King County Seattle Police Chief John Diaz retiring Chief John Diaz, who oversaw the Seattle Police Department for three tumultuous years, announced Monday he is stepping down. “This has been a profession that I truly believe in,” he said during a news conference. His retirement takes effect in May. Assistant Chief Jim Pugel will be interim chief, Mayor…
The State Dream Act dies; Tom blames — wait for it — the Democrats The state Senate majority leader has quelled any speculation that a proposal known as the state Dream Act would pass the Senate this session. Sen. Rodney Tom (“D”-48) said HB 1817, which would make undocumented students eligible for need grants, would not be…
The Nation SOLD OUT! Obama budget would cut Social Security, Medicare benefits President Obama will release a budget next week that proposes significant cuts to Medicare and Social Security and fewer tax hikes than in the past, a conciliatory approach that he hopes will convince Republicans to sign onto a grand bargain that would curb government borrowing…
The State The Budget: Democrats splinter at GOP-drafted Senate proposal A Republican-drafted state Senate budget proposal, in which Democrats were given input, was unveiled in Olympia Wednesday and caused a splintering just short of sawdust among Democrats in the Legislature and the governor’s office. The $33 billion budget for the next two years is $1.1 billion less…
King County Review of May Day violence criticizes Seattle police planning, response An independent review of the violence that rocked Seattle’s business core during last year’s May Day protests is critical of the police department’s planning for the event and said officers on the street were confused over who was in charge and when they…
King County Seattle Council signals 24-story towers by South Lake Union won’t fly Towers near the south shore of Lake Union should be limited to 160 feet, the Seattle City Council signaled Monday, spurning a proposal by Mayor Mike McGinn and Paul Allen’s real-estate firm to allow taller buildings there. A majority of council members said…
King County 11-year prison sentence echoes security problems at Nickelsville today The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced an 11-year prison sentence for Shane Stephen Anello on March 29, in part for his guilty plea to a federal charge of unlawful possession of a destructive device. That charge stemmed from an April 2012 incident where Anello threw…
The State Inslee on budget: ‘I choose education over tax breaks’ Gov. Jay Inslee prescribed his plan Thursday for pumping $1.3 billion more into the state’s public school system, then challenged lawmakers to buck up and pay for it by ending popular tax breaks and extending taxes set to expire this summer. The first-term governor wants…
King County Council puts limits on how much, where pot can be grown, sold The Seattle City Council is proposing new rules for marijuana that would restrict dispensary and retail locations, and the size of grow operations, in an attempt to limit impacts on neighbors, particularly in residential and historic areas. Sponsored by Council members…
Daily Clips will be taking Wednesday off so that the editor can attend the KCDCC monthly meeting Tuesday night. See you at the Carpenters Hall, call to order 7 PM. King County (We could give this exercise some catchy title, like ‘A Tale of Two Cities.’ At one end . . .) Trouble at ‘Nickelsville’…