Mixed reviews from the GOP side of the aisle to Gov. Chris Gregoire's call for an economic stimulus plan, government reform and other changes this year:"This is a financial wreck that she spent four years creating, and then to be shocked when it comes due…
Shortly before Gov. Chris Gregoire's inauguration day speech today, hundreds of teachers, parents and school officials held a rally just across the street.Their message: despite the state's budget shortfall -- which Sen. Joe Zarelli on Wednesday suggested could rise to $7.5 billion over the next…
From Joshua Green's profile in The Atlantic of New York Sen. Chuck Schumer:He attributes his success these past four years to a small but critical insight into the nature of the American middle class: namely, that it is more affluent and doesn’t want the same…
Calling it “our time to show courage,” Gov. Chris Gregoire on Wednesday urged lawmakers to back her plan to create 20,000 new jobs, boost unemployment benefits, and use the economic crisis to forge a more nimble state government.“When this recession ends, and it will end,…
In case it's needed, here's another entry for your "Jobs Worse Than Mine" file:"Feces-throwing monkey on the loose in Tampa Bay."
Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, known for his many (and often quirky) bills, wants to change state law to allow people to be buried with their pets.The Times has the story.
From the print paper:OLYMPIA – Trying to spark job growth, Democrats in Washington’s state Senate on Tuesday proposed a “middle-class jobs package” focused on retraining, environmental jobs and building infrastructure such as statewide high-speed Internet access.“We believe our first job is about jobs,” said Senate…
From the print paper:OLYMPIA – Thursday, state lawmakers will resume their pick-and-shovel work with the state budget, trying to find the least painful ways to bridge a $6 billion budget shortfall.But first, some tapenade with smoked tomato crostini.In a tradition dating to the mid-1800s, thousands…
This is more of a Seattle topic, but since everybody's going to be paying for it:After years of chin-pulling and line-in-the-sand drawing, the governor, King County executive, Seattle's mayor and the CEO of the Port of Seattle have agreed to replace Seattle's aging Alaskan Way…
From the print paper:Each January, by tradition, Washington’s top lawmakers choose theme songs for the upcoming session. Most are lighthearted.Speaking to reporters last week, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown read from a Bob Dylan song.“Broken hands on broken plows, broken treaties, broken vows,” she read.…
Yesterday, the Tacoma News-Tribute had a screamer headline about the flooding: "IT'S BAD -- AND IT COULD GET EVEN WORSE TODAY." They should paste that headline on the wall at the state Economic and Revenue Forecast, where the budget news just seems to be getting…
Hearst Corp. says it lost $14 million running the Seattle Post-Intelligencer last year and anticipated deeper losses in 2009.The paper has a circulation of 114,000, the company said, with 500 million page views last year and an average of 4 million unique website visitors per…
It's in the P-I.Officials from the chain told staffers this morning that if they can't sell the paper within two months, they'll cease printing the paper and produce only a much-pared-down online version, or perhaps just shut down completely.
Boeing says that it's Commercial Airplanes workforce will shrink by about 4,500 jobs in 2009 "as part of an effort to ensure competitiveness and control costs in the face of a weakening global economy."The cuts, according to the company, will bring employment at its Commercial…
Although there's a constant "we're great/we suck" debate on virtually all attempts to gauge Washington's business climate, here's the latest one: U.S. News and World Report gives the state high marks as a place to launch your company. Tops, in fact.From the report:1. Washington. The…
Former state Rep. Don Cox, a Republican from Colfax, may be headed back to the statehouse.Cox, 69, who stepped down two years ago in order to spend more time with his family, is local GOP officials' top pick of three replacements for late state Rep.…
From the governor's office, where Lt. Gov. Brad Owen is filling in for Gov. Chris Gregoire, who's headed back from a troop visit in Iraq.Heavy rains pounded much of Western Washington Wednesday through early Thursday, with most rivers flooding, many at record or near-record levels.…
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Shortly before Gov. Chris Gregoire's inauguration day speech today, hundreds of teachers, parents and school officials held a rally just across the street.Their message: despite the state's budget shortfall -- which Sen. Joe Zarelli on Wednesday suggested could rise to $7.5 billion over the next…
Actual headlines on CNN's home page as I head home for the night:-"Woman says knife left in head 3 years"-"A nod to cute things falling asleep"-"World's oldest person credits bacon"and "Joe the Plumber heading to Gaza."Really.
The city's giving up to 10 sandbags apiece to city residents facing flooding problems.Details here.(Hat tip to Olyblog.)
State emergency officials say that they may have to close Interstate 5, the main north-south freeway linking Western Washington, "within the next few hours.""There is potential for the freeway to be closed prior to the conclusion of this afternoon's rush hour," said a statement from…
There's a certain Baby New Year element to most presidential inaugurations: a vibrant, rested and ready candidate takes the oath of office, settles in at the White House and then, judging from the way they look, the weight of the world quickly settles on them.…
Canadian mining company Teck Cominco has filed paperwork with Washington state, three weeks after announcing that it intended to temporarily close its Pend Oreille zinc mining and milling operations near Metaline Falls, has made it official.The company's notice says it intends to lay off 165…
Initiative promoter Tim Eyman, who says he still owes $175,000 on a second mortgage he took out on his home to pay for last fall's unsuccessful Initiative 985, is borrowing more.In an email to supporters, Eyman says he's borrowing another $50k against his home's value…
Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.
