In brief: Higher-ed ‘trade’ imbalance seen
OLYMPIA – More Washington high school graduates leave the state to go to college than the number who travel to Washington to pursue their degrees.
That’s according to a new report from the Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The report also says those “best and brightest” Washington students going to college in other states often do not return to Washington to meet the needs of the state’s economy.
The report notes that Washington jobs for college graduates are being filled by others, thanks to this education imbalance.
Washington ranks highly among states in the number of jobs requiring a college education. For example, the state ranks first nationally in the employment of engineers, sixth in computer specialists and ninth in life and physical scientists.
Schweitzer chides Cameron critique
CALGARY, Alberta – Montana’s governor thinks Hollywood superstar director James Cameron should direct his criticism of Alberta’s oil sands to a more deserving target.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer says he is tired of environmentalists and Hollywood celebrities like Cameron “blowing smoke” when it comes to the oil sands.
Schweitzer says the United States would rather see its oil come from “friends than enemies.”
He says Alberta’s oil is “conflict free” and the carbon footprint that critics cite is preferable to the 190,000 American troops in the Middle East protecting a guaranteed oil supply.
Cameron toured the Alberta oil sands region for two days this week and told reporters that he is appalled that residents living downstream are getting cancer and catching deformed fish.
Bill removes wolf protection
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – U.S. senators from Wyoming, Idaho and Utah are proposing legislation that would strip wolves in the northern Rockies of federal endangered species protection.
The legislation unveiled Thursday is the latest in a series of recent bills all generally aimed at short-circuiting legal opposition from environmental groups opposed to seeing an end to federal wolf protections.
Much of the environmentalists’ concern has centered on Wyoming, where the state has proposed classifying wolves as predators that could be shot on sight in most areas.
SEATTLE – More than a dozen of Sen. Patty Murray’s ex-staffers have become lobbyists, and their connections appear to be paying off.
The Seattle Times reports that nearly $20 million of Murray’s defense earmark requests for next year would benefit clients of her former employees. That’s about a third of the dollar amount for Murray’s overall defense earmark requests.
There’s nothing illegal, unusual, or inherently unethical about Senate staffers becoming Capitol Hill lobbyists. But political influence and federal spending have become hot issues as Murray faces Republican Dino Rossi in her bid for a fourth term.
Both campaigns have accused each other of being too influenced by powerful special interests.
Bill expands Hoh reservation
WASHINGTON – A measure that would transfer about 37 acres of National Park Service land to the Hoh Indian Tribe has passed the U.S. Senate.
The Hoh Indian Tribe Safe Homelands Act was approved late Wednesday night by unanimous consent. It now heads to the House for final passage.
The bill, sponsored by Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, lets the tribe expand its 1 square mile reservation to add 425 adjoining acres it has acquired plus 37 acres from Olympic National Park.
The tiny reservation is hemmed in by the Hoh River, the Pacific Ocean and Olympic National Park. Most of the reservation is in a flood plain, and the transfer of land would allow the tribe to move out of a tsunami zone and flood plain.
Monday deadline for voter sign-up
OLYMPIA – Monday is the deadline to register online to vote in the Nov. 2 election in Washington.
The secretary of state’s office says would-be voters have until Oct. 25 to register in person at a county elections office.
The November election will decide a U.S. Senate race, all nine congressional seats from the state, all 98 state House seats and 25 of the state Senate seats, plus initiatives and local races.
Road worker struck by car
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A 46-year-old state Transportation Department worker was seriously injured when he was struck by a car driven into a Salem road construction project.
Salem police say Philip Lane, of Corvallis, on Wednesday night was standing on the side of Kuebler Boulevard by Interstate 5 when he was struck by a westbound car.
The Corvallis Gazette-Times reports the car continued until it struck the back of a street sweeper, causing substantial damage.
Police say alcohol consumption by the 17-year-old driver appears to be a major contributing factor and criminal charges are pending.