GOP Sen. Pflug leaving Legislature; party control of her seat hangs in balance

OLYMPIA — Republican Sen. Cheryl Pflug is moving on to a new job, leaving an open seat that will help determine control of the state Senate.

High turnover, big competition in state's races

This is shaping up to be one of the most competitive elections in years with high turnover in statewide offices, the congressional delegation and the Legislature.

258 at Evergreen dodge state pay cuts

Nearly 260 union-represented staffers at The Evergreen State College are avoiding 3 percent pay cuts July 1, reversing an agreement the Washington Federation of State Employees and college had reached previously in a one-year contract.

Former Harborview official’s tales of flames embellished

Dr. David Heimbach knows how to tell a story.

South Sound candidates visit altered districts; filing week near

In Thurston County, voters also are picking two county commissioners, eight Superior Court judges and a Public Utility District commissioner at a time when a public takeover of electrical service could be in the county’s future.

Senate majority leader won’t seek re-election

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown announced Thursday that she won’t run for re-election and will leave her seat in the state Legislature after her term expires at the end of the year.

Top pen launches $1 billion in work

Gov. Chris Gregoire signed more than $1 billion in public-works spending into law Monday, including money to scrub the mold off of the dome of the state Legislative Building and for buildings on city-owned land at the Quixote Village homeless encampment in Olympia.

Candidates face short fundraising window

The Legislature’s three extra sessions and an early primary election are conspiring to ramp up the pressure on state lawmakers to raise cash for their campaigns quickly.

State liquor workers leaving for other jobs

As Washington’s liquor sales transfer from public to private hands, some state employees are making the same transition or moving to other public agencies before the June 1 deadline.

State workers' ranks will be cut to lowest level in decade or more

Budget cuts approved by the Legislature last week continue to shrink the size of Washington government, dropping worker head counts to levels not seen in a decade or more.