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Big coal is trying to force through the largest coal export terminal in the U.S. right here in Longview, WA. |
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Tag Archives: Seattle
News … the other Washington
ONE YEAR INTO MANDATORY PAID SICK TIME, A LOOK AT IMPACT ON BUSINESS
On Tuesday, the Main Street Alliance of Washington released a report stating that the new paid sick time ordinance has not hindered the Seattle–King County economy. In fact, the number of businesses in Seattle has continued to grow in services and retail, and the volume of sales has continued to grow, according to the Alliance’s Marilyn Watkins. Three small business owners championed the paid sick time law as they gathered on Tuesday at the unveiling of the report’s results. Makini Howell of Plum Bistro, Jody Hall of Cupcake Royale, and Joe Fugere of Tutta Bella all said the law hasn’t stopped them from expanding. They acknowledged an increase in business expense but said it’s very minimal.
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New SPD oversight director outlines a way forward
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Click on Photo for complete story
STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Walleye pollock show some behavioral problems when exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide.
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PARTICIPATE
Keeping track in Olympia
Find your lawmakers and track bills in the state Legislature. Legislative Guide
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On Tuesday, Progressive Radio Northwest is launching the first in a series of monthly get-togethers to meet each other, mingle and discuss issues central to our mission of bringing progressive radio back to the region. We hope to have a speaker at each session and look forward to engaging in a wide variety of lively topics.
First session: Tuesday, September 24
7:00 to 9:00 pm
Topic: “Corporate Media and the Demise of Progressive Talk:
Lack of Listeners or Political Suppression?”
Geov Parrish, Guest Speaker
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Scott Walker coming to Seattle – Let him know his agenda’s not welcome!
by Scott Foval, People For the American Way
Wisconsin’s radical right-wing Governor Scott Walker will be hosting a fundraiser for a local far-right organization at the Seattle Sheraton this Thursday!
Local progressives are joining together for a counter rally to make sure Gov. Walker gets the message that his regressive and extreme agenda is not one that’s welcome in Washington.
More from The Stand:
Join with union members, environmental and community activists, local businesses and others who plan to send a message to Scott Walker and his right-wing supporters that his divisive anti-labor, job-killing, environment-damaging policies aren’t welcome in Washington state. The event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 outside the Seattle Sheraton Hotel, 1400 6th Ave. Download the event flier, spread the word and make plans to attend, and bring your signs and banners!
The Sept. 5 event is sponsored by the M.L. King County Labor Council PAC Committee. For more information, contact email Dianne Gross or call her at 206-441-7102 or the MLKCLC at 206-441-8510.
We hope you can make it!
— Scott Foval, Political Coordinator
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High School Athlete of the Week …
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| During the 2013 High School Fall Sports Season, CenturyLink, Q13 FOX/JOEtv and the Seattle Seahawks will honor Washington State high school student-athletes that display exemplary performance on and off the field. The CenturyLink H.S. Athlete of the Week program will honor one deserving student-athlete each week starting in September and culminating in November. Winners will be selected from a candidate pool, identified by the Seattle Seahawks, CenturyLink, community leaders, high school coaches, teachers, peers, and parents! |
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Board of Health … the Other Washington
See this video from King 5 News on how we could make eating out safer in King County.
| By Sarah Schacht |
| Seattle, Washington |
King County Board of Health: Create clear restaurant inspection ratings & improve access to ratings.
Each year, 1 in 5 Americans gets food poisoning. This completely preventable illness results from poor food handling. Restaurants are a major source of food poisoning, yet King County’s antiquated restaurant inspection ratings website makes it difficult for county residents to easily search and understand if a restaurant has had good or bad inspection ratings. Essentially, these ratings show the progress of a restaurant to maintain high levels of cleanliness and well trained (for food safety) staff.
King County could reduce reported food poisoning hospitalization rates by at least 14% (which is a lot, since most food poisoning cases go unreported or don’t make it to the hospital) by creating a “A, B, C…” ratings system, with “A” being highest, and “F” being grounds for closure. These ratings should be posted publicly near the entrance of all restaurants, bars, cafes, and eateries. In addition, these ratings should be made available through open data, allowing websites like Yelp to post restaurant inspection ratings in their websites and apps. So, when you quickly look for a restaurant in your area, you can see how safe it is along with their menu and customer reviews.
Currently, King County Public Health (the agency that manages restaurant inspection ratings) has a website that hasn’t been upgraded since the early 2000’s, and a convoluted inspection ratings system that confuses consumers. None of these ratings are posted at restaurants. As a result, restaurants that don’t adhere to safety standards keep serving food to unknowing customers, and restaurants who are safe and clean don’t get rewarded for their work with an “A” rating. Consumers should be able to use transparent, readily available restaurant ratings to drive their purchases, rewarding safer restaurants with more business.
King County Public Health has refused to improve their current website or ratings system, creating small patches that don’t meet citizen’s needs. In the meantime, more people unknowingly eat at unsafe restaurants and fall ill.
We can prevent food poisoning in King County and set a higher standard for food safety. Sign the petition and tell King County Board of Health to make King County Public Health update its ratings systems and create more transparency in ratings.
(Photo above by woodleywonderworks on Flickr.)
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