Local News

The Associated Press Washington state’s governor is allowed to claim “executive privilege” as a reason to withhold documents from the public even though that exemption isn’t among the hundreds listed in state law, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. In an 8-1 decision, justices said the governor’s office has an inherent privilege as a result of…

Still closed: Both directions of the Highway 520 floating bridge and  all ramps between Montlake Boulevard in Seattle and I-405 in Bellevue are closed until 5 a.m. Monday for construction work. What’s cooking: In Fremont today, it’s barbecue. The Fremont BBQ Extravaganza, touted as Seattle’s largest BBQ competition, runs from 10 a.m. to 11…

Fire crews could have the Taylor Bridge Fire 25 percent contained by the end of the day, a cautious fire official said late this morning. “I think we’re going to make some significant gains in containing the fire today,” said fire incident commander Rex Reed. Reed said he is “cautiously optimistic that we might be in the…

State Sen. Rodney Tom expressed frustration tonight at the pledge by Gov. Chris Gregoire, a fellow Democrat, to veto any bill that authorizes charter schools in Washington state. Tom, D-Bellevue, is one of three senators who have broken with their party to endorse a budget plan advanced by the minority Republicans. A proposal unveiled by them…

State Sen. Rodney Tom expressed frustration tonight at the pledge by Gov. Chris Gregoire, a fellow Democrat, to veto any bill that authorizes charter schools in Washington state. Tom, D-Bellevue, is one of three senators who have broken with their party to endorse a budget plan advanced by the minority Republicans. A proposal unveiled by them…

The Washington Senate this afternoon overwhelmingly passed a compromise bill to change how the state’s public school teachers are evaluated. The legislation, approved 46-3, has been the subject of intense debate over the past few weeks, including days of negotiations moderated by Gov. Chris Gregoire. Substitute Senate Bill 5895 represents a compromise between the business community, Republicans…

The flags on all state government buildings will fly at half-staff Wednesday in honor of U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. William C. Stacey, 23, of Seattle. The Roosevelt High School graduate died in Afghanistan Jan. 31 from injuries he sustained from an improvised explosive device. Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency…

Seattle Public Schools says it would not be financially responsible to make up two days it canceled earlier this month during the region’s first major snowstorm of the year. District officials announced Monday that they have requested a waiver from the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction about making up the days, which they…

Gov. Chris Gregoire followed up on an earlier pledge by announcing today that she was asking the federal government to reschedule marijuana to a drug that can be prescribed and sold in pharmacies. Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who joined Gregoire on a conference call today, said he will also back the petition to the federal Drug…