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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.

Comprehensive coverage of state economic and policy issues.
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.
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.
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.
Dr. David Heimbach knows how to tell a story.
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.
SEATTLE — A defense lawyer in Eastern Washington was reading a detective's statement in his client's drug case when he came across a curious line. In asking to search the man's house and cars, the detective revealed that he had already seen the defendant's bank records.
Gov. Chris Gregoire has a message for members of Congress who are so paralyzed they can’t even pass a basic highway bill: Take a look at the Columbia River bridge on Interstate 5 that connects Washington and Oregon, with its northbound lanes now 95 years old, built on wood pilings to accommodate horse-and-buggy traffic.
There are days when Randy King can smile, basking in the honeymoon glow as the new superintendent at Mount Rainier National Park.
SEATTLE — A lawyer and a citizen have each filed ethics complaints against Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna.
A state employee has been arrested on suspicion of using a former client’s food stamps to buy more than $3,000 in food.
OLYMPIA — Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna says Washington will need to ask voters to support a tax package to fund the state’s multi-billion dollar transportation needs, but his Democratic counterpart, Jay Inslee, isn’t ready to support any specific financing plan.
The state parks system is stepping up marketing of the pay-to-park Discover Pass this summer after disappointing early sales.
Gov. Chris Gregoire is headed to Washington, D.C. to urge key senators to stop proposed cuts next year to the Air National Guard.
OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire is headed to Washington, D.C., to urge key senators to stop proposed cuts next year to the Air National Guard.
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.