- KR
- Don't do this anymore.
Stop Throwing Food in the Garbage Can, or Else: If youâre not already composting or throwing food scraps in the green bin, you better start. Come January 1, the City of Seattle will begin keeping track of individuals who not only throw food, but also paper towels, napkins, and pizza boxes, in the garbage can. After six months of warnings, youâll be fined ⌠$1 for each infraction. The plan is part of an effort to divert 38,000 tons of the cityâs food waste from landfills.
- Washington State Legislative Support Services
- Rep. Gerry Pollet is proposing legislation that would require private nonprofits that use public funds to comply with the Open Meetings Act.
State Lawmaker Pushing Bill That Would Require Open Meetings at Woodland Park Zoo: The law would apply to all private organizations that carry out governmental functions while using public funds. Currently, the zoo is required to provide notice of board meeting times, locations, and agendas, and allow public comments at its meetings, but zoo officials say theyâre exempt from the Open Public Meetings Act. And according to the city, Seattle canât modify its agreement without the zooâs consent. The zoo operates on public land and receives 30 percent of its funding from public sources. Earlier this month, zoo officials locked out journalists as well as protesters who wanted the zoo to send two elephants to a sanctuary, after it was announced that the zoo was phasing out its elephant program. Activists have long been pressuring zoo officials to improve the conditions of their elephants.
- WSDOT
- Here's what the tunnel will look like ... one day.
Builders Say Tunnel Wonât Be Completed Until 2017: Thatâs almost two years after the original completion date. But, as Heidi Groover reports, WSDOT also says it âcannot endorse a project completion date until the work is further along.â Thatâs nice. In slightly more reassuring news, WSDOT says the ground near the stuck tunnel-boring machine Bertha is no longer sinking.
Today Is the Deadline to Enroll for Health Insurance Through the Stateâs Insurance Exchange: You have until 5 p.m. to sign up through Washington Healthplanfinder, however, officials say the deadline may be extended because technical glitches and human errors have prevented thousands of people from signing up.
Seattle Ranks Among Nationâs Hottest Real Estate Markets: Ravenna ranked ninth: In that neighborhood, home sale prices were 11 percent higher than last year, with the majority receiving multiple offers, about half selling for higher than the asking price, and about a quarter sold for cold hard cash.
- sakhorn/Shutterstock
- A judge says jailed defendants are being forced to wait too long to be mentally evaluated.
Federal Judge Rules That Washington State Violates the Constitutional Rights of the Mentally Ill: US District Judge Marsha Pechman said the state makes jailed defendants wait too long to be evaluated for mental competency and be given treatment so they can stand trial.
US Economy Grows at Rate Not Seen Since 2003: Employers are hiring more, investors are investing more, and people are spending more money.
None of the Fears About Raising the Minimum Wage in SeaTac Have Come to Pass: It hasnât decimated businesses, but it also doesnât appear to be helping to eradicate poverty (so far). Then again, wages at the cityâs largest employer, the Sea-Tac airport, havenât raised because of a lawsuit.
High School Student Dies After Allowing Himself to Get Punched in the Face: It happened in Lake Roesiger, in Snohomish County. âThe two 18-year-olds from Lake Stevens got into a fight after a minor vehicle collision outside a lakefront cabin where a party was being held shortly after midnight Sunday,â reports the Seattle Times. âThe suspect punched the victim, causing him to fall backward and be knocked unconsciousâŚ. A witness described hearing a âcracking noiseâ when his head struck the pavement.â The student who threw the punch is now facing a possible manslaughter charge.
New post: North Korea #china #kim-jong-un #north-korea http://t.co/9iWyfqo33e #china #kim-jong-un #north-korea pic.twitter.com/5rE3Gn4SkB
â lafrance (@lafrance_sj) July 1, 2014
North Korea Has Internet Again: Our government wonât say whether itâs responsible for the nearly 10-hour shutdown.
If Youâre Traveling to the East Coast Today, There May Be Delays: Fog, rain, and drizzle are forecast for New York, Washington, Baltimore, and Boston, which could slow down travel times.