 Tsunami damage at Brookings harbor. (image/Department of Energy) |
Tight state budgets continued as a leading thread in Northwest news this week; Washington reported an enormous $778 million drop in anticipated revenues. Cuts rather than revenue increases appeared to continue to be the preferred alternative at all three legislatures to dealing with the shortfalls.
Economic indicators in Oregon and Washington were pointing up, with Oregon posting its largest one-month gain in jobs in 15 years. And in Idaho, two major public school laws were signed into passage, and another was under revision in the Senate.
Some of the larger stories in the Washington edition:
Revenue estimate: A $778 million drop
Washington job numbers improve
Constantine proposes stimulus
Worker compensation bill signed
Cantwell: Crack down on gas speculation
In the Oregon edition:
Major job additions in February
Two wilderness areas proposed
No radiation from Japan
Tax credit information still hard to get
In the Idaho edition:
Otter signs two Luna plan bills
Wolf litigation partly resolved
Senior water rights upheld over juniors
Otter signs geothermal leasing bills