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A team of experienced reporters keep you updated on what's happening in political arenas at the city, county, state and federal levels. From presidential campaign visits to who's running for city council, we've got it covered.

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Peter Callaghan is a local columnist. He’s covered the statehouse and state politics since 1981. Before joining The News Tribune in 1985, the Stadium High grad worked for newspapers in Everett and Lewiston, Idaho, and for The Associated Press in Olympia and Seattle. Email Peter

Joe Turner has covered state government and transportation issues since 1990. Since the Bellarmine grad’s arrival in the newsroom in 1978, he’s covered police, suburban cities, Tacoma City Hall, Federal Way City Hall and the Pierce and King county governments. Email Joe

David Wickert covers Pierce County government. Before coming to The News Tribune in 1998, he covered local government for newspapers in Illinois, Virginia and Tennessee. Email David

Ian Demsky is a general assignment reporter who specializes in database-driven reporting. He's been at the News Tribune since 2007 and has previously worked in Nashville, Tenn. and Portland, Ore. When he's not at work, he enjoys hiking and science fiction. Email Ian
Les Blumenthal has been covering Washington, D.C. for The News Tribune since 1990, focusing on issues and politicians involving the state. Before joining The News Tribune, he spent 13 years working for The Associated Press in Seattle, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Email Les

John Henrikson is a local news editor who oversees political coverage. He's worked as a journalist in the Northwest for 19 years, supervising coverage and reporting on local and state government, the environment and growth. Email John

Local politics links
Brad Shannon's The Politics Blog (The Olympian)
Adam Wilson (The Olympian)
Politics Northwest (Seattle Times)
Sound Politics
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P-I's Strange Bedfellows (Seattle PI)
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Other Resources
Washington Legislature Bill Lookup
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Let's talk politics.
Monday, February 9th, 2009
Posted by Joe Turner @ 06:39:12 am

UPDATE: The news conference was postponed indefinitely because the governor got called up for jury duty.

UPDATE NO. 2: I still don't know whether the governor is going to talk about consolidating law enforcement among Fish and Wildlife, DNR, Parks and the State Patrol. But I have a refresher on my rumors: Apparently Fish and Wildlife was trying to get DNR and Parks rangers put under FW jurisdiction and was told, "Stop it. If anyone goes anywhere, it will be Fish and Wildlife going to the State Patrol."

Hmmm. I wonder is this means that state troopers will be enforcing the law against using body gripping devices to catch moles who leave mounds of dirt on your front yard?

Her press conference is at 9:30 a.m. This is where we hear more about what might happen to Fish and Wildlife cops, who could find themselves shifted over to the State Patrol.
In my earlier posting, I mentioned Natural Resources and Parks and Recreation cops, too, but they have only limited commissions (they're not full-fledged cops) so maybe they won't be moved. Troopers and wildlife officers (what used to be called "game wardens") have full law enforcement commissions.

OLYMPIA - Gov. Chris Gregoire on Monday will hold a media availability in Olympia to announce her government reform package.

The governor will be joined by state Auditor Brian Sonntag, Sen. Eric Oemig, Rep. Larry Springer, Department of Licensing Director Liz Luce, Association of Washington Business President Don Brunell, Washington Federation of State Employees Executive Director Greg Devereux, Service Employees International Union Local 775 President David Rolf, and Deputy Executive Director of Education Jan Yoshiwara with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Categories: Governor