• If absence makes the heart grow fonder, perhaps former Seattle mayor Greg Nickels should've stayed away from politics a little longer? On May 24, the 46th Legislative District Democrats voted by an 86–14 margin to endorse Kathleen Drew for secretary of state, giving her a clean sweep of solo endorsements in every Seattle legislative district. That's bad news for fellow hopeful Nickels, who was counting on hometown support to carry him through the August primary.

• Meanwhile, Seattle's current underwhelming mayor Mike McGinn's coffee-table reading includes 99 Girdles on the Wall: A Memoir About Holding In, Letting Go, and Coming to Grips.

• Seattle congressman Jim McDermott was unwilling to support marijuana legalization until his challenger, Andrew Hughes, started drawing a distinction between himself and the 12-term congressman on the issue. McDermott's office announced on May 25 that he thinks it's "fine" to legalize marijuana if it's taxed and regulated, and he's "planning" on endorsing Initiative 502, which would do just that.

• Seattle Hempfest has announced its annual theme (and it's about as topical as using sunscreen to cure breast cancer): "Building bridges." As the group explains in Dope Magazine this month, the theme is a recognition of the newly built pedestrian overpass connecting lower Queen Anne to Hempfest headquarters at Myrtle Edwards Park. Forget about the only legalization initiative to ever reach the ballot in Washington State... there's an overpass to celebrate!!

• On May 22, a passel of organizations filed a state initiative that would create 40 charter schools for five years, which would bring this well-worn controversy to Washington State voters yet again if the campaign can gather 241,000 valid signatures in the next six and a half weeks—a task Secretary of State's Office spokesman David Ammons says is "virtually unheard of." But campaign operative Mark Funk is confident: "We will be in a position to undertake a robust paid signature gathering campaign." Some sources estimate the campaign has $7 million pledged (such as from Stand for Children and grazzillionaire Nick Hanauer). Others say that figure is even higher.

• In late May, KOMO 4's "Problem Solvers" barged into the offices of state employees working on the new 520 floating bridge project and discovered two half-racks of beer in their fridge. State Department of Labor & Industries spokesman Hector Castro subsequently told the Seattle Times, "If it's inappropriate for construction, it should be inappropriate for every office." So Sources Say conducted an investigation into the contents of The Stranger's editorial fridge. Found on May 29: A half-drunk bottle of Coke, a mysterious "probiotic" potion, Molly Moon's ice cream, and a giant can of Arnold Palmer Lite. Someone must have finished the half-rack the night before. recommended