Subduction Zone

Northwest Dealings

Author: ed itor

Education / Seattle

No Seattle School Closures

For now: Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Raj Manhas apparently has changed his mind about closing 10 schools under a school-restructuring plan to save money. Sure there was a lot of backlash against his proposals. However, given shifts in demographics and a clear need to move beyond the long failed factory school system it is hard to visualize a scenario that does not include the closures that are becoming increasingly common across the US: The number of California public schools closing more than quadrupled in 2003 from the prior year, with most in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area...

Talk Radio / Washington

Medved Over the Edge

Sounds like Medved went a bit overboard today in demonstrating his knowledge and debating skills. Blatherwatch and the rest of you Norwesters should enjoy this. Well, ….maybe not if you are a Medved fan. Via Avedon at Eschaton and Talking Points Memo. Update (5/13): Yes, indeed, Blatherwatch did pick up on this.

Economics / Law Enforcement / Washington

mckenna Announces Failed Program

Plastered on front pages across the Washington is mckenna’s announcement of increased use of failed policies: McKenna said that by June 1 he will have two new assistant attorneys general to assist in local prosecution of meth crimes across the state. He also will create a statewide task force of local and state law enforcement officials to determine the best meth-prevention strategy. The task force will help draft bills for next year’s legislative session. He also is setting up a program to work with local community organizations and professional associations to raise awareness of the meth problem. “State government needs...

British Columbia / California / Ecology / Idaho / Montana / Oregon / Washington / Wyoming

Short on Water?

The Oregon State University Extension Service has put up a new site called Drought in Oregon with a bunch of informative links In this new website, the OSU Extension Service has compiled publications and information to help Oregonians cope with water shortages at home, in the garden and on the farm. This is targeted at Oregon residents but there is information that will be useful throughout the region this summer. For those of you who want state specific material here are a few more links: Washington State University Drought Alert Washington Department of Ecology: 2005 Drought University of Idaho: Drought...