Mountains to Sound Greenway, REI leader is choice for Cabinet
February 6, 2013
NEW — 2 p.m. Feb. 6, 2013
REI leader Sally Jewell, a leader in the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, is President Barack Obama’s choice for U.S. interior secretary.
Jewell is Kent-based REI’s president and CEO, in addition to serving as a board member for the nonprofit organization underpinning the greenway — a 100-mile greenbelt stretched along Interstate 90 from Seattle to Central Washington.
Obama announced Jewell’s appointment Wednesday at a White House ceremony. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she is poised to succeed outgoing Department of the Interior chief Ken Salazar, a former U.S. senator from Colorado.
“Sally Jewell is a respected leader and passionate advocate for conservation, recreation and outdoor education,” Cynthia Welti, greenway trust executive director, said in a statement. “We are delighted with this news. Sally will serve our country well.”
Editorial
February 5, 2013
Separating education is not a budget solution
Last week, the state House of Representatives split along party lines on a proposal to create a separate budget for K-12 education funding. If approved, the education budget would need to have been funded before the state could look at its other obligations.
It’s just not that simple.
House Republicans said their proposal to split the budget was meant to address the state Supreme Court’s 2012 decision that the Legislature wasn’t funding education properly. That might be more believable if they hadn’t been pushing the measure every year since 2006.
Top Pot to open Issaquah drive-thru location
January 22, 2013
Top Pot Hand-Forged Doughnuts plans to open a drive-thru Issaquah location as early as next month — a first for the Seattle-based pastry purveyor.
Cofounder Mark Klebeck said Top Pot intends to upgrade Rowley Properties’ existing building at 1235 N.W. Maple St. — a round structure most recently occupied by Mondo’s Espresso — near the Issaquah Transit Center.
The iconic structure’s Mid-Century Modern design and proximity to the transit hub appealed to the Klebecks.
Skyline High School student petitions for disability rights
January 22, 2013
On Dec. 4, when the U.S. Senate failed to ratify a United Nations Treaty, the Convention for Rights and Persons with Disabilities, Skyline High School senior Joshua Schaier had something to say about it.
Schaier said he was upset by the rejection of the treaty, which is meant to protect the basic human rights of people with disabilities around the world.
“I didn’t think it was right that the United States fail in their duty to help protect people everywhere, including people with disabilities,” Schaier said.
On Inauguration Day, lawmaker urges cooperation
January 21, 2013
NEW — 5:30 p.m. Jan. 21, 2013
U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert said Congress and President Barack Obama must join forces to address challenges as the president embarks on a second term.
Reichert represents Issaquah and the 8th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. The former King County sheriff and Auburn Republican attended the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on Monday.
“Our country is facing great challenges and we must work together to provide opportunities and prosperity for all Americans,” Reichert said in a statement. “We must find common ground to move our country forward, stop the political posturing and do what is right for the American people.”
Democrats dominate Issaquah voters’ choices
January 1, 2013
Strong get-out-the vote operation boosts candidates
Democrats dominated Issaquah in the November election.
City voters chose Democrats for every federal and statewide office on the ballot — sometimes by a broad margin and others by a handful of votes.
Issaquah overwhelmingly supported Democrats in the races for president and vice president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative, and every statewide office. Only incumbent Republican Steve Litzow, a 41st Legislative District state senator representing about half of Issaquah, earned support from a majority of voters inside city limits.
How did Issaquah vote?
January 1, 2013
City-level results from the November election show Issaquah voters followed statewide trends on some issues, or occasionally chose another direction.
Electoral College casts votes for president, vice president
January 1, 2013
Washington’s Electoral College cast the state’s 12 votes for president and vice president Dec. 17 for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Each state is afforded the same number of electors equal to the number of senators and representatives a state has in Congress.
Democrats chose the electors from the state’s 10 congressional districts at caucuses in May, and chose the at-large electors at the state Democratic Party convention in June.
Electoral College casts Washington’s 12 votes for president, vice president
December 17, 2012
NEW — 10 p.m. Dec. 17, 2012
Washington’s Electoral College cast the state’s 12 votes for president and vice president Monday for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Each state is afforded the same number of electors equal to the number of senators and representatives a state has in Congress. Washington possesses 12 electoral votes, one from each congressional district and two at-large electors. Democrats chose the electors from the state’s 10 congressional districts at caucuses in May, and chose the at-large electors at the state Democratic Party convention in June.
Obama and Biden received 56.16 percent of votes in Washington. Republican Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan pulled in 41.29 percent statewide.
The dozen Electoral College members voted in the State Reception Room at the Legislative Building in Olympia.
Local leaders respond to Connecticut school massacre
December 14, 2012
NEW — 3:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 2012
Issaquah School District and King County leaders urged action in the hours after a school shooting in Connecticut claimed 27 lives, including 20 children.
Officials sought to reassure parents about campus safety and offer advice about how parents can talk to children about the tragedy.
“On behalf of the Issaquah School District, our hearts go out to community of Newtown, Conn., and especially to the staff, students and families of Sandy Hook Elementary School,” Issaquah School District Superintendent Steve Rasmussen said in a message emailed to district parents Friday afternoon. “It’s difficult to comprehend the motivation for the horrific attack that took place this morning.
