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Heritage Turkeys of the Year

Posted Tue, Dec 29, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Awards for the worst setbacks in Northwest historic preservation for 2009.

Indiana Jones, meth addict

Posted Sun, Oct 12, 4:09 p.m.

By Knute Berger

The strange link between looting Indian artifacts and methamphetamine users.

Go eastward, young Americans

Posted Tue, Aug 5, 4 a.m.

By David Brewster

There's a reverse flow of population in the West, drifting from expensive coastal cities to interior boomtowns. It's definitely changing the politics of the Rockies, while also stirring resentments at "Aspenization."

What's wrong with this carbon footprint?

Posted Fri, May 30, midnight

By Knute Berger

It was, the Brookings Institution admitted, a flawed study. But it's the best data we have on the impact of urban areas on climate. This business of quantifying carbon emissions is as complicated as technological urban life itself.

Annals of Northwest secession

Posted Tue, May 6, midnight

By Knute Berger

A primer of regional separatist movements, real and imagined.

A not-guilty pleasure: Matt Lauer's interview with Sen. Larry Craig

Posted Wed, Oct 17, 11 a.m.

By O. Casey Corr

NBC's much-hyped prime time with the disgraced Idahoan indeed showed that Matt Lauer is no Mike Wallace. But would Eric Idle have done better? Say no more.

Larry Craig: the last of the 'servants of the lords of yesterday'

Posted Sat, Sep 15, midnight

By David Frey

Environmentalists argue that the disgraced Idaho senator represents a constituency that has declined in importance in the minds of voters – the legacy timber, grazing, and mining interests. Says one: "Now Idaho's a different place."

A dissenting take on sordid toe-tapping in the toilet room

Posted Sat, Sep 1, 3 a.m.

By O. Casey Corr

Sen. Larry Craig deserves what he gets, but I'm alarmed by the behavior of other players in this scandal.

The Senate might not be ready for the immigration bill, but Idaho is

Posted Thu, Jun 28, midnight

By Nathaniel Hoffman

Many think of Mexican farm labor when it comes to the implications of any legislation redefining immigration law. But there's also a vast middle class of prosperous business people, and some of them waded across the Rio Grande to get here – like Martin Rodriguez, who today is a voting citizen.

Discuss: Seattle is growing too slowly

Posted Wed, May 9, 9 a.m.

By David Brewster

An urban analyst puts Seattle in the group of 'Static Cities.' Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Boise Blog posts

Our good friend, Ed Stimpson

Posted Fri, Nov 27, 1:59 p.m. 2009

by Ted Van Dyk

A leader in civil aviation and a mainstay of Democratic politics in the Northwest dies of lung cancer in Boise. A friend recalls Stimpson's amazing network of pals and people he helped.

Sausage Links, Postman stops ringing edition

Posted Fri, Sep 5, 1 p.m. 2008

by Clark Fredricksen

It's a sad day for state journalism. Seattle Times chief political reporter David Postman, the author of the ever-popular Postman on Politics, announced today that after some 14 years at the paper, he will leave to join Vulcan Inc., a company founded and run by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The Capitol press corps appears to be devastated. I sure am. ...

Sausage Links, partisan hats and T-shirts edition

Posted Wed, Sep 3, noon 2008

by Clark Fredricksen

Republican presidential candidate John McCain might be the "anti-earmark candidate," but as The Seattle Times reports, McCain's VP pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, requested more than $197 million in federal earmarks for her state in 2008. Randy Stapilus at Ridenbaugh Press notes how "Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure $6.1 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor" in 2002. Meanwhile, Boise, Idaho, a town of more than 200,000, received $6.9 million in 2008. ...

Sausage Links, top-two primary Cuban cigar edition

Posted Mon, Aug 18, 2:26 p.m. 2008

by Clark Fredricksen

Today is "Top-Two" Primary's Eve, and as usual, the pundits have circled and speculated about tomorrow's big turnout. But we'll get to that in a second. First, Oregon congressional candidate Mike Erickson has a lesson for us titled What not to do when going on a "humanitarian trip" to Cuba. In 2004, Erickson said he visited a Cuban "medical center, met with doctors, and attended a presentation on the plight of the disabled." But according to a recent story in The Oregonian, the medical center Erickson said he visited does not exist. The story goes on to say that Erickson and some friends spent nearly $1,698 each for the weeklong Cuban vacation, which conveniently coincided with the Habanos Festival, an annual celebration of Cuban cigars. ...

Seattle outpaces Portland in income growth

Posted Wed, Aug 13, 11:05 a.m. 2008

by David Brewster

The current issue of Marple's Pacific Northwest Letter ($) tallies up personal income figures for Northwest metro areas. One shocker is how low the figure is for Portland, a booming area that is still shy on high-paying jobs. Or, conversely, how affluent Seattle is.

Sausage Links, slow news day edition

Posted Thu, Aug 7, noon 2008

by Clark Fredricksen

The editorial board at the Stranger posted their interview with Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire yesterday – and boy, did she get defensive. Along with saying Republican challenger Dino Rossi's latest ads were "racist" and offensive, the governor got fussy on rapid transit relief, gay marriage, and the economy. Meanwhile, Fox News is ~~making its case~~ reporting on Gregoire's continuing battle with Republicans over tribal gaming compacts, while Rossi will reportedly be endorsed by the Seattle Police Officers' Guild later today. ...

Sausage Links, fancy-pants luncheon edition

Posted Thu, Jul 17, 1:21 p.m. 2008

by Clark Fredricksen

The Queen of fist-bumps, New Yorker cover girl Michelle Obama, is in Seattle today to headline a fundraiser for Gov. Chris Gregoire. The event is expected to bring in $400,000 for Gregoire's re-election campaign. Seattle Times chief political reporter David Postman will have live coverage of the event as it develops, while Eli Sanders at the Stranger already has pictures from the WaMu Theater. ...

Sausage Links, cougar-hunting edition

Posted Wed, Jul 16, 3:28 p.m. 2008

by Clark Fredricksen

Praise the Lord and release the hounds — because our good state Legislature has enacted a law which makes it legal once again to use dogs to hunt cougars. Now, I didn't even know cougar hunting was legal in Washington — minus Cougars wearing crimson — but apparently, it is. While the bill was actually passed by the Legislature in February, the Department of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public meeting on Friday to discuss whether the pilot program should continue for another three years.

Meanwhile, Micheal Reitz of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation has compiled a list of some other curious laws enacted by the Washington Legislature this year. My personal favorite: Violators may face up to $1,000 or up to a year in jail for selling raw or unprocessed huckleberries without a permit.

Sausage Links, mayor-about-town edition

Posted Wed, Jul 9, 2:49 p.m. 2008

by Clark Fredricksen

Oh, Greg. You are trying to break our hearts! Just when we vilify you for airballing the Sonics all the way to OKC for a cool $45 million – you show you're a real Mayor-about-town houses and plastic bag taxes.

For better or worse, everybody's talking about Mayor Nickels' proposals today. Erica C. Barnett at The Stranger says she spotted a "Plastic Monster" at last night's public-comment meeting about the proposed plastic bag tax, while Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat warns if we don't choose paper the plastic bag police will get us. Meanwhile, the folks at Sound Politics rail against Nickels for the new town house plan, which they argue will regulate affordable housing "out of existence." ...

Sausage Links, "freedom to get drunk and blow stuff up" edition

Posted Mon, Jul 7, 1:23 p.m. 2008

by Clark Fredricksen

Chris Mulick at the Tri-City Herald has today's top story, reporting this morning that Tim Eyman's Initiative 985 and the Service Employees International Union-backed Initiative 1029 would – if passed by voters in November – increase the state's budget deficit by an estimated $300 million.