• Add this to the traffic sucks--again--column. Eastlakers were fortunate enough to find out this morning that construction crews began work on the Boylston Avenue E street and sidewalk improvements. Work will continue daily (except weekends) till Friday, June 26.
• The Montlake home of Daphne Tomchak has been left in shambles--$18,000 worth of damages--after funding ran out mid-shoot for the Hollywood movie types who used and abused her home for the film.

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Agreed, traffic sucks. But when you're driving alone, at what point do you make the (illegal, mind you) decision to cross the solid white line and make a quick run into the 3+ person HOV lane? Tsk, tsk. We know you're out there. We can see you. We also curse and shake our fist at you. It's happening more and more. HOV cheaters are breezing by, as the rest of us law abiding drivers are stuck in the onslaught of 520 traffic congestion, brought on by the construction chaos of I-90. Just remember, cheaters, what comes around goes around and those HOV lanes violations will set you back $124. more ›

• We got us some more swine flu. One case turned deadly in Washington. While the CDC reported that more cases were confirmed, bringing us to a grand total of 83. Oh joy, King County now has a total of 56 confirmed cases.
• A slew of freak accidents: Small helicopter crash near Tacoma, bumps and bruises for the two aboard; Farm tractor starts up unexpectedly killing a Deer Park man as it drove over his chest; A Navy SEAL died in training near Keyport, Wash.
• In the forever-long Amanda Knox case, a footprint expert (those exist?) confirmed that the bloody footprint on a bathroom rug belonged to her ex-boyfriend.

• There are some crankypants smokers who have been forced to quit because of the federal tax hike. Watch out as some become even crankier because their non-smoking daily commute has doubled in time, thanks to the I-90 bridge closures.
• All schools that closed due to swine flu will re-open tomorrow. Ha.
• The government says they won't be able to save the newspaper industry, but Amazon says they can help save the newspaper industry with their new e-reader.

To tunnel or not to tunnel under downtown Bellevue is the big question for leaders facing the anticipated light-rail expansion. Last fall voters approved building surface line tracks, but since then the Bellevue city council has tossed in two additional light-rail options that just so happen to include building a $600-millon tunnel under downtown Bellevue. Heated discussions have ensued. Now Microsoft is getting involved, pushing for the voter-approved surface tracks which would allow for a quicker install and could possibly extend the tracks farther east. (Hmmm, Redmond maybe?) Haven't we realized yet that making light-rail (or any transit) decisions really isn't our strongest suit? Right now, too many three options are currently on the table, and the transit-board members will vote May 14 for the best option to begin their environmental-impact studies. Let the chaos begin.
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• Feel the need for speed venting your frustrations with 520? Well, come one, come all tonight (Seattle Public Library, Univ. Branch, 5-7 p.m.). WSDOT wants feedback on congestion, tolls, and whatever your little motorist heart wants to bitch about.
• Bank robbing, the newest hobby in (West) Seattle.
• Seattle Met's chat with the city's band of booze-makin' brothers (and sista).