Give Jason Mercier credit for digging up this one. He posted it on his blog and sent out an e-mail to reporters.

It appears the UW extended the contract with lobbyist Bob Longman though the 2009 legislative session, at $175-an-hour, and increased the maximum to $50,000 from $25,000. The University of Washington wants $150 million in state funding to pay for half of $300 million worth of repairs and improvements to the stadium. This past session, they dragged former Gov. Dan Evans and the football coach Willingham down here to testify.

They'll be back again in January.

Here is a link to the Washinton Policy Center blog item.

Then click on the link Mercier provided to look at the contract.

UPDATE: OK. Bob Longman is a consultant, not a lobbyist. See UW lobbyist Randy Hodgins' explanation on his blog.

The Legislature put $7.5 million in the transportation budget to build special fences along the Aurora Bridge in Seattle.

Neighbors hope they will prevent people from committing suicide by jumping from the bridge.

Don't expect to see the same kind of project on either one of the Tacoma Narrows Bridges. Although the old bridge has had quite a few jumpers, they jumped into the water.

On the Aurora Bridge, the driving force behind the fences is that some of its jumpers land on land, which is quite disturbing to the people who live and work in the buildings below.

It wasn't until I read this news release that I realized the legislative appropriation was divided into 2 parts: $1.5 million to design it, then $6 million to build it later on, if the right agencies sign off on it.

Not until 2010 at the earliest.

It sounds as if it might be difficult to design suicide prevention fences that are suitable for a historic landmark.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2008

Aurora Bridge Fence advisory committee meets Tuesday in Seattle

Public can learn about latest design alternatives and make comments

SEATTLE –The State Route 99 Aurora Bridge Fence advisory committee will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 9 to review WSDOT’s latest design alternatives. The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room 109 at Seattle Pacific University's Otto Miller Hall, located at 3469 Third Avenue W.

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Back in July, my colleague Scott Fontaine posted a little blog item about Chris Gregoire being turned away from an Olympia bar because the 61-year-old governor didn't have her ID with her.

KING 5 television picked up the story, and dug up more details.

Now comes this from the window of Hannah's, the by-the-book bar:

A group of protesters who marched through downtown Minneapolis after a Rage Against the Machine concert sit on a street corner during a protest at the Republican National Convention in MInneapolis, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Pierce County Councilman Dick Muri phoned late last night to report a wild scene outside his hotel in downtown Minneapolis.

Muri, a Republican national delegate, said the street was cordoned off, a helicopter was flying overhead and there were armed riot police everywhere.

"Dozens and dozens" of people were sitting, handcuffed, on the sidewalk, he said.

It was a tense moment, one that followed a concert by the group Rage Against the Machine at the Target Center. The Star Tribune had this report up on its Web site today.

It's unclear whether the scene was related to the convention.

But protesters -- and security -- have been a constant presence this week. Jane Milhans, an alternate delegate from Pierce County, scuffled yesterday with someone of indeterminate gender.

On Monday, someone dropped a sandbag from an overpass onto one of the Washington delegation buses.

None of this put a damper on the convention for Muri, who has enjoyed meeting Republicans from around the state and around the country.

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Four candidates for Pierce County executive brought distinct messages to a public forum in Tacoma Wednesday night.

Republican Shawn Bunney emphasized creating jobs. Democrat Calvin Goings offered specific proposals on a range of issues. Executive Excellence candidate Mike Lonergan emphasized his experience. And Democrat Pat McCarthy pledged to improve county services.

The candidates spoke to more than 130 people at the University of Puget Sound’s Wheelock Student Center.

Though they answered identical questions, the candidates tailored their responses to suit larger messages they hope will sway voters.

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