Commuters need not worry about traffic delays caused by opening the low-level Spokane Street Bridge for ships or boats.
While repair work is underway on Interstate 5 for the next few weeks, large vessels will not be allowed to sail up the Duwamish River past the Spokane Street Bridge during the morning commute. The hydraulic double-leaf concrete swing bridge will not open to tall vessels between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday through Friday until Aug.
People who are laid off or lose their jobs can avoid long waits on the phone by applying for unemployment-insurance benefits online, according to the Washington Employment Security Department.
There were almost 98,000 calls made to the unemployment-claims telecenter in November. That number is projected to increase through mid-January, when seasonal unemployment typically reaches its peak.
"This is our busiest time of year, and people sometimes have to wait on hold for quite awhile to speak to an attendant," said Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee.
Art teams up with pedestrian safety in a pilot program of colorful crosswalks to be installed soon at the intersection of California Avenue and Southwest Lander Street.
Based on a compass rose theme, the new crosswalks will feature an intricate design of blue, white and brick red. The pattern will be made of strips of thermoplastic that will be heated to adhere to the new pavement recently laid down on California Avenue.
Crews are scheduled to install four ornamental crosswalks at California Avenue and Lander Street Aug.
On Gatewood early Wednesday, two masked men burst into a home, tied up the residents, demanded guns (the victim said he didn't have any any more) and left with some jewelry and dried-up marijuana plants. The homeowner told officers that he used to grow marijuana for a friend who suffered from multiple sclerosis but quit doing so after the friend died.
Near Holden and Delridge, several women have complained that a man living nearby is stalking them. In one case, the man actually tried to walk into a victim's apartment, but her boyfriend chased him off.
Ballard Avenue was the hub
By Susan Cook
The heart of every small city or town is its main street, where the businesses and services that cater to its citizens are concentrated. Ballard Avenue was this crucial commercial center for the young City of Ballard.
Grace Douglas, 11, Bellingham (left), eats corn with her friend Zo
A crow looks right into the window of the Ballard News-Tribune while sitting on a power line.
In November the people of Washington will vote on Initiative 960, a measure is sponsored by Tim Eyman that would re-affirm current law requiring state tax increases be adopted with a two-thirds vote in the Legislature, subject all fee increases to legislative approval, require non-binding public advisory votes on tax increases not sent to the voters for approval, and provide voters with a detailed cost analysis of all proposed tax and fee increases.
The initiative would not cover Seattle or King County governments.
Text of Initiative 960
The text of Initiative
Your editorial on "Infrastructure" was boring. It was what I expected; except I'm surprised you didn't blame the bridge collapse on George W. Bush.
You complained that the feds spend tax money on the war in Iraq rather than pork barrel Washington State bridges, unlike the good ole days. In 1970 (the hey day of Scoop Jackson?), defense spending was 8 percent of the GDP. Today it is about 3 percent. So, in fact, far more federal money is available for domestic projects. What you should object to is the way domestic spending is being directed.
Nancy Reithaar is afraid she and the other tenants of the Lock Vista Apartments on Market Street are about to find out first hand what it means to "go condo."
A few weeks ago, Reithaar received notice from building management that her building was to be inspected for sale and possible conversion.
