Last updated 4:29AM ET
November 21, 2009
KPLU Local News
KPLU Local News
Washington State Tax Collections Drop Another $760 Million In Olympia, the sea of red ink is reaching drowning depth. Washington state's chief economist Thursday subtracted another three-quarters of a billion dollars from the state checkbook. The updated revenue forecast widens the state's budget deficit to more than two and a half billion dollars. KPLU's Tom Banse has details.
Art Thiel: MLS Cup a Soggy Success Story for Seattle The MLS Cup championship soccer game is this Sunday in Seattle. Superstar David Beckham and his team the L-A Galaxy will play Real Salt Lake for the title at Qwest Field at 5:30 p.m. Sports commentator Art Thiel tells KPLU's Kirsten Kendrick that Seattle is the real winner in all of this.
"Under-Uninsured" Growing as Fast as Uninsured It's open enrollment season for many health insurance plans. Some workers are finding their health insurance deductibles and co-pays are going up. Some small businesses are no longer offering employee coverage at all. And that's impacting hospitals, according to Washington's Insurance Commissioner. KPLU science and health reporter Keith Seinfeld explains:
Reaction Swift to Proposed Delay in Math & Science Testing Reaction has been swift to a proposal to delay state high school graduation requirements in math and science. Superintendent Randy Dorn says kids and teachers need more time to prepare for the exams, which begin phase-in two years from now. More from KPLU education reporter Gary Davis.
Much-discussed "Nuclear Renaissance" Slow To Arrive For several years now, energy experts have been predicting a "nuclear renaissance" in this country. But that's not materializing very quickly. In Idaho, an energy developer is now on his third proposed site for a new commercial nuclear power plant. Thursday night in Payette, Idaho, people traveled hours to express their feelings at an initial public hearing. Opinions on the nuclear option were sharply divided. KPLU's Tom Banse reports from Payette County.
Boeing Breaking Ground in South Carolina Boeing breaks ground tomorrow (Friday) on a new production line in South Carolina. It's a second location for final assembly of the 7-8-7 Dreamliner and the Machinists union here is still insisting they can do a better job building the planes in Everett. KPLU business and labor reporter Bellamy Pailthorp has the story.
H1N1 Tapering Off, Vaccine Still Scarce All signs show the outbreak of H1N1 flu is tapering off in western Washington. But, the virus is not going away, and neither is frustration over how scarce the vaccine is. More from KPLU science and health reporter Keith Seinfeld:
Hundreds Sound Off on Proposed Idaho Nuke Plant A new nuclear facility in the Northwest? Residents of southwest Idaho appear sharply divided over a proposed new nuclear power plant near the Oregon-Idaho border. Thursday night, around 250 people filled a high school auditorium for an initial public hearing on the project. KPLU's Tom Banse reports from Payette, Idaho.
Spokane Schools Move Away From Letter Grades This week (11/19-11/25), school teachers in Spokane are meeting with parents to talk about students' fall grades. What's different this year, for grades four-through-six anyway, is that the traditional letter grades are gone. They've been replaced by a more comprehensive system of measuring student progress. KPLU's Doug Nadvornick reports.
Boeing Says Union Strike Risk Too Great in Everett Boeing breaks ground on the second assembly line for the 787 Dreamliner in South Carolina today (Friday.) The decision not to put that line in Everett remains a big blow to the Machinists Union. KPLU business and labor reporter Bellamy Pailthorp explains.
Palin Reportedly Coming To The Tri-Cities For Thanksgiving, Richland Residents React Thanksgiving is approaching. We all have that person in the family who we're eager to see. Some of us also have that loved one we'd rather stay far away. Those are pretty much the reactions from residents in Richland, after news that Sarah Palin is coming to town for turkey day. KPLU's Anna King reports.
Record Bin Roulette: Marriage KPLU's "All Blues" host John Kessler and long-time radio personality John Maynard have joined forces to create a funny and entertaining feature called "Record Bin Roulette" that scribbles way off the page. This week they discuss marriage, for better or for worse.
Apolo Ohno Stirs Olympic Anticipation on Ground and In the Air Olympic short-track speed skater Apolo Ohno was mobbed by autograph seekers during a rare visit to his home town of Seattle Tuesday. Ohno told fans at SeaTac Airport that he's in the best shape of his life as he prepares for the Winter Games in Vancouver. The simultaneous promotion and commotion are signs that people are getting pumped for the Winter Olympics in February. KPLU's Tom Banse reports.
Onset Of Cold Weather Means Story Time In Native American Households You're probably making preparations for Thanksgiving and looking forward to gathering with friends and family. In Northwest Indian Country, cold weather signals a time to gather too. It's a time to nestle indoors and tell stories. Native stories help pass on culture and religion to younger generations. But that's become harder in the age of Wii and the iPhone. For this story, KPLU's Anna King visited a native storyteller near Pendleton, Oregon on the Umatilla Reservation.
For Seattle, A Return To Neighborhood Schools It's a change Seattle's superintendent calls long overdue. The district approved new school boundaries last night (Wednesday), the heart of plan that seeks to provide kids an education closer to home. KPLU education reporter Gary Davis was at the meeting.

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