Bloglander

Language gaps, budget gaps — It's always been dreadfully hard for people struggling with English to be able to find a job. And it's about to get harder. The State of Washington is cutting $1 million — more than 10 percent — from its English Pathways program, which provides employment and ESL training. (SR)

We're not that racist — The City of Spokane's quick response to the attempted bombing has been praised by the national media. But the fact that the bomb was left on a Martin Luther King parade route has some suspecting white supremacists. The Aryan Nations was once a major player in North Idaho, but since then we've come a long way, KREM reports. (KREM)

Rain of terror — What's more depressing than rain? Freezing rain. What's more depressing than freezing rain? Freezing rain that causes massive car crashes on I-90, including a seven-car pileup by the Hamilton exit. Happy January, everybody. (KXLY)

State of Disunion — Paul Ryan, super-wonky Republican chairman of the House Budget committee, will give the response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech next week. Take a shot every time he mentions "double-counting Medicare." (NYT)