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Articles written by Alice Day


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  • New Olympia political drama debuts March 23 when legislators reveal basic-education budgets

    Alice Day WNPA|Mar 18, 2015

    Olympia—A political thriller earns its debut March 23 at Olympia’s marble palladium when the Legislature’s leading producers-directors—Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond, and Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina—take the stage to introduce their awaited and unreviewed drama they claim will keep their fellow political thespians out of jail and solve the constitutional quandary hovering over them: full funding for basic K-12 education. The Washington State Supreme Court is holding those political actors accountable for a solution to its mandate issued last fall...

  • Surplus state-held water rights targeted for irrigation, local uses

    Alice Day, Reporter WNPA Olympia News Bureau|Feb 18, 2015

    OLYMPIA—Local communities could have more access to water if legislators succeed in implementing a new system of leasing surplus state-owned water rights. A bill proposed by Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, would require state agencies to more clearly identify, hold and reassign unused water rights associated with agency-held land. Sen. Doug Erickson, R-Ferndale, is the bill’s co-sponsor. Affected agencies include the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Natural Resources and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Hon...

  • Class size law could require four new classrooms, but school is full

    Roger S Lucas and Alice Day|Feb 11, 2015

    To school officials here, and throughout the state, Initiative 1351, passed by voters in November, is just another financial unfunded nightmare. The initiative calls for smaller class sizes, an idea that normally would receive little argument. However, there is no provision for funding. The Legislature, now in session, is faced with the task of funding the number of additional teachers and aides required in smaller classroom sizes, plus classroom space. Locally, Superintendent Dennis Carlson...