In the Media

Erika Quint pitched a one-hit shutout in winning the opener 10-0, but the Vikings managed just one hit and were blanked 8-0 in the nightcap as Western Washington University split a non-conference softball doubleheader with Sonoma State University on Wednesday, March 30, in Rohnert Park, Calif.

Both games went just five innings because of the eight-run mercy rule.

Samantha Rutherford drove in six runs, one shy of the school record, as Western Washington began its northern California road trip with a 13-5 win over Cal State Monterey Bay in the opener of a non-conference softball doubleheader Tuesday, March 29, in Seaside, Calif.

The Vikings, ranked No. 9 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, fell 3-1 in the nightcap.

Legislative leaders have given no clear indication of when the House and Senate will roll out their proposed state budgets for the next two years, even as they enter the final weeks of a 105-day session clouded by predictions of a deepening deficit.

The Olympian newspaper reported Tuesday that House leaders had originally scheduled to roll out their budget this week, but those plans have been scrapped because of a worsening economic outlook.

Earlier this month, the state's chief economist said the state will take in $780 million less in the next two years, plunging the deficit to about $5.3 billion.

We put money in banks to keep it safe, so it will be there when we need it. In the same way, seeds are put in special facilities, called seed banks, which keep them safe and extend their viability, so they will be available for many years. Seeds are tiny miracles, each containing a plant embryo, plant food (called endosperm), and a covering to protect the embryo from the elements. Each seed, like each person, has its own genetic makeup. Seeds differ within and between populations of a species. Seed banks strive to preserve as much diversity as possible by housing multiple collections of species and their varieties.

The WSU groundskeeping crew grapples with budget cuts as the number of employees hits an all-time low.

From a peak of 19 employees down to 14, each employee has more assignments and there is more ground to cover than employees to cover it, said Grounds Supervisor Kathrin Brun.

Brun is responsible for WSU groundskeeping and crew members tasked with a diverse amount of responsibilities including litter removal, irrigation systems, sidewalks and all landscapes.

“Safety is the highest priority and we want to make sure the environment is as safe as it can be,” she said. “We want walkways to be clear of not just ice or snow but also acorns, wet leaves or gravel. Safety is number one priority and aesthetics is secondary.” With the budget crunch, even keeping up with the priority of safety is becoming increasingly difficult, Brun said. During snowy days this winter, many pathways were blocked off due to a lack of man power.

Granite Falls High School Principal Eric Cahan has accepted the Lake Stevens High School Principal position effective July 1, 2011. After speaking to Principal Ken Collins, Cahan decided to apply for the open position.

“I’ve known Ken Collins for a long time and he and I spoke when the posting came up. Frankly, he really sold me on the building and the district,” Cahan said. “After meeting the people in the interviews, I thought it was a great fit and a natural change. I’m looking forward to creating new relationships with staff and kids and continuing with Ken’s energy. I think that is an exciting aspect as a principal,” Cahan said.

Cahan is a veteran administrator with five years experience as Principal of Granite Falls High School and prior to that, five years as an Assistant Principal at Snohomish High School. He was also the Athletic Director and an English teacher at Snohomish High School.

In honor of “National Mom and Pop Day” on March 29, 12 local business-owning couples will be having a night out sponsored by WWU’s Small Business Development Center, Sustainable Connections and the Downtown Bellingham Partnership.

The 12 couples were chosen randomly from more than 90 “mom and pop” businesses in Whatcom County, including Kulshan Cycles, Pacific Martial Arts and Fairhaven Runners.

Stairs are the most dangerous obstacle in professor Dave Engebretson's life.

Born legally blind 63 years ago, he learned early in life not to use that as an excuse for anything. He never says "can't."

"My mother would say, 'Can't never did nothing.' "

Two competing bills to overhaul Washington's education system are being scrunched together into one proposal.

The Senate's Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee held a public hearing on that proposed meshing Thursday.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction doesn't think much of the compromise bill. Like one of its predecessors, it would force the elected superintendent to work with a new governor-appointed education secretary, who would have better-defined powers.

Government funding for the arts is falling on hard times amid the state's multibillion budget shortfall.

Gov. Chris Gregoire proposes eliminating the Washington State Arts Commission and slashing state funding for grants to hundreds of nonprofit arts organizations, ranging from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra to the Icicle Creek Festival in Leavenworth.