Thursday, July 02, 2009
Flight Attendant Sues Boeing Over Toxic Fumes
A flight attendant who says she was injured by airplane fumes is suing Boeing and its McDonnell Douglas subsidiary. She wants the company to install filters and sensors to stop contamination of cabin air. Boeing responds that cabin air is safe already. More »
Thursday, July 02, 2009
School Board Wraps Up for Summer Break
Seattle School Board members are on a six–week break for the summer. Last night (Wednesday) they closed a sale, passed a budget, and signed off on the Superintendent's performance evaluation. More »
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Creative Solutions Found for Some Abandoned Mines
Decades–old — even century old — gold, silver and zinc mines have left a toxic legacy that's still felt today in the West. Caustic, polluted water drains into streams. Abandoned mines are also draining the wallets of U.S. taxpayers. This summer, the Environmental Protection Agency celebrates a few creative solutions to get new owners to clean up and redevelop old mine sites. More »
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Seattle School District Sells Air
The Seattle School Board is scheduled to decide tonight (Wednesday) whether to sell some property in West Seattle. The school district says the sale meets a state requirement to recoup 90 percent of the property value, but the price tag is less than five percent of what the building on that property is worth. The appraiser says the deal actually makes sense. More »
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
King County Programs Remain in the Lifeboat for Now
King County is grappling with budget problems. It has to decide how to fund critical programs like criminal justice and human services, but with dwindling revenue. Some programs that serve homeless people, for example, were set to expire Tuesday. The council's budget committee sent a proposed $2.8 million supplemental budget to the full council without giving any recommendation. It allows these programs to continue operating for now, until the council figures out how to keep them running through the end of the year. KUOW's Ruby de Luna reports. More »
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Seattle Strip Club Magnate Indicted
Seattle's most famous strip club owner is due in Federal Court later this month to face charges that he promoted prostitution at his clubs. A grand jury has indicted Frank Colacurcio Sr., his son Frank Jr., and four associates on multiple counts of racketeering, money laundering and fraud. More »
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Population of Northwest Cities Continues to Grow Amidst Recession
The size of Northwest cities continues to grow amidst the recession, but at a modest pace. New estimates from the Census Bureau say Tacoma's population is at 197,000, up 1.2 percent from 2007 to 2008. The region's largest city, Seattle, is home to just about 600,000 souls, up 1.6 percent. More »
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tough Times for Real Estate Agents
Real estate agents don't show up on the unemployment rolls because they're self–employed. But according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, about 6,000 agents have left the business since 2007. Those who remain are taking second jobs, learning how to sell "distressed" properties, and simply working harder. More »
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
In Summer, Winter Olympic Hopefuls Gravitate to Mt. Hood
Now that summer has started, the only skiing most people contemplate is water skiing. But Olympic winter athletes never stop thinking snow. There's one ski area in the U.S. where racers and snowboarders can train on real snow year–round. Correspondent Tom Banse found the U.S. National Team, including local Olympic hopefuls, on Oregon's Mount Hood. More »
Monday, June 29, 2009
State Troopers Say Ban on Driving While on a Cell Phone Not Very Effective
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski will soon sign into law a requirement that drivers use a hands–free device when talking on a cell phone. Meanwhile Washington state is marking the one year anniversary, July 1, of a similar, but weaker law. And state troopers report it's not working very well. More »

