Making headlines this morning:
- Snow Threat Reduced
- Protests Greet Lawmakers at Session Start
- Eyman Files New Initiative
Snow For The Commute Home, Then Rain Expected
Snow is coming to western Washington later today, with forecasters predicting far less than had been expected. Still, they say, it could affect this afternoon's commute home. The National Weather Service's Dennis D'Amico tells KPLU Newsflakes will fall this afternoon and into the evening, followed by a rapid warming Wednesday and snow melt.
UW meteorologist Cliff Mass writes in his blog snow lovers may be disappointed by this weather system:
Cold air will be in place, and initially evaporation and melting of the falling precipitation will help keep it cool to enough to snow. But eventually the profound warming aloft will win.
Still, the state Department of Transportation is asking commuters to have a plan in place before getting on the roads this afternoon. A DOT press release says crews are out treating roads today for what could be a short but intense snow event.
Forecasters says up to 10 inches of snow could fall in the mountain passes, including Snoqualmie Pass.
Legislature's First Day Draws Protests
Lawmakers gathered in Olympia to open the 2011 Legislative Session. But even before they got down to the gritty business of government, they were met by protests.
The Olympian's Katie Schmidt reportsa group of about 75 state employees concerned about cuts to wages and benefits met with legislators upon arrival. Another group protested massive cuts to social services:
...a group including the Children’s Alliance, the AARP and local members of the Service Employees International Union wrote and sent petitions to Washington residents asking the Legislature to close tax loopholes. The group, called the Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition, delivered 28,000 signed petitions to House Speaker Frank Chopp and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown.
Eyman Files Latest Initiative
It wasn't only groups of protesters greeting lawmakers. Initiative machine Tim Eyman was there as well, with his latest proposal. It may be familiar to voters, who passed Eyman's I-1053 this year, which requires a two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes. Seattlepi.com's Joel Connelly reportsEyman is prepared for a potential repeal:
He introduced an initiative identical to I-1053, and vowed to take it to the ballot if legislators make any move to overturn the "super-majority" requirement. Eyman said he will be back with the same measure in 2012.
