Op-eds

By Manka Dhingra Special to The Times Janice Porcher was on a routine work errand one morning in 2017 in Fife. A nine-year veteran deck hand for Washington State Ferries, she was a favorite of her colleagues for her smile and her kind demeanor. Just after turning left at a green light, her car was suddenly smashed by a driver who ran ...

By Manka Dhingra and Rebecca Saldaña Special to The Times “No two countries run by women would ever go to war.” That recent judgment by Meta Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg may be open to debate, but we have seen clear evidence during the pandemic that when women assume political leadership, it leads to improved outcomes. That is one of many reasons to celebrate ...

By Manka Dhingra and Lisa Yohalem Special to the Bellevue Reporter. After two years on the frontlines of pandemic response, our health care system has taken a beating. Providers such as community health centers have felt serious impacts on their workforce and finances. While federal emergency funds helped keep clinic doors open, a booster was desperately needed. Recognizing the problem, the ...

By Jamie Pedersen and Manka Dhingra Special to the Times  By the time the state Legislature convened in January for the 2021 session, our state and nation had endured months of pain and public outcry over a series of high-profile police killings of members of communities of color, including some of our neighbors here in Washington. People turned out across the state to ...

By Tina Orwall and Manka Dhingra Special to The Times Imagine you have a family member or friend who is in such emotional pain that they are struggling with suicidal thoughts and have a plan to take their life. What do you do? Who do you call? Since calling 911 is the only option to seek emergency help in life-threatening situations, people in ...

From Crosscut by Manka Dhingra & Tina Orwall & Shoshana Wineburg She was violated and raped in plain sight at all hours of the day and night. She was sold and threatened with violence and death. She scratched and kicked the walls of her motel room. She cried for help from anyone who could hear. Instead of helping, motel staff told her ...

A new law will help many seniors by raising the property tax exemption limit in King County from $40,000 to $58,423.

This past summer, the world stopped for a moment in collective horror when ultrawealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was once again indicted on a charge of child sex trafficking and sexual abuse of young girls.