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Gordon Clinton, elected mayor a half century ago, helped create modern Seattle

Posted Wed, Nov 23, 1 p.m.

By Greg Nickels

Former Mayor Greg Nickels remembers a predecessor about whom he knew little initially.

Madison Park: If fences make good neighbors, what happens when you take one down?

Posted Mon, Nov 14, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

The affluent Seattle neighborhood is embroiled in a controversy over whether to remove a chain-link barrier on the lake shore in a public park.

Redistricting away Seattle's minority representation

Posted Mon, Nov 7, 8:48 a.m.

By Collin Tong

Activists cheered the prospect of Washington's first majority-minority congressional district. Then they noticed what redistricting would do to South Seattle's legislative delegation.

The smarmy faux populism of I-1125

Posted Fri, Nov 4, 2 a.m.

By Eric Scigliano

Tim Eyman and company claim they just want to help the poor folks who can't afford higher tolls at rush hour. Don't believe them.

Curse or pleasure: The enduring mystery of D.B. Cooper

Posted Fri, Oct 14, 2 a.m.

By Jackson Holtz

A new book immerses itself in the case. Enough so that the author begins to look over his shoulder for conspirators, and manages to do that without losing the reader.

The Cascadia conundrum: Balkanized transportation

Posted Tue, Oct 4, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Puget Sound is a poster child for the problems of regional transportation planning. One big roadblock: long-standing distrust of Seattle.

Long live Seattle's other boondoggle!

Posted Mon, Aug 22, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Last week's vote boosted the tunnel, but it also made it harder to rethink the 520 expansion.

The Tunnel: An earth-moving election for Seattle

Posted Tue, Aug 16, 11 p.m.

By Knute Berger

Voters say "yes" to the tunnel, giving the project the sanction it needed from the people. Now comes that hard part.

The tunnel vote: the end is near!

Posted Wed, Aug 10, 2 a.m.

By David Brewster

In getting late-deciders to vote, it's time to play on negative emotions and to paint dire pictures. Here's a tour of that picture gallery, including a new horror show painted by Sen. Ed Murray.

Nature's bridge

Posted Mon, Aug 8, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

The death of an eagle says a lot about the misty magic of the 520 bridge, the poor man's waterfront, and about living in Seattle.

Are tolls the new income tax?

Posted Tue, Jul 19, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

The public doesn't like current tolling strategies, and they aren't yet ready to accept more aggressive ones. That leaves our questionable mega-projects in a bind.

An ambitious new effort to improve south end schools

Posted Thu, Jun 30, 11:51 a.m.

By Joe Copeland

A new organization, led by an experienced city leader, hopes to bring about comprehensive change in education of struggling students. The keys are aligned agendas and funding, as well as a data-driven focus on going to college.

Retro ideas from the Seattle World's Fair that today's urbanists should embrace

Posted Wed, Jun 15, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Ten reasons Seattle's urban advocates should look at Century 21 as a role model, not a relic.

Mayor of Montlake

Posted Thu, May 5, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

At a Town Hall in a bulldozer's path, Mike McGinn finds some new friends who like to see him standing up to the region, the state, and the City Council when it comes to another viaduct project.

Highway clunkers: the state's design ideas

Posted Fri, Apr 22, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Seattle's livability has been based on progress with restraint. It's questionable whether our two current mega-projects, the waterfront tunnel and a new Highway 520 bridge, embody either.

Dead-end discoveries?

Posted Wed, Apr 6, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Many archaeological finds are reburied in mounds of dull reports. One way to help: Hire storytellers to help daylight what comes from digs.

Can we make the shift to tolled express lanes?

Posted Tue, Mar 29, 2 a.m.

By Douglas B. MacDonald

Two political problems this good idea faces: getting carpoolers to pay for express lanes, since they now ride free; and finding the political staying power to let an innovative idea prove itself.

A new McGinn: Just call him 'Barack'

Posted Tue, Feb 22, 8:30 p.m.

By Knute Berger

The re-packaging of Seattle's mayor takes center stage with his State of the City speech.

A new spider species discovered in Seattle?

Posted Fri, Feb 18, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

It's amazing what we still don't know about where we live, as new finds by scientists and amateurs are helping to rewrite textbooks. A recent discovery in the Arboretum is a case in point, but hardly unique.

More victims of the heritage hatchet

Posted Tue, Dec 21, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Gov. Gregoire cancels $10 million in heritage capital grants, impacting restoration projects statewide. Seattle is especially hard hit.

520 Bridge Blog posts

Newt and the newts: Meet the amphibian behind the man

Posted Sun, Dec 11, 12:30 p.m. 2011

by Eric Scigliano

Amazing resilience may not be the only thing Gingrich and the eponymous amphibians have in common. Just ask Bob Dole and Phil Gramm.

Midday Scan: Friday's top stories around the region

Posted Fri, Sep 9, 11 a.m. 2011

by Pete Jackson

Rumbles on the waterfront; another case of Portland-envy; dubious distinction time for Washington colleges; Rose City roses for Obama's speech; and a study puts tolls on 520 under another cloud.

Midday Scan: Thursday's top stories around the region

Posted Thu, Sep 8, 11:21 a.m. 2011

by Pete Jackson

Homeland insecurity, a new bridge for endless debate, why Obama is wobbly on the environment, and the high cost of brunching with POTUS.

Amazon CEO Bezos' $10 million gift to Seattle Museum

Posted Wed, Aug 17, 11:54 a.m. 2011

by Knute Berger

MOHAI is getting largest donation in its history.

Community college part-timers worry about losing more ground

Posted Wed, Mar 16, 2 a.m. 2011

by Joe Copeland

A bill in the legislature could signal that lawmakers are backing away from dealing with the part-timers' longstanding concerns about low pay.

Why Seattle badly needs White Center

Posted Wed, Apr 7, 10:49 p.m. 2010

by David Brewster

And a plan for getting rid of Montlake, all in the same package.

Humor: Visionary new schemes for the 520 bridge

Posted Fri, Apr 2, 11:28 p.m. 2010

by Richard Conlin

It's time to think much more boldly about replacing the old bridge, and today's the perfect day for letting the imagination soar.

Mayor McGinn pokes Microsoft's CEO in the eye

Posted Sat, Feb 27, 3:34 a.m. 2010

by David Brewster

He dispenses some unhelpful advice on how Steve Ballmer ought to be informing his employees. Uh, Mike??

Microsoft plays bigfoot on 520

Posted Wed, Feb 24, 8:38 a.m. 2010

by David Brewster

The company goes into an unusual full-court press on an issue of urgent importance, sending a forceful message to the legislature, Speaker Chopp, and Mayor McGinn.

When Chopp speaks, parse it closely

Posted Thu, Mar 26, 9:14 p.m. 2009

by David Brewster

The Speaker seems to be moving from his opposition to the Viaduct tunnel plan. Here's the three-cushion shot that probably lies beneath that very hedged statement.