As King 5 News Up Front hits 200, we pause to look back at some of the questions we've asked.
Over the course of 200 shows, we've asked a lot of questions. What did the monorail promise originally? How did the Green River killer escape the death penalty? Why does Costco keep rearranging its store? Just a few of the questions (and answers) we're playing back this week, as we mark a milestone. Your thoughts on the program? Suggestions for the future?
Thanks so much for your 200 shows. I have seen at least 180 of them, almost certainly 190. They are an immense public service in an era of sound byte journalism only now being reclaimed by blogs and this program.
Your credibility, and that of your network, in being fair - and let's say - just is impeccable. I have never felt that KING 5 takes sides and that KING 5's political department, under Mr. Mak's leadership, always calls on the mat both sides when they distort. In fact, when I was outraged about a statement from Ron Sims tonight - I blogged at http://josef-a-k.blogspot.com/2005/08/secretary-reed-tacamo.html the following: "A naked and partisan political ploy". GIVE ME A BREAK! I'm tempted - because of KING 5's stellar reputation as fair, unbiased and just - to accredit that to Ron Sims and cabal rather than MSM spin.
Hopefully you just got a shot of confidence. Please do another 200 shows (partially so I can improve my viewing average).
Gosh, I had all kinds of flash-back happy moments of Pepple and Allen jostling. And Pam Roach - a human cannon if ever there was one who made a wrong turn from the KVI studio.
Sincere congrats.
Melonie Soper said:
I would like to see a segment devoted to the lack of incentives for hybrid car owners in Washington State. Now that we have a clean air bill enacted patterned after California, it appauls me that Washington State still offers the fewest incentives for Hybrid car owners. Our incentives should be patterned after California as well:
State Offered Incentives
All Hybrids qualify for a tax deduction up to $2,000 based on year purchased. Check www.fueleconomy.gov under hybrid vehicles for details.
Arizona Hybrids are allowed to use the HOV lanes regardless of the number of occupants.
California Public agencies in the Bay Area can apply for funds of up to $2,000 towards the purchase of hybrids.
Free parking is available for hybrid vehicles purchased in San Jose after 1/1/03 at downtown public parking facilities and on-street meters throughout the city.
In Santa Barbara County, funding of $1000 for up to ten hybrid vehicles is available for Air Pollution Control District residents.
For more information visit www.driveclean.cal.gov.
Colorado A tax credit of up to $4,713 is available for hybrids.
Conneticut Purchases of HEVs with a fuel economy rating of at least 40 mpg are exempt from sales tax.
Maryland Available tax credits or rebates expired June 30, 2004, but it may still be possible to receive a tax rebate if the product was purchased within the dates of the Clean Energy Incentives Act.
Maine A partial sales tax credit of $500 is available for hybrid cars that DO NOT have a comparable vehicle model, and a credit of $300 is available for cars that DO have a comparable gasoline-powered model.
Minnesota State agencies are required to purchase HEV’s.
Mississippi State universities are required to purchase HEVs.
New Jersey Rebate of up to $4,000 is available for light-duty hybrid purchases. Eligible entities include local governments, state colleges and universities, school districts, and governmental authorities.
New Mexico HEVs with an EPA fuel economy rating of at least 27.5 miles per gallon are eligible for a one-time exemption from the motor vehicle excise tax.
New York Purchasers of qualified HEVs are eligible for a tax credit of $2,000 and a sales tax exemption of $3,000.
Oregon The state offers a Residential Tax Credit (RETC) of up to $1,500 and a Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) for 35% of the incremental cost of purchasing HEVs.
Pennsylvania Grants are available that will pay 20% of the purchase of hybrid electric vehicles. Eligible applicants are schools, municipal authorities, counties, cities, corporations, partnerships and nonprofit entities incorporated or registered in the Commonwealth, and Commonwealth residents.
Texas Funding available for clean vehicle fleets.
Utah The state provides an income tax credit for businesses and individuals for 50% of the incremental cost (up to $3,000) of a clean-fuel vehicle. A hybrid vehicle qualifies only if the same vehicle model is manufactured without the clean-fuel system and the hybrid vehicle otherwise meets the requirements for a clean fuel vehicle.
Virginia If a clean fuel vehicle deduction was claimed on the federal tax return, a tax credit equal to 10% of the amount deducted on the federal return may be claimed for the purchase of hybrid vehicles in Virginia.
Washington Hybrid vehicles with an EPA fuel economy rating of at least 50 mpg during city driving are exempt from emission control inspections.
Wisconsin The state offers an alternative fuel vehicle tax deduction identical to the federal AFV tax deduction.
Note: Bills have been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate that would let states decide whether or not to allow hybrids in high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Virginia have passed or are considering such legislation.
Source: US Department of Energy’s Vehicle Buyer's Guide for Consumers
Eric Harper said:
What ever happend to the three strikes law that was passed. I remember a law that we voted on if a criminal is convicted three times I thought that he/she would be locked up for good? It seems to me that the state seems to be failing on this due to the recent Drunk Driver that killed someone while he failed to show up for yet another court date for a similar if not just as fatal drunk driving accident. It seems to me that if this were enforced we would have alot less criminals out on the streets who are perceived by the courts as not likely to reoffend but convicted of a crime that if let out the chance of them reoffending is high, for instance the man who killed the family in Idaho, kidnapped kids and then killed the boy and kept the little girl. Could that have been because they felt he would not reoffend again but was more than likely too? Lock these people up and throw away the key.
KING 5 News Up Front with Robert Mak 
As King 5 News Up Front hits 200, we pause to look back at some of the questions we've asked.
Thanks so much for your 200 shows. I have seen at least 180 of them, almost certainly 190. They are an immense public service in an era of sound byte journalism only now being reclaimed by blogs and this program.
Your credibility, and that of your network, in being fair - and let's say - just is impeccable. I have never felt that KING 5 takes sides and that KING 5's political department, under Mr. Mak's leadership, always calls on the mat both sides when they distort. In fact, when I was outraged about a statement from Ron Sims tonight - I blogged at http://josef-a-k.blogspot.com/2005/08/secretary-reed-tacamo.html the following: "A naked and partisan political ploy". GIVE ME A BREAK! I'm tempted - because of KING 5's stellar reputation as fair, unbiased and just - to accredit that to Ron Sims and cabal rather than MSM spin.
Hopefully you just got a shot of confidence. Please do another 200 shows (partially so I can improve my viewing average).
Just saw show 200 online :-).
Gosh, I had all kinds of flash-back happy moments of Pepple and Allen jostling. And Pam Roach - a human cannon if ever there was one who made a wrong turn from the KVI studio.
Sincere congrats.
I would like to see a segment devoted to the lack of incentives for hybrid car owners in Washington State. Now that we have a clean air bill enacted patterned after California, it appauls me that Washington State still offers the fewest incentives for Hybrid car owners. Our incentives should be patterned after California as well:
State Offered Incentives
All Hybrids qualify for a tax deduction up to $2,000 based on year purchased. Check www.fueleconomy.gov under hybrid vehicles for details.
Arizona Hybrids are allowed to use the HOV lanes regardless of the number of occupants.
California Public agencies in the Bay Area can apply for funds of up to $2,000 towards the purchase of hybrids.
Free parking is available for hybrid vehicles purchased in San Jose after 1/1/03 at downtown public parking facilities and on-street meters throughout the city.
In Santa Barbara County, funding of $1000 for up to ten hybrid vehicles is available for Air Pollution Control District residents.
For more information visit www.driveclean.cal.gov.
Colorado A tax credit of up to $4,713 is available for hybrids.
Conneticut Purchases of HEVs with a fuel economy rating of at least 40 mpg are exempt from sales tax.
Maryland Available tax credits or rebates expired June 30, 2004, but it may still be possible to receive a tax rebate if the product was purchased within the dates of the Clean Energy Incentives Act.
Maine A partial sales tax credit of $500 is available for hybrid cars that DO NOT have a comparable vehicle model, and a credit of $300 is available for cars that DO have a comparable gasoline-powered model.
Minnesota State agencies are required to purchase HEV’s.
Mississippi State universities are required to purchase HEVs.
New Jersey Rebate of up to $4,000 is available for light-duty hybrid purchases. Eligible entities include local governments, state colleges and universities, school districts, and governmental authorities.
New Mexico HEVs with an EPA fuel economy rating of at least 27.5 miles per gallon are eligible for a one-time exemption from the motor vehicle excise tax.
New York Purchasers of qualified HEVs are eligible for a tax credit of $2,000 and a sales tax exemption of $3,000.
Oregon The state offers a Residential Tax Credit (RETC) of up to $1,500 and a Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) for 35% of the incremental cost of purchasing HEVs.
Pennsylvania Grants are available that will pay 20% of the purchase of hybrid electric vehicles. Eligible applicants are schools, municipal authorities, counties, cities, corporations, partnerships and nonprofit entities incorporated or registered in the Commonwealth, and Commonwealth residents.
Texas Funding available for clean vehicle fleets.
Utah The state provides an income tax credit for businesses and individuals for 50% of the incremental cost (up to $3,000) of a clean-fuel vehicle. A hybrid vehicle qualifies only if the same vehicle model is manufactured without the clean-fuel system and the hybrid vehicle otherwise meets the requirements for a clean fuel vehicle.
Virginia If a clean fuel vehicle deduction was claimed on the federal tax return, a tax credit equal to 10% of the amount deducted on the federal return may be claimed for the purchase of hybrid vehicles in Virginia.
Washington Hybrid vehicles with an EPA fuel economy rating of at least 50 mpg during city driving are exempt from emission control inspections.
Wisconsin The state offers an alternative fuel vehicle tax deduction identical to the federal AFV tax deduction.
Note: Bills have been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate that would let states decide whether or not to allow hybrids in high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Virginia have passed or are considering such legislation.
Source: US Department of Energy’s Vehicle Buyer's Guide for Consumers
What ever happend to the three strikes law that was passed. I remember a law that we voted on if a criminal is convicted three times I thought that he/she would be locked up for good? It seems to me that the state seems to be failing on this due to the recent Drunk Driver that killed someone while he failed to show up for yet another court date for a similar if not just as fatal drunk driving accident. It seems to me that if this were enforced we would have alot less criminals out on the streets who are perceived by the courts as not likely to reoffend but convicted of a crime that if let out the chance of them reoffending is high, for instance the man who killed the family in Idaho, kidnapped kids and then killed the boy and kept the little girl. Could that have been because they felt he would not reoffend again but was more than likely too? Lock these people up and throw away the key.