crime
My name is Alek Flores, this past Friday I graduated from Legacy High School, one of my fellow graduates decided to wave a flag of Mexico on stage to represent where he and his family are from.
The Kennewick School District, however, removed him from the graduation live stream! This is extremely wrong. Anyone should be allowed to represent their culture. The KSD has also recently passed an act banning all non-American flags from being inside classrooms.
This story may not seem important, but to me and many other minorities, it is In the era where Mexicans and other minorities have to worry whether ICE will take them and their family away.
I find it disgraceful that the Kennewick School District refuses to stand by its students! I ask you to please help spread awareness, and end the silencing of minorities.
Alek Flores, Kennewick
Brother’s illness led him to STEM
When I was 6 years old, my older brother suffered a ruptured arteriovenous malformation and spent 1.5 years in a coma. As I helped care for him, I became fascinated by the people behind his care, such as the engineers designing technology my family depended on. That curiosity led me toward science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
This spring, I was one of 50 Washington high school students recognized at STEM Signing Day, presented by Boeing. It was incredible to be honored for my accomplishments and meet students who are passionate about STEM. I’m even more excited for what’s next this fall at Columbia University, where I’ll study biomedical engineering.
The career opportunities in our state are changing quickly. What they increasingly have in common is they require education and training beyond high school. In Washington, only about 40% of high school students are expected to earn a postsecondary credential. Many students are missing out on opportunities that could make a difference in their lives. We can do better.
There is space for everyone in STEM. To anyone considering STEM, be curious. Don’t be afraid to fail and trust yourself to pursue the opportunities that you believe in.
Emily Gallardo, Sunnyside
She opposes data center plan here
I’m writing to voice my opposition to the Amazon “Cascade” data center project. While developers use hollow promises of “job growth” to push these plans, local residents know the truth: construction jobs are temporary and specialized operational roles are routinely filled by outside technicians.
Data centers are incredibly resource-intensive, consuming up to five million gallons of water daily. In Richland, introducing this massive industrial-scale water demand risks shifting the existing contaminated groundwater plumes from Hanford site into the Columbia River, directly threatening our shared waters and local tribal lands. Furthermore, the toxic chemicals used to treat the facility’s cooling systems create “blowdown” waste that will overwhelm our municipal treatment plants.
Financially, this project is a severe burden on local ratepayers. Forcing our local grid to absorb immense energy demands requires extensive infrastructure upgrades. Studies across the country prove that everyday families end up paying higher monthly utility bills to subsidize these corporate upgrades.
It is deeply frustrating to watch our local clean energy assets handed over to private tech hubs rather than serving our community. Our politicians must stop prioritizing corporate greed and start protecting the utility rates, health and well-being of the people they govern.
Majesta McCann, Richland
Fossil fuel is built on flawed concept
We should be concerned by the tremendous control the fossil fuel industry has over our government. The industry spends approximately $250 million per year lobbying elected officials. The vast majority is going to Republican officials and candidates. During the 2024 presidential campaign, oil interests gave over $75 million to Donald Trump-affiliated PACs.
This lobbying serves as a highly effective financial instrument, yielding unparalleled returns on investments by securing multi-billion-dollar taxpayer subsidies, rolling back environmental regulations, and stalling clean energy competition. Furthermore, the federal government spends $20 billion to $35 billion annually on direct handouts, including special tax breaks and cheap drilling access on public lands.
We cannot expect meaningful climate action as long as our representatives are financially beholden to the industry driving this crisis. Voters must demand transparency and reject candidates who prioritize fossil fuel payouts over our planet’s future.
Rod Sadler, Richland
Aligning of planets rare opportunity
It’s very rare, but it happens. The sun, moon, my community, and government, all align, to create a truly amazing thing: the new Pasco Aquatic Center.
Standing on the shoulders of the many water parks that have been built before, this state-of-the-art facility has more fun packed into than one might think possible: Two 30-meter-high tubes; Yellow for curves and blue for hyperdrive; a lap pool with a “ninja” obstacle course suspended above (none have yet to pass the ‘Yellow Tube of Doom’); pools and swirling, swishing float waterways are designed to delight all ages, with dowsing surprises at every bend; private family suites. ADA compatibility and food services (no alcohol), a community center offering meeting rooms of many sizes and year-long family fun use and future expansion, all have been designed in.
Initially planned for three shifts a day of up to 300 persons per shift (pending success), this will increase to 500. Many fun additions are planned.
My fellow friends of Pasco should be very happy and proud of what we, our leaders, our government and our voters have accomplished: an enduring monument to the happiest sounds ever heard in all of nature — children splashing, squealing and laughing!
Michael Harrington, Pasco
Hoping for return of truth with feds
I look forward to the day when truth and fact-based legislative work return to our federal government. Don’t you?
We need responsible representation rather than an agenda that randomly guts government departments. Past administrations have successfully and responsibly trimmed government fat. For instance, a previous administration actively terminated or consolidated 77 minor federal programs, saving taxpayers an estimated $30 billion annually.
By contrast, the current Trump administration has only increased federal spending. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the total federal deficit for fiscal year 2026 is projected to hit $1.9 trillion to $2.0 trillion — a significant jump from the $1.78 trillion deficit in fiscal year 2025.
We need a leader who understands real fiscal management and public service. A vote for John Duresky is a vote for a 20-year Air Force veteran who retired as a major and has dedicated 37 years to government service. A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a certified Project Management Professional, Duresky truly understands the weight of public service.
As your congressman, Duresky will bring steady, practical leadership to represent the vital interests of agriculture, business, families and healthcare. Voting for his opponents in this race is simply a vote for continued fiscal extremism and instability.
To hear Duresky discuss his vision firsthand, listen to his interview on The Tactical Pause Podcast, which is posted on the JohnDuresky4Congress Facebook page.
Majesta McCann, Richland
Op-ed right on for portrayal of dams
Research points to rapid data center expansion, extreme weather, sorely needed transmission and grid updates, and gas price volatility as the main causes of increasing electricity rates, not salmon.
A federal judge ordered agencies to increase spill over eight Columbia Basin dams from March through August to prevent further serious salmon decline. Spill allows juvenile salmon safe passage over lethal dams.
The judge notes that these “summer spill levels are identical to previous summer spill levels that have been ordered by the Court before” and explicitly allows dam operators to adjust spill in emergency conditions. Claims of blackouts as a result of spill are entirely hyperbolic and inaccurate.
The 2021 Spokane blackouts did not occur because of insufficient energy supply, but because of an outdated transmission system.
The grid has been under stress for years, and it’s not because of salmon.
It’s time for utilities to step up to their legal obligations and work collaboratively to restore salmon and provide reliable energy. Both are possible.
Karina Solorio, Yakima
Schram right for WW sheriff
Richard Schram has served this community for over two decades. He’s served in various levels of leadership, both operationally and administratively.
He developed the current Field Training Program which produces excellent deputies. He actively recruits and vets applicants to ensure those hired by the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Office are quality men and women. With Schram’s tenure and leadership, he has been involved in the training or hiring of nearly every member of this office.
His fingerprints are found on every aspect of what is arguably one of the greatest agency cultures in Washington. It is one that I, along with so many others, are proud to be a part of. Schram has promoted professionalism, excellence, and uprightness within this office. The Sheriff’s Office is what it is because of Schram’s work and leadership.
Beyond his resume, Schram is a good man. He cares for those under his leadership by promoting healthy family and work-life balance. He ensures his people are taken care of.
His career has demonstrated that he shows that same level of care for the community he serves. For these reasons, and others, I fully endorse and support Schram for Sheriff.
David Walling, Walla Walla