Martin Kaste

Washington has one of 3 ballot measures that would OK pot beyond medicine

Martin Kaste — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 22:45:20 +0000

Marijuana legalization is back on the ballot this year. California voters defeated a legalization proposal in 2010, but now similar measures have cropped up in three more Western states. This time around, some of the most intense opposition is coming from the earlier pioneers of legalization — the medical marijuana industry.

In Colorado, Amendment 64 "would regulate marijuana much like alcohol," says Howard Wooldridge, a retired police detective from Texas and a longtime campaigner for marijuana legalization. He has come to Greeley, Colo., to wave a sign for the measure.

Faith in Seattle police 'shaken' by DOJ investigation

Martin Kaste — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:40:58 +0000

Police departments have come under increased scrutiny from the Obama administration as the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division steps up investigations of corruption, bias and excessive force.

Some of the targeted law enforcement agencies have had ethical clouds hanging over them for years — the New Orleans Police Department being the prime example — but others, like the Seattle Police Department, aren't exactly usual suspects.

Seattle came to the Justice Department's attention a year and a half ago, after the shooting death of John T.

Mitt Romney tops Washington caucuses

Martin Kaste — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:28:44 +0000

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pulled way ahead of his rivals in Washington State's presidential straw poll on Saturday, with more than one-third of the votes. Romney finished well ahead of Ron Paul, who himself squeaked past Rick Santorum by just over 500 votes. Newt Gingrich had to settle for about one vote in 10.

Turnout at the caucuses was huge, about four times the number of people who participated in 2008.

Sinking ship? Saving Seattle's historic Kalakala ferry

Martin Kaste — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:56:16 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lGA_x31yJU

Raising the minimum wage: Who does it help?

Martin Kaste — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:33:57 +0000

For some of America's lowest-paid workers, the new year means a pay raise. Some states set their own minimum wages, above the federal rate of $7.25 an hour, and that rekindles an old debate over whether minimum wages make sense — especially at a time of high unemployment.

Like several other states, Washington state's minimum wage is indexed to the cost of living. This year, the formula has raised the statewide minimum from $8.67 to $9.04 an hour, making it the nation's highest statewide rate.

Zack Colon is just out of college, and while he prepares for grad school, he works as a chef.

Doctors counter vaccine fears in Pacific Northwest

Martin Kaste — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:40:17 +0000

Parts of the U.S. are seeing a drop-off in vaccination rates among young children. The falling rates don't necessarily track with poverty or other poor public health trends; in fact, a recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report flagged the poorest rates of kindergarten vaccination in relatively prosperous states, like Washington and Oregon.

Public health officials say they see this trend, which they call "vaccine hesitancy," often among well-to-do, educated parents.

Wipeout: When Your Company Kills Your iPhone

Martin Kaste — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:19:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, Amanda Stanton's iPhone suddenly went black.

She had been talking on it and navigating with a GPS app during a work trip to Los Angeles.