Washington’s state House of Representatives today approved House Bill 1596, which would declare that a mother’s right to breastfeed in public places is a civil right protected by the state’s anti-discrimination law. Mothers would be free to breastfeed in any public place, including restaurants, stores, malls, parks, libraries and government offices. There is already a law on the books protecting the mothers from being charged with indecent exposure. HB 1596 would allow anyone discriminated against to file a complaint with the state’s Human Rights Commission/Rich Roesler, Eye On Olympia. More here

• Church-based ‘tent cities’ get broader protections
• Bill clears way to restroom for people with certain conditions

Question: Should breast feeding in public be a protected civil right?

Item: Man’s best friend in death, too: Bill would let pets be buried with people/Rich Roesler, Eye On Olympia

More Info: On Monday, while many people had a day off, state Sen. Ken Jacobsen was facing a state Senate committee, trying to persuade his fellow lawmakers to let people be buried with their pets. He was absolutely serious. The idea came to him a couple of years ago, when his beloved 23-pound cat, Sam, died from cancer.  “I asked the kids to bury him in the backyard and I told them that when I’m ready to go, I’d like to take Sam with me,” said Jacobsen, 63. “Because he really was one of my best friends.”

Question: Would you want your favorite pet buried with you?