The deal is official, but the political fight simmers. The state has put its signature on the contract to build the world's largest deep-bore tunnel, under Seattle's waterfront. It would replace the elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct, SR 99. 

Making headlines today:

• Gov's ferry proposal draws fire
• Red light cameras in the hot seat
• A bottlenose dolphin spotted in south Sound

The Seattle Seahawks host the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints Saturday in the NFC playoff game.  Kickoff is at 1:30 at Qwest Field.  Matt Hasselbeck will be the starting quarterback, getting the nod over Charlie Whitehurst, who led the Seahawks to victory over St. Louis for the NFC West title last weekend. 

Sports commentator Art Thiel shared his thoughts on the Saints-Seahawks matchup with KPLU’s Kirsten Kendrick.

It’s sink or swim time for Washington state ferries. That’s the message from Governor Chris Gregoire. The nation’s largest ferry system is under water financially. 

The merger of two of our region’s biggest telephone companies is generating relatively little static. CenturyLink appears likely to get regulatory clearance soon to take over Qwest Communications. But the merger comes with conditions.

When the Seahawks take on the Saints in Saturday's NFL playoff game, more than pride is at stake:  Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn stands to gain some gumbo...or lose some salmon! McGinn and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu have a friendly wager on the outcome.

(8 a.m. ET, Jan. 7: We've added quite a bit to this post, as you'll see below. The additions include comments from Ellen Weiss, the NPR news executive who has resigned, NPR CEO Vivian Schiller and Juan Williams -- the news analyst who was dismissed last October, setting in motion the events that led to today's announcements. Read through to see how the story developed. We're rearranging things so that it's all in chronological order, starting with our original post.)

(8 a.m. ET, Jan. 7: We've added quite a bit to this post, as you'll see below. The additions include comments from Ellen Weiss, the NPR news executive who has resigned, NPR CEO Vivian Schiller and Juan Williams -- the news analyst who was dismissed last October, setting in motion the events that led to today's announcements. Read through to see how the story developed. We're rearranging things so that it's all in chronological order, starting with our original post.)

(8 a.m. ET, Jan. 7: We've added quite a bit to this post, as you'll see below. The additions include comments from Ellen Weiss, the NPR news executive who has resigned, NPR CEO Vivian Schiller and Juan Williams -- the news analyst who was dismissed last October, setting in motion the events that led to today's announcements. Read through to see how the story developed. We're rearranging things so that it's all in chronological order, starting with our original post.)

(8 a.m. ET, Jan. 7: We've added quite a bit to this post, as you'll see below. The additions include comments from Ellen Weiss, the NPR news executive who has resigned, NPR CEO Vivian Schiller and Juan Williams -- the news analyst who was dismissed last October, setting in motion the events that led to today's announcements. Read through to see how the story developed. We're rearranging things so that it's all in chronological order, starting with our original post.)