http://www.seattlecourant.com Seattle's newest 21st century local daily newspaper serving Seattle. en-us Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:25:10 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/224 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:49:49 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/224 This experiment in building a narrowly focused online daily newspaper in Seattle is over. Why? The short answer is money. But there's more to it than that, and I'd like to take a few minutes to explain some of what I learned about publishing an online daily, so that others may succeed where I have not. To fund a newsroom requires a pretty sizable chunk of money. My goal with the Courant was to have two to three reporters working full-time and making a living wage, as well as, a copy editor and a secretary. To do that, I estimated that I would need about $500,000 a year (gross sales would need to be more than that since sales people and support staff need to be paid too, but they essentially pay for themselves). I would work for free for the first year or so. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/223 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:59:05 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/223 The printed newspaper stuck around a lot longer than other forms of communication, but like all technological breakthroughs, eventually they become obsolete. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/222 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:08:39 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/222 Sometimes you just gotta stand up and holler; the bad economy, the Iraq war, trillions of dollars going into a financial sink-hole, joblessness, homeless people begging by the side of the road with handmade signs saying, "Please Help," and television advertising yelling "Save Big! Buy This! Buy That!" More often than not, the poor and homeless are veterans of our recent wars, made to fend for themselves on our streets after dodging bombs and bullets for months on end. And folks with money are staying home with it. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/221 Sun, 31 May 2009 21:43:18 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/221 There's a lot of hemming and hawing over The Death of the Newspaper these days. Not that there shouldn't be. A lot of good people are losing jobs and getting pay cuts. There's a real fear that the fourth branch of government will vanish, leaving us in the hands of Katie Couric, the last paid reporter asking the tough questions. I have to admit, it's a bit much for me, seeing the media report on itself all the time. But that's the conundrum. Who else can do it? Artisan cheese-makers? Without making the slightest attempt to beat them, I've decided to join them. It's my turn to submit a eulogy. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/220 Thu, 28 May 2009 23:02:25 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/220 Three Seattle school board members' terms are up this November, but only one of them, board President Michael DeBell, has been public about his intentions to seek re-election before candidate filing begins next week. DeBell, who represents District 4, has already opened a campaign account with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. Thus far, he has raised $946 and spent $500 in the non-partisan race. Neither he, nor any of his colleagues who could seek re-election, have knowledge of any opponents or potential opponents. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/219 Wed, 27 May 2009 13:15:20 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/219 Seattle School Board member Cheryl Chow will not seek a second term. In her statement this morning, Chow said that "there comes a time to walk away from the public spotlight and focus my energy on other personal goals. Now is that time." The former City Councilmember said that when she was elected to the school board the district was in "turmoil." While in office Chow said that she made a difference by helping to recruit Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, creating a balanced budget and improving the relationship with the Legislature and the Governor. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/218 Tue, 26 May 2009 18:39:53 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/218 She used to own an ice cream shop in Pike Place Market. During the mid-70s, she was a schoolteacher in New Jersey. And today, the 16-year Seattle City Council veteran, Jan Drago, announced that she will indeed be challenging her former political ally, two-term Mayor Greg Nickels, for his job. Drago said that Nickels has done "nothing" for the city. She said that while she agrees with Nickels on nearly every major issue, she will be different. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/217 Sun, 24 May 2009 18:30:35 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/217 The Seattle International Film Festival, which started this weekend, will be showcasing the latest film by legendary Francis Ford "Godfather" Coppola. "Tetro," which takes place in Argentina and stars greaseball/hipster Vincent Gallo and "Y Tu Mama Tambien" wildcat Maribel Verdu, features Coppola's first original screenplay since 1974. Coppola will be in attendance, which is pretty awesome, even though there's a 50-50 chance it could be another "Godfather III." What is not awesome is the ticket price. It's $125 to possibly schmooze with the big man, $25 just for the film, even though standard admission at SIFF is just $11. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/216 Tue, 19 May 2009 18:20:43 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/216 Since 1970, consumer debt has increased by more than 1,808 percent, with revolving debt going up more than 18,000 percent. Yes it's shocking, but here's how the numbers break down. In 1970, the US population was about 203 million. According to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System's statistics, total consumer debt was $132 billion with just over $5 billion in revolving debt. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/215 Tue, 19 May 2009 15:19:27 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/215 The layoffs affecting teachers and certificated staff in Seattle Public Schools for 2009-10 will total about 172, the district reported in a news release Monday. Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson confirmed the details, all of which are in response to an estimated $34 million budget shortfall for 2009-10. The layoffs account for 5 percent of the total certificated workforce, although Goodloe-Johnson said in the news release she was optimistic that retirements and resignations would allow the district to recall some of those who are being laid off. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/214 Tue, 19 May 2009 15:11:26 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/214 After three years of planning a new method for assigning students to a school, the School Board is ready to vote on a proposal next month. Public hearings will be held on June 3 and June 17, with a vote scheduled for the latter date. The new student-assignment plan would begin to be implemented in fall 2010. At recent board meetings, parents have insisted that "proximity to home" should be the number one priority in making the school assignment decisions. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/213 Mon, 18 May 2009 18:48:19 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/213 On Friday Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a payday loan reform bill into law which effectively lowers the astronomical interest rates charged for these loans to a somewhat less gargantuan rate, at least for some people, it all depends on when you get paid. The new law lowers the interest rate payday lenders can charge by extending the length of the loan, for some borrowers. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/212 Sun, 17 May 2009 15:54:42 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/212 One of the great cultural archetypes is the obsessive painter. He strives to express something ineffable on canvas. He rejects societal taboos in pursuit of the truth. His loved ones, neglected and sometimes abused, suffer for his passion. Jacques Rivette's 1991 film "La Belle Noiseuse" retells this story, but thankfully manages to blunt the clichés and yields something memorable and often magical. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/211 Fri, 15 May 2009 15:09:40 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/211 For some reason I thought this week in Seattle politics would be interesting. I was wrong. On Monday, the almost always non-partisan City Council unanimously passed all of the bills, resolutions and appointments brought before the full council. Next year's budget is expected to be $70 million short, so the City Council passed a resolution defining the Council's budget priorities in terms of what to preserve and what to cut. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/210 Wed, 13 May 2009 20:43:48 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/210 Seattle Public Schools' budget deficit going into the new fiscal year is projected at $34 million, up from the previous estimate of $25 million. The district made the announcement in a news release Wednesday, crediting the larger deficit to additional fund reductions from the state. "Due to the unprecedented reduction in state funding we now have made the painful decision to implement a reduction in force of certificated staff" (which include teachers, counselors and librarians), the news release says. "We know that valuable staff, their families, students and school communities are affected by this news." http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/209 Tue, 12 May 2009 17:46:28 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/food/209 I am surprised at how few people know of these in Seattle. It must be an East Coast thing. As for me, I can't remember my first whoopie pie. I hear stories of my older sister enraptured with them at the age of two. For those of you who have yet to experience the joy that is the whoopie pie, you can think of it like a homemade Oreo cookie. Maybe it more closely resembles a cupcake in sandwich form. Anyway that you want to think of them is fine. Just know that they are divine. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/208 Mon, 11 May 2009 17:33:10 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/208 Last week labor negotiations between Seattle Public Schools and the teacher's union made headlines when the union accused Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson of firing more than three thousand schoolteachers and other certified employees. According to the union, Goodloe-Johnson sent out letters to teachers which stated "there is probable cause to nonrenew your contract." http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/207 Sun, 10 May 2009 14:31:31 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/207 President Barack Obama has repeatedly said what we now need is a knowledge-based economy. The industrial revolution has come and gone. We are witnesses to that fact: Chrysler and General Motors are fading fast. They're history. Other facts: We are fast running out of oil; we have pretty much depleted this country of its metals wealth; and wood is being replaced by man-made building materials for the most part. While there may be more oil in other parts of the planet, it's become a weapon of wars and rumors of wars. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/206 Sun, 10 May 2009 14:01:55 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/206 Michael Caine hasn't always been Batman's butler. For more than 50 years, the prolific British actor has played soldiers, spies, womanizers and violent criminals. He has won two supporting actor Oscars, the first for playing a neurotic adulterer in Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986), and the second for his portrayal of an orphanage director in "The Cider House Rules" (1999). But I don't care about any of this. For me, Michael Caine will always be the snarling hitman in the 1971 British thriller "Get Carter." http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/205 Fri, 08 May 2009 23:01:12 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/205 Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson informed 3,300 teachers that she was terminating their contracts and offered them a new one with one less day. By doing so, the teacher's union is accusing Goodloe-Johnson of firing the schoolteachers and probably breaking the law. "Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson's decision to fire nearly all of Seattle's teachers is bizarre," said Olga Addae, Seattle Education Association president. "Her actions are a flagrant violation of state labor law. She can't do it, and even if she could, what she's doing is a slap in the face to every teacher in Seattle." http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/204 Fri, 08 May 2009 22:25:26 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/204 State lawmakers on Thursday announced they would not hold a special session, which could provide school districts with a clearer picture of how they should arrange their budgets. Earlier in the week, Seattle Public Schools spokesman David Tucker said one of the more significant proposals yet to be resolved was a bill that would have lifted the levy lid by 4 percent. The Legislature also sought to cut $60 million in school-levy equalization funding. Since lawmakers weren't able to get to those bills before the end of regular session on April 26, none of these changes will occur, at least for next school year. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/203 Thu, 07 May 2009 15:38:09 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/203 Former Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske is now President Barack Obama's drug czar. The 36-year law enforcement veteran ran the Seattle Police Department for eight years. His nomination to become the head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy was approved today by the U.S. Senate. Kerlikowske's last day in charge of the S.P.D. was last Friday. Seattle Deputy Police Chief John Diaz is the city's interim chief, and according to a report in The Seattle Times, Diaz will seek to fill Kerlikowske's shoes permanently. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/202 Thu, 07 May 2009 12:37:52 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/202 Two cadres of people left the Seattle Public Schools district office Wednesday with disappointment and concern, those who fought against using a certain math textbook and those worried about layoffs. The school board, by a 4-3 vote, approved a math committee's recommendation to replace the four, integrated instructional materials now used in high school classrooms with the Discovery Series next school year, which affects algebra, geometry, advanced algebra, pre-calculus, calculus and statistics. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/201 Wed, 06 May 2009 03:21:35 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/201 All four Democratic candidates running for King County Executive were present and accounted for tonight in Renton for the kick-off of the 2009 debate season. In alphabetical order the candidates are King County Council Chair Dow Constantine, State Rep. Ross Hunter, State Sen. Fred Jarrett and King County Councilmember Larry Phillips. The two Republicans running didn't attend the debate, because, well, the King County Democrats Central Committee that sponsored the event didn't invite them. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/200 Tue, 05 May 2009 19:13:32 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/200 Today is National Teacher Day and it got me to think about my career as a student. I've had the pleasure of being educated by many great teachers. I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, on the 1300 block of Margaret Street, so I went to Harding Senior High School on the Eastside. One of my most memorable teachers was Mr. Cornell. Mr. Cornell was my homeroom and French teacher. He taught me that it's cool to be nerdy. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/199 Tue, 05 May 2009 16:12:17 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/199 If you're interested in who's running for the City Council this year, and you should be, stop by the Metropolitan Democratic Club tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/198 Mon, 04 May 2009 15:50:44 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/198 The jam-packed race for City Council position eight just got a little more so today as Bobby Forch, 53, announced his intention to run. City Council position eight is currently filled by Richard McIver, but he's not going to run for re-election. Forch isn't yet listed on the Seattle Election's Web site, but his candidacy makes him the sixth contender for McIver's open seat. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/197 Mon, 04 May 2009 13:12:26 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/197 For the first time in over a decade, Seattle high schools are very close to receiving a new math textbook series. That is dependent on the outcome of Wednesday's school board meeting, where a vote is scheduled on switching from four, integrated series of math instructional materials to just the Discovery Series. Teachers and students voiced numerous objections to Discovery at the April 22 board meeting, and after lengthy discussion, each board member indicated how they would vote, which would have resulted in a 3-3 deadlock. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/196 Sun, 03 May 2009 17:25:40 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/196 Isn't this time of year just beautiful? Birds are chirping and every possible flower is in bloom. I love it. I really do. This might be my favorite season in Seattle. The nice weather awakens my desire to get outside and exercise. Let's see, I live in Seattle, the weather is nice, where do I gravitate? Green Lake. Ah. Three miles that drop you back where you started, it is perfect. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/195 Sat, 02 May 2009 14:26:48 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/195 "The Italian Job," released in 1969, is considered by many to be the quintessential Swingin' Sixties British film. Despite its timeless heist setup, there's a lot of hip: a funky Quincy Jones score, Michael Caine starring as a suave, philandering thief, lots of girls in their underwear, and a small herd of Minis tooling around on a hangar-size roof in one of cinema history's greatest car chases. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/194 Fri, 01 May 2009 12:53:35 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/194 Thanks to a bill signed into law today by Gov. Chris Gregoire, homeowners and renters will have a bit more time to before the bank foreclosures on their home. The new law requires that banks give owners 30 days notice before foreclosing. If there are renters in the building, the new owners must give tenants a written notice and 60 days to move out. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/193 Fri, 01 May 2009 12:19:02 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/193 Three Seattle schools have opted to close for a seven-day stretch "out of an abundance of caution" over the 10 probable swine flu cases reported in King County, including two elementary school-aged children. Officials with the district were not immediately available for comment Thursday, but the district's Web site says that public health officials have recommended Aki Kurose Middle School and Stevens Elementary close starting Friday, May 1, with plans to reopen May 8. Madrona K-8 was closed on Thursday, April 30, with reopening planned for May 7. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/192 Fri, 01 May 2009 00:51:28 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/192 This is not the time to panic. Seriously folks. So far 13 people in Washington might have swine flu. No one in the state has been diagnosed with swine flu. However, as a precautionary measure, Seattle Public Schools have shutdown three of the city's schools: Madrona K-8, Aki Kurose Middle School and Stevens Elementary for a week at least. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/191 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:22:34 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/191 Tyrone Love was a party promoter and community worker, just going to the store in February, when he was shot six times and killed in what is remains an unsolved murder. He and fellow promoter Chukundi Salisbury had been supporters of the Silent War campaign, an effort to encourage citizens to turn in violent criminals, and Love's death became another example of what they had been fighting to stop. Moreover, for Salisbury his work transformed from service to his community into an effort to "bring the outrage back." It isn't what you might expect to hear from a community organizer. It sounds harsh and negative, but Salisbury believes it's what communities need for change. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/190 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:20:20 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/190 And then there were five. This week, Eastside Democrat State Rep. Ross Hunter announced that he's running for county executive. The retired Microsoft executive and current state representative is now the fifth candidate to join the race to fill Ron Sims' open position. President Obama tapped Sims to be the deputy secretary of the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/189 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:49:25 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/189 In the back parking lot of St. Mark's Cathedral on 10th Avenue E., overlooking Lake Union, the nearly one hundred members of Tent City 3 have taken up temporary residence. Their blue tarps flap in the breeze like baseball cards in bicycle spokes, but otherwise the camp remains quiet and inconspicuous. Since its founding in 2000, Tent City 3 has moved every one to three months to various locations throughout King County. It is an integral part of Seattle Housing and Resource Effort and the Women's Housing Equality and Enhancement League. These non-profit organizations help organize and manage tent cities as well as 17 indoor shelters. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/188 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:43:08 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/188 Members of a local school employees union that includes cooks continue to object to the district's plans to prepare food off site at a central kitchen starting this fall. Several dozen of them took to the street outside the Seattle Public Schools district office ahead of Wednesday's regular board meeting. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/187 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:45:07 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/187 Seattle Public Schools plans to layoff or reduce in rank a "limited" number of employees to balance its 2009-10 budget. Many unknowns exist in exactly how the "reduction in force" will play out, as the district is still waiting to see how the state Legislature reconciles the budget differences between the House and Senate, including where to allocate federal stimulus dollars. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/186 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:32:31 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/186 It's the conversation that seems will never end. I guess it started in 2001 when the Nisqually earthquake rattled our cage and the Alaskan Way viaduct wheezed and sagged. Perhaps it should have started back in 1989 when 42 people were crushed under the Cypress Viaduct in San Francisco's Loma Prieta quake. But here we are, eight years into this discussion and debate over what to do with the Alaskan Way Viaduct and who should pay for it. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/185 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:43:50 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/185 Stimson Bullitt died on Sunday. The former president of King Broadcasting Co. was 89. A Navy World War II veteran and University of Washington graduate, Bullitt was politically connected and politically active. He was on President Richard Nixon's so-called "enemies list" for his criticism of the Vietnam War. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/184 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:09:54 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/184 There's a public forum scheduled for 5:30 p.m. this Wed. at City Hall to discuss Mayor Greg Nickels' proposed budget cuts. Facing a worsening recession, Nickels has had to find more $13 million in budget cuts this year. While the 2009 budget cuts are up to the mayor's discretion, next year's budget - already projected to be $40 million short - Nickels will need to work with the City Council on what to cut. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/183 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:23:55 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/183 The Seattle City Council chamber was unusually crowded this morning. More than a dozen people signed up to speak about Mayor Greg Nickels' $13 million in budget cuts, most were concerned about the impact on the library system. Under Nickels' proposal all of the Seattle libraries will be shut down for a week this summer to save about $650,000. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/182 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:31:28 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/182 The level of rigor in high schools is strong enough that a high school reform committee is recommending the school board abolish a requirement that graduates have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average. Several other reform proposals will come before the school board between now and May 1. There may be a weighted, 11-point grading system, in which "+" and "-"; grades can be assigned. This would throw out the current five-point grading system. Honors courses would be worth a half-point more than they are currently and a full point more for advanced placement and international baccalaureate courses. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/181 Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:22:37 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/181 Monomania, single-mindedness, obsession. Whatever you want to call it, the drive that blacks out everything in the periphery and narrows one's focus on an impossible goal eludes contemporary man. We compartmentalize our existence, devoting precious chunks of our lives to wiping up spills, walking to the grocery store, writing e-mails and getting our tires rotated. Even though we hope to look back and see mountains conquered and novels written, we engage in checking off busy-work on daily to-do lists. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/180 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:34:20 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/180 A handful of reporters gathered on the seventh floor of City Hall this morning to hear how Mayor Greg Nickels plans to balance the budget now that forecasters are predicting that the city's revenue will drop another $29 million this year. But the process this morning was a little backwards. The way it worked was that first Nickels held a press conference, then afterwards, reporters were told what the mayor plans to cut from the budget. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/179 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:38:07 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/179 The latest round of school closures has brought the total number of buildings or sites to meet that fate to 28, and the Seattle School Board must decide their future in the next few months. During a workshop on Wednesday, district staff presented to the board the first proposal for what to do with 16 of the buildings or sites. The Martin Luther King Elementary School, Rainier View Elementary and Van Asselt Elementary would be declared surplus under the proposal, meaning they could be leased long-term or sold. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/178 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:31:24 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/178 Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' staffed briefed the City Council today on about $6 million in budget cuts to make up for a drop in projected real estate excise tax revenue this year. There is no source of money to cover this loss, said Dwight Dively, the city's budget director. The 2009 budget was passed during much more prosperous times -- last year. While REET revenue has been averaging about $40 million annually, it's now at about $20 million. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/177 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:39:11 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/177 If Initiative 99 makes the ballot and voters approve it this November, it will make it illegal for the City of Seattle to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bore tunnel, forcing lawmakers to go back and determine another plan to replace the aging bridge. Elizabeth Campbell is the sponsor of the initiative, and as reported last week, a not-yet-official candidate for mayor. She said the tunnel is too expensive and would take too long to build. Campbell believes lawmakers have drawn out the process because they don't want to just build another bridge. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/176 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:35:26 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/176 Elizabeth Campbell, sponsor of anti-Alaskan-Way-Viaduct-tunnel Initiative 99, says she will announce her bid for mayor at the end of this month. "I will announce between the 24th and 29th," Campbell said. "Right now I am working out all the logistics and details. When I announce you'll know what I stand for." http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/175 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:18:54 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/175 Mayor Greg Nickels is still holding tight to the hope that the federal government will grant Seattle the $50 million needed for the Mercer Street project, he said at a press tour of South Lake Union today. Nickels said the Washington State Department of Transportation won't let go of the funds he's after because the money is supposed to support state highways exclusively. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/174 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:06:03 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/174 After years of planning, the demolition of buildings on the corner of Broadway and East John hails the start of construction of the Capitol Hill light rail station, and yesterday, City Council members met to debate the still incomplete plans for a $140 million streetcar serving First Hill and Capitol Hill. "I really question the financial wisdom of building a streetcar network when we could expand metro transit significantly for far less," Councilmember Tom Rasmussen said as he entered the meeting. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/173 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:40:43 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/173 Well the Seattle City Council is back to where they were two months ago regarding the Mercer Corridor project money, well, sort of. If you remember, in late February the City Council voted to lift the spending restriction, called a proviso, on the Mercer project funding, even though the city didn't have enough cash to complete the South Lake Union transportation, or depending on who you talk to, beautification project. The purpose of the proviso is to prevent the city from starting a project that it can't complete. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/172 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:10:09 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/172 Like many of fans of the "Watchmen" comic, I enjoyed seeing my favorite mid-life crime-fighters brought to the screen. A couple of the voices weren't as I imagined them. Still, I sat back and enjoyed the explosions. But anyone who's seen "Watchmen" knows it offers only a grim solution to nuclear annihilation. Without giving the ending away, somebody with a lot of power goes with a lesser evil, which still hurts pretty bad. It's a clever twist, but so fantastic and horrible, it gives us little to work with in the real world. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/171 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:40:48 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/171 As the fall day neared its end, and the evening sun grew dim, my older brother and I lazily walked across the swampy tundra toward our camp, carrying our shotguns and several ducks we had caught. The Northwest Alaska air was still but there was a September-like nip in the breeze. As I looked back to see where we had been earlier that day, a movement in the distance caught my eye. My first thought was: Who is that? http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/170 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:06:17 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/170 A proposed ballot measure could make running against local politicians, like fundraising-all-star Mayor Greg Nickels, easier. Seattle City Council members decided to support the re-introduction of publicly-funded elections, after an advisory committee suggested that new donation trends could be giving wealthier donors more influence with local candidates. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/169 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:57:03 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/169 The battle over "green fees" will continue at least through the summer as an ordinance approved this afternoon by the Seattle City Council will put the issue to voters. Though news cameras were in the council chambers, today's ordinance approval was merely "a ministerial action," according to Council President Richard Conlin. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/168 Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:17:24 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/168 It's a novel idea: Dr. Jekyll transforming into his lecherous alter-ego by snorting an experimental powder up his nose. And there's some sense to it. In the early eighties, Mr. Hyde probably would have been a hairy-chested, gold chain wearing drug fiend obsessed with a prostitute who sings in a New Wave band at a seedy night club. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/167 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:01:43 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/167 In a special meeting today, the Seattle City Council Transportation committee approved a measure to reverse a council vote last month to release the money to get started on the Mercer Corridor project. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/166 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:35:12 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/166 A bare-bones transportation budget was announced Wednesday by top-ranking Senators on the State Senate's Transportation Committee. The focus of the budget is to keep afloat high profile projects, such as the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the 520 projects and the ailing ferry system. The state is facing a $514 million transportation shortfall for the 2009-11 biennial budget. The decline of funds is because the state gets the majority of its revenue for transportation projects from the state gas tax. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/165 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:21:48 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/165 Seattle City Council candidate Peter Holmes announced today he's going to drop out of the council race to challenge two-term Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr instead. As the former chair of the Seattle Police Department's internal investigation team, Holmes repeatedly butt heads with Carr over government transparency. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/164 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:26:22 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/164 The Seattle City Council Parks and Recreation committee met yesterday to appoint members of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee and to review upcoming plans on how to spend Parks Levy funds. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/163 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:06:28 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/163 Yesterday, the Seattle City Council Parks and Seattle Center committee met to discuss terminating the 15-year agreement between the City and KeyCorp bank, the title sponsor of Key Arena. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/162 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:31:16 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/162 Yesterday, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved an additional $150 fee for anyone busted hiring a prostitute. The money will go to pay for a "john school," a program aimed at educating patrons of prostitutes about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and other negative consequences of engaging in the sex trade. City Attorney Tom Carr is credited with recommending the new john school, but Councilmember Nick Licata said that he's been working on setting up a program to counsel offenders in Seattle for years and that Carr opposed the idea in 2005. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/161 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:51:29 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/161 Supporters and journalists crowded into a neighborhood pizza joint on Capitol Hill today to hear Michael McGinn announce his candidacy for mayor. McGinn is the first and only candidate to step up to challenge two-term Mayor Greg Nickels. Taking questions from behind a row of tables draped in checkered table clothes, McGinn said Seattle needs more effective leadership, leadership that seeks community involvement. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/160 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:40:08 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/160 Washington state Attorney General Robert McKenna sent out a consumer alert today about a company selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door and pretending to be a charity. Fresh Start Opportunities claims that money from the subscriptions will go to help young people get a "fresh start on life," but according to the attorney general, Fresh Start Opportunities is not a registered charity. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/159 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:25:29 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/159 The company with the most boring of boring names, American International Group, was once huge. Just last year Forbes listed AIG as the 18th largest publicly traded company in the country. On Feb. 11, 2005, AIG's stock closed at $73.12. Now you can buy a share for about $1.40, it's on government life support and quickly becoming the focus of the nation's anger over who to blame for the recession. -- Keith Vance http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/158 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:41:04 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/158 Prostitution and the Mercer Corridor project will be up for debate this week in the Seattle City Council. Councilmember Tim Burgess wants anyone busted for patronizing a prostitute charged an additional $150 fee to cover the cost of john school to educate johns on the evils of prostitution. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/157 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:09:24 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/157 No matter how you slice or dice the numbers Washington's economy is going to get worse before it gets better, according to a report today by the state's Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. "We are witnessing an unprecedented economic crisis the likes of which, arguably, we have not seen since the Great Depression," ERFC Executive Director Arun Raha said during the quarterly revenue review in Olympia with legislators and the press. "That's not to say we're heading there, not by a long shot, but number two is not great either," he said while explaining his latest economic forecast showing a much weaker state economy than was predicted just a few weeks ago. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/156 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:53:02 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/156 After the abrupt closing of the Crocodile back in Dec. 2007, the remodeled Belltown club will be back in business on Thursday with a free 21-and-over show featuring local bands. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/155 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:34:02 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/155 Nearly 300,000 of the 3.5 million workers in Washington are now officially unemployed. Now at 8.4 percent, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is the highest since 1985. Since the recession began in Dec. 2007, Washington has lagged behind other parts of the country in terms of feeling economic pain, but not anymore. Last month, 28,200 workers lost their jobs and the number of unemployed in January has been adjusted up 8,700. Nationally the unemployment rate - 7.8 percent - is the same as the Seattle-area. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/154 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:18:42 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/154 It seemed like the longest 60 days ever, but it's official, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer will publish its last newspaper tomorrow. "Tonight we'll be putting the paper to bed for the last time," P-I Publisher Roger Oglesby told employees this morning. "But the bloodline will live on." http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/153 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:54:26 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/153 Back in 1993, the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain began investigating piracy of Dave Barry's popular column, which was published by the Miami Herald and syndicated widely. In the course of tracking down the sources of unlicensed distribution, they found many things, including the copying of his column to alt.fan.dave_barry on usenet; a 2000-person strong mailing list also reading pirated versions; and a teenager in the Midwest who was doing some of the copying himself, because he loved Barry's work so much he wanted everybody to be able to read it. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/152 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:20:46 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/152 A Facebook group played a key role in convincing former City Council member Peter Steinbrueck to consider a run for mayor. Though no one has officially stepped up to contest incumbent Mayor Greg Nickels, social networking sites are already becoming important tools for gathering support. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/151 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:46:18 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/151 Staring down the barrel of a 277 page executive report from the mayor's office Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark, chair of the Planning, Land Use, and Neighborhoods Committee, began the first committee discussion of the MultiFamily Code Update yesterday. The most divisive element of the report centered on incentive zoning, which allows for certain multifamily zones to have taller structures if the construction is labeled green or provides affordable housing. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/150 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:07:56 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/150 Wall Street jumped to life on Tuesday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing up nearly 380 points. The 5.8 percent bump in the Dow is a sparkle of hope in a seemingly endless sea of bad news that has dominated headlines since the recession began in December 2007, but economists aren't saying the markets have hit bottom yet. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/149 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:31:20 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/149 At a press conference this morning in Olympia, Gov. Chris Gregoire announced Washington's new $5 million online sex offender database to track the whereabouts of the 18,136 sex offenders living here. Well, the system actually knows the location of 13,254 convicted sex offenders, leaving 4,882 unaccounted for. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/148 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:55:10 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/148 It's time for another exciting week in Seattle politics. The most interesting developments will be on Wednesday when a special full City Council session is scheduled for 2 p.m. to discuss a bond issue, and at 9:30 a.m. Sally Clark's Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee will meet to hear recommendations from Mayor Greg Nickels' office on proposed changes to the multi-family zoning code. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/147 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:12:43 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/147 Another installation of Milt Priggee's political cartoon commentary. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/146 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:09:22 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/146 The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its unemployment figures for February. It's not good news. Last month, employers handed out 651,000 pink slips, taking the national unemployment rate from 7.6 to 8.1 percent. Washington state's unemployment rate was 7.8 in January - the data for February is not yet available. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/145 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:08:56 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/145 In Olympia, the state Senate passed a bill Wednesday to move forward on securing state funding to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep bore tunnel that Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels proposed this past January. "We have a plan and it's time to move forward," said the bill's sponsor Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/144 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:57:21 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/144 After weeks of delays and public testimony, the Seattle City Council voted Monday to approve changes to the city's noise ordinance. "The whole goal of the legislation is to strengthen enforcement of the ordinance," Councilmember Sally Clark, chair of the Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods committee, explained as she introduced the council bill. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/143 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:28:16 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/143 Seattle City Light has issued a warning that telephone con artists appear to be targeting customers with Asian surnames. Evidently several people reported that in the last few days someone contacted them by phone, said they worked for City Light and that they needed a credit card number to solve a billing issue. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/142 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:38:53 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/142 The University of Washington announced today that it will cut 34 full-time fundraisers from its Advancement office and reduce 16 full-time employees to part-time. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/141 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:10:00 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/141 Washington state Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Bellevue, wants to start taxing streaming online videos. Hunter told the Seattle Times that watching a video online should be no different than renting a video at a video store, therefore, it should be taxed. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/140 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:33:07 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/140 So what's happening this week in Seattle politics? Apparently not much. Aside from the full City Council meeting today, which may or may not involve changing the noise ordinance, almost all of the City Council committee meetings have been canceled. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/139 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:07:04 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/139 A cartoonist's take on what happened to newspapers. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/138 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:06:34 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/138 They opened last night at New City Theater in a Shoebox on Capitol Hill. Billed as "Two Haunting Plays," directed by Seattle filmmaker Janice Findley, "Rockaby" and "Footfalls" were written by the late Samuel Beckett and they're about death, or life, depending on your perspective. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/137 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:23:04 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/137 Last night, City Council members Jean Godden and Nick Licata sponsored a panel-discussion on the future of Seattle newspapers at City Hall. The Bertha Landes room was full of veteran journalists, and at times it was hard to watch so many of them still in denial, still clinging to the hope that some magic money will fall from the sky and save the Seattle P-I and the Seattle Times. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/136 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:31:09 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/136 Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen has lots of friends in Seattle. Why wouldn't he, he's a billionaire? Council member Jan Drago has been Allen's point-person in the City Council, and Mayor Greg Nickels his goto-guy in the executive. To see the results, just look at South Lake Union, where Allen's Vulcan Inc is redeveloping 60 acres of commercial and residential real estate. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/135 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:00:00 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/135 So what really happened? Did Mayor Greg Nickels and Seattle Councilmember Jan Drago know that the Mercer Project was not on the list to receive federal funding before the City Council voted on Monday to remove the spending restriction, releasing the available funds to get the two year project going? Or were Nickels and Drago as dumbfounded as everyone else when the Mercer Project didn't make the cut? http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/134 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:09:05 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/134 Tree activists applauded yesterday when the Seattle City Council voted to make it illegal for most homeowners and businesses to cut down a tree - well actually three trees a year - without a permit. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/133 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:22:18 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/133 It's against the law to call someone a dumbass - at least if you're a debt collector it is. According to court documents filed last week by the Attorney General's office, Everett-based Topco Financial Services violated the Consumer Protection Act when they allegedly harassed Washingtonians, calling them "no good," "scum," "loser," "lowlife," and threatening to "bitch slap" them if they didn't pay. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/131 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:46:13 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/131 On Monday, the City Council will discuss and possibly vote on modifications to the noise pollution ordinance that if passed will allow large construction projects, such as replacing the Alaska Way Viaduct and the Mercer Mess, to operate outside of the current noise restrictions. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/130 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:53:40 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/food/130 Someone needs to turn down the lights at Capitol Hill's Poppy. And brush a few cans of dark stain on the blond Ikea-looking chairs that weigh less than lawn furniture. Although its spare, warehouse studio space and Scandinavian minimalism annoyed me, Poppy's won me over with food and service. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/129 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:26:33 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/129 The Seattle area is the 10th least affordable place to live in the U.S., according to a report released last week by the National Association of Home Builders. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/128 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:55:55 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/128 Last year Washingtonians gave the state $65 million in unclaimed earned income tax credits. To help raise awareness for the tax credit, Gov. Chris Gregoire last month said that January 30 is "Earned Income Tax Credit Day." http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/127 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:42:29 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/127 Publicly traded Seattle companies are taking a beating. Just look at Starbucks, Amazon and Boeing since Jan. 2, 2008, on average, their stocks have plummeted 47 percent. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/126 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:55:51 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/126 In Olympia, Senate Democrats are working on a bill that its sponsor says will provide much needed transparency and accountability in Washington's Retrospective Rating program. Republicans claim the bill is an attempt by Democrats to silence the Building Industry Association of Washington which has used money from the program for partisan political advertising, rather than workers' safety. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/125 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:56:26 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/125 On March 10, in Ballard's Nordic Heritage Museum, the Port of Seattle Commission will meet to discuss what to do with the net sheds at Fishermen's Terminal. The Port maintains that the terminal net sheds are cluttered to the point of being hazardous to users. Some fishermen, however, feel that the Port's plan to clean out the net shed gear lofts is a way to put the squeeze on them, perhaps getting them to move out. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/124 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:16:44 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/124 It's a confusing issue. And according to Council President Richard Conlin, it's the oddest thing he's ever seen the council have to deal with. The City Council voted today to pass a series of bills that will give Seattle water utility customers a refund, a refund that they will then have to give back over the next 21 months. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/123 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:03:48 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/123 At the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club today, Mayor Greg Nickels said Seattle is "strong." In his annual state of the city speech Nickels said crime is down, massive public works projects will create thousands of jobs and the city is the envy of the world in terms of being green. The mayor didn't mention the gaping budget deficit the city is staring at, nor the 40 percent increase in rape from 2007 to 2008. He did however mention the senseless youth murders, which claimed yet another life yesterday in the Central District. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/122 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:43:30 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/122 Today is a federal holiday to honor the birthday of President George Washington. It's designated as "Washington's Birthday" in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code. You can call it President's Day if you want to, but let's be honest, are all presidents really worth celebrating? Mattress sale. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/121 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:15:07 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/food/121 As we move towards spring, it's sometimes nice to make a tasty dish that isn't loaded with calories, particularly after all the holiday food guilt. Scallops are terrific in that they pack a lot of flavor but aren't unduly heavy on calories. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/120 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:56:30 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/120 How would you fix the $6 billion budget deficit the governor and legislature are facing this year? Gregoire's looking at health care and education. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/119 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:21:19 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/119 As the economy continues to flounder in recession, politicians in the other Washington and in our own Olympia continue chattering about economic stimuli, yet more and more people are looking for help with one of life's most basic needs - food. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/118 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:41:09 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/118 The bill that passed the Senate with bipartisan support yesterday to increase weekly unemployment benefits will not only provide direct assistance to the burgeoning jobless population in the state, say supporters, but it will also inject $193 million of stimulus into Washington's economy in recession. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/117 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:10:47 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/117 A Seattle City Council committee met this morning to move forward on a plan to increase your water bill. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/116 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:27:17 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/116 In Olympia this morning the Senate voted 43 to 4 to temporarily increase weekly unemployment checks by $45 from May 3 to Jan. 3 next year. And for those currently collecting the minimum amount of $129 a week, they'll see a permanent $26 bump. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/115 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:45:34 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/115 The Seattle City Council Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods committee met this morning to discuss creating new regulations regarding the condition of rental housing in Seattle. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/114 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:23:49 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/114 The Seattle City Council's Culture, Civil Rights, Health and Personnel committee voted today to move resolution 31111, supporting universal health care, out of committee for a vote by the full council. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/113 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:02:52 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/113 Jordan Royer announced today that he will be running for Position 8 on the Seattle City Council. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/112 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:26:27 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/112 In Olympia today the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony today on whether to abolish the death penalty. While committee chair Sen. Adam Kline said this is a contentious issue, no one testified in favor of keeping the death penalty. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/111 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:50:39 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/111 In an effort to slash government spending, Gov. Chris Gregoire has recommended that more than 150 boards and commissions be eliminated, and she herself, through executive order has immediately axed more than 50 of them. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/110 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:19:08 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/110 It looks like no one wants North Highline. The cities of Seattle and Burien were supposed to work out a deal in which North Highline becomes part of Seattle, but there is no political will in the Seattle City Council to make that happen. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/109 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:07:54 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/109 Edward Hopper's "Chop Suey" reveals a painter who didn't understand other people. The 1929 canvas shows two women sitting at a restaurant table in shot-reverse-shot: one facing us, one at a three-quarter angle with her back to the viewer. We can't tell much from the face of the woman we can see. Like many of Hopper's people, her eyes are black ovals, and her lips are closed, expressionless. Hopper won't let her let us in. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/108 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:18:40 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/108 With unemployment rates hitting record levels, organizations like Seattle's Union Gospel Mission and Northwest Harvest are struggling to keep up with the influx of people who need their help. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/107 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:09:33 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/107 America has gone over the economic edge and is hanging on by a mere thread. Nationally, nearly 5 million people are officially out of work and looking for work. Experts say the real number of unemployed is probably more than 10 million. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/106 Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:58:54 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/106 The Seattle City Council's Planning, Land Use, and Neighborhoods Committee convened a special meeting today to carry out its final actions on the proposal to rezone the land on S. Dearborn Street. The committee also discussed development standards for Fire Station No. 30 on South Mount Baker Boulevard. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/105 Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:24:43 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/105 Now that the dust has settled and baristas at Espresso Vivace are pulling shots of espresso at their new location on Broadway Ave. E. in the Brix Condominium complex, Vivace owner David Schomer said business is great. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/104 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:51:00 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/104 The atmosphere was tense, the temperature hot and the crowd an uneven mix of vitriol and hope at today's House Bill 1727 public hearing. Openly gay Representative Jamie Pedersen introduced the bill, which if passed provide all of the benefits of marriage to Washington State's domestic partners. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/103 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:40:51 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/103 The Seattle City Council's Budget and Finance Committee met today to discuss a proposed utility tax increase stemming from a court order to refund former taxpayers. According to estimated calculations by Seattle Public Utilities, the total cost could amount up to $23 million, with $15 million in customer refunds. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/102 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:08:15 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/food/102 The Farahs were friends of my parents when I was a child. They lived nearby in our small New Hampshire town and my mother often shared recipes with Mrs. Farah. They are of Lebanese descent and the father was born on the street called Straight in Damascus, Syria. The lentil and rice mixture in this meal is a family recipe from them. My mother had the idea to put it all together in pita bread pockets and top it like tacos. I love this meal and hope you will too. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/101 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:56:07 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/101 Along the West Wall of Fishermen's Terminal on a sunny Saturday afternoon late last month, Pete Knutson was sitting, as he does almost every weekend from Thanksgiving to May, on a large wooden dock stringer in front of his boat Njord selling salmon. Sadie, Pete's beagle-mix pup that doesn't like to have her head touched, was curled into a tight ball on his lap, and seagulls cried overhead, dipping and weaving in the afternoon breeze. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/100 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:09:11 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/100 President Obama sent an e-mail on Monday to once again warn of the growing national economic crisis, and to repeat a familiar theme, "The time for action has come." http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/99 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:13:40 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/99 The Seattle City Council Transportation Committee met Tuesday morning to discuss several transportation issues, including the Mercer Corridor Project. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/98 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:07:56 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/98 The Seattle City Council Transportation Committee met Tuesday morning to discuss a number of transportation issues, including Sound Transit Link Light Rail System fares. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/97 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:58:41 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/97 Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and the homeless advocacy group, Seattle Housing and Resource Effort, are currently embroiled in a battle over $50,000 that the mayor yanked from the group's funding. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/96 Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:27:40 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/96 In today's open session the Seattle City Council members outnumbered the public attending the meeting when they gave the Seattle Storm a discounted 10-year lease at Key Arena and a promise of $300,000 annually. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/95 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:37:23 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/95 Over on Broadway, the folks in charge of sales at Brix Condominiums had their grand opening VIP preview yesterday. And despite the constant flood of bad news about the Seattle real estate market, 54 percent of the 141 condos have been sold. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/94 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:00:57 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/94 Last November King County voters approved a series of amendments to the county charter. One of those changes was to have a non-partisan elected director of elections, instead of one appointed by the King County executive. On paper, the new director of elections position is non-partisan, but the influence of machine party politics is evident. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/93 Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:51:10 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/93 It's a neat trick. The Frye Art Museum's latest exhibition, "The Munich Secession and America," commemorates two things: the 100th anniversary of an important European art movement's US debut, and its own, private collections. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/92 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:08:58 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/92 Emotions ran wild last night as the Seattle School Board voted to approve a plan to close several schools and to relocate and eliminate a number of programs. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/90 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:42:42 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/90 One day before the Seattle School Board is scheduled to vote on a plan to close schools and relocate, or eliminate, as many as 13 programs, several of the board members have recommended changes. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/89 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:52:46 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/89 The Alaskan Way Viaduct will turn 56 this year. While it's widely agreed that it's time for the old girl to go the way of the buffalo, the only consensus among those involved in planning a replacement seems to be that actually reaching a consensus is tricky business. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/88 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:56:36 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/88 Days before the Seattle School Board is scheduled to vote on whether to close four Seattle public schools, hundreds of people gathered on Sunday afternoon at T. T. Minor Elementary School to march to Garfield Community Center to protest the plan. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/86 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:26:13 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/86 Tomorrow night you can meet the artist commissioned to create an original artwork for Sound Transit's University district underground light rail station. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/85 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:39:16 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/85 Barack Hussein Obama took the oath of office of the President of the United States today. With his left hand on President Lincoln's Bible, it was a few minutes past noon in Washington, D.C., Obama was uncharacteristically nervous as he fumbled through the oath, at one point just before saying the "office of the President of the United States" he froze as if he himself couldn't believe what he was about to say. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/84 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:28:00 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/84 Thousands gathered at Garfield High School this morning to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But this year Dr. King had to share the stage with President-elect Barack Obama. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/81 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:09:19 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/81 The 61st Washington State Legislative session is scheduled to begin on Monday. The most pressing issues facing the legislators are the usual suspects such as education, health care, jobs, transportation and prisons, but underlying each of these agenda items will be the budget, more specifically the $6 billion deficit. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/79 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:02:58 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/79 January 2009 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting political months in a long time. Putting aside for a moment that the first black president is set to take control of the government that faces the worst economic turmoil since The Depression, two wars, global warming and Israeli attacks in Gaza, but you don't have to look at the other Washington to see something's going on here, just look at our own situation right here in Washington state. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/76 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:19:18 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/76 We're snowed in and the weather reports are predicting more snow is coming. As commonly happens when Seattle gets its annual snowstorm, the roads are covered in sheets of glare ice. Thusly, the buses, trucks, cars and scooters are all parked. Seattle is quiet. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/59 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:04:53 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/food/59 Fall is here and the craving for comfort foods has begun, and what better to satisfy that craving than with Potato Cheddar Chowder. This is a fantastic recipe that I stumbled across one year in Vegetarian Times magazine. I've made it so many times that I know the recipe by heart. A few years ago I brought a double batch of this chowder to a soup-off, I left with the title and no leftovers to bring home. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/51 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:20:20 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/food/51 The strawberries are abundant right now and rhubarb is growing like a weed. It's time to make pie. In this summer classic the rhubarb's hearty, red stock compliments the sweet berries like no other. There are many recipes to choose from, but you can really use any recipe that you prefer, the ingredients are mostly the same (strawberries, rhubarb, sugar & spices, and a thickening agent). However, there are a few tricks you can use to ensure a great pie. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/47 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:03:22 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/food/47 Summer is an exciting season full of great weather and even better food. There are barbecues, picnics and hot summer nights enjoyed with a loved one and a glass of cool rosé. The change in the weather dissipates my appetite for heavy winter foods. I start thinking about corn on the cob and potato salad, but mostly my mind drifts to pies, pies, pies. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/40 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:25:27 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/40 After years of being vacant, the old QFC building on Broadway is gone. But if everything goes as planned, in the next 27 months, a six-story, 295-unit apartment building with 26,000 square feet of retail on the first floor will be erected in its place. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/38 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:19:38 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/38 While there's been some scrutiny in the media and by the Seattle City Council regarding the dozen or so video cameras Mayor Nickels is planning to install in Seattle city parks, no one seems to have a problem with King County Metro installing more than 2,800 video cameras on select city buses. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/37 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:52:01 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/37 If you're sick of ugly townhomes popping up in your neighborhood? There's a meeting tonight and one on Saturday in which builders will be meeting with councilmember Sally Clark to discuss how to build better looking townhomes. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/26 Fri, 23 May 2008 19:47:22 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/opinion/26 The oil industry pulls in somewhere between $15 billion and $35 billion a year in government subsidies. At the gas station on 10th Avenue East and East Roy, the cheap gas is $4.11 a gallon. So-called energy industry experts are claiming that the $135 a barrel price is the result of a bubble, like the dot-com bubble and the housing market bubble. Paul Krugman, an economist who writes a column for the New York Times wrote that the high cost of oil is not the result of a mystical bubble in the market; it's simply basic economics in which the demand for oil is outpacing the supply. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/21 Mon, 19 May 2008 14:50:17 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/21 Most people weren't paying attention in February when Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels had three video surveillance cameras installed at Cal Anderson Park. The mayor did so despite efforts by the Seattle City Council to stop the mayor from putting the cameras in the park. Now the mayor is asking the council to lift its ban on installing video cameras in parks because he wants to expand the surveillance program to three more parks. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/16 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:45:46 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/16 On the corner of John and Summit there's a parking lot, some residents on the Hill would like to turn it into a community garden. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/14 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:51:55 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/food/14 When you really need a pound of burrito that's at least nine inches long, you've got to go to Bimbos. The Bitchin' Burrito Kitchen makes the best burrito in Seattle. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/12 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/culture/12 Are you an artist? Do you want to get your art up? Many businesses on the Hill, even a national chain, will show your art. http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/news/6 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT http://www.seattlecourant.com/section/business/6 Broadway News used to be located on the east side of the 200 block of Broadway but its lease was not renewed and last Friday it re-opened at its new location next to Galleria's.