Let the games end. The way a proposed new nursing education facility is getting kicked around in Olympia, it may need a little nursing of its own.

Until Tuesday, the question seemed to be whether there would be construction money in Washington State University’s capital budget for the Spokane-sited project. Gov. Christine Gregoire didn’t include it, but said she’d happily approve if the Senate did. The Senate did.

Then, the House released its capital budget proposal, including $31.7 million for the nursing center, a key element of Spokane’s proposed Riverpoint university district, but giving the facility to Eastern Washington University — which never asked for it.

And to think some lawmakers had previously accused Washington State University budget drafters of “gaming” the system.

Lights, skateboard, action. “Napoleon Dynamite,” a Preston, Idaho-based family movie, has gained a cult following and proved there are no “freakin’ idiots” in the Idaho House of Representatives.

In a 69-0 vote this week, House members approved a resolution honoring Idahoans Jared Hess and his wife, Jerusha, for directing and co-writing the quirky film that spotlights teen angst in small-town southern Idaho. The legislators didn’t have a choice. In one of its whereases, the resolution said that only a “freakin’ idiot” would oppose CR 29.

Other whereases pointed to the offbeat movie’s subplots as representing the best of what Idaho has to offer: characters Napoleon and Pedro’s friendship (multiethnic relationships), Napoleon’s bicycle and Kip’s skateboard (alternative transportation), steak as a primary food (Idaho’s beef industry), and Napoleon’s tater tot fixation (Idaho potatoes, of course).

If you haven’t seen “Napoleon Dynamite” or didn’t like the movie, don’t tell an Idaho legislator. Amid the whereases, your lawmaker might reply in “Napoleon Dynamite” terms.

Attention-getting device worked. Ward Churchill, whose comparison of 9-11 victims to Nazis ultimately led to his speech being canceled at Eastern Washington University, appeared on the Cheney campus anyway Tuesday and drew 500 mostly enthusiastic spectators at an outdoor rally. He also addressed a class.

It’s reasonable to infer that the turnout was less for Churchill and his unorthodox beliefs than for the value of free speech. Had EWU President Stephen Jordan not canceled the originally scheduled speech, ostensibly because it might ignite disturbances that put students in danger, we can only wonder if the crowd would have been as large.