Disagreement on toll lanes might quash SR 167 test “Lexus lanes,” or a quick fix for clogged roads? Modern tollways may be popping up on freeways around the country and the world, but Washington might have a tough time getting just a nine-mile pilot project on State Route 167, the Valley Freeway. Even if the state Legislature lets solo drivers Read More ›
NEARLY ALL 50 states are experiencing budget crises, with California in the worst shape, facing a $38.2 billion deficit. Even Arizona has a $1.3 billion shortfall. Washington state has had to close schools. Connecticut is cutting 2,800 public employees. In this context, New York state’s $11.5 billion deficit on a $92 billion budget is only slightly above average, while New Read More ›
Microsoft sees vast market: every car By The Associated Press REDMOND — First Microsoft set out to put a computer in every home. Now the software giant hopes to put one in every vehicle, too. “We’d like to have one of our operating systems in every car on Earth,” said Dick Brass, vice-president of Microsoft’s automotive-business unit. Cars with the Microsoft Read More ›
For many years, the bunker-buster in the pro-assisted-suicide arsenal has been its supposed inevitability. Pointing to multiple public-opinion polls showing support for assisted suicide generally in the high 60-percent range, euthanasia advocates claimed that only a rigid, religiously motivated minority – e.g., Catholics – was keeping Americans from accessing the “ultimate civil right.” Soon, they cheerily predicted, the anti-assisted-suicide medievalists Read More ›
Foot ferries might be revived A consortium of four private companies could start with Kingston-Seattle commuter service. Ann Strosnider Sun Staff Voters may have turned down tax-supported passenger-only ferry service, but interest in foot ferries remains strong. John Blackman, owner of Seattle-based Argosy Cruises, said Monday that four companies have come together to form a new entity — Aqua Express Read More ›
TWO YEARS AGO, federal agents in Colorado responded to a complaint at the home of Samuel Patane, an ex-convict under a restraining order for beating his wife. Patane’s probation officer had warned the agents that the convicted felon had a Glock pistol and a penchant for violence. After entering the home, agents began reading Patane his Miranda warnings — the Read More ›
(Belated) congratulations to Senior Fellow David Berlinski for being included amongst the best science writers for 2002. David’s article What Brings a World Into Being? from Commentary Magazine is included in Matt Ridley’s The Best American Science Writing 2002. Congratulations David! David is author of the now historical The Deniable Darwin. His books include A Tour of the Calculus, The Read More ›
Arlington train? Idea still on track By Peyton Whitely Times Snohomish County bureau ARLINGTON — The train tracks are still there, running through downtown, although they come to an abrupt end at a car dealership. The former depot, from before 1910, also exists, although it’s been moved about 20 miles away and hasn’t seen a train in years. There are few Read More ›
Republicans wondering what to do after they have exhausted the ideas in their “Contract with America” might take a page out of Bill Clinton’s playbook and look again at health care reform. Of course, reviving Mr. Clinton’s confusing and heavily bureaucratic approach to health care would be politically suicidal. Fortunately, neither Republicans, nor market-oriented Democrats, need take that tack. An Read More ›
Original article: http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/4238045.html If input from the public and outside experts is going to be ignored, why solicit it in the first place? That’s the question Minnesotans should be asking themselves as the drafting of Minnesota’s new science standards draws to a close. Over the past few months, Minnesota’s Department of Education has invited extensive public input on a draft Read More ›