From Our Corner
Gregoire: $750 million gap remains after cuts
Image Governor Gregoire, in her annual State of the State Address to a joint session of the Legislature, says the "incredibly challenging" task of closing a multibillion-dollar budget gap can't be done without finding $750 million in new revenue once budget cuts are made. That could come from new federal matching money or new state taxes, or both, she said. Gregoire said she has identified $1 billion in spending cuts, but that she personally isn't… Read moreHonored friends visit Capitol
Image Consuls from 17 countries were honored guests today in the Capitol for the State of the State Address. Before the Governor gave her address, Lt. Governor Brad Owen, Secretary of State Sam Reed and legislators warmly welcomed the members at a reception held in the Lt. Governor’s office. Countries represented included: Hungary, Belgium, Croatia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Russia, Spain,… Read moreNew initiative would legalize pot possession for adults
Image Citizen activists have filed a statewide initiative to legalize marijuana possession, growing and sales for adults in Washington state. The… Read more2010 legislative session under way
Image "Let's get to work!" With that, House Speaker Frank Chopp urged a focused, down-to-business, start for Washington's new legislative session. Foremost on lawmakers' agenda is rebalancing the two-year $30 billion state budget, which currently has a projected gap of $2.6 billion. Governor Gregoire, who presents her State of the State Address and some new budget proposals on Tuesday, has announced support for a combination of further spending… Read moreGrrrrl Power: Washington women rock
Image Barbara Madsen has been installed as chief justice of the Washington Supreme Court, placing her at the pinnacle of the state's judicial branch. It's part of a remarkable story of women trailblazers in state politics and government. Madsen, who has served on the highest court since 1992, succeeds Gerry Alexander, the longest-serving chief in state history. Madsen, in brief comments at installation ceremonies at the Temple of Justice on Monday… Read moreAnother round of Eyman vs. Legislature begins
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Groundhog Day might be February 2, but for Tim Eyman and our office’s Elections staff, it might as well be moved to January. In what is usually an annual event, the “I-Man” filed his latest initiative this morning in the Secretary of State’s Executive Office, flanked by several of his longtime supporters, plus Republican state Senators Pam Roach and Janea Holmquist.
Called the “Save The 2/3’s Vote For Tax Increases,” Eyman’s… Read more
Voter registration deadline coming up
Sure, we had a statewide election only two months ago. But elections happen more often than just August and November. Case in point: King County and few other counties are having a special election on Tuesday, February 9. And if you want to vote next month but haven’t registered to vote yet, better do it soon. Image
Monday (January 11) is the deadline for mail and online voter registration applications and updates for either voters… Read more
Clippings, January 8, 2010
Library News Seattle Public Library representatives recently attended the International Book Fair in Guadalajara, after which they acquired more than one thousand new Spanish-language titles that will be appearing on the library’s shelves throughout 2010. Rachel Martin, selection librarian, offers her picks for Spanish readers young and mature. Visit spl.org to browse the full catalog. (City Arts Magazine [Seattle], 01.2010) The Friends of the Point Roberts… Read more2010: Year of the eBook?
eBooks (and eReaders) have been getting a ton of press over the past couple months, and I have a feeling that they will continue to do so throughout the year. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is happening in Vegas right now, and a lot of the buzz coming out is about ebooks and readers. In case you haven't… Read morePost R-71: Domestic partner registrations boom
Image In the months since Washington lawmakers expanded the state's domestic partnership law, the popularity of the program has steadily risen, most notably in the past two months. Officials of the state domestic-partnership registry in the state… Read more
Budget woes dominate new legislative session
Image Washington's election-year session gets under way at… Read more
WSL Updates for January 7, 2010
Volume 6, January 7, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) WASHINGTON HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS ONLINE – 8 NEW TITLES
2) FREE WEBINAR – 21ST CENTURY REFERENCE COLLECTIONS
3) FREE WEBINAR – COPYRIGHT UPDATE 2010
4) LIS ONLINE CAREER FAIR
5) GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIBRARIES AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
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1)… Read more
Felon voter update: State will appeal to high court
Image Attorney General Rob McKenna and Secretary of State Sam Reed of Washington will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the state's appeal of the Tuesday's federal court ruling that overturned the state's longstanding practice of not allowing felons to vote… Read more
9th Circuit throws out Wash. ban on felon voting
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown out Washington's longstanding ban on voting by felons.
The surprise 2-1 ruling comes in a case brought in U.S. District Court in Eastern Washington almost 14 years ago by Muhammad Shabazz Farrakhan and three other black inmates, and by a… Read more
Where's George?
Wondering where the George Washington portrait in our lobby went? Don't worry .... it wasn't stolen by art thieves and we didn't get rid of it!
The painting, which has been in our office for more than 50 years, has been moved to make way for a… Read more
Clippings, December 31, 2009
Clippings, December 31, 2009 Library News Cascade Park Community Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library System, held grand opening ceremonies December 15. The new library will offer senior-friendly features including: fully ADA accessible, including handicapped parking; lots of comfortable, lounge chairs including seating next to the fireplace; large print and audio books; two adult book discussion groups, programs that appeal to adults including genealogy; IRS/AARP free tax… Read moreResolve to Support your Library in 2010
Tomorrow is a new year. Some would even say a new decade (though we know that technically that's not until 2011). Either way, it's a time of year when people get introspective and think about how they can work to improve their lives and the world around them. Maybe your resolutions this year involve getting and staying fit, reconnecting with friends, furthering… Read moreWSL Updates for December 31, 2009
Volume 5, December 31, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2) WASHINGTON STATE LIBRARY BUDGET CUTS
3) NEW WASHINGTON READS POSTER FEATURES TRIBAL LEADER
4) TEEN BOOKTALKS AND READERS’ ADVISORY
5) DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS UPDATE
6) FREE ONLINE COURSE – CORE REFERENCE SKILLS
… Read moreSecretary of State
Steve Hobbs
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