While prided for their convenience, the increasing presence and usage of unlicensed — and therefore illegal — for-hire chauffeurs associated with companies such as Lyft is making life even more challenging for legitimate Seattle taxi drivers.

The company is increasing its holdings in Washington and Oregon by a one-third. It also announced Sunday that Doyle Simmons will be its new CEO.

"Around 2005, the first appeared. By 2008, there were 1,800. Last year there were 3,600, and this year the number is likely to be close to 5,000. The industry (about 250 independent contractors) is licking its chops."

"Despite the sagging economy and challenges to the industry, Costco pays its hourly workers an average of $20.89 an hour, not including overtime (vs. the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour). By comparison, Walmart said its average wage for full-time employees in the U.S. is $12.67 an hour, according to a letter it sent in April to activist Ralph Nader. Eighty-eight percent of Costco employees have company-sponsored health insurance; Walmart says that “more than half” of its do."

"Every summer job is a gamble; you never know whom you’ll encounter, or how your job will play out in memory."

"Even Patrick Dempsey, who plays the McDreamy character in television’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and who is trying to finalize a purchase of the Seattle coffee chain Tully’s, has talked of expanding from one drug to another in a big way. “There’s a business model there,” he told Bon Appétit. “You could present it in a beautiful, elegant way: a Michelin-starred coffee shop where you can get marijuana.”

The National Security Agency and the FBI are tapping directly into the central servers of nine leading U.S. Internet companies, extracting audio and video chats, photographs, e-mails, documents, and connection logs that enable analysts to track foreign targets, according to a top-secret document obtained by The Washington Post.

The radio show accuses IV of using shell companies as it pursues patent lawsuits. The local company replies, and see if you can follow the twists and turns.

The Kent-based company hasn't had a time limit on returns. After noticing customers were "renting" their purchases and then returning them years later, the company switched to a one-year return policy. 

The Liquor Control Board is making noises about banning out of state investors from Washington's ganja game.