It's Presidents Day, and since the libraries are closed, students and unemployed workers are taking it to the Governor over the budget--which Rep. Ross Hunter is calling "horrific" for its deep cuts. Meanwhile Madrona is reacting to a fatal shooting there last night. We were just trying wipe last night's odd dream involving Ron Sims (!) from our consciousness, and then he shows up in the morning beaming about his political record. more ›

The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday by a 41-8 margin, despite the Seattle Times editorial claiming a case "hadn't been made" for action. No word on how the Seattle Times editorial board Frank Blethen feels about most of the legislative body pretending he doesn't exist. more ›

This week the Washington State Senate is deciding whether to make Washington to the first state in the nation to ban the fire retardant deca-BDE [ESHB 1024]. (The House, where Jamie Pedersen was a sponsor, passed the bill this February.) more ›

For the second straight year, the Washington State Senate failed to vote on a billl that would require the phasing out of PBDEs. (We've written previously about PBDEs, which are accumulating steadily in breast milk, and are implicated in the impairment of childhood development. They're also reaching alarming levels in wildlife.) more ›