crosscut.com

57 states — and the Soviet of Washington?

Knute Berger, Crosscut — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:43:01 PDT

Sen. Barack Obama must be drinking some of the same Seattle water as secessionist Mayor Greg Nickels. In Beaverton, Ore., he told the crowd that he'd visited "57 states" with "one left to go." He goes on to say that the only states he hasn't been to during his presidential bid are Alaska and Hawaii, which means Obama thinks the U.S. has 58 states, though by his own count there should be 59.

A Seattle software exec makes sure that the buffalo don't roam

Knute Berger, Crosscut — Sat, 10 May 2008 15:35:01 PDT

In the 19th century, tourists used to slaughter bison herds from passing trains, blasting the big beasts into near extinction just for fun. That ugly tradition is echoed in the recent massacre of buffalo in Colorado, which has also touched off a classic confrontation over rights between two ranchers. The Northwest connection: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer's John Cook points out that the man behind the recent massacre is the chairman and CEO of one of Seattle's top software companies, Jeff Hawn of Attachmate. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Gregoire and Rossi, together again

Austin Jenkins, Crosscut — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:10:01 PDT

For the first time in nearly four years, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and her Republican re-challenger, Dino Rossi, found themselves in the same room Friday night, May 9. The occasion was a retirement party at the Washington Supreme Court for veteran Associated Press reporter Dave Ammons, who has gone to work for Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Another Teton Dam

Daniel Jack Chasan, Crosscut — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 PDT

The golden age of dam building has long since passed, capped by the tragic failure in 1976 of the last big dam, an earthen structure on the Teton River of Idaho. Few new dam projects are being proposed these days, and many dams are being purposefully breached. But that hasn't stopped some from resurrecting the possibility of a new Teton Dam.

Fast times and loads of fun, despite expensive gas

L.D. Kirshenbaum, Andrew McDonald, Crosscut — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:00:01 PDT

Photo story: Drag racing today is a AAA-sanctioned activity for high school students — on a track, without alcohol, and with plenty of supervision. But high-priced fuel takes a toll.

Meet the dynamos who make Portland's art music snap and crackle

Stephen Marc Beaudoin, Crosscut — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:00:01 PDT

Four who are scene-shifting classical musicians talk about why they came to Portland, and why "a big small town" can be a more promising place than bigger Seattle for an art-music revolution.

The revenge of the resource economy in the Mountain West

Robert Struckman, New West — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:01 PDT

Despite slowing growth, the Mountain West is driven by a strong, complex economy that includes a natural resources boom, with industries such as mining once again on the upswing, a continued construction engine that seems to be resisting the housing slump, and the new standby, tourism.

The Northwest's real fairy tales

Knute Berger, Crosscut — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:08:01 PDT

When it comes to Northwest legends, we usually think big: There's Bigfoot, D.B. Cooper's Big Heist, Paul Bunyan and his Big Blue Ox — even the Big White Worm of the Palouse. This tradition goes back. When Jonathan Swift documented Gulliver's travels in the early 1700s, he placed the land of the giants, Brobdingnag, in the Pacific Northwest — somewhere between what we know today as British Columbia and Alaska. But we have our mini-myths, as well. Yes, Northwest giants are fun to think about (remember Olaf?), but take a minute to think about our munchkins.

A city of scolds

Knute Berger, Crosscut — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:00:01 PDT

Seattle City Hall has cracked down on drinking and clubs, it's on the verge of banning fast food and taxing plastic grocery bags, and now even plastic-bottled water is a civic sin. Switch to tap water! says the mayor. Mossback thinks enough is enough.

A plea bargain douses the scandal of the Thirtymile Fire

Bob Simmons, Crosscut — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:00:01 PDT

The darkest moment in U.S. Forest Service history won't be told — not to a jury, anyway.