We've lost another good one: Olympian reporter Adam Wilson is leaving to become the speechwriter for Gov. Chris Gregoire. With a young family to support and a longtime interest in politics and policy, the job seems like a good fit for Wilson in this age…
The state budget picture is much, much worse. From the Financial Times:Once the US’s richest state, California now has the dubious distinction of having the worst credit rating in the country....California’s fiscal year ends on Wednesday but as the state’s cash reserves are empty, IOUs…
Local farmers today filed a lawsuit against a large-scale feedlot in Franklin County, saying that the cattle operation could use hundreds of thousands of gallons of groundwater a day in one of the driest areas of the state.The case could mushroom into more than just…
This sounds counterintuitive, until you look at the price of a box of macaroni and cheese versus that of a handful of stir-fry vegetables:According to the private Washington State Budget & Policy Center, shoppers in rural Washington have a harder time getting fresh fruits and…
It's summer, and my blog numbers need a boost, so here's this, from the Associated Press:Fans of the giant Palouse earthworm are once again seeking federal protection for the rare, sweet-smelling species.The worm has been seen only four reported times in the past 110 years,…
From the print paper:OLYMPIA – Encouraged by the large turnout this spring at anti-tax rallies, critics of government spending are planning a new round of demonstrations July 4.Events are planned in more than 20 Washington cities, including Spokane Valley, as well as in Sandpoint and…
From tomorrow's paper:OLYMPIA _ We're still growing, but it's slowing.That was the verdict Monday from Washington's Office of Financial Management, which churns out annual population estimates for the state, cities and counties.Washington's population as of April 1, 2009, the agency estimates, was 6,668,200. That's up…
Here's to Two, Spokane.The Lilac City continues to cling to it's position as the state's second-largest city, once again beating out the City of Destiny -- Tacoma, that is -- by about 2,000 people.The state Office of Financial Management today released its annual population estimates…
State budget-cut fallout: trash in state-owned buildings only emptied twice a week, carpets cleaned once a year.More state budget fallout: Health insurance costs likely to rise next year for state workers. On the most popular plan, the Uniform Medical Plan, would rise from $82 a…
Retired Woodinville financial advisor Mike Dunmire's been a lifeline for initiative promoter Tim Eyman, pouring a steady cash infusion into Eyman's signature-gathering (and income-producing) funds.So for people who watch campaign finance reports on the Public Disclosure Commisson site, it's become a bit of a parlor…
The Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund today launched a free phone hotline and website to gather accounts of threats or other harassment of people gathering signatures for Referendum 71. The ballot measure asks voters to throw out a new law granting state-registered domestic partners, including same-sex…
Wow. This just moved on the AP wire:COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After going AWOL for seven days, Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday that he'd secretly flown to Argentina to visit a woman with whom he'd been having an affair. He apologized to his wife and…
From the state fire marshal's office:Projected dry conditions will lead to above normal significant fire potential in areas of Eastern Washington this summer. “Due to the heightened fire danger, it is important for homeowners to start preparing for fire season now,” says State Fire Marshal…
The state legislative ethics board has dismissed an ethics complaint against freshman Rep. Shelly Short, saying that Short was wrong to post her legislative contact information on a campaign website, but that the matter is minor and was immediately corrected.Short's 2008 campaign website allowed visitors…
The state Legislative Ethics Board has dimissed a complaint by a foster mother that state Sen. Pam Roach released confidential information -- the foster mom's identity -- and abused her legislative power in a custody case.Still, the board concluded that Roach and a legislative aide…
Initiative promoter Tim Eyman said today that his property tax measure, Initiative 1033, is close to having enough signatures to ensure that it's on the November ballot."We've hit 270,000 signatures for I-1033," Eyman emailed to supporters this morning. I-1033 would cap the growth of state,…
Farmers markets and the state of the state treasury have been keeping me busy lately, but here's some interesting stuff that's been piling up in the in box:-Former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, who created a stir earlier this month by declaring himself a candidate for…
June 18, 2009TO: Statewide Elected OfficialsAgency Directors Presidents of Higher Education Institutions State Boards and CommissionsFROM: Christine O. Gregoire, GovernorSUBJECT: Additional Budget SavingsOn June 18th, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council announced an additional reduction to the General Fund State revenue forecast. Although…
I had this story in the morning paper:OLYMPIA – State tax officials recently gave several Spokane-area churches an ultimatum: Stop running farmers markets in your parking lots or start paying tax on that land. “We have no choice here. The law is really clear,” said…
There was also some good news, however, in state revenue forecaster Arun Raha's predictions Thursday."It increasingly appears that we are finally approaching the end of this `Great Recession,'" he said. The bottom of the recession seems near, he said, and the "freefall" declines in economic…
Gov. Chris Gregoire is ordering state agencies to cut their payrolls by 2 percent more, after the state's revenue forecaster this morning whacked revenue projections by nearly $500 million. "We have been aware of the likelihood of a negative forecast and are prepared to take…
Gov. Chris Gregoire is ordering cabinet-level state agencies to cut their employee costs by 2 percent more than budgeted."Agencies can hire employees where needed to accomplish their core business and enact the reforms I am asking for, but they cannot exceed the cap I am…
"Initial claims for unemployment insurance appear to have peaked and monthly job losses are diminishing."That's the word from economist Arun Raha, the state's revenue forecaster.The trough of the recession, however, will be lower than he and the state's economic and revenue forecast council expected in…
My story in the print paper this a.m. had more details about the suspension of Spokane attorney (and former Spokane city councilman, and current candidate for same) Steve Eugster:OLYMPIA _ After a long-running battle over his handling of an elderly widow’s case, Spokane attorney Steve…
Washington's highest court has ordered that Spokane attorney Steve Eugster be suspended from practicing law for 18 months.But a divided state Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Eugster, a former city councilman who's again running for a seat, should not be disbarred."We conclude that Eugster's misconduct…
Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.
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