Facing a $3 billion budget gap next year, Gov. Chris Gregoire recently announced a renewed initiative to streamline state government. The governor created a 32-person panel to scour state agencies for efficiencies vowing, “There are no sacred cows.”

Surprisingly, she suggested that our scandal-laden ferry system could be sold back to the private sector. In the wake of a high-profile investigation by KING 5 News that revealed widespread abuses by unionized state ferry workers, Gregoire raised the prospect of privatizing the state ferry system. She pointed to British Columbia’s BC Ferry Corporation as a possible model. But this “private” ferry company is not quite private. Its sole shareholder is the British Columbia government.

Over the years, problems with ferry worker unions and state regulators put Washington state into the ferry business.

by Mike Rogoway, The Oregonian

Nearly all Oregonians will get a new phone company in the next year.

The transition starts at the end of this month, when Connecticut-based Frontier Communications takes over Verizon's local phone, Internet and cable TV operations -- including more than 300,000 phone lines in Oregon.

by Greg Lamm

Washington’s unemployment rate in April improved to 9.2 percent in April, the first time the state has seen a decline in three years.

The state’s economy added 5,800 jobs in April, according to the Washington State Employment Security Department.

By KFBB News Team

A quick glance on any hilltop gives it away. The red, dead trees are sad reminders interrupting Montana’s picturesque wilderness.

The announced closing of a nude dancing business in Seattle has triggered a rather surprising outpouring of regret and nostalgia. see it all..

by Jaspreet Virk

Diagnosed with deadly E. coli strain, one child has succumbed to the disease, and three other children are recovering following the outbreak of the disease at the Vancouver, Washington state day care center, according to the health officials.

»www.komonews.com/news/local/87827957.html

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PARIS (AP) - The leaders of France and Germany said Tuesday they have concerns about the United States' handling of a $35 billion contract for an Air Force refueling tanker, cautioning U.S. authorities against "the temptations of protectionism."

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by Jamie Swift, communications manager

Washington’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.3 percent in October, from a revised rate of 9.1 percent in September, according to the state Employment Security Department.

The state lost an estimated 5,100 non-agricultural jobs in October, seasonally adjusted.

The estimated unemployment rate for September had earlier been reported as 9.3 percent, but that rate was revised downward after more analysis. The previously estimated job loss of 16,000 in September also was revised to 11,100.

Continues here: »www.lakestevensjournal.com/count···n_octobe

SEATTLE (AP) - The central Oregon coastal town of Newport will be the new base for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's research ships on the West Coast, the federal agency announced Tuesday.

The operations center has been on Seattle's Lake Union for nearly 50 years.

FAIRBANKS — If you need a gift for the train buff who has everything, the Alaska Railroad might have the perfect answer — a well-worn caboose, waiting in the Anchorage rail yard for a new home.

The ARR has four old cabooses up for bid. And for a price as low as $8,000, it could be yours. story continues..

FAIRBANKS -- A pair of lifelong Alaskans — one from Juneau and one from Galena — were the lucky winners in this year’s Nenana Ice Classic.

Gail Gregory of Galena knows what she wants to spend part of her husband’s Ice Classic winnings on. “We can get running water,” Gregory said by phone Saturday from the bush village on the bank of the Yukon River 300 miles west of Fairbanks. “I’d like to get up in the morning and have a shower.” story continues..

SNOHOMISH -- The idea to start commuter train service between Snohomish and Bellevue has piqued interest among residents. Tonight, the City Council is set to hold a workshop on the plan.

"We want to be a part of this," city manager Larry Bauman said Monday. read the full story..

A related story Tourist train a tempting prospect for Snohomish

By Diane Urbani de la Paz

SEQUIM -- Nash Huber, the Dungeness Valley organic-farming pioneer, has been nominated to become the nation's first White House farmer.

At www.WhiteHouseFarmer.com, an election is under way for the man or woman who would turn 5 acres of south-facing White House lawn into an organic fruit and vegetable garden -- and set a crisp, leafy example for the country.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. —

Intel says it is cutting 5,000 to 6,000 jobs as part of a restructuring of its global manufacturing operations.

The world's largest chip maker said Wednesday it is closing two assembly test facilities in Penang, Malaysia and one in Cavite, Philippines and will halt production at a plant in Hillsboro, Ore. It will also end wafer production at a facility in Santa Clara, Calif.

»seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/b···bs.html

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For the Portland area, news sources are saying it's approximately 1,000 layoffs in an already bad economy.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A giant snowman named Snowzilla has mysteriously appeared again this year — despite the city's cease-and-desist order.

Someone again built the giant snowman in Billy Powers' front yard in an east Anchorage neighborhood. Snowzilla reappeared before dawn Tuesday. story continues..

Alaska Airlines said it’s donated more than 80,000 pounds of unused airline food to food banks in Seattle and Portland this year.

In Portland, the airline and its catering contractor LSG Sky Chefs have donated 18,843 pounds of food to the Oregon Food Bank, which distributes food to 20 regional food banks.

In Seattle, Alaska Airlines said it’s donated 61,650 pounds of food to the Tukwila Pantry, which provides food relief to the neighborhoods around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The food is unopened bags of dried fruit, salami, cheese spread, crackers, cookies and other items that were initially offered to first-class passengers.

»portland.bizjournals.com/portlan···y16.html

Graphic designer Troy Stange has become a huge hit with elite companies including MTV International and MSN. He has completed numerous projects including elaborate event presentations, graphic design, and unique Facebook applications.

Treena Wood

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has hit off the coast of Vancouver Island, the biggest yet in a swarm of quakes that has shaken the region this week.

This latest earthquake hit at 5:37 this morning, and was centred 152 kilometres west-southwest of Port Hardy.

By Steve Law

The number of Spanish-speaking people taking Oregon’s driving test plummeted in February, just as Gov. Kulongoski’s executive order took effect requiring test-takers to provide valid Social Security numbers.

By ARTHUR GREGG SULZBERGER

Who would guess that a calorie-conscious McDonald's patron would be better off ordering four regular hamburgers (1,000 calories) than one large chocolate shake (1,160 calories)?

Or that picking up a blueberry muffin and large latte from Starbucks costs the same in calorie-burning treadmill hours as a five-piece order of extra crispy drumsticks at Kentucky Fried Chicken (both about 800 calories)?

»www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonia···&coll=7