- ....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. .. ...

11/25/12 Gregoire Sales Tax



OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Gov. Chris Gregoire's time in office may be best remembered for the major deals she helped broker, often in late-night bargaining sessions in which negotiators were ordered to find a resolution.  Now the Democrat is looking to finalize one more big agreement before she leaves Washington state government.  Over the past year, Gregoire has been working to build support for a congressional plan that would allow states to collect sales tax from online retailers based elsewhere. Similar efforts in Congress over the past decade have all failed, even as online sales have become more common.  Gregoire said the current lame-duck Congress is perhaps the best time to pass the measure, with some Republican governors and lawmakers signaling their support. She said the issue is a matter of fairness, helping states collect taxes that are due and helping local businesses compete on a level playing field with online counterparts.

 

Send via EmailE-Mail
PrintPrint
A   A   A