It Happened Yesterday on the Internet, and Reaction Was Swift: A Stranger website redesigned for your smartphone pleasure! "This is all terrible," said Slog commenter dwightmoodyforgetsthings. "I've got my torch lit and I'm sharping my pitchfork." Yeah? Tell that to Slog commenter gunmmoontree, who declared: "It's beautiful! Nice job, folks." Which of these commenters is correct? WHO'S TO SAY? But do let us know if you see something specific and/or funky that you think needs our attention. Send a screen grab, the URL where it appears if possible, and info on the browser you're using to this e-mail address and we'll take a look.
A Bill to Ban Money for Cost Overruns: "Any day now, the Senate is expected to propose a transportation package worth $10 billion to $12 billion," reports the Seattle Times. But first, Republicans are pushing a bill that "clarifies that lawmakers intend to slam the door on paying overruns" for the downtown tunnel project.
But No Ban on Per Diem Overruns: "Three Washington state senators received a boost in their per diem last month, despite previously saying they wouldn’t take a raise in their daily allowance," reports KUOW. They're all Republicans, and one, Ann Rivers, says she's taking the money because it "covers her meals now that lawmakers are limited in how many free meals they can accept from lobbyists."
Three Days Left to Sign Up for Reformed Health Care! Governor Jay Inslee—along with a lot of other people—would like to remind you that February 15 is the end of open enrollment for reformed health care, aka Obamacare, aka The Affordable Care Act. In Washington State, HealthPlanFinder can help you out. As the governor's office says: "Residents must select and pay for a Qualified Health Plan by Feb. 15 at 9:59 p.m. for coverage that begins on March 1, 2015."
West Coast Port Shutdown: "Troubles on the West Coast waterfront are getting worse," reports the Associated Press. "Amid an increasingly damaging labor dispute, 29 West Coast seaports that handle about $1 trillion of goods annually will be mostly closed four of the next five days." The Port of Seattle says "the situation remains dynamic at this time."
Shell Arctic Drilling Fleet One Step Closer to Seattle: "The Port of Seattle has signed a two-year lease allowing Royal Dutch Shell PLC to use Seattle's waterfront as a homeport for its Arctic oil drilling fleet," reports the AP. "Port CEO Theodore Fick says he inked the deal Monday to lease 50 acres across from downtown Seattle to Foss Maritime, whose client is Shell. He disclosed the details in a letter Wednesday to Patti Goldman, an attorney with Earthjustice who is representing environmental groups." (Here's why environmentalists oppose this lease.)
Police Shooting Worries Pasco: "A man allegedly throwing rocks in Pasco near a popular Latino grocery store was shot dead by police officers Tuesday night," reports KPLU. "A YouTube video... shows several police officers running after a man across a crowded intersection… In the video, a man appears to have his hands above his head as he’s running away, and then he faces officers with his hands raised before the shots come." The Seattle Times reports there was a protest in response to the shooting yesterday.
Hack the Commute? "Seattle’s strong growth means full buses and congested roads," reports KUOW. "The City of Seattle says maybe it should also mean more help for commuters. It’s holding a hackathon, bringing people together to build new tools that can help everyone get around." (Here, briefly, is why you're stuck in traffic in the first place.)
Hack the Earth? To Slow Global Warming? "If this is our Hail Mary, what a scary, scary place we are in."
