The U.S. Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation of the Port of Seattle, following a recent state audit that accused the Port of wasting public money and raised the specter of possible fraud in construction contracts.

The audit found that former Port Chief Mic Dinsmore and Aviation Director Mark Reis broke state law by negotiating a $125 million third-runway embankment contract with a TTI Construction principal at a steakhouse, keeping its cost within the port's procurement policies through cosmetic changes in order to avoid notifying the commission that the sole bid was vastly over the port's estimate -- and leaving the commission of the loop.

Fall--and yes, we think we can say it's now officially fall--is a great season for concerts. Yet another good one this weekend is an all-ages affair, with Port Angeles' own The Lonely H celebrating their second record release tonight at the Vera Project (7:30pm, with Model Photographer and Don't Tell Sophie, $7). The band's comprised of five teens just outta high school, but don't let that negatively influence your opinion of them. The guys sound (and look) older than their birth certificates, way older, like right out the 70s, with Zep-like shredding and long flowing locks. We spoke to bassist Johnny Whitman about going to college, life on the road, moving to Seattle, and hating emo bands. more ›

The great thing about Switzerland -- we'll tie Seattle in shortly, hang on -- is that there's no convenience too small for the Swiss to consider. Everywhere you go, some Swiss person has already been there and added a neat little touch. Not that we don't show that consideration here in Seattle -- last night at the Hopvine we noticed they have little coat hooks just beneath the bar so you don't have to throw them over your barstool. Thoughtful, see. Could still use a foot rail, but one thing at a time. more ›

A NADER REMEMBERS: Recalling his childhood in Winstead, Connecticut, former presidential candidate and longtime political and social activist Ralph Nader offers 17 values a child should learn to become a conscientious adult. Not helping elect neo-fascists was, unfortunately, #18. more ›

Since day one we've said that being a Seattle sports fan is like sneaking up behind Kicky the Paranoid Mule. The past week has reminded us of this all too well. more ›

Ah, shit. Two things had to happen today for the U.S. team to finish second in the group, advance to the next round of the tournament and then get destroyed by Brazil in a lackluster showing. Italy had to beat the Czech Republic, which they did, and the U.S. had to beat Ghana, which they did not. Like an idiot Seattlest picked the U.S. to win today in the Seattlest World Cup Challenge. Betting with our heart there - The U.S. deservedly lost and have exited the tournament, hopefully marking the end of the Bruce Arena era in which we have consistantly sent out superbly conditioned and tactically sound duds as fodder for hungrier and more skilled teams to chew up. more ›

Seattlest joined a subdued crowd of about 80 at Greenlake's Kiwi and Kangaroo for this morning's US-Ghana game. more ›

Seattle baseball fans stand at the ledge of a great divide today, which is why the World Baseball Classic is so awesome. Do you love Ichiro, or do you love America? It's a good thing for all of us that it's not 1944. more ›

Here in Seattle, it's a slow sports day. The only major local team in action is the Husky women's basketball team, who host Michigan tonight. It's high school basketball night, but there aren't any particularly compelling matchups. more ›

The Oregon state quarter is now in circulation, featuring an engraving of Crater Lake. But we must wait (with Idaho--the indignity!) until 2007 for ours. What will be on Washington's quarter? more ›

Our friend Stacey overheard this while getting her nails done: "There's going to be, like, a bunch of soccer teams from different countries here, and that means that there's going to be, like, a bunch of awesome food for us to try!" more ›