In a blog post today, Washington state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, wrote that Washington would not follow in the footsteps of Wisconsin, Indiana or Ohio — states that are currently embroiled in battles over the rights of unions.
"I believe unions and collective bargaining were essential to the creation of the middle class and in banning practices such as child labor and sweat shops, abuses that unfortunately still exist in other countries," she wrote. "Today, I see the targeting of public employees as part of an effort to systematically weaken the public sector, the social safety net, and the power of organized workers in general."
In her post, she attacked two bills aimed at state workers' unions, Senate Bills 5349 and 5870, and vowed to make sure they didn't get any traction in Olympia.
As for the importance of unions, Brown says she should know. Not only is she a Democrat, but she studied labor history as a graduate student.
Tags: olympia , politics , lisa brown , News , Image
Ummmmm. Nope. I can't think of a single thing that would be more insulting to this week's movies than their mere existence, so ... enjoy?
LIMITLESS
Bradley Cooper writes his genius novel in four days. He’s driven to do sit-ups. Hell, his eyes even get bluer. And thanks to one small pill. Cool! Not so much, it turns out. Limitless is passably entertaining, but it takes no risks. There’s some original style here, some startling visuals that replicate our hero’s amplified perception of the world. And Cooper is very appealing. But something essential is missing, something that would make it truly sing as science fiction, as action, as drama. (MJ) Rated PG-13 | SHOWTIMES
THE LINCOLN LAWYER
In an attempt to break free from shallow rom coms, Texan super-stud Matthew McConaughey has decided to wade ankle-deep into the mass-market end of the courtroom drama pool. Good for him: showing range. He plays a down-and-out lawyer, with legal offices in the backseat of his Continental (Lincoln Continental, get it?), who gets saddled with two clients — one a spoiled rich kid and one an unspoiled poor kid. Gradually it becomes clear the two cases are linked. Guess who’s getting screwed: rich kid or poor kid? (LB) Rated R | SHOWTIMES
[thumb up] PAUL
It’s the old science-fiction-nerds-meet-an-alien plot. It’s also a road movie and a darn funny comedy. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) are the RV-driving Brits looking for American UFO hot spots, and Seth Rogen (just a tad more laid-back than usual, but still hilariously raucous) voices the little alien named Paul. The film offers and makes fun of many sci-fi clichés, keeps up a sense of wonder, and will make a great number of audience members snort with laughter. (ES) Rated R | SHOWTIMES
Tags: film trailer thursday , Film , Video
Report sheds light on MLK bomb — The bomb consisted of a steel pipe welded to a steel plate and was stuffed with black powder. A rocket motor igniter may have been in use to ignite it. The bomb also contained lead fishing weights coated in a chemical found in rat poison. (SR)
Five county commissioners? — Activist Karen Kearney is spearheading a petition that would up the number of Spokane County Commissioners from three to five. (SR)
Is the Northwest next? — A seismologist in Oregon says the Northwest is due for a big quake. (KREM)
Guns on Idaho campuses — The state House passed legislation that would prohibit a ban on firearms on public university and college campuses. (KXLY)
Radiation plume could hit California tomorrow — A steadily dissipating cloud of radiation from the nuclear disaster in Japan hit the Aleutian Islands today and could reach California by tomorrow. (KHQ)
Tags: morning headlines , News
Each Wednesday on Bloglander, we give you a taste of happy hours going on at bars around town that night. (Read previous posts.)
Yardley Bar & Grill, in Spokane Valley, celebrates happy hour from 4-7 pm. Specials include $3 well drinks.
Waddell's, in the South Hill, ushers in happy hour from 2-5 pm. Specials include $5 sweet potato fries, nachos and wings, $2.50 green beers and $3 micros.
Whiskey Dick's, in north Spokane, serves up happy hour from 11 am-6 pm. Specials include $3.50 wells, $3.50 Jack and Coke, and $1 off Scooners.
The Mill, in Coeur d'Alene, celebrates happy hour from 5- 8 pm. Specials include $3.75 select Samuel Adams beer.
The Satellite, in downtown Spokane, serves up happy hour from 4-7 pm. Specials include $4 appetizers, $3 wells, $.50 off draft beers, $1 off pitchers, $4 select glasses of house wine.
Duncan enters guilty plea — Joseph Duncan, who already faces the death penalty in Idaho for his attacks on the Groene family, pleaded guilty in southern California to killing a 10-year-old boy. (SR)
Bomber suspect's dad says his son might have done it — Cecil Harpham says he wouldn't be surprised if his son, Kevin, who was arraigned in Spokane last week, did have a hand in the MLK Day bomb, but he suspects there were others involved. (KXLY)
New parking garage at Kroc Center — Construction should begin in May on a $2.6 million parking facility for the Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene, which would add 140 spaces to the 353-space lot. (CdA Press)
Campaign to recall Idaho schools superintendent — A campaign to recall Tom Luna, who successfully proposed several massive education reforms in Idaho, is picking up speed across the state. As of this writing, 3,445 "liked" the idea on Facebook. (Daily Bee)
Tacoma swamped by giant tsunami — Not really. Just in this cool, speculative animation. (KREM)
Tags: morning headlines , News
The winner will receive an Eastern Washington Legislative Issue Slam Trophy. Jealous.
And it's hosted by one of Spokane's sexiest people — Michael Reid! Hells yeah.
Legislative Issues Slam! runs from 5:30 pm to 7 pm tonight at nYneBar & Bistro, 232 W Sprague Ave. The event is free, but donations toward Greater Spokane Progress are encouraged.
Relief for small brewers — A bill drafted by Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo (R) and Sen. John Kerry (D) would slash the excise tax for America's small brewers. (CdA Press)
Game on in Spokane — The schedule for who will play in NCAA women's basketball tournament action in Spokane has been firmed up. (GU)
Niko's closes, Ciao Mambo opens (KXLY)
Jack Black gives Disneyland tickets to Tonasket High School Band — Yeah, seriously. (KXLY)
Spokane safe from fallout — KREM assures its worried viewers that the Inland Northwest won't be annihilated by fallout from the nuclear reactors in Japan.
Tags: morning headlines , News
The relentlessly rad Youth Sustainability Council has just released a call to artists 25 years old and younger for submissions to the 2011 YoSpo Arts Extravaganza.
It's a little like Terrain for a younger set (full disclosure: I'm one of the organizers of Terrain), and organizers are specifically on the hunt for writing, film, visual art (paintings, photography, etc) and performance pieces. Specific details on length/size/media are available on the submission page, here.
The event is Friday, April 15, but the deadline for submissions is March 25, so get on it.
(Photo of YoSpo 2010 courtesy of YSC)
Tags: Arts
Tags: I Saw You
Tags: I Saw You