Other News

The southern part of the U.S. – Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California – will likely have significant wildfires this year. Already fire crews are battling more than a dozen fires just in Texas. But here in the Northwest, the fire outlook is much rosier.

Making headlines around the Northwest this morning:

• Catholic Order Which Runs O'Day H.S. Files Chapter 11
• Panel Approves New 520 Bridge
• Funnel Cloud Appears Over Skagit County
• NFL Draft: Titans take Locker; 'Hawks go for Alabama lineman

Christian Brothers Catholic Order Files for Bankruptcy

The Christian Brothers, a Catholic religious order that runs schools in Seattle and across the country, has filed for bankruptcy. It is the second Catholic order in the United States to do so because of sexual abuse claims.

I got a sneak preview of the new Seattle headquarters of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Wednesday evening, courtesy of Bill Foege, one of several Bills there.

Foege’s title at the Gates Foundation is “senior fellow.” But that doesn’t really tell you much, except to imply he’s old. It certainly doesn’t tell you how tall he is. He’s a very tall senior fellow.

More importantly than what I think, Foege appears to have been one of the key inspirations for Bill and Melinda Gates’ philanthropic mission. That’s basically what Melinda Gates said yesterday to the philanthropy’s staff after introducing those attending to their new home.

Read more:

Here's what's making headlines around the Northwest this morning:

• Last Blast of Winter Today?
• Summer Ferry Surcharge Starts This Weekend
• Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound Under Investigation
• Starbucks Profits Up 20%;  Microsoft to Release 3Q Numbers Today

Really? Warmer, Drier Weather Ahead

It's almost May, but parts of western Washington could still get snow today. But that could be the last of it.

More than 1,000 uninsured people are expected to receive medical care in Tacoma on Saturday.

It's the first large-scale free-clinic event in Washington state, which has about 850,000 uninsured residents. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. It's sponsored by the National Association of Free Clinics and the Washington Free Clinic Association.

Making headlines around the Northwest this morning:

• Boeing 1st Quarter Profits Exceed Wall Street Expectation
• Wintery Weather Hangs on in Washington Mountains
• Lies Hurt, say Tacoma City Officials
• EPA Divers to Survey Sunken Vessel in Seattle

Boeing Profits Exceed Wall Street Expectations

Boeing reports a first-quarter profit of $586 million, enough to beat analyst expectations. The big airplane maker and defense contractor earned 78 cents per share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had been expecting a profit of 70 cents per share. Boeing says it still expects to deliver the new 787 during the third quarter. Revenue in the commercial airplane unit fell 5 percent.

UPDATE: Advance ticket sales have ended. However, additional tickets are available at the door tonight for $10 - cash only, starting at 6pm.

For those who would like to use Twitter to follow and participate, or even suggest questions now, see #SEAsaves and chime in. My colleague Charla Bear has graciously agreed to live-blog the event on Humanosphere and KPLU.

Here are a few thoughts in advance of tonight's event...

[UPDATE/CORRECTION: Bumbershoot's Visual Arts Exhibits will move from the Northwest Rooms to Seattle Center Pavilion and the adjacent courtyard.]

The Space Needle’s owners get a Chihuly museum, a community radio station gets a new home and Bumbershoot’s visual art space gets, well, nobody seems to be sure.