Occupy Seattle is the focus of a criminal investigation, the Hanford nuclear plant is being downgraded by the Department of Energy, Governor Gregoire would like you to pay a little more, the USS Lincoln is sailing away forever, and other things that happened while you were sleeping. more ›

Depressed, laid off, drunk and want a cigarette? Unless you can bum one off a friendly big spender, you'll pay dearly for it, thanks to a state sin tax increase that went into effect today. In Washington, each pack of smokes now carries a $3.035 tax. Perhaps it's time to pick a different, cheaper vice, such as womanizing or watching reality television. more ›

So progressive-for-a-police-chief Gil Kerlikowske has been tapped to be our nation's new drug czar and you can bet questions will be asked about I-75. Meanwhile, a Federal Way lawmaker wants to tax your porn, reports the Seattle Times: "Democratic Rep. Mark Miloscia said an 18 ½ percent sales tax should be levied against Playboy and other adult magazines, as well as pornographic photographs, movies, videos, cable-television services, telephone services, audiotapes, computer programs and paraphernalia." This kind of thing is why we're likely to burn for all eternity. more ›

A plastics manufacturers' trade group has now spent over $180,625 in its attempts to prevent the City Council's $0.20 plastic bag fee from going into effect this January, the P-I reports. Thanks for caring about how much that $0.20 bag tax will impact our debit card balance, American Chemistry Council! We feel like you're really on our side, even though you're over there in Virginia, because you're throwing all this money at the cause. It's especially great to have more sneakily-worded petitions waved in our faces as we leave the grocery store. more ›