If you have yet to vote, you can drop off your ballot at any of the 600+ ballot drop boxes across the state (click on link to see complete list of locations by county).  If you have any questions about voting, it is best to contact your county auditor or election office (click here to obtain contact info for Washington State’s 39 county auditors). (List of Ballot Drop Boxes and List of County Auditors)

Over 73% of the state’s ballots have been returned by Monday evening.  Vote analysis has shown that the vast majority of the early returns came from those who normally vote in presidential elections, as opposed to infrequent voters.  With the ballot returned percentage being somewhat consistent throughout the state, it is difficult to accurately predict if that high early turnout will translate into a record high turnout boosted by first-time voters.  Many believe that tonight’s totals will likely be skewed toward Democrat candidates who were strongly encouraging their supporters to vote immediately, and that Republicans could improve in votes tallied later this week.  (Seattle Times and Washington Secretary of State Ballot Returns)

The controversial sex-education bill written by Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal has been the most contentious issue in the race to lead the state’s schools for the next four years.  Besides siding with parents over bureaucrats (like Reykdal) on the question of who should teach small children about sexual matters, challenger Maia Espinoza has also been critical of Reykdal’s lack of leadership leaving the state’s school system not only unprepared for distance learning, but providing little assistance in helping students return to the classroom.  (MyNorthwest)

One of the world’s leading health experts is encouraging school districts to bring students back into the classroom.  The dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, Dr. Ashish K. Jha, states that “There’s no doubt in my mind that schools need to be bolder than they’re being. There is a large mental health cost to children. And we know this is going to very substantially widen the achievement gap between wealthier/white students and poorer/students of color. The effect is going to be felt for a very long time.” Dr. Jha believes that, “districts that are being too cautious are doing enormous harm to children and families in their communities.” It appears that Dr. Jha did not clear his remarks with the teachers unions which control the Democrats who make such decisions. (Education Week)

The deepening division within the state’s Democrat Party continues, as members of the LBGTQ community refute the claims of the Seattle LBGTQ Commission, which had previously called for Mayor Jenny Durkan to resign.  The mayor’s office decided it was appropriate to wade into campaign politics on the public’s dime by sharing a letter from 195 LGBTQ community leaders, which stated that Mayor Durkan had a “long history fighting for equality and civil rights.” This is the latest in the ongoing “attack and counter-attack” between establishment Democrats like Mayor Durkan and the extreme Left-wing Democrats who have quickly taken over the party in Washington State.  This raises again the question of why hasn’t the local media demanded that Democrat elected officials, such as Governor Jay Inslee, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and the state’s Democrat congressional delegation, take a stand on this division in their own party, and forced them to pick a side (as the media certainly does when similar divisions break out within the state’s Republican Party)?  (Seattle Times)   

Approximately 300 restaurants will participate in Pierce County’s Restaurant Rally, which will allow consumers to decide which establishments will receive a portion of the county’s $7.5 million share of federal CARES Act funding.  Diners will receive 30% off their food bill and the county will then reimburse the restaurant for 50% of the tab.  Diners receive a less expensive meal, and the restaurants will receive additional customers and money. The promotion will occur Sunday thru Thursday next week and the following week. Click link to find which establishments are participating. (News Tribune and Pierce County Restaurant Rally List)

Molly McKinney of Marysville has become one of the first females in the country to become an Eagle Scout.  Molly’s family had been active in the Boy Scouts for many years, and she immediately became a member when the organization allowed girls to join. (Everett Herald)

Environmentalists continue their Chicken Little impersonation over the fate of the grey wolves, despite data demonstrating that the current methods of restoring the population are working.  Last week, the federal government announced that, due to the success of rebuilding the grey wolf population in the Pacific Northwest, it will be removing the wolf from the list of endangered species.  Environmental groups, which are dependent on environmental failures to raise money and really hate the current people in charge of the federal government, continue to ignore the data and speak negatively about Jay’ Inslee’s Department of Fish and Wildlife taking over responsibility for managing the wolves.  Environmentalists concerns run counter to the fact that the state’s wolf population has grown from only 5 to nearly 150 in just over 12 years. (AP/MSN and Washington Policy Center)

Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s campaign sent out a fundraising email that raised some serious questions.  Despite his campaign having nearly $3 million in the bank, Ferguson’s staff sent out a last-minute email appeal on Monday afternoon.  The message states, “a generous donor has offered to match contributions for the final 24 hours before Election Day! That means your contribution will be DOUBLED!”  This is either a lie Ferguson is telling to increase his future campaign war chest for Governor’s race, or his mysterious donor will likely be breaking state election laws.  The state limit for contributions is $2,000 per election.  Email fundraising appeals from a longtime politician like Ferguson would usually bring in far more than that, given the years they have spent building large email lists.  Thus, if this mysterious donor does match all the contributions that come in, he/she will be breaking state campaign laws.  Since we should be able to assume our Attorney General will not purposefully break the law, it must mean Ferguson is just lying to raise money.  So, if Bob Ferguson is willing to lie to the people who fund his campaigns, how likely is he to tell the truth to the general public? (Ferguson campaign email and Washington State Public Disclosure reports)

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