King County is putting the final touches on downtown Seattle's newest office building. But even as we prepare to celebrate the opening, there is still one thing left to do - and we need the help of King County's young citizens. Our new county building needs a name.
Last summer, the King County Council passed a motion creating a contest for young King County residents, specifically students from the seventh through ninth grade, to name the building.
American President Lines container ships calling regularly at Terminal 5 near Harbor Avenue Southwest are switching to low-sulfur fuel while in port to reduce air pollution.
The voluntary changeover to low-sulfur fuel while in Seattle is expected to reduce by 80 percent the amount of sulfur dioxide emissions from docked American President Lines' ships and 75 percent of their particulate matter.
Upon arriving at Sea-Tac Airport in late January, Zhu Dan didn't know much about Seattle, but she did know the city was famous for rain, that Boeing airplanes came from here and that Bill Gates lived in the nearby.
What little else she understood about the city came from watching the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan romantic comedy "Sleepless in Seattle."
Zhu Dan is one of 36 Mandarin language instructors who are being dispersed across the United States to different schools as a part of the Chinese Guest Teacher Program, sponsored by the College Board in New York and Hanban, China'
A new park is being planned for the top of Seattle's highest hill.
For many years, a no-nonsense fence has kept the public away from the Myrtle Street water towers and the ground level, open reservoir along 35th Avenue Southwest. The city intends to place a large cover over the reservoir and its surface will make a new recreation site, explained David Goldberg, a Seattle Parks and Recreation planner who is leading the development of numerous new parks in West Seattle. The existing reservoir holds 7 million gallons of water.
Voters have approved the Highline School District's $140 million, four-year educational programs and operations levy on its first try.
As of last week, King County Elections officials reported 11,723 votes (65 percent) for and 6,311 votes (35 percent) against.
The levy needed a 60 percent supermajority to pass.
It will fund 18 percent to 20 percent of the district's operating budget, including salary and benefits for 95 teachers and 170 support staff.
Among levy-funded items are textbooks, classroom supplies, security, building maintenance, athletics
After the Burien City Council declared unincorporated North Highline a potential annexation area last fall, Seattle followed suit.
With the two cities at loggerheads, each appealed the action of the other to the state Growth Management Board, which adjudicates conflicts under the Growth Management Act.
The annexation process now is on hold, Burien City Manager Mike Martin says.
"There is really nothing to do except sit back and watch what happens at the Growth Management Board," he said.
Burien and Seattle will file briefs with the board in April.
An effort is underway to ensure West Seattle residents are prepared, neighborhood-by-neighborhood, for the next disaster that could leave them without power, water or even food.
Last winter's storm, officially named "Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm of 2006," that hit the region on Dec.
HB 1569
Reforming the health care system in Washington state. By a vote of 53 to 44, on March 10, the House approved HB 1569, which would reform the health care system in Washington State by creating a Washington Health Insurance Partnership, which would be authorized to purchase and administer health insurance for small employers. The bill also requires the Health Care Authority to study the partnership and report its findings to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2008. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.
Reps.
Mayor Greg Nickels is looking for new Seattle Design Commission members in the fine artist and urban planner positions.
"Superior urban design is essential for maintaining the livability of our great city," Nickels said. "I urge experienced designers to consider this important work."
Design Commission members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council for renewable, two-year terms. The 10-member commission includes two licensed architects, a professional fine artist, a member at large, and one "get engaged" member (YMCA Young Civic Leaders Program).
The number of home burglaries per year in north Seattle has decreased in the last few decades, but it's still a major problem, according to officers from the city's Northwest Police Precinct.
A few decades ago, about one in 30 homes were burglarized every year in the north end of the city, now it's around one in 60, said Neil Hansen, crime prevention coordinator for the northwest precinct.
Katie Hernan, a detective specializing in juvenile crimes, said the police have solved only a fraction of the burglaries in the north end this year, about 10 percent.
Hernan
