Staci Lehman, who works for the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, was out on Tuesday snapping some photos of a soon-to-be-moved highway weigh station on Interstate 90 near the Washington/Idaho state line."We were just doing a Powerpoint on some of the projects that are funded in…
A May 12 phone poll of 500 likely voters in Washington suggests that "the re-election prospects for Washington Governor Christine Gregiore (D) have improved significantly over the past two months" according to pollster Rasmussen Reports.The poll shows Gregoire leading Republican challenger Dino Rossi 11 percentage…
As ordained minister Virgil Montgomery describes it, the trip that landed him before the state's highest court began with a few errands.On a shopping trip to Spokane, the 60-year-old Newport man and a 63-year-old friend bought some matches for his woodstove. And some cough medicine.…
Rep. Mary Skinner, R-Yakima, said today that she will not run for re-election this fall."After long and careful consideration and much prayer, I have decided not to seek an eighth term in office as state representative and will retire in January," she said in a…
From today's paper:SEATAC _ The opening-day convention crowd was a lively, thousand-strong mass of people. The ballroom swelled with cheers for door prizes, then faded to back-of-the-room chatting.In front of this crowd, Richard Semler rose. With little introduction, he painted a stark picture from his…
The state Democratic Party is seeking donations to hire a plane to fly around Seattle skies on Tuesday, trailing a banner reading "JOHN MCCAIN: 100 YEARS IN IRAQ."
Catching up...-- Dinner with John McCain in Bellevue can be yours next week, for $33,100 a plate.-- The Everett Herald's Jerry Cornfield takes a closer look at the widespread budget woes of school districts.-- And finally this: An impasse between a Texas-based educational foundation and…
The state's Parent-Teachers Association held its annual convention in Seatac last week, drawing more than 1,000 people from across the state. Here are some highlights from a panel discussion on a topic that's sure to dominate the five-way race for state superintendent of public instruction…
Although reportedly trailing Gov. Chris Gregoire in fundraising last month, Republican challenger Dino Rossi recently celebrated a milestone: racking up as many individual campaign contributions as he got during his entire 2004 campaign.To thank the 30,746th donor this year, Rossi led a sort of Prize…
Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will be in Spokane May 20 to headline a $40-a-head "Friends of the Family Banquet" at the Spokane Convention Center.
Thanks to I-872 several years ago and a recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, Washingtonians are about to vote in a new pick-no-party primary this summer. The top two vote-getters for an office -- regardless of party -- will face off on the November…
In tomorrow's paper:In a ruling that could affect some other sex-offender cases, a sharply divided Washington Supreme Court on Thursday said that a Vancouver man was wrongly committed as a sexually violent predator.Several dissenters on the court agreed that there was a technical mistake in…
State Rep. Geoff Simpson, D-Covington, was arrested Sunday afternon on charges of fourth degree assault and interfering with reporting of domestic violence. He says -- see below -- that the charges are baseless and that he'll be exonerated.In essence, Simpson told the police that he…
From this morning's paper:If there’s any doubt that Washington’s about to be a national battleground in the fight over assisted suicide, just take a look at the checks.With months left to go before Election Day, Washington’s Initiative 1000 has drawn cash contributions from all 50…
A now-defunct company that sold magazine subscriptions on the auction site eBay has agreed to refund thousands of dollars to Washingtonians who never got their publications.Cheapest-Magz, run by Wilmyr Dagohoy and Eireen Ejem-Dagohoy, has agreed to pay $15,000 in refunds, a fine and attorneys' fees.The…
OK, so that's a crappy headline. But in what is either a sign of desperation or a novel way to light a fire under campaign donors, initiative promoter Tim Eyman says he's taking out a $250,000 second mortgage on his Mukilteo home in order to…
John Patrick Moyna, 52, has just filed paperwork with the state Public Disclosure Commission to run as an independent for the 3rd District seat long held by state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown.Moyna is a night janitor for Dicks Hamburger's, a Spokane icon. (For whatever…
Gov. Chris Gregoire has appointed Spokane City Attorney Mike Connelly, a former legislative candidate and former Spokane city attorney, to the the state's executive ethics board. Connelly is also a former member (and chairman) of the state Public Disclosure Commission. His term on the ethics…
Robert Lee Heath, a 63-year-old retired elementary school teacher in Inchelium, has filed campaign finance paperwork to run for the Ferry County Commissioner seat held by Republican Mike Blankenship.Heath, a Democrat, is still working on a platform, although he said he wants to boost economic…
Running some things through the PDC database on a slow day shows that although it's still April, some state senators have racked up pretty good campaign war chests:At the top is Spokane's Lisa Brown, the Democratic Senate majority leader, with $131, 104. Brown has been…
From a poll of 634 likely voters:Incumbent Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire takes 50% of the vote in an election held today, according to this SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for KING-TV Seattle and KATU-TV Portland Oregon. Republican Dino Rossi, who ran against Gregoire four years…
From a (tongue-in-cheek) post on Olyblog, a community blog in the capital city:Olympia. Olympia! Olympia is a land of puppies and rainbows and leprechauns where people spontaneously dance in circles in the street. No one ever dies and there are no unhappy people there. Olympia…
The state Public Disclosure Commisson voted unanimously this afternoon to fine Spokane City Councilman Bob Apple the maximum possible $4,200 for failing to file campaign finance reports during his successful run for office last year.Here's a copy of the state's 58-page investigation report.In essence, the…
From a weekly column I write for our suburban editions:The odds are pretty good that the state of Washington is holding at least a little money that belongs to you.Scroll down for links to find out.Under state law, banks, insurers, utility companies and similar entities…
From tomorrow's paper:Heads up, voters: You're ballot might look a little strange this August.Secretary of State Sam Reed on Wednesday proposed rules for the state's first-ever Top Two primary. In a move designed to avoid another court challenge by political parties, the new rules allow…
Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.
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