Bill introduced to ban Native American school mascots

La Conner High sports teams and fans have long added their own twist to the lyrics when singing the national anthem prior to games.

They regularly close the first verse by emphasizing and slightly altering the final lines – “O’er the land of the free and the home of the Braves” – to reflect the school’s longtime mascot.

That might change going forward.

State Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Bow, has introduced a bill that would ban use of Native American mascots for school sports teams in Washington.

The proposed legislation, House Bill 1356, has received an initial hearing.

“It is degrading...