Care worker unions finish pay raise talks

Unionized state workers weren't the only ones to wrap up negotiations with the governor last week. Large groups of state-paid service providers also concluded talks, with similar results.

Lawsuits fly back and forth over GOP mailers

Attorney General Rob McKenna on Friday sued the state Republican Party over alleged campaign finance violations, leading the party to file its own lawsuit contending its First Amendment rights are being violated.

How much pot is too much?

The state Health Department on Thursday defined a two-month supply of medical marijuana as 24 ounces of usable pot and up to 15 plants, a limit designed to end a decade of confusion over how much patients are allowed to have.

Prison workers lack contract

As the clock ticked down Wednesday night, state prison employees were headed for two years without a contract, possibly meaning no raises.

County job cuts, tax rise on table

OLYMPIA — Thurston County could lay off or not fill vacancies for 50 jobs to offset a $4.3 million 2009 budget deficit, along with increasing the sales tax, officials said Tuesday.
• Thurston County employee salaries

Largest state worker union OKs deal

The largest state worker union Monday approved a two-year deal that includes annual raises of 2 percent, plus an extra day off each year.

Legislators might revisit state worker contracts

Even before state workers have approved them, legislators are talking about changing the contracts that unions negotiated with Gov. Chris Gregoire.