Seahawks Stadium Deadline Coming Up Thursday

“Let me be clear. I do not intend to proceed with the purchase option if the Legislature and the voters do not approve a reasonable funding plan.”

With that, billionaire Paul Allen earlier this month gave Washington lawmakers until Thursday to devise a plan to finance a proposed $402 million Seattle Seahawks stadium or risk losing the team to another city.

After that date, Allen has threatened to abandon plans - and eat a $20 million option - to buy the team from developer Ken Behring, who would move it to his home state of California. The option expires July 1.

Allen, co-founder of Microsoft Corp., has pledged to come up with $100 million for the stadium plan - on top of the $200 million it’s expected to cost to buy the team.

Today

Public hearing on a rezone request to allow 103 new homes south of the Little Spokane River scheduled for 1 p.m. at the county Public Works Building.

Tuesday

Idaho’s minimum wage raised from $4.25 to $4.75 per hour in an interim step to match the federal minimum of $5.15 per hour by Sept. 1.

Family-a-Fair Workplace Awards are presented during luncheon at Ridpath Hotel.

Self-imposed deadline for Spokane County Commissioners to decide whether to close a 350-acre, off-road vehicle park on south end of Liberty Lake.

Construction of new Airway Heights Library scheduled to begin.

Federal food stamp cuts begin.

Wednesday

Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., speaks to a joint meeting of the Spokane Area Chamber and Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce at noon at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. Cost: $15 members; $35 nonmembers. Call 459-4111 or 924-4994.

Builders Expo opens at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds.

William Olson, chief executive officer of Effective Management Systems Corp., speaks to the Inland Northwest Society of Consulting Professionals at 7:15 a.m. at the Ridpath Hotel. Call Melody Kelsey, 455-8244.

Gary Moore, director of the Washington Department of Labor & Industries, speaks to the State Labor Council Workers’ Compensation Conference at the Shoreline Conference Center in Seattle. Call 1-800-255-9752.

Thursday

Federal Communications Commission deadline for adopting rules for digital TV broadcasts in 1998 in 14 major markets.

Friday

Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty leads trade mission to Japan with the Spokane Regional International Trade Alliance and the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, through April 12.

Washington Department of Ecology director Tom Fitzsimmons meets at 10 a.m. with the Agricultural Burning Practices & Research Task Force at 4601 N. Monroe. Call 456-3284.

Saturday

National Association of Broadcasters convention opens in Las Vegas.

American Planning Association holds national conference in San Diego. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Measuring the Economy - Lumber prices

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF Business Week, March 31: Inside story maps Imax Corp.’s plans to expand theaters to 300 and produce a 3-D Star Trek movie. Forbes, April 7: Cover story questions whether stock index funds are as safe as some investors believe.

Return of the deadeye Winning picks for long-term investment, according to Fortune Magazine: 1. Coca-Cola 2. Berkshire Hathaway 3. Procter & Gamble 4. Microsoft 5. Walt Disney 6. McDonald’s 7. Johnson & Johnson 8. Merck 9. Pfizer 10. Motorola