In the Media
Last week’s caseloads report brought more than $200 million in good news for state budget writers. Today’s monthly revenue collections report from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council brought another $54 million not counted on before.
A recent study by the University of Pennsylvania criticizing Washington’s higher education system identifies some real problems but lands wide of the mark in offering solutions. The report leaves the impression that Washington’s higher education system is fundamentally broken. We do not believe it is.
Our state’s financial challenges have had a significant impact on higher education. However, despite these challenges, genuine progress has been made in key areas over the past several years. Specifically:
Fewer people than expected are using state services, a state panel says, providing a boost for lawmakers struggling to fill a roughly $1.5 billion shortfall.
Bottom line: The state budget is likely to see more than a $200 million windfall once all the numbers are crunched, according to Marty Brown, the governor's budget director.
HUNDREDS of Washington companies engaged in research and development in technology-related fields pay a reduced business-and-occupation tax. This break was designed to create a healthy R&D climate in our state and spur companies to maturity.
The side benefit, of course, is the tax break supports good-paying jobs.
Most companies in the state receiving the tax reduction should retain it. It serves a useful purpose. But larger firms getting thousands or millions of dollars that do not really need an assist should join an effort to dedicate that money to a better idea: a private fund supporting new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) slots at state colleges and universities.
President Obama today will propose spending $8 billion on job training programs at community colleges over the next three years, part of a budget for the 2013 fiscal year that also would increase spending on Education Department programs and some scientific research.
The president will outline the job-training proposal in more detail in a speech at Northern Virginia Community College this morning. But unlike past calls to spend more on community colleges, this plan is aimed squarely at an election-year message of “jobs, jobs, jobs” rather than the administration’s goal of increasing the number of Americans with college degrees.
Fourth-place finishes in the premier sections of the men's and women's pole vault by Cal Rosenberg and Karis Anderson highlighted performances by Western Washington University on Sunday, Feb. 12, at the University of Washington Indoor Track and Field at the Dempsey Indoor Pavilion in Seattle.
Rosenberg cleared 15-5, just two inches shy of the NCAA Division II provisional national qualifying standard. Anderson, who already is a provisional qualifier, reached 12-0.
Western Washington University was defeated 14-3 by unbeaten Sonoma State University in final-day action Sunday, Feb. 12, at the third annual Desert Stinger Softball Tournament held at Las Vegas.
The Vikings finished 2-3 at the tourney and are 2-8 overall. Sonoma State ran its record to 7-0, the best start in school history.
oday, I’m thrilled to host author Brenda Miller, who shares an excerpt from her forthcoming book: The Pen and the Bell: Mindful Writing in a Busy World, co-authored with Holly Hughes. And be sure to check out Brenda’s blog, The Spa of the Mind, where she muses about living and writing in the digital age…
In my small home, I try to keep my upstairs attic loft reserved for reading, writing, and sometimes—when I can remember to do it—meditation. My dog, Abbe, often joins me there and makes her nest in the blanket next to me, digging with her paws until the blanket’s messy enough to be comfortable. She flops down with a human-like sigh.
Guard Richard Woodworth scored seven of his 15 points in the final three minutes, including a go-ahead three-pointer with 2:37 to play as Western Washington University fought off an upset bid to defeat University of Alaska Fairbanks 77-72 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball contest Saturday, Feb. 11, at Sam Carver Gymnasium at WWU
The Vikings, ranked No. 15 in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll, improved to 22-3 overall and remain atop the GNAC at 13-1, needing two wins in their final four regular-season games to clinch the top seed in the conference tournament. Forward Rory Blanche had game-highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds for WWU, which won its ninth straight game and improved to 12-1 at home.
Guard Kristin Schramm had game-highs of 16 points and seven rebounds as Western Washington University rebounded with a 91-62 win over University of Alaska Fairbanks in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball contest Saturday, Feb. 11, in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The Vikings, who lost 72-50 at No. 12-ranked Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, improved to 16-6 overall and 10-4 in conference play.