Eyman plans rally to claim carpool lanes
OLYMPIA — State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond has asked her staff to develop a plan to ease restrictions on carpool lanes if Initiative 985 passes.
Among other things, Tim Eyman’s congestion-relief measure calls for the carpool lanes to be open to the general public except during peak weekday commutes.
Eyman is so certain voters will approve the initiative in November’s election he’s planning a Freedom Drive on Dec. 4 with a sign on his pickup saying, “Drive in this lane. You paid for it.”
Hammond says it remains to be seen whether the state can alter the agreements under which the carpool lanes were created.
Eyman’s initiative also would use the tax from vehicle sales and red-light camera fines to reduce traffic congestion.
@3. Headline News Briefs 14 no:Emergency responders blamed for son’s death
The parents of an 8-year-old boy who was fatally injured on the Fourth of July last year are blaming Thurston County emergency responders.
The parents filed a claim Monday saying that damages could exceed $47 million.
The boy, Devan Vyborny, was struck in the chest by shrapnel when an 18-inch cannon fired by his grandfather exploded near Rochester.
The claim says Medic One personnel appeared not to know which medical devices to use and they were slow to take Devan to a hospital. The claim says 911 dispatchers canceled an airlift.
Thurston County spokesman John Tennis says it’s too early to discuss the claim.
Littlerock Deputy Fire Chief Gary Kerker said the crew responded in minutes and did everything they could for the boy.
Seattle: Hearing set on Rossi ballot issue
A judge has set a hearing for Friday in the state Democratic Party’s lawsuit over the way Republican candidate for governor Dino Rossi listed his party preference on the November ballot.
The Democrats sued Secretary of State Sam Reed on Tuesday, saying Rossi should be listed as a Republican on the ballot. They argue that he’s trying to obscure his affiliation by putting himself down as “prefers GOP party.”
King County Superior Court Judge Richard Eadie set a hearing for Friday morning on the Democratic Party’s motion for a temporary restraining order that would prevent ballots from being printed until the court makes a decision. The Secretary of State’s Office says state law makes it clear that designation of a party preference is the candidate’s decision.
@3. Headline News Briefs 14 no:Washing cars not banned, says official
The state Department of Ecology is telling Washington residents that residential car washing is not banned under the state’s clean-water law.
In a letter to cities and counties covered by the clean-water rules, ecology director Jay Manning says there’s significant confusion about how the new rules apply to car washing.
Manning urged cities and counties on Wednesday to join in a public education campaign with the state and not ticket people washing their cars.
However, the Department of Ecology does say soapy, dirty car-wash water — carrying oils, grease and toxic metals — can pose a serious pollution threat to local streams or marine waters.
The department says people should wash their cars on grass or block run-off water from reaching drains that feed to local streams.
Tacoma: Judge tosses challenge to casino
A federal judge has thrown out the city of Vancouver’s challenge to casino plans drawn up by the Cowlitz Tribe.
U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle ruled Wednesday the city’s complaints are too hypothetical.
The tribe is planning to build the casino about 10 miles from the Vancouver city limits, but the land for the project has not yet become part of the tribe’s reservation.
City officials aren’t happy about the proposal. They say they’re worried about gamblers becoming addicted, contributing to problems of crime, bankruptcy, divorce and domestic violence.
@3. Headline News Briefs 14 no:Man pleads innocent in street-racing death
A young man from Spanaway has pleaded innocent to vehicular homicide in a street racing death east of Tacoma.
Pierce County Superior Court Judge Thomas Felnagle released 21-year-old Richard Allen Frazer after the arraignment Tuesday.
Investigators believe Frazer accepted a challenge from 19-year-old Cameron Harbin to race last fall on a residential street. They were going 100 mph before Harbin lost control, crashed and died.
Frazer is accused of engaging in an illegal activity that resulted in another person’s death. He failed to show up for his arraignment last week, but defense lawyer Michael Clark says he didn’t get the court summons because he was splitting time between two homes.
SeaTac: First jetliner to test third runway
The new third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is ready for its first tests.
The Port of Seattle says an Alaska Airlines 737 will perform several touch-and-go landings today as part of the Federal Aviation Administration certification process.
The port says a widebody plane will test the runway next month. It’s scheduled to go into regular operation Nov. 20.
It has taken 15 years and $1.2 billion to complete the 8,500-foot runway. The port had to battle opposition from neighbors and take extensive steps for environmental mitigation and site preparation.
The third runway will allow more planes to land during poor visibility at Sea-Tac.
Walla Walla: Guard faces drug charges
A Washington State Penitentiary guard accused of delivering drugs to a prisoner has been charged.
The 20-year-old Kennewick man, Camren J. Jones, was charged Tuesday in Walla Walla Superior Court with delivering heroin, cocaine, methadone and marijuana. He’s also charged with introducing contraband by giving tobacco and photographs to the inmate.
A police report say Jones was under surveillance Monday, and prison officials confronted him and the inmate when they left a property room with the package containing drugs.
Jones, who resigned after his arrest, told officials that it was the third delivery since July, when two men at his apartment ordered him to take a package to the inmate. Jones told police he received $1,400 for delivering the final two packages.
Associated Press
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