Where Republicans are in control.
Where Republicans are in control. Jeffrey M. Frank/Shutterstock

State Republicans Just Made It Harder to Amend Their Budget Proposal: Facing planned Democratic amendments about climate change, contraceptives, sick leave, and the minimum wage, 25 Republicans and one Democrat voted to require a 60 percent majority for any budget amendments, the Seattle Times reports. That translates to 30 instead of 25 votes needed to pass an amendment

Federal Judge Rules Washington Must Give Mental Health Evaluations to Inmates Within Seven Days: That comes after a class action lawsuit on behalf of inmates forced to wait weeks or months for an evaluation about their competency to stand trial.

Want to Get in a Kayak and Try to Stop Shell's Arctic Drilling Rigs at the Port? Good news! Environmental activists want you to join them, and they're hosting a kayaking training tomorrow.

Tom Douglas at Weiner War 2010
Tom Douglas at Weiner War 2010. Riya Bhattacharjee

Tom Douglas Was Going to Add a New Surcharge at His Restaurants to Pay for the Minimum Wage Increase: But he backpedaled on that idea right quick, saying he'll instead incorporate increased labor costs into menu prices.

Meanwhile, in Tacoma: 15 Now Tacoma activists clashed with business owners about a proposal to raise the minimum wage there to $15 an hour.

Judge to Hear Case About Fate of Woodland Park Elephants Today: The case argues that the city has no legal authority to send two Asian elephants to a zoo in Oklahoma City.

The Death Toll in Yesterday's Attack on a Kenyan University Rose to 147: "Survivors said many students had fallen for the militants’ trick," reports the New York Times, "voluntarily walking outside and obeying commands to lie down in neat rows, only to be shot in the back of the head."

Yesterday, the mayor and president of Expedia announced the companys move to Seattle.
Yesterday, the mayor and president of Expedia announced the company's move to Seattle. City of Seattle

It's Official: Expedia's Headquarters Are Coming to Seattle: From Bellevue, but not until 2018. They'll bring 3,000 employees—6 percent of Bellevue's workforce—and eventually expand to 4,500 employees. That's either "just a blip on the radar screen" for the city of Bellevue or a "punch in the gut," depending on who you ask.

SeaTac Police Are Looking for a Man Who Pulled a Gun on a Muslim Woman Who Rejected His Advances: "When the woman rolled up her window and refused to open the door, the suspect drove away," KING 5 reports. Now, he's wanted for malicious harassment.

Sally Clark Is Leaving the City Council: She's bailing early on her last year in office to take a job as director of regional and community relations at the University of Washington. The other eight council members will choose her replacement later this month.

Quirky Attractions You'll Miss by Boycotting Indiana: The Seattle Times is on this very important story. The list includes the world's largest ball of paint and the world's largest toilet.