The Associated Press

COSMOPOLIS, Wash. – The Cosmopolis City Council has passed a new law on lawns. The height limit is 8 inches.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Scientists say an orange-colored goo that streaked the shore of a remote Alaska village turned out to be fungal spores, not millions of microscopic eggs as indicated by preliminary analysis.

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. – About 90 firefighters are working to contain a 100-acre blaze that is burning in steep terrain northeast of Leavenworth and has forced the closure of Highway 2.

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Work is under way to remove the Condit Dam in southwest Washington and restore salmon and steelhead habitat on the White Salmon River.

The 125-foot tall dam was built in 1913 about three miles from the Columbia River.

A Seattle history museum says Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos has given the institution a $10 million gift.

It's the largest donation in the 59-year history of the Museum of History and Industry. The money will be used to establish a "Center for Innovation" at the new home of the museum, which is set to open in fall 2012.

Washington's jobless rate is turning back up, reaching 9.3 percent in July after falling to as low as 9.1 percent earlier this year.

King County prosecutors have spent nearly $700,000 on two active death penalty cases, but the defense cost is even higher — $4.3 million and climbing.

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg told The Seattle Times death penalty opponents are trying to hold off executions by running up the bills for investigators, forensics and expert witnesses.

A new detailed list from the Office of Financial Management names University of Washington football coach Steve Sarkasian the top paid Washington state employee in 2010, with $1.98 million in gross pay.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – Wenatchee police have contacted a gang that appeared to be the target of a fire that killed two children and warned it not to retaliate.

Sgt. John Kruse says the gang was told retaliation would be very detrimental to solving the homicide.

Chelan County Coroner Wayne Harris says the boys, 4 and 6 years old, died of smoke inhalation.

The Wenatchee World reports the fire is being investigated as arson.

ABERDEEN, Wash. – A biodiesel plant at Aberdeen is operating 24 hours a day, producing fuel using canola oil from Canada.

The Daily World of Aberdeen reports the 4-year-old Imperium Renewables has recovered from struggles the past couple of years thanks to markets in Oregon and Canada driven by environmental standards.

PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington Center for Real Estate Research at Washington State University reports home sales and prices declined in the second quarter statewide.

Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington and his wife of nearly 14 years are divorcing.

The Seattle Democrat has released a statement saying the end of a marriage is "difficult and painful."

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Scientists have identified an orange-colored gunk that appeared along the shore of a remote Alaska village as millions of microscopic eggs.

The chairman of the House Oversight committee has subpoenaed documents from the National Labor Relations Board relating to its lawsuit against Boeing Co.

Two Sedro-Woolley men were driving down a road when they noticed something that turned out to be a dead 16-foot-long python.