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Up Front Blog |
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June 2008
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Recently by http://blogs.king5.com/bio/rmak.js
We are rebroadcasting this segment on Ap...
A new KING 5 poll finds the vast majority of people believe Sonics owner Clay Benne... Most Washington voters never liked having to "pick a party" and to stick with candidates from only one party. For 70 years, they enjoyed the state's so-called "blanket primary" which allowed voters to pick candidates from any party. When the state political parties challenged the blanket primary in court, voters were furious that they had to declare a party on their ballot. Their response? Pass an initiative--creating the "top-two" primary...
Washington Republican Party Chair Luke Esser admits mistakes were made in tallying results from Saturday's caucus. The party acknowledged the errors after KING 5 News reported Monday at 5:00 that inconsistencies in the party's reporting system raised serious questions about the results. ...
Why did people vote the way they did? What did they say in our exclusive KING 5 polls? Get the story behind the numbers as Democratic strategist Cathy Allen and Republican cons...
Here's a quick guide to video stories and debates...
Are these issues to be expected with an agency as large as the Port? Or does the Port need some major changes?
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From education to the viaduct, from business to health care, we have tried each week to tackle issues that matter to our community. Sometimes, it's not the most flashy television, but we're proud that over the past seven years, the number of people watching KING 5 News Up Front has steadily grown. Tha...
As land gets more scarce and expensive, developers are being forced to put more homes on smaller lots. The net result is we're living closer together than ever before. Are you willing to trade some privacy for an urban village and a planned community?
Oregon's Death with Dignity Act is ten years old and now, Washington state is the next battleground. Supporters say Initiative 1000 will have the signatures to get on the November ballot, forcing voters to think about the end of life. If you're terminally ill, should you be able to get a prescription ...
Taxpayers always suspect the government is wasting money. Now, the Washington Policy Center has published its "piglet" book, claiming to identify some easy cuts. But just how easy is it to trim state government? With Washington state facing a $2.4 billion shortfall, we took a half-dozen examples from...
Here's an interesting Web site from the state Public Disclosure Commission. It tracks county-by-county the fundraising by gubernatorial candidates. A few interesting observations...
A new initiative is aimed at making the King County Council and Executive positions non-partisan; candidates would run without a party affiliation. If it makes the ballot, a new KING 5/Survey USA poll finds 53% would support the idea, 27% would not (600 King County registered voters, margin 4.1%). So ...
From a new tunnel to replace the viaduct to a new, eight-lane 520 bridge, Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi says he has a $15 billion transportation plan. And Rossi says, he can pay for it all with no new taxes and on 520, a toll of only $1.50. So where does the money come from?
They are tiny microchips that could revolutionize business--everything from retail stores to health care. As the cost of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) comes down, the technology is showing up everywhere. But is this a threat to your privacy?
The 1811 Eastlake building is attracting visitors from New York to New Zealand, who are coming to see Seattle's new way of fighting homelessness. It's an 11-million dollar project, giving apartments to the most troublesome alcoholics on the streets--and not forcing them to give up alcohol. Two years i...
NBA Commissioner David Stern blames Seattle's mayor for the Sonics leaving town, to which Mayor Greg Nickels quickly fired back: "This is not a government problem. This is an NBA business model that's broken."
Last fall, voters approved stiffer penalties for insurance companies if they unreasonably deny or delay a claim. So is the problem solved? The industry says there wasn't a problem to begin with. Critics say, the problem still exists, that the pressure on profits means companies are paying out less i...
Oklahoma City voters go to the polls on Tuesday. If they approve a sales tax hike to remodel their Ford Center, will that pave the way for the Sonics to relocate? OKC's mayor says, it's his city's opportunity to become a big-league city...
A music video for Hillary Clinton (
In a Democratic caucus with record turnout, Barack Obama won with a two-to-one margin over Hillary Clinton. On the Republican side, John McCain is the leader but not far ahead of Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul. So with the Washington caucuses over, who gets your vote now? Have you changed your mind?
They've cut the leg room. They've cut out the meals and the drinks. Now, in the ongoing quest to cut costs and stay afloat financially, United Airlines is targeting luggage. If you've bought a non-refundable ticket and you aren't a Mileage Plus member, that second bag will cost $25. A fair deal? >> Continue reading: 
It's caucus time. Who has the advantage in a caucus? Obama, Clinton, McCain, Romney, Huckabee, Paul? And what do you think of having both a caucus and primary in Washington State?
The University of Washington says it is not giving up on its request for a $150 million in taxpayer assistance to renovate Husky Stadium. The proposal got an initial warm reception in Olympia, but by the end of the week, lawmakers were more luke warm. The UW says, the fight isn't over yet.
He wants to get out of Iraq. Abolish the federal income tax. Abolish the Federal Reserve. Phase out Social Security. And make massive cuts to government spending. What do you think of Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul's ideas?
It's Democrats everywhere you turn--in the state house, the state senate, and in the governor's mansion. So what's happening? Is this really good news for Democrats? And where'd the Republicans go? Can Dino Rossi lead a comeback?
Governor Christine Gregoire says, it's a small inconvenience to save lives. She's pushing to institute sobriety checkpoints in Washington State. But critics say, it's a violation of your Constitutional rights...
She has not officially announced her candidacy, but everyone knows she's running. As the legislature arrives back in Olympia, Governor Christine Gregoire has a chance to add a few more bullet points before the campaign begins...
Paula Hammond, the state's new transportation secretary, says the DOT is studying the possibility of making changes to I-5 through downtown Seattle. As more people lean toward replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a surface street, the state is looking for ways to move more traffic through the I-5 "h...
Another year flies by. Now, what are your predictions for next year? Who will be governor-elect? Who will be president-elect? Will the housing market make a comeback? Any prediction is fair game...
Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney gave a speech this week on religion and specifically, on his Mormon faith. The debate over whether evangelical Christians view Mormonism as Christianity is a huge issue--and we barely scratched the surface on TV. So here's a chance for more discussion... >> Continue reading: 
It's a newly-released videotape of an old case that shows a Seattle Police officer striking a handcuffed intoxicated man with a baton. The Police Chief says, after reviewing the videotape, he was hard pressed to fault the officer and the Chief overturned a recommendation by his internal investigators ...
It's the marriage people have tried to explain for years. Now, a new take from author Sally Bedell Smith on the relationship between Bill and Hillary Clinton. How did they operate during the eight years in the White House, and what might Bill Clinton's role be if she were elected in 2008?
Maybe you've noticed--there are more homes on the market. And prices are dropping. Not great news if you're a seller. But if you're a buyer, could this be your opportunity? Of course the question is, where's the bottom?
The numbers are in. After millions of dollars spent on campaign ads and months of debates, the voters have spoken.
Still have a question about something on your ballot? For the past two months, we've been reporting on the issues and races. 
A new exclusive KING 5 poll finds the Roads and Transit measure is extremely close, with a huge number of people still undecided. With absentee ballots arriving, Up Front is airing a one-hour special report on Sunday, October 28th at 10 a.m. on KING...
He's back, but is there an opening for Dino Rossi to unseat Governor Christine Gregoire? The economy's booming and Gregoire's approval rating is up. Is there any campaign strategy that can prompt voters to call for change?
Make no mistake--this isn't a small change of heart. It's a significant re-thinking by Ron Sims on the use of light rail. He surprised everyone by coming out against the Roads and Transit plan. Now, he explains why...
Seattle City Council candidate Venus Velazquez has been arrested for drunk driving. And she's just the latest political candidate to face alcohol-related charges...
She's charged with drunk driving, and admits campaign violations and an exaggerated resume. He once had a restraining order issued against him for allegedly "lunging" across a table. Who gets your vote?
Who's more popular: Insurance companies or trial attorneys? That's the way the debate over Referendum 67 is being framed in TV commercials. But in the end, it could be a simple pocketbook issue...
I just made a quick trip to the midwest and spent more time in airport terminals than in the air. Now, the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics has just released figures on which airlines are the best and worst when it comes to being on time...
A funny thing happened as we prepared to roll on our first Seattle City Council debate. One of the candidates just didn't show up...
When I asked him last week about the Roads and Transit ballot measure, King County Executive Ron Sims, a long-time backer of light rail, said he's staying neutral. But now, for the first time, Sims says he's voting no. "My oldest son will be 80 when it's paid off," he says...
The saying that politics creates strange bedfellows was proven once again this week, at a CityClub debate on roads and transit...
The Roads and Transit campaign has launched its first series of TV commercials, hoping to get you to vote "yes" in November on a package that includes 50 miles more of light rail. Meanwhile, supporters claim their opponents are using misleading figures in their radio ads. Let the campaign begin... >> Continue reading: 
Former Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R) who represented the east side for six terms in Congress, died Wednesday of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 66. Some statements and thoughts on her passing...
In a new KING 5 statewide poll, 71% tell SurveyUSA they've booked a flight online. It seems so simple. But if you really want the best price, maybe you have to play the game...
When a politician is arrested for drunk driving, the textbook response from consultants is a) voluntarily tell the public about the incident, and b) give a clear apology. But Jane Hague's response to a DUI stop is not textbook at all...
Republicans have been harping on mistakes at King County Elections for quite a few years now. So you'd think the King County Elections department might be especially careful when it comes to the voter registration of Luke Esser, the state Republican Party chair. But in an embarrassing mistake, the el...
The massive toy recall leaves many parents frustrated at Mattel. But any parent trying to avoid toys from China quickly realizes, those are the toys kids request: Elmo, Dora, Batman, the Backyardigans. Why? In one word, marketing.
Coming to your November ballot: A massive roads and transit plan. Supporters call it "comprehensive." Does that mean there's enough to like? Or enough to hate?
Remember Hillary Clinton's push for universal health care in the early 90s? After that failure, it seemed politicians were scared stiff to utter the words "universal health care" or "single-payer." So it's noteworthy that as John Edwards came to Seattle, he talked about both...
For weeks now, the mayor and police chief have questioned the credibility and motives of the review board that examines cases of alleged police misconduct. Up Front this week, two board members answer their critics...
It's the rollout weekend for the Boeing 787, a plane significantly different than any other--made of composites and assembled from parts made across the planet. Is it good business or bad policy?
We had so many questions, we could have interviewed the Chief for an hour. But the reality is, we had 14 minutes. So within that time, I think we got three clear messages from Gil Kerlikowske...
A leaked report makes some serious allegations about how Seattle Police investigate charges of misconduct. How well do the police, police themselves?
A memo sent to Seattle city employees threatens to...gulp...ban microwave popcorn. The Fleets and Facilities Department says employees burning popcorn has become a costly problem...
With Web sites like Zillow.com, posting data about homes, square footage, past sale prices, etc., information that was once available only to real estate agents is now assessible to anyone. Do you still need a real estate agent? 
Prosecutors get credit if they're tough. We applaud them if they "throw the book" at criminals. But King County prosecutor Norm Maleng approached the job with much more nuance...
On virtually every front, the Port of Seattle is under fire. 
If you're one of 127,000 Washington state residents who buys an individual health insurance plan from Regence Blue Shield, your premiums are about to go up. Starting in July, Regence announced it is raising rates an average of 19-percent on individual plans.