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Jump-starting budget reform in Seattle schools

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 6 a.m.

A parent’s critical analysis of budget reporting has helped the Seattle school board consider administrative costs in analyzing where to make cuts next year.

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Gregoire signals new willingness to talk taxes

Posted Tue, Oct 27, 6 a.m.

As the state's projected deficit grows, the governor's new chief of staff says he "would be surprised" if the shortfall can be closed without new revenue.

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Report finds Seattle school spending top-heavy on administration

Posted Mon, Oct 26, 6 a.m.

The Seattle School District has the highest administrative costs in the state, according to a district parent's study, putting pressure on Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson as new budget work begins.

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In Olympia, recession is looking like an opportunity missed

Posted Thu, Oct 22, 6 a.m.

Desperate times call for bold measures, but structural and political obstacles make any meaningful change unlikely, our columnist says.

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It's like a full-time gig

Posted Mon, Oct 19, 6 a.m.

Navigating the unemployment system is no easy task ... for people seeking jobs, hiring, or even those advising the applicants. Anybody need a professional hoop-jumper?

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Score one for Seattle's historic nuke site

Posted Sun, Oct 4, 7:10 p.m.

The University of Washington's Nuclear Reactor Building has won a place on the National Historic Register, a key step in saving this wonderfully designed structure from demolition.

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What would Jane Jacobs do about the Viaduct?

Posted Fri, Oct 2, 6 a.m.

The patron saint of livable, walkable cities is being invoked on both sides of the debate over Seattle's Viaduct solution. Would Jacobs be a tunnel supporter, or a surface option fan?

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Gathering storms for Democrats in Olympia

Posted Tue, Sep 22, 6 a.m.

The next session of the legislature could be an ugly one for majority Democrats, with restive labor unions and still more cuts to make in the budget.

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Time to go 'all-in' on tolls

Posted Tue, Sep 22, 6 a.m.

Just putting tolls on the Evergreen Point Bridge is not going to cut it. Instead, the region needs to apply tolls all along the 520 corridor and broadly across our highway system. Here's an encouraging progress report.

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Celebrating the Northwest's floating world

Posted Wed, Jun 24, 4 a.m.

Maritime advocates are looking to have Congress declare most of Washington's coastline, including Puget Sound, a National Heritage Area. It could be a boon for tourism, preservation, and the marine industry itself.

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Here's what schools accountability looks like

Posted Wed, Jun 24, 4 a.m.

It's time to put some teeth into one of education's over-used buzzwords. What's needed are proper testing and real consequences for failure.

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Cabin fever

Posted Thu, Jun 18, 6 a.m.

Architect Wendell Lovett designed a nuclear reactor building and the home of a space-junketing billionaire, but it's his little San Juans retreat that says the most about him.

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Tough choices about a jumpers' bridge

Posted Mon, Jun 1, 6 a.m.

The state wants to put suicide barriers on Seattle's landmark Aurora Bridge, but some preservationists object.

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Sea change

Posted Wed, May 20, 6 a.m.

Washington State will officially consider altering the map by naming the inland waters of the Pacific Northwest the Salish Sea.

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It's WASL math test day. Sorta.

Posted Mon, Apr 13, 6 a.m.

Let's see. WASL math testing is going away. So you don't need to take the test this week? Wrong. Except maybe not wrong. Stumped yet?

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The Legislature tries to rein in Sonntag's performance audits

Posted Fri, Apr 3, 6 a.m.

The Auditor says the budget raid would take half the performance audit money and use it for other projects and agencies.

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Ready to try public-private partnerships yet?

Posted Wed, Apr 1, 6 a.m.

With state transportation agencies too strapped to fix bridges and roads, and union pension funds looking for investments, the P3 idea is spreading. Maybe even to a wary West Coast?

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Muddy waters of the Salish Sea

Posted Fri, Mar 27, 6 a.m.

A new name for the Northwest waters could be a setback for those charged with cleaning up Puget Sound. On the other hand, maybe a fresh start is what's needed.

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The tunnel solution for the Viaduct is too risky

Posted Mon, Feb 16, 6 a.m.

It might work, but we shouldn't be banking on it. Better to implement a rerouting traffic plan and then take the Viaduct down first, giving time for more complete studies and finding the money for the tunnel.

READ MORE 16 COMMENTS

Ferries: Why we should float our own boats

Posted Fri, Feb 13, 6 a.m.

A former Washington ferry inspector says there are real benefits to buying locally when it comes to state ferries. That said, the system could be improved.

READ MORE 7 COMMENTS

Other media

McGinn backs off tunnel opposition Following the City Council's approval today of a "memorandum of understanding" with the state, the mayoral candidate said that while he's still opposed to the deep-bore tunnel he would honor the agreement if elected.

City Council hears tunnel financing plan today In advance of Monday's vote, the council gets more details on Mayor Nickels' plan to pay the city's share of the Viaduct-replacing tunnel. Highlights include more expensive parking and car tabs, and a "local improvement district" tax for downtown businesses that would benefit from an open waterfront.

Gregoire endorses Mallahan for Seattle mayor It's more establishment support for the T-Mobile exec. The governor alludes to the city-state tunnel agreement, and praises Mallahan's commitment to rebuilding the economy.

Names of Ref 71 petition signers may be released after all A federal appeals court today reversed a lower court ruling, opening the way to naming those who signed an initiative putting Washington's domestic-partnership law to a public vote. One more legal step is required before the names are released, says the secretary of state.

Three weeks before election, I-1033's impact still unclear Analysts don't agree on what would happen if Tim Eyman's latest initiative passes. One estimate is that $8 billion would be diverted from state and local government to property-tax relief.

Blog posts

Salish Sea it is!

Posted Fri, Oct 30, 3:34 p.m.

Get set for a new name on Northwest maps.

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Duel of the scary Viaduct videos

Posted Mon, Oct 26, 4:07 p.m.

Pro- and anti-tunnel advocates each showcase their disaster scenarios.

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B.C. approves "Salish Sea" proposal

Posted Fri, Oct 23, 10:10 a.m.

That is, if Washington and the U.S. follow suit. The name would enhance but not supplant existing names for inland waters on either side of the border.

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Gun crack down

Posted Mon, Sep 28, 10:55 p.m.

Focus should be on imposing real penalties on juvenile offenders, not Seattle's symbolic parks ban.

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Smooth sailing for the Salish Sea?

Posted Thu, Aug 20, 3 p.m.

In an unusual act of international cooperation, the proposal to name the inland waters of the Pacific Northwest is being handled by both countries at once.

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The state's new data center: wait just a minute!

Posted Wed, Jul 22, 12:34 p.m.

Two legislators think the state is about to make a $300 million mistake, and hope to kick its IT programs into the modern age

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The Sonntag Saga: Eyman wins another game of populist outrage

Posted Sun, May 24, 12:15 p.m.

State Democrats, in going after the state Auditor's budget, were really trying to stick it to Tim Eyman, the initiative king. The over-reach backfired.

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Gregoire on the spot over performance audits

Posted Mon, May 11, 6:58 a.m.

The Legislature voted to slash by 73% Auditor Brian Sonntag's budget for performance audits, with Lisa Brown and Ross Hunter among those wielding the knives. Over to you, Governor.

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River of coffee?

Posted Thu, Apr 2, 2 p.m.

A Washington place name proposal that could make a mark in latte land.

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The sommelier and the wine cops

Posted Thu, Apr 2, 6 a.m.

A law passed in the 1930s catches a wine event promoter at a charity event. Discerning the harm in his actions takes a very fine nose.

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