Cheers: To Cosmic Crisps. A new variety of apple developed by Washington State University is arriving in local stores. Named for the starlike speckles on its red-and-yellow skin, the Cosmic Crisp has been bred to be sweet, tart, crunchy and juicy. Sounds heavenly, and it adds to Washington’s self-proclaimed status as the apple capital of the world.
Not all that long ago, apple lovers had basically two choices at the typical grocery store — red or green. But decades of research and breeding have added to the options, creating a smorgasbord for shoppers. WSU’s Kate Evans, who has overseen the Cosmic Crisp program, stresses that the new product is a result of selective breeding, not biotechnology. “We’re using technology as we have for centuries,” she said. “There’s nothing really scary or high-tech about it.” But we’re confident there is something delicious about it.
Jeers: To an icy commute. Motorists apparently were surprised a bit by freezing conditions Monday. Dozens of crashes were reported in Clark County during the morning commute, enough to snarl traffic throughout the area. Fortunately, most of the crashes appeared to be minor.
Temperatures rose quickly and have remained mild throughout the week, but Monday was a reminder that winter weather has arrived. Drivers should check the forecast and check the conditions before hitting the road, particularly in the morning. And it can’t hurt to leave a little extra time to get where you are going.
Cheers: To Raquel Montoya-Lewis. The new appointee to the state Supreme Court reportedly will be the first Native American to serve on the court. Of course, diversity is not as important as having qualified justices, and Montoya-Lewis has demonstrated her qualifications while serving on the Whatcom County Superior Court. She will replace Mary Fairhurst, who is stepping down in January while battling cancer, and will be up for election next year.
While we cheer Gov. Jay Inslee’s choice of Montoya-Lewis, some jeers are warranted for the fact that Eastern Washington has scant representation among the nine justices; one member of the court is from east of the Cascades. The goal must be to have qualified justices who reflect the state’s residents. In one regard, Montoya-Lewis helps the court meet that standard; in another she does not.
Jeers: To inoperable bikes. An audit of Seattle’s ride-share rental bike program has found that half the bicycles were inoperable in September, either because of low batteries or broken parts.
That probably does not mean a lot to Clark County residents — unless you find yourself stuck in Seattle and are planning to pedal home. But local officials should take note before considering an e-scooter operation. Between persistent problems in Portland and the latest Seattle audit, cities have found plenty of problems with two-wheeled public transportation.
Cheers: To Daybreak Youth Services. The Brush Prairie facility, which provides mental health and substance abuse treatment for teens, will retain its operating licenses after signing an agreement with the state Department of Health. Daybreak has been under scrutiny since investigations into criminal activity were launched in June 2018.
The agreement adds additional oversight, including the submitting of regular reports and unannounced state inspections. We hope the measures effectively protect patients in the Daybreak program, and that the center can continue to assist vulnerable youth. Our community needs the important services provided by Daybreak.
