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Zach Powers on February 17th, 2012
Earlier this week Washington United for Marriage, a statewide campaign leading the effort to lobby in support of marriage equality, celebrated the completion of the first half of its mission when Governor Gregoire signed legislation passing same-sex marriage into law.
Over the past three months Washington United has directed and equipped
Arts Feature
Zach Powers on November 22nd, 2011
LGBT leaders and allies all over Washington are launching a new campaign for marriage equality called Washington United for Marriage. The campaign's goal is to pass a marriage equality bill in the Washington State Legislature and for it to be signed into law by Governor Christine Gregoire. To reach this
Tacoma Week In Review
Zach Powers on October 28th, 2011
Governor Gets Grim
I don't usually cover statewide developments, but yesterday Governor Gregoire released a list of proposed budget cuts totaling $2 billion. The Governor spoke to reporters about ways the state is trying to go about making the colossal cuts needed for it to function, but the bottom line is
Tacoma Week In Review
Zach Powers on October 14th, 2011
Bold Decision by the Tacoma School Board
On Thursday night the Tacoma School Board decided to move ahead with a plan to appoint Deputy Superintendent Carla Santorno to two back-to-back temporary superintendent posts. As The News Tribune reported today, Santorno will first fill the role of superintendent-elect (interim), beginning in January,
Tacoma Week In Review
Zach Powers on October 7th, 2011
TACOMA WATER TECH CLUSTER EARNS SPECIAL DESIGNATION
The Washington State Department of Commerce announced this week that Tacoma's "clean water cluster" will be designated an Innovation Partnership Zone. This Department of Commerce classification doesn't come with new state funding, but was sought by the city in hopes it will assist them
Tacoma Week In Review
Zach Powers on September 23rd, 2011
Teachers Strike Over
For nine school days families weathered the storm that was the Tacoma teachers strike. And then, in a flash, it was over.
That flash turned out to be a long day spent in Governor Gregoire's office. Gregoire demanded negotiations be moved to her office just as the strike threatened to
Tacoma Week In Review
Zach Powers on September 9th, 2011
Still No Contract
Tacoma teachers continue to work and teach without a new contract, and consequently the teacher's union spent yet another week pressuring the Tacoma School District to get one done.
Teachers again demonstrated outside a Tacoma School Board meeting this week, urging the district to come to terms with their
Tacoma Week In Review
Zach Powers on September 2nd, 2011
No teachers' strike - and no contract agreement
On Wednesday night members of the Tacoma Education Association (TEA) voted not to go on strike, instead opting to return to work with no formal contract. The union needed 80-percent of its membership to vote in favor of a strike for one
Tacoma Week In Review
Zach Powers on August 26th, 2011
Hundreds attend and demonstrate at Tacoma School Board meeting
Last night hundreds of educators, parents and community members packed into the Tacoma School Board meeting to urge district leaders to reach a contract agreement and avoid a strike. Dozens more demonstrated outside the building before and throughout the meeting.
While the board
Tacoma Week In Review
Zach Powers on August 19th, 2011
Vialle Dominates but Washington is the Story
Historically, and locally, the power of incumbency has repeatedly proven to be all many elected officials need to ward off challengers and retain their positions. Tacoma, however, seems to have ignored that trend this past week, as sitting Tacoma School Board member Kim Golding
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Recent Blog Posts
Spew Blog
Zach Powers on January 31st, 2012
TACOMA 2012 STATE OF THE CITY >>>
Last night at Go Local's second annual Shift Happens event Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland delivered her 2012 State of the City Address. This year's address was less of a pep rally than last year's State of the City Address, and instead was calm,
Spew Blog
Zach Powers on September 30th, 2011
ROCK THE VOTE (OR WHATEVER) >>>
Every odd-number year Tacomans vote to determine which citizens will fill available seats on the Tacoma School Board, City Council, Parks Board, Port Commission and Civil Service Board. Often these campaigns can seem like nothing more than halftime acts between even-year elections, when citizens vote
Spew Blog
Zach Powers on September 2nd, 2011
IT HAPPENED IN AND AROUND TACOMA THIS WEEK >>>
It was a whirlwind week in the greater Tacoma area. In his column this week, Weekly Volcano scribe Zach Powers discusses the Tacoma School Distric battle, the Medical Marijuana Task Force roster, the medical pot moratorium public hearing, the latest from the
Spew Blog
Zach Powers on August 26th, 2011
IT HAPPENED IN AND AROUND TACOMA THIS WEEK >>>
Last night hundreds of educators, parents and community members packed into the Tacoma School Board meeting to urge district leaders to reach a contract agreement and avoid a strike. Dozens more demonstrated outside the building before and throughout the
Spew Blog
Zach Powers on July 30th, 2011
COUNTY CHARTER UP FOR DEBATE >>>
Granted, I'm relatively new to Tacoma and where I grew up we didn't have counties, but before last week I didn't know what the Pierce County Charter. I didn't know the details of why - all of a sudden - it may
Spew Blog
Zach Powers on July 22nd, 2011
BACK FROM VACATION >>>
Corrigan Gommenginger has announced his intention to run for Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer. According to reports in the News Tribune, Gommenginger is only 26 but has been serving on the boards of nonprofits for eight years. He says he works as Director of Finance for a
Spew Blog
Zach Powers on July 8th, 2011
IT HAPPENED IN T-TOWN THIS WEEK >>>
Thursday afternoon dozens gathered outside the City of Tacoma's Municipal Building to witness the raising of the LGBT Pride Flag in honor of Pride Week in Tacoma. The flag can be seen as far away as three blocks. As it was
Spew Blog
Zach Powers on July 1st, 2011
IT HAPPENED IN OR AROUND T-TOWN THIS WEEK >>>
What better way to celebrate America's independence than with news and rumors about an election that's a year and a half away. This week saw visits from hopeful representatives, declarations of candidacies, and even a heavyweight change his mind.
Spew Blog
Zach Powers on May 27th, 2011
AND WHAT THAT HAS TO DO WITH T-TOWN >>>
Local news this week has been rightfully dominated by the down-to-the-wire state budget passed in Olympia. This week lawmakers worked fast and furious to pass a budget, ending the 30-day overtime in dramatic fashion. However, at the culmination of
Spew Blog
Zach Powers on May 13th, 2011
In search of some local political scensterism I stopped by Tacoma City Councilman David Boe's campaign kick-off party at the Maritime Museum Wednesday evening. Listening to the night's speeches made two things clear: apparently urban-focused architects make fantastic city council members (makes sense), and David Boe
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