This holiday season has been as unconventional as I can remember, only partly because of the weather.  Blog duty has experienced its share of the neglect for the last few days, but I sense we're ramping back up.

Catching up on a significant issue, you probably read on Wednesday that the state of Washington plans to save money by closing the Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women at Medical Lake.  Inmates will be transferred to a prison in southwest Washington. 

I'm guessing the impact will be felt primarily by two groups of people -- the 140 workers who will either accept transfers to other jobs or be laid off, and the families and friends of the inmates who were accustomed to being able to visit the prisoners in Spokane County.

What are your thoughts about this move?  For that matter, what thoughts do you have for any aspect of the state's nearly $6 billion (so far) revenue shortfall for the coming biennium?

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