In today's ridiculously long morning headlines: the Space Needle pride flag, the City Council race, Gregoire signing a lot of things, how screwed we are in an earthquake (still), officer-involved shootings, and more. Plus, an adorable video of a lioness failing to eat an adorable human baby. more ›

She's baaaaack! Amanda Knox is making headlines again, plus bad financial times for the State, as well as for Libyan students. more ›

Last week, the State House released its proposed 2011-2013 budget, one that slashes $4.4 billion in spending from education and health care, sparking protests and outrage. Last night, the Senate's Ways and Means Committee released their own, and it doesn't look too good, either -- it cuts $5.3 billion in spending and, unlike the House's plan (which raises money through leasing out the state's liquor distribution), it does not include any plans for raising revenue. more ›

State democrats introduced a house bill today that would repeal "certain tax exemptions" to bring in extra money to fully fund K-3 class-size reduction. more ›

As of around noon today, two to three thousand people were already gathered by the Capitol just today to protest cuts to state education and health services without closing certain tax loopholes. more ›

A state operating budget for 2011-2013 was proposed in the State House Ways and Means Committee -- one that slashes $4.4 billion in spending, most notably from education -- $485 million of the cuts came from higher ed. The state is facing a $5.3 billion deficit. more ›

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 ›

This morning, Gregoire released her proposal for the state's next three-year budget. The damage in terms of cuts is to the tune of $3.5 billion, the bulk of which is in Health and Human Services. Highlights from the budget can be found on the Washington State Office of Financial Management website, but be prepared: it's pretty brutal as is, and even so, it counts on a heavy chunk of change from the upcoming federal economic stimulus package and dips $600 million into Washington state's rainy day fund. Yeesh. more ›