In the Media
One senator rose to say he was unsure it could be done. Another called it the first truly bipartisan budget "ever," comparing it half-seriously to the first moon walk.
Whatever its place in history, the state Senate voted 34-13 early this evening with nine Republicans joining majority Democrats to approve Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1087. The vote sends it back to the Democrat-controlled House for negotiations in a special session yet to be scheduled.
The Washington legislature is headed for an overtime session. The Senate late Monday approved its plan to close a 5-billion dollar budget shortfall. But it is unlikely differences between the House and Senate can be reconciled by this Sunday's Easter deadline. Meanwhile Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports budget protests continue at the Capitol
As spring finally arrived at the Capitol, so did a group of weary marchers clad in orange reflective vests.
Sen. Derek Kilmer ascended this year to an influential role in channeling state-borrowed money to local projects – and immediately set about tightening the purse strings.
“Occasionally, we need to constrain ourselves,” the Gig Harbor Democrat explained to fellow lawmakers Monday, “to foster greater sustainability. Regardless of who’s in charge, we generally max out the credit card.”
Western Washington University men's golfer Dylan Goodwin and runner Sarah Porter were honored by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference on Monday, April 18.
Goodwin, who finished seventh at the Cal State Stanislaus Invitational while shooting a 54-hole total of 1-over par 217, was named the GNAC Men's Golfer of the Week for Apr. 10-16.
The Western Washington University men's and women's golf teams each lead the competition at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships after opening round play on Monday, April 18, at Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.
The Washington state Senate approved Monday its proposed two-year state budget that slashes $4.8 billion in state spending, including deepening cuts to K12 education.
The 34-13 vote sets up negotiations with the House of Representatives and Gov. Chris Gregoire's office that will likely take the legislative session into overtime. The differences, few but large in money, between the House and Senate budgets seem too big to close between now and the end of session, currently scheduled to be Easter Sunday.
Welcome to the 2011 Wish Book — your opportunity to connect with local service agencies to help those in need. We asked agencies to share three needs — from volunteers to cash donations to goods both new and gently used. We know tough economic times are no match for the generosity of Whatcom County people, businesses and organizations. We present the Wish Book to assist high school students looking for potential senior projects, employee groups planning holiday donations, parents looking to teach the spirit of giving to their children and others in finding options for giving and making a difference in Whatcom County.
Speaking of slam poetry, Western Washington University student Claude Atcho took a slam poetry class winter quarter with professor Bruce Beasley, and the final class was held at Blue Horse Gallery in Bay Street Village.
For onlookers, the George Washington v Western Washington quarterfinal had the makings on another upset, of which there were plenty during the Women's DII College National Championship this weekend. At the half, GW was up 12-0 on the team that had posted the largest point margin (67-5 v Claremont) during Saturday's round of 16.
But in true champion fashion, WWU battled back to tie it up in the second half, then used overtime to seal the 20-12 win.
By fall 2012, the price of an undergraduate year at the University of Washington could reach $11,567 — a number that brings the UW close to the cost of California's most expensive public schools.
Under the most recent budget proposal outlined by the state Senate this week, tuition would go up by 16 percent a year for two years at the state's three largest universities. And several bills would eliminate tuition controls altogether for a set period of time — allowing all of the four-year schools to decide what to charge for tuition, and opening the door for higher prices to be charged for certain majors.