AltWeeklies Wire
Republican Dave Reichert Proves a Little Environmentalism Goes a Long Way With Votersnew
The League of Conservation Voters came out with its annual scorecard, tallying the past year's environmental votes by members of Congress. Dave Reichert earned a 64 out of 100, having broken with his party on eight of 13 votes.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
03-01-2010 |
Politics
Seattle's Program for Handling Injured Workers is in a World of Hurtnew
Employers complain that Washington's workers'-comp system is generous to the point of crippling employers. They believe rates are being raised to support ever-expanding benefits that are too easily obtained, and a bloated bureaucracy.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
01-25-2010 |
Business & Labor
Why Slavic Immigrants are the Most Visible Face of Opposition to Gay Marriage in Washingtonnew
To them, the issue isn't just about homosexuality. The bigger fear is that the government will start dictating how they practice their religion, in an echo of the oppression they experienced at the hands of communists.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
12-14-2009 |
LGBT
Sen. Patty Murray, After a 'No' on Iraq, Has the President’s Back on Afghanistannew
One of 23 senators who rolled the political dice and voted nay on the Iraq War, Murray and her colleagues have been cast at the least as prescient and at times heroic. But now, Murray has declared her support for Obama's plan for Afghanistan.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
12-14-2009 |
Politics
Does Seattle Have Too Many 'Advisors'?new
They've grown in number under Mayor Greg Nickels, and that's become a campaign issue -- even outside the mayor's race.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
08-17-2009 |
Politics
Is Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels a Chicago-Style Bully?new
The idea of Nickels as a Daley wannabe is one of those ideas that has filtered down from the rhetoric of political insiders into general popular perception, even conventional wisdom. Trouble is, it's almost impossible to get any of Nickels' accusers to provide details about the mayor's supposedly Daleyesque behavior.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
07-27-2009 |
Politics
How 'Twilight' Made a Bag Lady's Fortunenew
The Bella Bag, as it's now known, is handmade in a basement studio by Angie Bowlds. The 27-year-old seamstress is frantically churning them out and mailing them off to Twilight fans.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
04-27-2009 |
Fashion
Will Ron Sims Be Able to Deliver What Seattle Housing Advocates Want?new
Local housing and community-development groups are attaching a boatload of hopes to Ron Sims' appointment as Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, at a time when the federal government is already operating deep in the red.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
02-10-2009 |
Housing & Development
Homebrewers Find Washington State Laws a Bit Prohibitivenew
Homebrewer Jerome Seipp can't bring his beer to a wedding or even the barbecue next door, as state law allows homebrewers to transport only one gallon out of their house.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
01-26-2009 |
Food+Drink
Casual Video-Game Company Big Fish Catches Record Revenues During Recessionnew
It's no surprise the gift-sales-dependent retail industry is hurting, and the big video-game giants are no exception. But over at Big Fish Games, a Seattle studio that creates casual games involving jewel hunts or word puzzles, things are rosy.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
12-08-2008 |
Video Games
Chuck Bundrant, the King of Fish Sticksnew
Trident Seafoods' good fortune has not come from the magic of the free market alone. Over the years, Bundrant cultivated some strong allies in Congress -- most especially, just-deposed Alaska Senator Ted Stevens and Representative Don Young, both famous for sponsoring the "bridge to nowhere."
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
11-25-2008 |
Food+Drink
Rural King County Residents Fight Environmental Restrictions Imposed by Seattleitesnew
A recent ruling, if it stands, could serve as a new barbed-wire fence keeping the urban politicians, and their green agendas, out of the rural landowners' backyards. But, in the eyes of some King County politicians, that would come at a severe environmental cost.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
09-09-2008 |
Housing & Development
Religious Discrimination at the Best Western?new
A Muslim employee sues after being fired for wearing a head scarf.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
09-08-2008 |
Religion
Allan Parmelee, the Inmate Who Won't Shut Upnew
Parmelee spends his days in a cell, carefully hand-printing lawsuits, motions, records requests, and legal appeals on a pad of lined paper. Known to fellow inmates as the "jailhouse attorney," he's filed dozens of lawsuits in state and federal courts.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
07-07-2008 |
Crime & Justice
How to Stiff Immigrant Workers in Constructionnew
Because he called his workers "business partners," Contractor Shawn Campbell was able to avoid over $1 million in payments to the state workers' compensation fund and keep his employees working up to 46 hours a week with no overtime, a judge found. He slid through undetected for more than two years, until a disgruntled employee blew the whistle.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
05-12-2008 |
Business & Labor
