- ....Breaking News.MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - The Washington Transportation Department says 67,000 vehicles a day used the stretch of Interstate 5 through Mount Vernon that is now blocked by the collapse of the Skagit River bridge. Mount Vernon is about 60 miles north of Seattle and 40 miles south of the Canada Border. The roadblock on both directions of I-5 is expected to cause a major disruption in trade and tourism between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. The Transportation Department has set up detours. The closest is within sight of the I-5 bridge and mostly used for local traffic between Mount Vernon and Burlington. The department also is recommending detours using Highway 20 and Highway 9 that add tens of miles to a trip. Officials are urging drivers to avoid the area if possible. .. ...

11/02/12 Strong Turnout Expected



SEATTLE (AP) - The Secretary of State's office has announced that 3.9 million people registered to vote this year, marking a new record.

Spokesman Dave Ammons says that in 2008 that number was 3.63 million. He says the 3.9 million registered voters is an increase of 180,000 since the August primary.

Earlier this week, State Secretary Sam Reed predicted that the state will see an 81 percent voter turnout by the time elections are over. Washington's record is 79 percent.

Reed says the highly competitive races for president and governor, as well as some of the most compelling ballot measures in the country, such as gay marriage and marijuana legalization, will compel people to vote.

In August, Reed predicted a 46 percent turnout for the primary. The final tally was 38.5 percent.

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