I'm hearing conflicting reports out of Olympia. One Democratic senator tells me that "a deal is now in the works" to settle the budget squabble, but there just may not be enough time before the midnight close of the 30-day special session to get all the procedural details through both houses. But other sources tell me that Republicans appear settled on forcing a second special session, largely at the behest of major donors who feel that Democrats come out of it looking worse than Republicans do.

I guess we'll know by the end of the day.