Since we're not talking about posting this on a government website, or playing it on a monitor in the Capitol Rotunda, this isn't a political "Nativity Scene."It's just fun.In a week marked by budget cuts, budget cuts and more budget cuts, can't we all use…
OLYMPIA -- One casualties of the state's revenue gap in today's budget proposal by Gov. Chris Gregoire would be Washington's 2012 presidential preference primary.The state estimates it would save about $10 million by scrapping the primary, which was mandated by voters in a 1989 initiative…
OLYMPIA -- Reaction to Gov. Chris Gregoire's budget was swift Wednesday as some of her normal alliles is social service groups and progressive circles denounced it while Republicans gave it qualified favorable reviews.Fellow Democrats tried to praise her for the effort of compiling a budget…
Gov. Chris Gregoire and Office of Financial Management Director Marty Brown announce the proposed 2011-13 state budget.OLYMPIA--Saying the state faces an economic crisis that requires cuts and restructuring, Gov. Chris Gregoire is proposing deep cuts in some of the state programs that enhance schools and…
OLYMPIA -- Unions for state workers have agree tentatively to cuts in wages and increases in health premiums for the next two years.Union leaders and Gov. Chris Gregoire announced the tentative agreement, which include furloughs that will bring most wages down by 3 percent, in…
Data from Spokane County Elections Office/Computer analysis by Spin Control
Data from Spokane County Elections Office/Computer analysis by Spin Control
Data from Spokane County Elections Office/Computer analysis by Spin Control
OLYMPIA -- As it has for several years, a Seattle-based Jewish group erected a menorrah at the Capitol. A menrrah was inside in 2005-8, but all private displays were moved outside in 2009 after controvery involving a sign by atheists and requests to put a…
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire meets at 1:30 p.m. today with Democratic and Republican leaders of the state Senate and House to discuss the state's budget problems and their suggested solutions.And the prospect of a special session to address them.Meanwhile, Senate Republicans released their list…
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire is blasting the makers of Camel cigarettes for its use of Seattle as one of 10 "cool" locations in an ad campaign.The "Breaking Free" campaign, which will use 10 locations on which the iconic dromedary and standing in front of…
Gov. Chris Gregoire says the budget gap is large, but the options for closing it are small, during a press conference Monday.OLYMPIA -- Warning that every month is critical in solving the state's looming budget deficit, Gov. Chris Gregoire tried to prod legislators into suggesting…
Jim Bensley (right) and Wes Kline of General Administration direct the raising and securing of the Holiday Kids Tree in the Capitol Rotunda Monday.OLYMPIA -- The Holiday Kids Tree was hoisted into its stand in the Capitol Rotunda at lunchtime Monday.At about 25 feet, it's…
One of the great American Thanksgiving traditions occurred this morning, as President Obama pardoned a turkey presented to him from the turkey growers association.Actually, he pardoned two. The winner of a national turkey competition, Apple, and understudy Cider. They're off to Mount Vernon to live…
OLYMPIA -- Turnout for the 2010 mid-term election will be about 71.18 percent of the state's registered voters, the Secretary of State's office said today.That's shy of the record in 1970, which was 71.8 percent, but higher than anything since, and better than the second…
OLYMPIA -- Members of the Eastern Washington legislative delegation were chosen for several Republican leadership spots today.Rep. Joel Kretz of Wauconda, whose 7th District stretches from Okanogan County to northwestern Spokane, was reappointed to the No. 2 spot, deputy leader of the House GOP caucus.…
OLYMPIA -- Thursday's worse than expected revenue forecast prompted Gov. Chris Gregoire to order state employee unions back to the bargaining table to renegotiate contracts.With a proclamation, Gregoire invoked a state law that allows her to ask the unions to reopen existing contracts. A separate…
OLYMPIA – Thanksgiving is still nearly a week away, but the annual Christmas controversy over religious displays in the Capitol has begun.A tree will go up in the Rotunda at the end of the month, as it has for at least two decades. But a…
Wednesday was National Unfriend Day (who knew?). And Spin Control feels bad about missing it.In an effort to make up for this holiday observance faux pas, we present the holiday song which may convey some broadly held feelings about Facebook friends...Not our Facebook friends, of…
OLYMPIA – As Attorney General Rob McKenna prepares to convince the state Supreme Court why he can fight federal health care reform, a state legislator joined a group trying to tell a federal court that he shouldn’t.McKenna is scheduled to be in the state's highest…
OLYMPIA -- The winner of a disputed Senate election in Snohomish County should take his seat despite questions over how he won the primary, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said today.Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt suggested Monday that Democrat Nick Harper not be seated until…
Images of Washington state show up in three of the 11 finalists for a National Park Service photo contest, including the top spot, which went to the photo above of Mount Rainier. That photo, of the mountain in the morning, was shot by Matthew Bell…
OLYMPIA -- Veterans Day brought out a few historic uniforms, including this World War II U.S. Army military police uniform, complete with rifle and fixed bayonet.Butch Ayala of Olympia was on hand for a concert in the rotunda, taking up a post at one of…
Uniforms everywhere. Campaign caps on senior citizens and neckerchiefs on Boy Scouts. The American Legion band playing in the Capitol Rotunda.Speeches of duty. Speeches of thanks.It's Veterans Day in Olympia. And since Veterans Day started out as Armistice Day, here's the capitol's memorial to the…
Veterans Day is 91 years old or 56 years old today, depending on how you want to count it.Washington state is 121 years old, and there's no two ways to count it.Veterans Day started as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919. It marked the one…
