I got the release below today from Darcy Burner's campaign:

“After the fire that destroyed our home yesterday, Mike, Henry and I spent last night together at the home of close family friends in Redmond. For all of those who have been asking, thank you again for your expressions of concern.

“Considering the circumstances, we are holding up well. I am particularly relieved to see that my son Henry seems to be fine this morning. He has been playing with Bruce Wayne, our golden retriever, who miraculously survived the fire inside the house. This whole ordeal has reminded me once again of the importance of what really matters in life: family and friends.

=> Read more!

The Sonics and City of Seattle announced a deal today that allows the Sonics to leave tomorrow in exchange for up to $75 million to buy out the remainder of its KeyArena lease.

In addition, the NBA will work on getting another team in Seattle, though there's no guarantee.

It's now up to the Legislature: If they don't finalize an arena funding plan next year, the city automatically loses out on $30 million of the payment – and the possibility of an NBA team in its future.

We'll post reactions here.

Update 5:51 p.m.: I just got off the phone with Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, chairman of the House finance committee. He had this to say:

On whether legislative leaders were involved in the negotiation, since it requires Legislative action: I would be surprised. It would be atypical for Seattle.

On whether this will be a top priority next session: I don't think this is the top priority for anyone next session... transportation, economy, education funding, healthcare - those are the most important issues that face them. That's what we're going to focus on. Part of our job is dealing with how all the tax policy works, local and state...

On City of Seattle lawyer Tom Carr's statement that the state would lose $20 million in sales tax revenue if they didn't act next year to ensure Seattle keeps the stadium: All the economic models that I've ever seen show that people who would go to basketball games and go out to dinner and do all those other things are likely to do something else anyway, so that the tradeoff doesn't exist ... I haven't really seen an economic model from an economist who is not employed by either a city that wants to have a basketball team or the teams themselves that show actual new revenue.

Hunter said a task force dealing with local taxes in King County, including the stadium tax, will meet July 16 "to try and sort these things out and this is one of the issues."

He also said he hasn't read the agreement and didn't know exactly what was required of the Legislature in the deal.

Update, 6:32 p.m.: While we accumulate politicians' responses here, what do you think? Click on our Hot Button poll and tell us whether you think the city got a good deal or not.

Update, 6:43 p.m.: Here's what Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, had to say in a release:
"No matter where you place the blame for things not coming together, there are a lot of people who are very disappointed that professional basketball is leaving Seattle.

At the end of the 2008 session, the Legislature created a task force to figure out how best to use existing revenues in King County. A Key Arena upgrade is on the list, as are a number of other worthy projects.

The task force is still doing its work, and so it's just too early to say whether or not the Legislature will authorize the extension of current taxes to support professional basketball in Seattle.

But it's too early to say for a number of other reasons, too. We don't have a replacement team ready to step into the breech. We don't know what the Key Arena needs are. We don't have a proposal to evaluate. Is the Legislature going to fund it? We don't yet know what 'it' is.

Keep in mind that public financing for profession sports is about as hot-button a political issue there is. A third of lawmakers are going to be supportive, a third are going to opposed, and a third are going to need to see the details. Let's wait until there are some details to discuss.

If - after the details are made clear and the task force has done its work - a Key Arena upgrade pencils ahead of other projects, the Legislature could authorize the use of public dollars for another sports arena in Seattle. But not unless and until that happens first."

From the state Republicans:

During Christine Gregoire’s recent appearance on the Dave Ross show, the governor made a statement that brought to mind Hall & Oates’ No. 1 single from 1984: Out of Touch. When asked about the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Gregoire said, “We are on schedule with the viaduct. There has been no delay whatsoever.”

Now, read this:

You're out of touch/
I'm out of time/
But I'm out of my head when you're not around.
Reaching out for something to hold/
Looking for a love where the climate is cold.

Yep, I totally see the viaduct connection ... But I'm left with the feeling that referencing a song that hit the top of the charts more than two decades ago is, well, out of touch.

With that in mind -- and the little music-related snafu from last week (I'm looking at you, Democrats) -- I've browsed my iTunes for some newer material. Feel free to use these.

- "Trying to find a balance," by Atmosphere. That would be nice for a budget-related press release. Don't listen to the words and we'll all be OK.

- "Your cover's blown," by Belle & Sebastian. Perfect for occasions when one party exposes some sort of scandal.

- "Worms," by Beth Orton. Self-explanatory. Sample lyric: "They've got a wishbone where their backbone should have grown."

- "Liars," by the Nextdoor Neighbors (out of Olympia!). Sample: "You say you don't like these games, then I don't know why you play them so well."

- "Forecast Fascist Future," by Of Montreal. Doesn't that sound scary?

Some important stuff is happening, so I'm wrapping this up. Feel free to add your own suggestions. Keep in mind that I will ignore any that were made in a year beginning with 19.

Yesterday, Dino Rossi's campaign released this proclamation on his web site, saying he beat Gov. Chris Gregoire in June fundraising.*

* Through June 29.

Gregoire's campaign responded with this, which says, essentially, that Rossi's campaign was out of line... Not because the claims aren't true, but because there's no way to know at that point whether it was true or not because there was a day left in the month.

Well, one of you has to be right. We won't know for a bit, but let's not fight about it until then, OK?

In the meantime, you could call out each other's campaigns (and uber-powerful campaign supporters, the BIAW and Big Labor) for attacking your candidate baselessly.

Tacoma City Councilman Mike Lonergan asked the city's legal staff to find a way to keep Robert "The Traveller" Hill from attending future City Council meetings following Hill's conduct last night, which included removing some of his clothes and once again mentioning masturbation.

Hill, whose campaign for Pierce County sheriff recently ended after he pleaded guilty to forgery, arrived at the council chambers wearing a jumpsuit and hat.

He spoke to the City Council during the public comment portion of the meeting, and then took a seat in the front row. At some point, he removed the jumpsuit and sat in his underwear in a way in which he was exposed to a council member seated at the dais, City Manager Eric Anderson said.

Tacoma police escorted Hill out of the council chambers wearing only a T-shirt and underwear. He returned about 10 minutes later with the jumpsuit covering his lower half.

Hill spoke again at the end of the meeting during Citizens' Forum, the once-a-month forum in which citizens are allowed to address council members about issues that are not on the meeting agenda.

As he has done before, Hill used the forum to talk about masturbation, Lonergan said. Mayor Bill Baarsma banged his gavel and brought the comments to an end.

Lonergan then issued his challenge to the city's legal staff to find a way to keep Hill from making future appearances. "It's getting very old," Lonergan said this morning.

Lonergan said he was particularly disturbed because a young boy was present in the council chambers, and it's possible that children were watching the meeting on television.

The Washington State Republican Party has weighed in on the Lynn Kessler is-she-or-isn’t-she endorsing John Ladenburg for attorney general drama.

Ladenburg recently told our Inside the Editorial Page blog he’d patched it up with House Majority Leader Kessler and said she would support him. Our editorial page folks checked with Kessler, who said she won’t be endorsing anyone for attorney general.

Today the Republicans pounced.

"Being caught in a bald lie is a disgrace for anyone who aspires to be Attorney General," said Washington State Republican Party Chairman Luke Esser. “His dishonesty to a newspaper raises doubts about whether John Ladenburg has the integrity to be Attorney General. Ladenburg is falling behind in the race, so he’s claiming supporters he doesn’t have to try to catch up. How much lower can Ladenburg and his campaign sink?"

You can read the full post here.

In order of appearance:

The 25th Legislative District Democrats will meet July 10 at 7 p.m. at the Puyallup Public Library, 324 South Meridian, to listen to candidates and consider endorsements for the Aug. 19 primary election. Candidates for various state and legislative offices have been invited to attend or send representatives. For more information, contact Charley Stokes at cwstokes@earthlink.net or 253-861-8744.

The 25th District Republican Club will meet on July 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Puyallup Public Library. Attorney General Rob McKenna will be the featured guest as part of the club's continuing "Meet the Candidate" series. For more information, contact Bob Nielson at rhneilson@earthlink.net.

Update: Nielson says McKenna got double-booked and won't be able to attend the Republican club's event. Instead, state House candidates Ron Morehouse and Sharon Hanek will attend.