Featured News Stories

Skagit Valley Herald

5 things to watch in Wash. Legislature this year

The Daily News

More than education finance on legislative agenda

The Capitol Record

Live from the Capitol: TVW’s opening day show starts at 10 a.m. Monday

PRINT

AP

5 things to watch in Wash. Legislature this year (Hurst)

Washington lawmakers start session in Olympia

More than education finance on legislative agenda (Haigh, Santos, Murray)

State agency cited in death of diver

Secretary of State Reed proud of top-two primary

Flu now 'widespread' in Washington

Ohio school plans to arm its janitors

Seattle calculating, preparing for climate change

Spokane homeless told to pack their tents

Inslee sticks with State Patrol Chief Batiste

State archives building doubles as bomb shelter

Fishermen angry over new Wash. gillnet rules

Wash. state cherry farms seek harvest techniques

U.S. tax code longer than Bible — without the good news

Aberdeen Daily World

Local officials seeing increase in concealed weapon permit requests

Lawmakers weigh in on gun legislation (Blake, Takko, Hatfield, Van De Wege, Tharinger, Hargrove)

Arlington Times

Op-ed: New tests for students on the horizon

Ballard News Tribune

Mike Stewart named Executive Director of Ballard Chamber of Commerce

Bellingham Herald

Education funding looms large for Whatcom lawmakers as session begins  (Lytton, Morris, Ranker)

Blog:  Rob McKenna still filing consumer protection actions in final days on the AG job

Blog:  Senate Republicans poised to take over Environment, Higher Ed, Parks, Trade, Human Services; remaining question marks include Sens. Hobbs, Hatfield, Eide

Blog:  Rep. Carlyle hopes to prepare ground for tax review

Blog:  Olympia lawmakers have pro-worker agenda for 2013 session  (Hunt, Reykdal, Fraser)

Blog:  Climate-change activists to rally as lawmakers start session Monday   (Ranker)

Columbian

Changes at the Capitol (Moeller, Wylie, Stonier, Cleveland)

Are gun buyers being too quick on the trigger?

Data: Fear often drives spikes in gun sales

Campaign targets human trafficking

Geothermal power heats up

Nuclear waste plan has 2048 goal

Same-sex marriages swell tally of nuptials

Editorial: In Our View: State Rulers to Convene (Moeller, Wylie, Stonier, Cleveland, Murray)

Editorial: In Our View: Gun Violence: Time to Act

Op-ed: Pitts: An armed society only offers freedom to live in fear

Covington/Maple Valley Reporter

State’s updated assessment of marine waters gets federal nod | Washington Department of Ecology

Gregoire declares Sunday as AMBER Alert Day

Latest chemical action plan supports enhancing current programs | Department of Ecology

Washington’s per-student investment continues to decline compared to other states

The Daily News

Drug Court’s new approach: Community service instead of jail time

State approves new Columbia River gillnet restrictions

Local lawmakers focused on budget, education funding (Blake, Takko, Hatfield)

Everett Herald

A session full of surprises (Dunshee, Clibborn, Murray, Harper, Hobbs)

Two from county to lead major state offices

Op-ed: Violence Against Women Act: Do programs help or hurt the abused?

Editorial: A long, challenging session  (Sells, Dunshee, Liias, Moscoso, McCoy, Harper)

Highline Times

Union agent reacts to Enfield meeting with police chiefs on security plan

Kirkland Reporter

New senate coalition, Democrats pledge governance, not politics (Murray)

Kitsap Sun

Editorial:  Challenge worsens if higher ed left out

News Tribune (subscription required)

Sam Reed’s career spent serving all state’s people

Traffic Q&A: Tribes have power to issue exempt license plates

Education is focus as lawmakers open session

Immigration change may help hundreds in state

No Kilmer successor yet; maybe Thursday

Lawmakers encourage marijuana slowdown

Inslee says he’ll keep prison, patrol chiefs

Editorial: Chris Gregoire: A good governor in bad times

Editorial: Schools must override all else in 2013 Legislature

New York Times

Revolutionary Language (Gun control)

Olympian (subscription required)

A career spent ‘serving all the people’

Lawmakers have $2 billion in problems this biennium (Chopp, Hunter, Carlyle, Hunt, Haigh, Murray, Fraser)

Inslee says he’ll keep prison, patrol chiefs

Reykdal op-ed: State needs tax system that is fair, dependable

Editorial: Lawmakers must accept Medicaid expansion

Blog: GOP-led coalition in Senate marks fifth time in 30 years Republicans have forced narrow majority

Blog: Senate Republicans poised to take over Environment, Higher Ed, Parks, Trade, Human Services; remaining question marks include Sens. Hobbs, Hatfield, Eide (Darneille, Eide, Hatfield, Hobbs, Kohl-Wells, Ranker, Rolfes, Billig, Chase)

Blog: Transit shuttle to run late Wednesday for Gov’s Ball

Blog: Rep. Carlyle hopes to prepare ground for tax review

Blog: Olympia lawmakers have pro-worker agenda for 2013 session (Fraser, Hunt, Reykdal)

Blog: Cantwell names Mary Pavel of Skokomish Tribe to Committee on Indian Affairs staff director job

Blog: Climate-change activists to rally as lawmakers start session Monday (Ranker)

Peninsula Daily News

Discover Passes needed at Fort Worden now

State senator to address classroom issues with bill

Puget Sound Business Journal

Latest images of Seattle basketball arena are released

Redmond Reporter

Legislators to discuss competing visions for education funding

Seattle Gay News

DOMA overturned? - Supreme Court will hear DOMA, Prop 8 cases in March

Seattle Times

Senate legislative coalition to take uncertain control Monday (Murray, Hunter)

Hanford may become long-term temporary site for storing high-level nuclear waste

Key players to watch in the Washington Legislature, which convenes Monday (Murray, Hunter, Chopp)

Legislative leaders split on how to increase school funding (Hunter, Carlyle)

State’s high court to hear suspended driver’s license case

Column: Children’s Alliance looking out for kids in Olympia battles

Op-ed: Prevent abuse of people with developmental disabilities

Gregoire op-ed: Create a state Department of Educaiton that reports to the governor

Editorial: Lawmakers should consider suggestions in ferry audit to lower construction costs

Editorial: Legislature should focus first on fixing public education, then asking taxpayers for funding

Editorial: Lawmakers should adhere to ‘reform before revenue’ slogan

Blog: Hundreds march in gun-control rally

Blog: Monday politics: Inaugurations ahead; gun plan coming

Blog: Rodney Tom under fire from Democratic Party activists over Senate coalition

Seattle Weekly

It's Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Skagit Valley Herald

Letter: Coal disinformation

Spokesman Review

Gun checks often miss mentally ill

Seattle prepping for climate change

More states exploring move to arm teachers

State prisons rethink solitary

Area’s delegation sees dropoff in experience (Murray, Hargrove, Billig)

Washington state proposal would tax drivers by the mile

Photo: Protesters gather in Seattle

Tri-City Herald

Mid-Columbia legislators put water, energy at top of to-do lists

Reserve spot for legislative trip to Olympia on Feb. 7-8

Vancouver Business Journal

New laws for 2013 affecting business

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)

Editorial: Offer by higher ed to freeze tuition worth discussing

Editorial: Testing for pot in drivers’ blood is invasive act

West Seattle Herald

WS Crime Prevention Council to discuss drug laws, school safety on Jan. 15

Yakima Herald Republic

Area schools, cops work to increase security

Local lawmaker: Teachers have right to carry guns

Legislative leaders still split on how to increase school funding (Carlyle)

New Legislature faces big challenges as it convenes (Chopp. Hunter, Murray)

Editorial: Gov. Gregoire worked to part Cascade Curtain

BROADCAST

KING 5 TV (NBC)

Alcohol in movie theaters? Legislature considering it (Moeller)

Washington CeaseFire marches in support of assault weapons ban (Murray)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)

Supporters march for ban on assault weapons

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)

Seattle rally calls for assault weapons ban, stricter gun laws (Murray)

More burn bans issued as air pollution levels rise in W. Wash.

KOMO Radio

Audio: Deal for Kings Still Not Final

KPLU FM

Boeing raises its salary offer to engineers and technicians

Pierce County economy to grow faster this year

KUOW FM

Washington Agency Seeks Marijuana Experts  (Hunter)

NW Public Radio

New Political Dynamics, Budget Challenges Face Washington’s 2013 Legislature   (Murray)

Washington’s State Supreme Court Makes History

Q13 TV (Fox)

Ceasefire march sparks gun debate

WEB

The Capitol Record

Live from the Capitol: TVW’s opening day show starts at 10 a.m. Monday (Billig, Frockt, Hunter, Sullivan)

Crosscut

The way around Inslee: voters (Murray, Chopp)

Op-ed: Coal's no way to make the job market hop

HDC Advance

49th LD town hall video available online

HorsesAss.org

Open Thread 1/14 (Climate disruption, Planned Parenthood)

Publicola

Fizz: Session obsession (Hunter, Habib, Murray, Eide, Hobbs, Clibborn, Ryu)

On other blogs: Justifiable homicide and corrupt institutions (Appleton)

One question for Republican State Sen. Randi Becker (Frockt, Cody)

SDC Hopper

Thank you, Tom Hoemann

Seattle PI

Blog: Seattle marches against gun violence (Murray, Carlyle)

Slog

Sen. Murray: What Progressives Need to Understand About Gun Control (Murray)

This Is Why We Need Protected Bicycle Lanes in Downtown Seattle

An Informed, Thoughtful Editorial on Social Security From the Times

Check Out What These Republican D*ckbags Want to Do About Guns!

Seattle Jewish Federation to Lawmakers: Close the Gun Show Loophole

Lawmakers Don't Get GET: Prepaid Tuition Plan Is Insurance, Not an Investment (Hunter)

Bill Clinton on Gun Control

Quote of the Day

“I’m in for a whirlwind for sure”

Rep.-elect Monica Stonier

TVW - The Impact (1/9/13)

Story of the Day

Class of 2013

House Democrats are pleased to welcome nine new members – and one familiar face – to the caucus. Below are excerpts from each of their biographies. Click on the links to learn more about the newest members of the House Democratic Caucus.

Steve Bergquist (Renton) - Steve is a public school teacher, union member, and small business owner from Renton. He coaches tennis and golf, and, when programs faced elimination from school district budget cuts, he led an effort that raised more than $100,000 over six years to keep programs alive.

Steve co-founded the Seattle Serves non-profit and has rallied hundreds of students to volunteer efforts that include Habitat for Humanity, the Ronald McDonald House, the Renton Salvation Army Food Bank and their annual Toy and Joy, and Thanksgiving Adopt-a-Family drives.

Jake Fey (Tacoma) - Born and raised in Port Angeles, Jake's experience in the YMCA Youth and Government program pointed him early on toward a life of public service. He was the first in his family to attend college, earning a BA in political science from the University of Washington and then an MPA from the University of Puget Sound.

Jake's community involvement and professional life have always focused on the legacy we'll leave for future generations. Big Brothers/Big Sisters and other youth programs are among his top priorities. His leadership skills have been established in managing an alternative-energy and energy-efficiency program with Washington State University, coordinating community-volunteer efforts on the Sound Transit and Pierce Transit Boards, and working on the Pierce County Public Health Board.

He has also served as vice chair of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and as Tacoma's deputy mayor.

Jessyn Farrell (Seattle) - Jessyn worked as the Executive Director of Transportation Choices Coalition, an organization dedicated to expanding bus, rail, bicycle and pedestrian transportation options. Her biggest accomplishment – bringing together transit and road advocates in support of transportation initiatives that secured billions in transit funding – is also her top priority in Olympia.

An attorney by trade, Jessyn focuses on mediation and most recently worked on youth civic engagement with Seattle City Club.

As a mother of two young children, she is passionate about Washington’s education system and will advocate strongly for fully funding our kids’ education system, from early learning through higher education.

Roger Freeman (Federal Way) – Before his election to the Legislature, Roger served for three years on the Federal Way City Council and on the City of Federal Way Human Services Commission.

Before entering public service, Roger worked for 17 years as a public defender attorney representing those affected by mental illness, the homeless, and the poor. He has been a consistent advocate for those who have been disenfranchised by society.

Roger lives in Federal Way with his wife and two children and is an active member of his local PTA.

Cyrus Habib (Bellevue) - Cyrus grew up in Bellevue and attended Bellevue public schools. At age 8, he lost his eyesight to cancer, but he went on to college at Columbia, to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and to Yale Law School, where he was editor of the law review. He currently practices law with the Seattle firm of Perkins Coie, specializing in meeting the legal needs of high-tech start-ups.

Cyrus has served on the Bellevue Human Services Commission and on the King County Civil Rights Commission. An advocate for the disabled, he has testified before Congress on the need to redesign paper currency to enable the visually impaired to distinguish among different denominations.

He is a trustee of the Bellevue College Foundation, which raises money for scholarships for students with financial need, and a member of the board of the Bellevue Downtown Association.

Dawn Morrell (Puyallup) - Dawn has lived in Puyallup for 28 years with her husband Jim, a retired Air Force pilot.

Dawn continues to work as a certified critical care Registered Nurse at Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup where she has worked since 1984.

Dawn represented the 25th Legislative District from 2002 until 2010. Her legislative priorities included building a strong economy by investing in education, strengthening our business climate to create good paying jobs with benefits, and ensuring that affordable quality health care is available to every Washingtonian.

Dawn and Jim have been married for 44 years and have two children and five grandchildren. Their two children, Jereme and Jameson, attended Puyallup public schools and graduated from Rogers High School.

Marcus Riccelli (Spokane) - Marcus served as Senator Maria Cantwell’s Eastern Washington Director, from 2007 to 2010. He also served as Senior Policy Advisor to Washington State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown for the past two regular and five special legislative sessions.

Marcus is active in Spokane’s downtown Rotary 21, serves on the Spokane advisory board for Daybreak Youth Services, is active with the YMCA as an advisor to the Spokane YMCA Youth Legislature Delegation, and has served as a City Plan Commissioner.

He is married to Amanda Riccelli, and they are the parents of a young son.

David Sawyer (Tacoma) - David has focused on issues that matter to the community as a government affairs specialist working with local government and nonprofits. He has served as a board member for Project U, a United Way-sponsored program, and as a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters. David also has worked three summers with children with special needs at a summer camp.

After graduating from Central Washington University, where he majored in political science and geography, David moved to Washington, D.C., and interned for the American Political Science Association.

David is currently a law student and works at Ladenburg Law in Tacoma.

Monica Stonier (Vancouver) - Monica sees public service as a calling and a responsibility. She decided to run for office because she feels passionately about keeping Clark County a great place to raise her family.

Professionally, Monica works as an instructional coach at Pacific Middle School in Vancouver. Previously she was a middle school teacher. She believes that today, we are educating workers for jobs we cannot even imagine.

Her professional work reflects her belief that the priority of public education should be to teach kids to think critically, not just pass tests. After working in a school and watching families grow in this community, Monica sees firsthand the need for stronger partnerships between jobs in our community and work force training and education.

Gael Tarleton (Ballard) - Gael works as a strategic advisor for the Institute for National Security Education and Research at the University of Washington, where she has worked since 2004. She also serves as a technical advisor for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Seattle.

Gael began her career as a senior defense intelligence analyst for the Pentagon, working on security issues affecting ports across the country. She was responsible for creating disaster preparedness and emergency response plans for ports nationwide.

Gael was elected to the Port of Seattle Commission in 2008. In her first term, she’s worked to create greater transparency at the Port, protect the environment, and bring an end to human trafficking.

Gael and her husband, Bob, live in Ballard.