State Rep. Geoff Simpson, D-Covington, was arrested Sunday afternon on charges of fourth degree assault and interfering with reporting of domestic violence. He says -- see below -- that the charges are baseless and that he'll be exonerated.In essence, Simpson told the police that he…
From this morning's paper:If there’s any doubt that Washington’s about to be a national battleground in the fight over assisted suicide, just take a look at the checks.With months left to go before Election Day, Washington’s Initiative 1000 has drawn cash contributions from all 50…
A now-defunct company that sold magazine subscriptions on the auction site eBay has agreed to refund thousands of dollars to Washingtonians who never got their publications.Cheapest-Magz, run by Wilmyr Dagohoy and Eireen Ejem-Dagohoy, has agreed to pay $15,000 in refunds, a fine and attorneys' fees.The…
OK, so that's a crappy headline. But in what is either a sign of desperation or a novel way to light a fire under campaign donors, initiative promoter Tim Eyman says he's taking out a $250,000 second mortgage on his Mukilteo home in order to…
John Patrick Moyna, 52, has just filed paperwork with the state Public Disclosure Commission to run as an independent for the 3rd District seat long held by state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown.Moyna is a night janitor for Dicks Hamburger's, a Spokane icon. (For whatever…
Gov. Chris Gregoire has appointed Spokane City Attorney Mike Connelly, a former legislative candidate and former Spokane city attorney, to the the state's executive ethics board. Connelly is also a former member (and chairman) of the state Public Disclosure Commission. His term on the ethics…
Robert Lee Heath, a 63-year-old retired elementary school teacher in Inchelium, has filed campaign finance paperwork to run for the Ferry County Commissioner seat held by Republican Mike Blankenship.Heath, a Democrat, is still working on a platform, although he said he wants to boost economic…
Running some things through the PDC database on a slow day shows that although it's still April, some state senators have racked up pretty good campaign war chests:At the top is Spokane's Lisa Brown, the Democratic Senate majority leader, with $131, 104. Brown has been…
From a poll of 634 likely voters:Incumbent Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire takes 50% of the vote in an election held today, according to this SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for KING-TV Seattle and KATU-TV Portland Oregon. Republican Dino Rossi, who ran against Gregoire four years…
From a (tongue-in-cheek) post on Olyblog, a community blog in the capital city:Olympia. Olympia! Olympia is a land of puppies and rainbows and leprechauns where people spontaneously dance in circles in the street. No one ever dies and there are no unhappy people there. Olympia…
The state Public Disclosure Commisson voted unanimously this afternoon to fine Spokane City Councilman Bob Apple the maximum possible $4,200 for failing to file campaign finance reports during his successful run for office last year.Here's a copy of the state's 58-page investigation report.In essence, the…
From a weekly column I write for our suburban editions:The odds are pretty good that the state of Washington is holding at least a little money that belongs to you.Scroll down for links to find out.Under state law, banks, insurers, utility companies and similar entities…
From tomorrow's paper:Heads up, voters: You're ballot might look a little strange this August.Secretary of State Sam Reed on Wednesday proposed rules for the state's first-ever Top Two primary. In a move designed to avoid another court challenge by political parties, the new rules allow…
State Sen Brian Weinstein, who says he'll step down when his term ends in December, has taken a job as senior counsel with the Seattle law firm Bergman and Frockt. The company specializes in asbestos- and consumer-protection cases.A University of Texas law school graduate, Weinstein…
Attorney General Rob McKenna will tomorrow release the results of a year-long investigation into Washington fuel prices.A Powerpoint presentation will be posted here tomorrow afternoon.The last time the AG's office did a study like this (1991), much of the answer boiled down to...market forces. Here's…
The legislative news service Stateline has a good roundup today on states matching the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.This was a big issue in this year's legislative session, when Washington became the first non-income-tax state to approve a state match for the federal tax checks.A…
Saying that key transportation chokepoints are "a foot on the air hose of the Washington economy," Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi's 30-year, $15 billion plan includes:·Hwy 520, Evergreen Floating Bridge·Widening of I-405, Renton to Bellevue·US 2 Corridor improvements·SR 9 Corridor improvements·Hwy 167 extension and improvements·Widening…
Attorney Michael J. Bond filed amended campaign paperwork with the state Public Disclosure Commission yesterday, spelling out that he's seeking the seat now held by Justice Mary Fairhurst, who recently announced that she's running for re-election.
And now back to work.Gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi will be making the rounds of the state tomorrow and Wednesday, touting what he would do to relieve traffic congestion and kickstart projects like the North Spokane Corridor.He has stops planned in Bellevue, Sultan and Spokane. (Spokane:…
For years, I've wondered why Washington's pick-a-party primary was constantly referred to as "Montana-style," rather than "Idaho-style." Idaho's closer, after all, and both have open primaries in which a person is free to pick the party whose primary they wish to vote in. That's what…
The Dalai Lama is in Seattle for five days, as part of a "Seeds of Compassion" event that's drawing tens of thousands of people.Today, he's joining state Senate Majority Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, Costco's Jeff Brotman, King County Executive Ron Sims and others in an afternoon…
David Ammons, after 37 years covering Olympia for the Associated Press, is stepping down.Ammons, who will turn 60 in September, will leave the AP to become the new communications director for Secretary of State Sam Reed.His departure is a significant loss for both AP readers…
It looks like state Rep. Don Barlow, D-Spokane, is going to get a run for his money this year -- emphasis on money.Republican challengers Kevin Parker and Melvin Lindauer, according to new campaign finance reports, have raised $31,515 and $15,961 respectively. Barlow, who was subject…
The state GOP sounded the klaxons this afternoon, noting that Gov. Chris Gregoire's biodiesel campaign bus has...Oregon license plates. They included photos, which my colleague Jim Camden will soon post here."Gov. Gregoire has been making it harder and harder for businesses to survive here in…
Undeterred by her 33 percent showing against Democratic state Rep. Alex Wood two years ago, Spokane Republican Laura Carder has filed campaign paperwork for a rematch.She said she'd really like to see someone challenge state Sen. Lisa Brown, who's running for re-election in the same…