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Chopp, Chopp! The method in the speaker's maddening ways

Frank Chopp. How Frank Chopp rules Olympia, and why he left the Sonic saviors sputtering. He's become a classic political boss, but he also remains true to the values of helping the poor.

Not just the Sonics want those stadium taxes

The showdown in Olympia over the Sonics is much more than a shoving match between Speaker Frank Chopp, a populist who likes to defy bailouts for sports owners, and the Seattle establishment, which wants the team to buttress Seattle Center and tourism interests and for reasons of civic pride. A bigger issue is the years-long clamoring for a taxing source that might get away. Those are the so-called "stadium taxes," a mixture of taxes on car rentals, restaurants and bars, hotel rooms, and local sales tax. The money is all generated locally in King County, but instead of going into the Olympia general fund, it gets rebated back to pay off construction of Safeco Field and Qwest Field. And they are supposed to expire as the stadiums are paid off in the next decade.

The Huskies had the three-pointer down this year, but twos and ones, not so much

As the University of Washington Husky men's basketball team heads to the Bay Area this week for two of its final three league games, maybe players ought to be thinking about signs of a brighter future rather than a less-than-successful past. The most conspicuous sign being waved in the student section of Hec Edmundson Pavilion last Saturday, Feb. 23, read: "Thanks, Ryan, for three years of threes."

Featured on TV this weekend, it's the NBA in decline

The ongoing paradox about the National Basketball Association's annual All-Star Game is that defense is considered offensive. That's why the final score of the Sunday, Feb. 17, spectacle (TNT, 5:30 p.m.) may resemble the Obama-Clinton delegate count.

Here and elsewhere, the predicament facing the NBA and its gradually failing franchises ought to underscore (if such a term is even appropriate for an NBA all-star game) the desperation and absurdity of staging a weekend of "nothing's-wrong-here" frivolity. This would be the case even if it weren't all happening in, of all places, New Orleans.

Another arena, more history

Another standing-room-only crowd was crammed into yet another local arena Sunday, Feb. 10, and Barack Obama had nothing to do with it. Many of us were at Hec Edmundson Pavilion to witness the best team in Pac-10 men’s basketball, few of us imagining that it would prove to be the Washington Huskies. The Dawgs may well have the proverbial rude awakening on their Valentine's Day date with Oregon, but for now the overachievers will always have a nearly wire-to-wire 71-61 win over the UCLA Bruins for boasting purposes years from now.

Err a 'Zona

Some of us huddling in our Northwest homes Saturday, Jan. 26, awaiting the evidence of yet another questionable snow warning were warmed as noon approached with the prospect of the University of Washington Husky-Arizona Wildcat men's basketball game promised on Fox Sports Northwest. Fans didn't count on a broadcast delay of more than half an hour while the network finished coverage of the two-overtime North Carolina-Maryland women's tiff, which doesn't traditionally draw a lot of audience interest in the Pacific Northwest.

Hoop hopes are high for the Huskies, but the Sonics seem like goners

The University of Washington men's team is showing promising signs of turning around the season. The Sonics seem to have promised to perform as poorly as possible to hasten an exit to Oklahoma.

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Mossback »

Death by sun! Film at 11

If you watch local TV news, there's always something to worry about. Take this week's weather: sunny, warm ... and apparently a coiled snake ready to strike! Local stations are famous for over-hyping storms as reporters lean into Alki breezes as if they're the next Katrina or race up to Snoqualmie Pass to prove that — you won't believe this scoop — it's snowing in the mountains in the middle of winter! But it's not enough to exaggerate rain and wind: A little bit of sun is enough to spread alarm.

The P-I's D. Parvaz will head to Harvard

Your chance to join the Mod Squad

Arts Beat »

What's killing small theaters? Paying the rent

As urban real estate soars in value, small theaters are finding one third of their budgets going to pay escalating rents and they must spend lots of time looking for affordable venues.

A dissent on Rauschenberg, darling of the avant garde

Jen Graves on Robert Rauschenberg's influence

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Business / Technology »

Calif. winemaking patriarch Robert Mondavi died today at age 94

Mondavi is credited with bringing California, and consequently the U.S., recognition for its wines on par with European wines.

Bill Gates' (property) taxman cometh

REI plans to go solar at 11 stores, though none in Washington

Politics / Government »

Peggy Noonan: The Republican Party is "busy dying"

Opines Peggy: "What happens to the Republicans in 2008 will likely be dictated by what didn't happen in 2005, and '06, and '07. The moment when the party could have broken, on principle, with the administration – over the thinking behind and the carrying out of the war, over immigration, spending and the size of government – has passed. What two years ago would have been honorable and wise will now look craven. They're stuck."

Speaking of appeasement of Hitler, how about Bush's grandfather?

Gay marriage ruling may not touch off a new culture war

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Flip Side » Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton, will you please go now!

Flip Side: With apologies to Dr. Seuss and Maureen Dowd.

An alternative reality show

John Moe: Sorry, Seattle, I'm moving away

Lifestyle / Leisure »

Gay marriage ruling may not touch off a new culture war

McCain's position on these issues is not very different from Obama's or Clinton's, and younger voters overwhelmingly favor gay marriage. Besides, most of the political hay has already been made four years ago, over the Massachusetts law.

Calif. winemaking patriarch Robert Mondavi died today at age 94

Starbucks' Pike Place Roast is just OK, says Consumer Reports

Travel »

Calif. winemaking patriarch Robert Mondavi died today at age 94

Mondavi is credited with bringing California, and consequently the U.S., recognition for its wines on par with European wines.

To the envy of Washingtonians, B.C.'s got new ferries

The Space Needle's first cleaning since 1962?!

Sports »

After the Winter Olympics, B.C. Place will get a retractable roof

The 25-year-old facility has has a fabric roof, vulnerable to collapse. With a retractable roof, the stadium could have natural grass and be home to the Whitecaps soccer team.

From the NBA championship to homelessness in 30 years

The M's need a smarter management team

Recreation / Outdoors »

Bush plan may allow power plants near national parks

Latest move is part of a series of efforts to weaken air pollution regulations near national parks and wilderness areas.

The Space Needle's first cleaning since 1962?!

With polar bears endangered, tourists flock to northern Canada

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