Happy Friday.

Liquor sales begin today at private stores. This is something The Seattle Times editorial board has urged for a long time. Our thoughts going forward in our liquor editorial today:

Consumers should look carefully at prices. Many advertised prices do not include the 20.5 percent liquor sales tax or the $3.77 liter tax.

We swung by the QFC in Capitol Hill this morning and the new liquor store area does not open until 10 a.m. Here's a photo through the gate to the right. Last night there was a steady stream of shoppers in the state liquor store across the street, with shelves gradually emptying out. Plenty of Fluffed Smirnoff vodka left though.

We're still on edge over the Seattle shootings. Our editorial writer Lynne Varner argues a strong case that the recent gun violence makes mentoring troubled youth a public-health issue. Seattle Schools principal Kaaren Andrews write eloquently in an op-ed that Justin Ferrari's death made her realize she's not that different from a gang member killed in crossfire because they, too, are victims of crime.

The Seattle Times news side has a great story on the hero who threw a stool at the Cafe Racer shooter on Wednesday, allowing two people to escape. He says he's not the hero. Hooray. We need more Lawrence Adams, and less Phoenix Jones in this city.

Our editorial writer Bruce Ramsey: Let John Edwards go.