Finally, a decision on Nickelsville; the ACLU addresses concerns in the recently revised medical marijuana law; proof that petty criminals are reckless; and it turns out that Mayor McGinn likes his peace and quiet. more ›

Coverage of the Bush administration’s liberal use of secret surveillance against American citizens was biggish news when it broke. Nevertheless, it seems to be a diminishing issue, perpetually subsumed by subjects more immediately pressing to the average citizen. Part of the problem may be that beyond the obvious violation of privacy, few of us have any idea what the potentially far-reaching and (really) long-term legal ramifications wiretapping and the NSA actually have on ours and future lives. more ›

"WTOpolice_1" by Seattlest Flickr Pool contributor ntisocl. Daaang, he got right in there. Thanks! more ›

The Washington State Chapter of the ACLU and local travel guide guru Rick Steves have joined forces to reform marijuana laws in the United States. Steves has long been an outspoken advocate of marijuana reformation. He sits on the board of the National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws (NORML), and has been a featured speaker at Seattle's annual Hempfest. Steves and The ACLU are comparing the criminalization of marijuana to the failed prohibition of alcohol in the 1920's and say it's time to have a national conversation about marijuana. more ›