Chris Mulick has worked for the Herald since 1998 and has served as the statehouse correspondent covering state government and politics since 2000. He works year-round out of the Herald's Olympia bureau on the state Capitol campus. Have a question? Send Chris an e-mail and he'll answer the best questions regularly.
The near three-week fundraising period that ended Aug. 31 saw Republican Dino Rossi far outpace Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, according to reports filed today.
Rossi pulled in $1 million during the period, which began Aug. 12, and Gregoire raked in a little over $470,000. What's more, there were no five or six figure checks from Republican Party sources to the Rossi campaign to explain the discrepancy.
That brings Gregoires campaign total to $9.4 million and Rossi to $8 million. And as of Aug. 31 Gregoire had $3.8 million on hand to Rossis $3.1 million.
Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed Tuesday to overhaul how Washington teachers and principals are evaluated, providing them with more feedback and placing poorly performing educators at risk of being fired.
Gregoire said the new evaluation system would replace one in which teachers and principals are now rated as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory with one that would have four categories: unsatisfactory, basic, proficient and distinguished. Teachers need to know what they’re doing well and how they need to improve, she said.
“It will be fair. It will be clear. It will be effective,” Gregoire said.
FLAGS:Gov. Gregoire directs flags lowered to honor soldier
Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff today, in memory of U.S. Army Sergeant Alexander J. Bennett of Tacoma. Bennett died Aug. 6th in Afghanistan when the helicopter he was in crashed.
Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Tuesday, or first thing Wednesday morning, Aug. 17th.
Congress amended the U.S. Flag Code to give governors the authority to lower flags when a state resident in the military is killed in the line of duty. Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join in this recognition.
CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT: Swedish appliance maker Electrolux AB said its fourth-quarter profit shrank as increasing competition and weak demand limit its ability to raise prices, while raw material costs increase.
Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo fun gets under way Aug. 20
Rocker Bret Michaels has come a long way from his glam man look of the 1980s.
His blond locks are still long, he continues to wear the eyeliner he made famous as Poison's front man, and he can still rock the house with his music, though he does it more as a solo act these days.
And ever since he became a reality TV star, winning Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice , he's won the hearts of millions of new fans. He's also shown the world he's a thoughtful and caring father to his daughters.
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