Other News

Dear HUD Colleagues,

Today is one of the more difficult days of my time with you.  I want to let you know that at the end of July I am retiring from public service and heading back home to my family in Seattle.

As rewarding as my two years at HUD have been professionally, they have been equally challenging to my family. Living more than 2,000 miles from those I love most is a burden I no longer wish to endure. While there is joy and relief in my decision to go home, it is with a heavy heart I say goodbye to all of you.

Partly sunny. High near 63. Your forecast is here.

Making headlines around the Northwest:

• Tension in Vancouver as Canucks go to Game 7
• 'Planking' gives way to 'facedowns' (videos)
• Off the wire: Plea in torture case, hotel death, more
• Seattle Library looking for a few good gardeners
• Seattle one of the most-photographed places on Earth

DEER PARK, Wash. — A pack of dogs blamed for killing about 100 pets and farm animals in northeastern Washington state has been eliminated.

The Stevens County Sheriff's Office said three of the dogs in the pack have been killed.

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization – Major public and private donors achieved a milestone in global health today by committing funding to immunize more than 250 million of the world’s poorest children against life-threatening diseases by 2015 and prevent more than four million premature deaths.

Vaccines are “miracles,” Bill Gates likes to say, because of their power to prevent death and disease so simply and at such a low cost.

Today, governments and international donors (the Gates Foundation chief among them) agreed to boost funding for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization initiative by $4.3 billion.

In this time of economic recession, GAVI’s success at fund-raising is extraordinary. However, the question must be asked: Does GAVI strike the hardest bargain with drug companies, getting the needed vaccines at the lowest cost?

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U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee says he will announce soon whether he will run for governor.

Inslee issued a statement Monday, shortly after Gov. Chris Gregoire said she would not seek a third term.

Inslee said he appreciated Gregoire's service during difficult economic times and that he would make his campaign intentions known shortly. He has served in Congress for more than a decade, representing the 1st Congressional District that covers northern suburbs of Seattle.

"With the fullest heart and humblest head," Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire announced she is not running for re-election to a third term.

At her announcement Monday at the Capitol, Gregoire said she intends to work hard the next 18 months to pull the state out of the recession. "We're not stopping."

Gregoire said she had no plans after leaving office except to spend more time with her family. She said she will do everything she can to support the re-election of President Obama "but that doesn't mean I'm looking for a job."

Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 60%. More gloomy news about the week's weather here.

Making headlines around the Northwest:

• Gas prices fall again in Washington
• Off the wire: Climber rescued, arrest in torture case
• Trouble brewing in Spokane over 'Sovereigns'
• Last hope for restoring the pygmy rabbit
• Dysfunction: Is Bellevue the next Seattle?

A $4.6 billion project to replace the Highway 520 floating bridge and improve the corridor between Seattle and Bellevue is moving ahead.

The Washington Transportation Department released the final environmental impact statement Thursday for a six-lane bridge to replace the four-lane bridge on Lake Washington.

The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce reports the Federal Highway Administration is expected to approve the project next month. Construction would begin next year and the bridge should be completed by 2015, although the whole project may take until 2018.