Tag Archives: State: Washington

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports: A federal grand jury accused a Thai woman Friday of operating brothels in Kirkland, Bellevue and SeaTac. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Chomphoonut Dongird on Thursday on a charge of conspiracy to transport individuals in …

Stateline.org reports: “Michigan, North Carolina and Washington state — are being asked to consider a different controversial issue: whether potential cures for millions of Americans are worth the moral cost of destroying human embryos.”

“The resolution was adopted unanimously by the group’s 14-member Board of Governors despite considerable opposition from association members, board president Mark Johnson of Seattle said.”

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports: The Supreme Court said state law, at the time of Smith’s death, required that undesignated organs go to hospitals, and that Stanley Medical wasn’t an authorized recipient. The justices affirmed the dismissal of some of Adams’ …

LifeNews.com reports: “Backers of euthanasia promise to spend as much as $1 million on making Washington the next state to legalize assisted suicide. The group that sponsored Oregon’s first-in-the-nation law has already put in over $300,000 for the ballot measure …

The Yakima-Herald Republic reports: Yakima moved a step closer Thursday to passing a law that would restrict the location of new adult businesses but allow existing ones to stay open. The law, which the city’s Urban Area Regional Planning Commission …

The AP reports: “Thurston County Superior Court Judge Richard Hicks ruled Friday that [unemployment] benefits were owed to Dean Lake who quit his job to care for his dying partner, Tony Sisneros.”

The Seattle Times carries this transcript of an interview with the two candidates. The current Governor, Christine Gregoire had this to say: Q. For many people it is a religious/moral issue. You are Catholic, how do you balance your religious …

Today, the 9th Circuit issued an amended opinion in the case of Truth v. Kent Public School District, No. (9th Cir.  Sept. 9, 2008).  ”The opinion filed on April 25, 2008 in the above-captioned case is amended only to include the …

When he paid for the sign about a month ago in support of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, his goal never was to change people’s minds. It was to get people thinking and talking. And maybe, just maybe, get a few more members for the foundation, which fights for the separation of church and state.

LifeNews.com reports: “A new poll shows a plurality of voters favor a measure appearing on the November ballot in Washington that would make the state the second to legalize assisted suicide. Only Oregon currently allows the grisly practice and I-1000 …

The Seattle Times has this editorial arguing that Washington Pharmacists should be required to violate their consciences by distributing “emergency contraception.” Related: ADF attorney available to media following ‘right of conscience’ hearing 9th Circuit thwarts Wash. state’s attempt to stall …

http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4598 ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND MEDIA ADVISORY July 7, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 ADF attorney available to media following ‘right of conscience’ hearing WHO: ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley WHAT: Answering questions from …

Citizen Link reports: “A Wal-Mart Supercenter in Washington state has decided to drop its association with Planned Parenthood, The Christian Post reported.”

The Yakima-Herald reports: A proposed zoning ordinance that would have put severe restrictions on sexually-oriented businesses in Yakima has been quietly withdrawn. City officials acknowledged the ordinance has been removed from Thursday’s agenda of the Regional Planning Commission and was …

The AP reports: Supporters need to collect about 225,000 valid voter signatures by July 3 to get the “Washington Death with Dignity Initiative” on the November ballot. The campaign has raised more than $1 million, more than enough for a …

The Seattle Times reports: “Owners of some adult sex shops in Yakima say a city zoning proposal would push them out of town. Planners are proposing that adult shops be at least 500 feet away from homes, schools, parks or …

The Seattle Times reports: Federal prosecutors Monday filed a temporary restraining order against three Seattle-area strip clubs and their owners, alleging, among other things, that they failed to report income, costing the city of Seattle thousands of dollars in tax …

http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4537 ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND NEWS RELEASE May 29, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom Wash. school district agrees to respect student prayer meetings ADF attorneys win settlement from school district that prohibited students …

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has issued this press release. It reports: The Internal Revenue Service should investigate a Washington state religious group that engaged in fund-raising for a gubernatorial candidate, says Americans United for Separation of …

The Wall Street Journal reports on a science and math grant that the Gates Foundation has awarded to teachers who demonstrate results through their students.  Apparently, the Washington Teacher unions could not abide this kind of merit pay for teachers.

One of those surveyed in the study said about a third of those selling sex in the Spokane area had been sold into prostitution by their mothers . . .

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled Thursday that Washington pharmacists’ rights of conscience will be protected while an appeal by state officials who oppose those rights moves forward.

A federal appeals court has upheld an injunction in a lower court ruling that halted a new state requirement forcing pharmacists to fill prescriptions for all drugs.

It turns out that 638 students out of a total of 1,410 walked out to make a statement against the DOS, not 495 as the Seattle Times reported (relying on Principal Randy Taylor’s count).

A U.S. appeals court on Friday revived a lawsuit by Christian students who claimed their Washington state school district unfairly refused to recognize their Bible study club as a school-sponsored group.

“Day of Silence inside Mount Si High School meant to show support for gay and lesbian students erupted in noisy protests outside.”

Pastor Ken Hutcherson said on 710 KIRO’s Dori Monson Show that the “Day of Silence,” in support of gay and lesbian rights, is being forced on students at Mt. Si High School in Snoqualmie.

The Family Policy Institute of Washington, based in Lynn­wood, is absorbing the Washington Family Foundation of Spokane to form a single association intent on getting conservatives out to vote and turning their values into legislation . . .

But some Christian parents in the area are concerned their children will bused in to hear from the world-recognized Tibetan Buddhist leader . . . Hiram Sasser, the director of litigation with the Liberty Legal Institute, says there is no cause for concern — at least legally . . . .

ADF filed a federal lawsuit against a Washington school district Wednesday after officials refused to honor the rights of Christian students wishing to assemble on campus during non-instructional time.

Rainbow Wedding Network has chosen Seattle as the newest location for the company’s upcoming GLBTQ Wedding & Family Expo and Rally for Equality.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled Wednesday that a six-foot granite monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments in the city of Everett does not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Alliance Defense Fund funded a friend-of-the-court brief filed by Steve Fitschen of the National Legal Foundation.

An article by Mike Bailey of The Columbian: But as laws evolve for same-sex relationships in Washington, gay couples in Clark County say there’s been little change in their everyday reality. Some say they’ve discovered Clark County’s attitudes toward same-sex …

This ACLU press release reports: The American Civil Liberties Union recently welcomed Larry Frankel as the new State Legislative Counsel for the Washington Legislative Office. Frankel oversees the WLO State Legislative Department, which provides support to the 53 ACLU affiliate …

A Washington State Board of Pharmacy regulation that requires pharmacies to dispense all medications in a timely manner does not trample on religious freedom rights and should be upheld, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has told a federal appeals court.

Domestic partners will be granted more than 170 of the benefits and responsibilities given to married couples under a measure signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

They claim five students, including the girl, were barred from meeting for religious discussion and prayer in a room where other students could gather for nonreligious purposes.

ADF attorneys filed a federal lawsuit against a Washington school district Wednesday after officials refused to honor the rights of Christian students wishing to assemble on campus during non-instructional time.

“The bill also provides that institutional chaplains appointed by the Department of Corrections “shall not be required to violate the tenets of his or her faith when acting in an ecclesiastical role.”

The Senate gave final approval Tuesday on a 29-20 vote after minimal debate. The bill now goes to Gov. Christine Gregoire, who is expected to sign it.

Pharmacists and drug-store owners in Washington can still refuse to sell the “morning-after pill” if they have religious objections to the emergency contraceptives, a federal judge has ruled.

. . . a Washington bill to expand benefits granted to domestic partners has passed the Washington House on a party line vote.

Chaplain who recited the first Hindu prayers in Colorado and New Mexico Senates last week, will be reading the similar first Hindu opening prayers in three more Western states . . .

The ACLU has a new project in Washington state to tackle the “criminalization of marijuana.”

“They [the union] absolutely don’t want a precedent of religious objectors being able to choose their own charity . . . ”

What next? The market demands nude coffee servers?

Today’s FRC Washington Weekly Update reports on the status of the marriage battle in several states.  In addition to the states mentioned by FRC, battles over marriage or domestic partnerships are also brewing in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, …

Glen has these commentaries in the wake of Washington’s marriage ruling:
# Tackling the Marriage Debate, Breakpoint, 7.28.2006
# The Pro-Legalization Agenda is Grounded on Flawed Premise, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7.27.2006