Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - Page updated at 04:39 a.m.
EU nations' reality: Greece's woes are theirs, too
Wealthy European nations are moving closer toward swallowing a bitter pill: rescuing Greece from its overspending before its debts drag down the euro and stock markets all the way to Wall Street.
Round 2: Snow slams Mid-Atlantic, points north
Plows that have been rolling around the clock for days in the nation's capital, Philadelphia and Baltimore won't be heading for the garage any time soon as a second major storm in a week moved into the snowbound region Wednesday.
UPDATE - 03:08 AM
For defense team, singer's fame may pose challenge
Michael Jackson's fame could pose a challenge for Dr. Conrad Murray's defense team as his lawyers fight an involuntary manslaughter charge against the physician in the singer's death.
Political supporters clash in streets of Sri Lanka
Government supporters hurled stones at thousands of opposition activists demonstrating against the arrest of their defeated presidential candidate in Sri Lanka's capital Wednesday.
UPDATE - 03:00 AM
Storm dumps rain, hail, snow in S. California
The latest Pacific storm that brought heavy rain, hail and snow to Southern California is heading east, but the mudslide threat is not over for communities below wildfire-scarred mountains.
UPDATE - 02:53 AM
UN envoy in North Korea to spur nuke talks
A senior U.N. envoy held talks with North Korean officials Wednesday and the North's top nuclear negotiator met his Chinese counterpart amid an international push for the regime to rejoin disarmament negotiations.
UPDATE - 02:51 AM
Greece leads markets higher amid EU rescue hopes
Greek shares led world markets higher Wednesday amid mounting hopes that German opposition to a European Union financial rescue package for the heavily indebted country is waning.
UPDATE - 02:43 AM
Officials: Afghan avalanches kill 157 people
The death toll from massive avalanches that blocked a mountain pass north of Kabul soared to 157, as hundreds more remained trapped in their snowbound vehicles, Afghan officials said Wednesday.
Wednesday NBA basketball TV Radio 6 p.m. Portland at Phoenix CSN 11:30 p.m.* Portland at Phoenix CSN College basketball 4 p.m. Men, Connecticut at Syracuse...
School levies passing in most area districts
Voters were showing their support for most area school districts, with partial returns from Tuesday's special election favoring passage of billions of dollars in levy and bond measures to operate, maintain and build schools.
Hundreds welcome the Olympic Torch at only U.S. stop
Just days before the 2010 Winter Olympics open in Vancouver, the Olympic Torch made its first and only visit to U.S. soil Tuesday during a ceremony at the Peace Arch monument.
Teen is beaten in bus tunnel; Metro to review policies
The beating last month of a 15-year-old girl in the transit tunnel at Westlake Center as security personnel watched without intervening is prompting a review of King County Metro's security policies for its unarmed guards.
Almira/Coulee-Hartline 81, Northport 46 Archbishop Murphy 52, Lakewood 42 Arlington 60, Everett 48 Bainbridge 50, West Seattle 48 Bellevue...
Phil Harris, 53, of 'Deadliest Catch,' dies
Phil Harris, the fishing boat captain whose adventures off the Alaska coast were captured on the television show "Deadliest Catch," has...
Anrio Adams' 41 points lead Franklin boys to victory / Prep Basketball Roundup
Sophomore guard Anrio Adams poured in 41 points as Franklin, the defending Class 3A state champion, beat Nathan Hale 99-69 in a Metro League boys game.
Rainier Beach stops Chief Sealth, 55-45 / Prep Boys Basketball
Aaron Fuller played a big defensive role against 6-foot-6 Tomas Ogbaslassie of Chief Sealth and helped second-ranked Rainier Beach to a 55-45 Metro League victory Tuesday night.
How the beverage industry doused plan for soft-drink tax
Employing a broad-based lobbying effort, the soft-drink industry has smothered a plan to tax sugared beverages — a plan advocates...
King County library measure ahead by slight margin
By the narrowest of margins, voters in King County were approving a ballot proposition that would keep the King County Library System from having to make substantial cuts in its budget in 2011 and beyond.
No. 6 Purdue triumphs at 10th-ranked Michigan State | College basketball
E'Twaun Moore scored a season-high 25 points and JaJuan Johnson added 19, lifting No. 6 Purdue to a 76-64 victory over No. 10 Michigan State in a Big Ten basketball game on Tuesday night.
Steve Kelley
Other short-track skaters on Apolo Ohno: 'He's our Babe Ruth'
As the Vancouver Winter Olympics are about to launch, U.S. short-track speedskaters admire all that Apolo Ohno has accomplished in his sport, and there's no hint of jealousy.
Medical pot exceeds law, but no charges
Calling the law unclear, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said Tuesday he will not file criminal charges against a former Seattle man who police said had more plants than allowed under state law at his community medical marijuana garden.
Two names dominate as Seattle begins police-chief search
The search for Seattle's next police chief has moved into high gear and could come down to an insider versus an outsider, including interim Police Chief John Diaz and Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.
State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases
Sometimes it seems clear a bill will pass the Legislature before the first vote is cast. That's the case with Senate Bill 6843, which would...
Woman struck and killed on I-5 in south Seattle
A woman walking along Interstate 5 in south Seattle has been struck and killed by a truck and a car.
Anti-Olympic protesters converge on Vancouver
As Vancouver takes the world stage this week as host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, thousands of protesters with a rainbow of causes are planning to crash the party and potentially disrupt the games.
Brown pelicans struggling to survive
All along the Oregon coast over the past month, hundreds of brown pelicans have turned up dead, starving or begging for food. As many as 1,000...
Fund For The Needy donors as of Feb. 8
A list of recent donors to The Seattle Times Fund For The Needy as of Feb. 8.
Danny Westneat
In what world can the word "in" mean "out? " And the number "one" actually mean "two," at least when it comes time to pay your bill? In American health care...
Exec charged with lying to grand jury to get out of jail
For the second time in two days, federal prosecutors on Tuesday failed to persuade a judge to keep in jail a Bellevue executive charged with lying to a Seattle grand jury about having sex with a stripper.
Seattle physician Brian Krabak will do more than treat injuries at Winter Olympics
UW Medical Center's Brian Krabak, who's working at his third Olympics, will be treating injured Olympic athletes at Whistler, but also understands mental aspects of injuries to world-class athletes.
Early risers gather for glimpse of Olympic Torch
People gather early Tuesday morning to wait for the Olympic Torch to pass through the Peace Arch at the U.S.-Canadian border.
Federal judge upholds jail release of Intelius exec charged with lying to jury
For the second time in two days, federal prosecutors on Tuesday failed to convince a judge to jail a Bellevue executive who has been charged with lying to a Seattle grand jury about having sex with a stripper.
Man found shot dead in pickup truck in Seattle
A man has been found shot to death in a pickup at a gas station near Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Mercer Street tunnels to be closed Tuesday and Wednesday nights for cleaning
The Mercer Street on- and off-ramps at Interstate-5 in downtown Seattle will be closed tonight and Wednesday night so the Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews can wash the walls of the north and southbound tunnels and clean debris from the gutters.
Port commision agrees to pay $300M for tunnel project
The Port of Seattle Commission voted Tuesday to approve a memorandum of agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation, agreeing to pay $300 million toward the new tunnel that will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
An exhibit of more than 150 works of art by Picasso is coming to Seattle Art Museum in October.
State biologists to kill bighorn sheep
YAKIMA — - State and federal wildlife officials will begin killing some wild bighorn sheep in the Yakima River Canyon later this month to curb the spread of pneumonia.
Why you can't see live streaming of Olympics — at least not legally
Because NBC owns the U.S. rights to the Vancouver Olympics and is showing them on tape delay on the West Coast, you can't see most events live. Or can you?
Washington women recruits who left have no regrets
While Seattle-area natives Sara Morton and Mackenzie Argens remained, former teammates Candice Nichols, Jess McCormack, Kali Bennett and Katelan Redmon left. A fifth player, Nicole Romeo, returned to Australia last year due to lack of playing time
Bud Withers
Pac-10 "very seriously" looking at expansion
New Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said Tuesday that the conference is examining possible expansion as the Big Ten is courting new members. But which schools make the most sense to add?
Storm signs Le'coe Willingham from champion Mercury | WNBA
Forward started 61 of 68 games in Phoenix, averaged 10 points a game in 2009 title season.
Washington men need to cure road woes this week
Washington's 0-6 record on the road is a concern, but coach Lorenzo Romar believes his team will play with more energy this week at California and Stanford.
Redmond triplets remember their selfless mother
Sally Whitaker, who died Jan. 25 of ovarian cancer, was honored at the Redmond boys basketball team's senior night. Three days before their 18th birthday, her three grieving children remember her strength and devotion.
BBC vet Arlo White, 36, to succeed Kevin Calabro as Sounders FC play-by-play broadcaster
Sounders FC will introduce its fans to the new TV and radio voice of the team, Arlo White, at an event Wednesday in Seattle.
New Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates likes what he sees, keeps mum on Walter Jones
Bates says scheme will resemble what he learned from Denver's Mike Shanahan
Leading times reported to the Washington Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association, through Feb. 8:
New Orleans is jazzed during parade for Super Bowl champions | NFL
Only a Super Bowl victory parade could upstage Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Floats carrying Saints players, coaches and team owner Tom Benson rolled past tens of thousands of jubilant fans in downtown New Orleans on Tuesday, two days after the 43-year-old franchise won its first NFL championship.
Washingtonwrestlingreport.com rankings, as of Feb. 7.
Kevin Durant scores 33 as Oklahoma City stops Portland 89-77
Kevin Durant has scored at least 25 points in 25 consecutive games
Mark Hendrickson, Baltimore Orioles finalize $1.4 million deal | Baseball
Left-hander Mark Hendrickson, a Mount Vernon native who played baseball and basketball for Washington State, has finalized a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles that guarantees him $1.4 million. Hendrickson, 35, was 6-5 with a 4.37 earned-run average in 53 games with Baltimore last year.
St. Louis running back Steven Jackson will not face criminal charges | NFL
Running back Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams won't face criminal charges over allegations he beat a girlfriend who was nine months pregnant with the couple's child at his Las Vegas home last year, a police spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Vancouver Canucks lose at Tampa Bay | NHL
Martin St. Louis scored two third-period goals, Antero Niittymaki stopped 39 shots and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 in an NHL game Tuesday night.
Ron Judd
Canada needs a big loan from U.S. — snow
Washington's Mount Baker has snow, but its neighbor to the north, Cypress Mountain, doesn't. How about we truck some snow up to them? They can pay us back later.
Sideline Chatter
Further proof that Saints fans are batty
What's dis with the Who Dat? "You could tell the Saints fans," wrote the Miami Herald's Dave Barry of his Super Bowl experience, "because...
Community sports & recreation datebook
Baseball 2010 Baseball Coaches Clinic — with Steve Goucher and Shane Cronin are offered weekends through March at your location. $400 league payment. Free to...
WIAA/Seattle Times state athletes of the week
WIAA/Seattle Times State Athletes of the Week for Feb. 1-6.
Olympics
Olympic athletes' village gets a great review
Rogge and members of the International Olympic Committee executive board visited the $1 billion waterfront village where about 2,700 athletes and team officials will be staying during the games.
Death of Nancy Kerrigan's father is ruled a homicide | Figure skating
The family of two-time Olympic figure-skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan insisted Tuesday it does "not blame anyone" for her father's death and criticized a medical examiner's finding Daniel Kerrigan died of a heart-rhythm problem after a fight with his son at their home in Stoneham, Mass. Daniel Kerrigan's death was ruled a homicide by a state medical examiner.
NW Briefs
Washington State cornerback Brandon Jones has been dismissed from team after reported DUI
Cornerback from O'Dea kicked off squad after violating team rules
Americans get third-period goal to beat Seattle
Jordan Messier scored at 10:50 of the third period to snap a tie as the Tri-City Americans earned a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds...
Driving to the Olympics? Get updates on border delays
If you're driving to Vancouver, B.C. or Whistler for the Winter Olympics, here's how to get details on U.S.-Canada border crossings, wait times and more — including while you're on the road.
RealNetworks makes key play with Rhapsody spinoff
RealNetworks announced Tuesday it's going to restructure Rhapsody and spin off the subscription music service into a stand-alone company.
Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
Less than two years after switching to beverages from Seattle underdog Jones Soda on their flights, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air will move back to pop giant Coca-Cola on March 1.
Lots of Buzz over Google latest bid at social networking
Google, which has faltered in its attempts to break into the booming social-networking business, is making another bid to counter the growing...
Cheaper brands of liquor taste better in tight economy
Americans' love affair with top-shelf booze cooled last year as the recession took a toll on high-priced liquor. People drank more liquor but turned to cheaper brands, according to a report by an industry group. They also drank more at home and less in pricier bars and restaurants in an effort to save money.
Dendreon revving up drug plants ahead of FDA decision
Dendreon will have three plants to make its Provenge prostate cancer drug by mid-2011, said Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Gold.
Henry Paulson, Warren Buffett foresee potential profit from bank bailout
Henry Paulson, the former Treasury chief, and billionaire Warren Buffett said taxpayers will recover every cent paid out to banks during...
Seattle Genetics' 4Q loss narrows as revenue doubles
Bothell based biotechnology company Seattle Genetics said its fourth-quarter loss narrowed on higher revenue from partnerships.
JAL spurns Delta alliance, stays with American Airlines
Japan Airlines officially announced on Tuesday that it has chosen to stay part of American Airlines' Oneworld alliance, rejecting an offer to switch to Delta Air Lines' SkyTeam group.
Despite all the nice talk, partisanship reigns
Partisanship is reaching new heights in Washington, even as President Barack Obama makes almost daily pleas to get along. He's scheduled a bipartisan health care summit, and just Tuesday he hosted GOP leaders at the White House for the first time in two months.
FDA postpones panel meeting to review Cell Therapeutics drug
Cell Therapeutics said the Food and Drug Administration had postponed Wednesday's meeting of outside cancer experts who were to review the Seattle-based biotech company's drug pixantrone because of the severe weather conditions in Washington, D.C.
Greece financial bailout likely, but pain of cuts to follow
Europe scrambled for ways to prop up Greece's crumbling government finances Tuesday, restoring some stability to this unlikely keystone of the global financial system and sending markets higher around the world.
Obama would OK health bill minus items he pursued
Signaling he'd meet critics part way on health care, President Barack Obama said Tuesday he's willing to sign a bill even if it doesn't deliver everything he pursued through a year of grinding effort at risk of going down as a dismal failure.
Apartment giant buys complex near Seattle University
National apartment giant Equity Residential of Chicago has purchased the Rianna Apartments near Seattle University for $33.4 million.
Boeing makes exec changes in finance, shared services
Boeing named corporate controller and vice president of finance Rob Pasterick the president of the company's Shared Services Group.
Japan Airlines rejects Delta, stays with American
Japan Airlines, wooed for months by Delta Air Lines with promises of cash and global reach, spurned the world's biggest carrier and opted to keep its alliance with American Airlines.
Micron to buy Numonyx in $1.3 billion stock deal
Micron Technology says it plans to buy fellow memory chip maker Numonyx in an all-stock transaction the companies value at $1.27 billion.
Stocks jump on hopes for Greece debt rescue
The Dow Jones industrial average jumped back above 10,000 on hope that a resolution was near for Greece's debt crisis.
Dubai tower shut after visitors stuck in elevator
Visitors on the observation deck of the world's tallest tower heard a loud boom, then saw dust that looked like smoke seeping through a crack in an elevator door 124 floors above the ground. The 15 people inside were trapped for 45 frightening minutes until rescuers managed to pry open the doors.
FAA investigating Southwest Airlines again
Federal officials are investigating Southwest Airlines over the way it handled structural repairs on dozens of jets, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Google reduces fee to break Nexus One contract
Google Inc. is shaving $200 off the fee that it charges customers of its new Nexus One phone to break a service contract with T-Mobile, as federal regulators continue to probe such fees and the rationale for them.
GOP blocks Obama labor board nominee
Senate Democrats on Tuesday failed to push through President Barack Obama's choice of a union lawyer to serve on the National Labor Relations Board after two of their own joined Republicans to block the nomination.
Job openings plunged by one-quarter last year
Finding a job got much tougher last year, as the number of available openings fell by nearly one quarter.
Strong overseas sales put fizz in Coca-Cola's 4Q
International sales again added fizz to Coca-Cola's fourth quarter, while sales in North America softened, to lift profit 55 percent in the last three months of the year.
Toyota seeks damage control, in public and private
In public, Toyota is running apologetic TV ads and vowing to win back customers' trust. Behind the scenes, the besieged carmaker is trying to learn all it can about congressional investigations, maybe even steer them if it can.
Wholesale inventories cut 0.8 percent in December
Businesses slashed wholesale inventories sharply in December, a much weaker showing than expected and a troubling sign that companies are still too pessimistic about the economy to begin restocking shelves on a sustained basis.
Ben & Jerry's CEO and Vice President of Global Brand Development Walt Freese is resigning, the ice cream company announced Tuesday.
Jan. freeze damaged 4 percent of Fla. oranges
Florida citrus growers lost more than 4 percent of their orange crop and more than 3 percent of their grapefruit crop during last month's freezing weather, according to estimates released Tuesday.
New indictment boosts charges against Rajaratnam
Federal prosecutors boosted their insider trading charges case Tuesday against the man they say was behind history's largest hedge fund insider trading case.
Private colleges looking to rein in financial aid
In the last year, the nation's private colleges have laid off staff, shelved construction projects, slashed sports teams and turned down thermostats to cut costs. But student financial aid has kept flowing.
S&P cuts outlook on Citigroup, Bank of America
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services on Tuesday cut its outlook on Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. to "negative" from "stable," saying bond holders could take a hit if the government steps in again to support banks.
SAS to raise cash, cut 700 jobs after Q4 loss
SAS stocks nosedived Tuesday after the Scandinavian airline group posted a fourth-quarter loss and asked shareholders for 5 billion kronor ($670 million) to help repair its ailing finances.
Warner CEO sees e-book `fracas' as helping music
The head of Warner Music Group expressed hope on Tuesday that the recent "fracas" over the price of e-books would help give content creators such as his company more pricing power over device makers.
Southwest launches 3-day fare sale
Southwest airfares start at $39 each way on some routes under 500 miles in sale ending Thursday.
Consumers tepid as Disney posts flat 1Q profit
Consumers sent tepid signals to The Walt Disney Co. during the holiday quarter, as many of them still required discounts to step into theme parks and reduced spending on food, beverages and merchandise when they got there.
Delta, US Airways may drop planned slot swap
The government says Delta Air Lines and US Airways can swap takeoff and landing slots at airports in New York and Washington, but there's a catch: They must sell some of the slots to protect competition.
drugstore.com posts 4Q loss despite sales growth
Bellevue-based Internet retailer Drugstore.com said expenses related to its planned purchase of another Web site operator contributed to...
McDonald's sales figure rises 2.6 percent in Jan.
McDonald's Inc., the world's largest fast-food chain, said Tuesday a key sales comparison rose 2.6 percent in January, as strong overseas sales more than offset a decline in the U.S.
MillerCoors 4Q profit rises on savings
The joint venture of SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing turned a fourth-quarter profit through cost savings, though the shaky economy cut into revenue from beer.
NYC developer charged with stealing from investors
A real estate developer who once claimed to own $2.7 billion dollars worth of New York skyscrapers has been charged with stealing millions of dollars from investors.
Online ad improvement seen in IAC's 4Q loss
Internet company IAC/InterActiveCorp lost $1 billion in the fourth quarter because it wrote down the value of its search business, but the results beat expectations and offered the latest indication that the online advertising market is improving.
Analysis
The government could spend $708 billion on the Pentagon this year if Congress were to approve the Obama budget plan to replace old equipment...
Pulte Homes Inc. said Tuesday its loss narrowed in its fourth quarter, and the nation's largest homebuilder expressed cautious optimism for housing demand this year.
REI names California doctor to board
Kent-based outdoor gear and apparel retailer REI has named Stephen Lockhart, an anesthesiologist and chief medical officer at the East Bay...
Southwest launches 3-day fare sale
Southwest Airlines Co. is offering a sale geared toward leisure travelers who want to make short trips this spring.
State Farm says it warned NHTSA on Toyota in 2007
The nation's largest auto insurer said Tuesday it alerted federal safety regulators in late 2007 about a rise in reports of unexpected acceleration in Toyota vehicles, the latest warning sign to emerge about the massive recall.
UBS makes Q4 profit, but withdrawals continue
Swiss bank UBS AG posted a fourth-quarter profit of 1.205 billion Swiss francs ($1.12 billion) Tuesday, beating analysts' expectations partly thanks to a tax credit, but disappointing investors with news that rich clients are still withdrawing large sums of money.
Doctors may alter psychiatric diagnoses
The American Psychiatric Association is proposing major changes Wednesday to its diagnostic bible, the manual that doctors, insurers and scientists use in deciding what's officially a mental disorder and what symptoms to treat.
Haiti parents testify they gave kids to Americans
Parents of some of the children who 10 U.S. missionaries tried to take out of Haiti after its catastrophic earthquake told a judge Tuesday that they freely handed over their kids, the Americans' lawyer said.
Haiti raises earthquake's death toll to 230,000
Haiti's government has raised the death toll for the Jan. 12 earthquake to 230,000 from 212,000 and says more bodies remain uncounted.
Minn. bridge collapse widow adopts Haitian twins
Betsy Sathers wears the glow of a new mother as she perches on the couch in her family room, smiling and chatting with visitors while still managing to keep an eye on the 2-year-old twins burbling and cavorting at her feet.
Russian military calls US missile defense a threat
U.S. missile defense plans are a threat to Russian national security and have slowed down progress on a new arms control treaty with Washington, Russia's top military officer said Tuesday.
Alabama senator releases holds on Obama nominees
Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama will stop blocking Senate confirmation of about 70 government appointees nominated by President Barack Obama, his office said.
Double hand transplant patient leaves Pa. hospital
The nation's first double hand transplant recipient has left a Pittsburgh hospital after medicine cleared up a rash that signaled he might be rejecting his new hands.
Fire at South African orphanage kills 13 children
A South African official says 13 children are dead after a fire tore through an orphanage early Tuesday.
Iran boosts nuclear enrichment, drawing warnings
Iranian nuclear technicians set dozens of centrifuges spinning Tuesday to begin enriching uranium stocks to a significantly higher level, prompting President Barack Obama to warn of a "significant regime of sanctions."
Nearly 200 people indicted in Philippines massacre
Philippine prosecutors filed charges Tuesday against the head of a powerful clan and 195 others in the biggest and deadliest murder case since the country's World War II war crimes trials.
Pilot: 'Everything went red' after planes collided
A glider pilot who flew to safety through a fireball from the midair collision of two planes over Boulder says it was just seconds between when he saw one plane approaching and when it collided with the plane towing him.
Senate Dems work with GOP on jobs bill
In a rare move toward bipartisanship, Senate Democrats worked with Republicans as they prepared Tuesday to unveil an $85 billion jobs bill...
Alabama senator releases holds on Obama nominees
Unhappy with Senate Republicans for blocking his nominations, President Obama warned Tuesday that he would use a procedural tactic to bypass...
Avalanches kill dozens in Afghanistan
Heavy winds and rain set off 17 avalanches that buried more than two miles of highway at a high-altitude pass in the Hindu Kush mountain...
Clan chief indicted in Philippines
Prosecutors in the Philippine capital on Tuesday indicted the patriarch of a powerful political clan and 196 others in connection with the...
Companies vie for cleanup contracts in Haiti
As Haiti begins digging out from under 60 million cubic meters of earthquake wreckage, U.S. companies have begun jockeying for a bonanza...
Drop seen in U.S. illegal immigrants
The number of illegal immigrants living in the United States dropped by 1 million people in two years, according to new estimates by the...
Israeli 'savior' accused of having cultlike harem
A 60-year-old Israeli is sitting in a Tel Aviv jail, suspected by police of enslaving a cultlike harem of at least 17 women and 37 children over two decades.
Canadian authorities are looking into unsolved murder and sexual-assault cases after charging the commander of Canada's largest Air Force...
Snow shuts government offices, but work goes on
If snow keeps 230,000 government employees home for the better part of a week, will anyone notice? With at least another foot of snow headed...
Soda labels to include upfront calorie facts
First lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday launched "Let's Move," her biggest-ever campaign, aimed at conquering childhood obesity within a generation...
State: Birth defect rate in CA town not unusual
State health officials said Tuesday they found nothing unusual about the rate of infant birth defects in an impoverished San Joaquin Valley farm town located next to the West's largest toxic waste dump.
VA prodded to give more aid to female veterans
Kristine Wise remembers driving from San Diego to Victorville, Calif., to visit her brother and seeing haunting messages on the freeway...
Bad liquor kills 8 on Indonesia's Java island
Indonesian police say eight people have died after drinking liquor laced with methanol on the country's main island of Java.
3 acquitted in Ohio teen's restraint death
A jury on Tuesday acquitted three former employees of an Ohio treatment center for troubled teens of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 17-year-old girl who suffocated and choked on her own vomit after being restrained facedown on the floor.
ATF blames Texas church fires on serial arsonist
A spate of recent fires that destroyed or damaged several churches in eastern Texas were intentionally set, likely by the same person or group, federal authorities said Tuesday.
Iran sentences another activist to death
Iran has convicted another opposition activist on charges related to the country's post-election turmoil and sentenced him to death, the judiciary said Tuesday, bringing to at least 10 the number of those facing the death penalty for the unrest following June's disputed presidential election.
It's a wrap! Hospitals test new, more modest gown
The British government is getting behind a plan to replace drafty open-backed hospital gowns with versions that preserve patients' modesty.
Netanyahu's government tries to save settler house
The Israeli government has stepped in to save a house built illegally by Jewish settlers in a volatile Palestinian neighborhood in east Jerusalem, complicating already troubled U.S. efforts to renew Mideast peacemaking.
Newark airport breach suspect pleads not guilty
A lawyer for a Rutgers University graduate student charged with a January security breach at Newark Liberty Airport that led to worldwide flight delays entered a plea of not guilty Tuesday and defended his client as "simply a lovesick man who made a mistake."
Nigeria: Vice president now acting president
Nigeria's parliament empowered Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to run Africa's most populous nation Tuesday in place of an ill and absent president, striving for a political end to a crisis that ground the government to a virtual halt and triggered the resumption of an insurgency in the vital oil sector.
NY governor says he'll step aside only 'in a box'
New York Gov. David Paterson, defying calls from even fellow Democrats to drop out of the race for a full term, said Tuesday that he would leave only if the voters turned him out through the ballot box, or he's carried out "in a box."
Palestinian force makes gains in West Bank
The security men brandished their weapons and ordered the suspicious car to halt, forcing the occupants to get out and put their hands in their air. The suspects were quickly handcuffed, frisked and made to kneel on the ground as the vehicle was swept for explosives.
Senate OKs resolution opposing terror trial in NYC
The New York Senate has passed a resolution opposing trials of terrorists being held in New York City.
Somali pirates release cargo ship with 26 crew
The European Union Naval Force says Somali pirates have freed a Panama-flagged cargo ship and its crew of 26 after a ransom was paid.
Stranded panda lured to safety in China
It was like getting a cat out of a tree - Sichuan style.
Tymoshenko camp vows to challenge Ukraine vote
Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko plans to legally challenge the results of the presidential runoff that opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych appears to have won, her campaign said Tuesday.
Health crisis in Haiti enters a deadly new phase
Fourteen-month-old Abigail Charlot survived Haiti's cataclysmic earthquake but not its miserable aftermath. Brought into the capital's General Hospital with fever and diarrhea, little Abigail literally dried up.
Lawmakers freeze bonuses and salary increases
The Legislature has voted to suspend bonuses and awards until 2011. Lawmakers want a freeze on such pay until the growth and expense of government in senior management levels is reviewed.
Congress should say no to Comcast/NBC merger
The Seattle Times editorial board opposes the proposed acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast, and lauds U.S. Sen. Al Franken, Minnesota Democrat, for telling executives he did not believe their promises.
Lynne Varner / Times editorial columnist
Court ruling should spur action on education funding
A King County Superior Court ruling that state lawmakers are not living up to their constitutional duty to amply provide for public education ought to spur action and tough decisions.
Guest columnist
Give law enforcement more leeway to prosecute users of child pornography
Washington's laws designed to punish people who access or trade child pornography are too lenient and have not kept up with advancing technology. Prosecutors Mark Roe and Lisa Johnson urge the Legislature to pass bills to make it easier to fight such child exploitation.
David Brooks / Syndicated columnist
Obama's White House keeps its cool in turbulent times
The surprisingly smooth relationship between President Obama and Vice President Biden is part of the broader White House culture, writes columnist David Brooks. Whatever their relations with the country might be, the atmosphere in the White House appears surprisingly tranquil.
Guest columnist
Washington has benefited from a century of Scouting
As Boy Scouts of America marks its 100th anniversary, guest columnist Hans Zeiger notes that Northwest Scouts have made the region better not only through personal enrichment from the organization but through countless volunteer hours improving trails and parks.
Bob Herbert / Syndicated columnist
Those at the bottom feel the brunt of nation's economic pain
Politicians and talking heads are telling you that joblessness and underemployment in America's low-income households rival that in the Great Depression of the 1930s, writes columnist Bob Herbert.
Chiliheads out for happy hour can order Frito Pie, chili cheese fries and other chili-draped bar food at Slim's Last Chance Chili Shack & Watering Hole.
Valentine's Day is like a box of chocolates — who knows what you'll find on stage?
Seattle Valentine's Day entertainment covers everything from a "pity party" to a flamenco guitar concert.
'The New Adventures of Old Christine' on CBS is a Wednesday TV pick
Wednesday night has become a great night for comedy this season.
Angelina Jolie visits Haiti with UN refugee body
Angelina Jolie began two days of meetings with Haiti earthquake victims Tuesday in her role as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. refugee agency.
Author Abraham Verghese in Seattle Wednesday
Abraham Verghese's debut nonfiction work, 1994's "My Own Country: A Doctor's Story," chronicled his experiences with the arrival of the AIDS epidemic in rural Tennessee.
Classical Indian dance takes stage at Meany
Kuchipudi, a traditional dance form from southern India, comes to Seattle with an appearance by Shantala Shivalingappa at the University of Washington World Series.
Faces of America' reveals family ties of nation
"Faces of America," a four-part series premiering Wednesday night on PBS uncovers some intriguing family ties of famous Americans.
Life imitates art in Oscar-nominated Israeli film
There's a reason for the gritty feel of reality in "Ajami," an Oscar-nominated Israeli film about the lives of Arabs and Jews in the impoverished, crime-ridden neighborhoods of this Mediterranean city: Its amateur actors' lives eerily mirror their art.
Lil Wayne NY sentencing put off for dental surgery
After rap star Lil Wayne spent months bidding farewell to his fans and his freedom, what loomed for him Tuesday was a dental chair, not a house of detention.
Obama says music fueled civil rights movement
Crediting civil rights-era protest songs and their spiritual predecessors for his election, President Barack Obama on Tuesday sat in the East Room of his White House and listened to an all-star lineup of performers pay tribute to the music that he said fueled freedom marches and civil disobedience.
Sinatra, Martin to receive stars in Las Vegas
Sin City is paying homage to iconic singers Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin by giving them each a place on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.
Ringo Starr honored with Walk of Fame star
A star for former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame Monday evening during a whimsical ceremony that also marked the 50th anniversary of the sidewalk attraction's groundbreaking.
TV show fined for killing, eating rat — with risotto
A British broadcaster has been convicted of animal cruelty after two reality show contestants skinned, cooked and ate a rat during filming in Australia.
UK group urges Elton John to cancel Israel show
A British academic group that supports Palestinian rights is urging singer Elton John to cancel a summer concert in Israel.
First lady begins fight against childhood obesity
Michelle Obama on Tuesday unveiled "Let's Move" - her national public awareness campaign against childhood obesity, a problem she says concerns her both as first lady and as a mom.
Internet browsing: Searching for happiness?
Some individuals suffering from depression may be replacing real-life socializing with heavy Internet surfing, according to a new study in the journal Psychopathology.
An anesthetic that stops only pain
Researchers this week reported progress on an anesthetic that blunts pain without impairing muscle movement.
Ask about a mystery menu item before ordering
Diners should ask what a mystery item is before ordering or they could be in for a culinary surprise.
Kathleen Purvis offers tips on peeling ginger and readers offer tips on how to fix an overspicy soup.
Marshmallows can be the key to keeping brown sugar soft.
Recipe: Chicken Breast Stuffed with Garlic Spinach
Spinach is the star of this recipe for Chicken Breast with Garlic Spinach.
Recipe: Flourless Chocolate Cake
This Flourless Chocolate Cake would make a good Valentine's dessert.
Recipe: Mexican Orange Chicken
Mexican Orange Chicken is a quick-to-fix dinner on a busy night.
Recipe: Mushroom and Shallot-Stuffed Bread
This recipe for Mushroom and Shallot-Stuffed Bread is a great winter treat.
Recipe: Shrimp And Egg Fried Rice Timbale
This Shrimp and Egg Fried Rice Timbale makes an eye-appealing presentation on a plate.
Recipe: Steak and Shrimp With Parsley Potatoes
Steak and Shrimp with Parsley Potatoes is a entrée for Valentine's Day from Everyday Food, a Martha Stewart Publication.
Recipe: Steve's Garden Vegetarian Chili
Steve Petusevsky offers vegetarian recipes. This week's recipe is Steve's Garden Chili.
This is a recipe for a quick-to-fix weeknight dinner — Umami Shrimp.
Recipe: Vietnamese Beef, Herb and Rice Noodle Soup (Pho Bo)
Lynne Rossetto Kasper presents her version of pho in this recipe — Vietnamese Beef, Herb and Rice Noodle Soup.
Recipes: Chicken Paillards with Avocado-Pomegranate Salsa, Avocado BLT and more
Avocados are in abundance in store right now and here are three recipes that showcase them — Avocado and Crispy Prosciutto Salad, Chicken Paillards with Avocado-Pomegranate Salsa and Avocado BLT.
Unhappy Hipsters' parody Web site is a hit
Tired of neo-modernism and too-cool-to-be-lived-in décor? The Web site Unhappy Hipsters is a welcome satirical addition to the often self-serious world of home design.
Ask the Splendid Table
How to make the Vietnamese soup pho at home
Food writer Lynne Rossetto Kasper presents her version of Pho in this recipe for Vietnamese Beef, Herb and Rice Noodle Soup.
Henpecked men were a fave theme of Super Bowl ads
So you're a guy? Poor you!
shopping
events for Wednesday, Feb. 10
- Night of Wine Tasting and Film at Whole Foods
- February Specials at Mimisan
- Trunk Show and Benefit at Vian Hunter
- Share Beauty and Hope at Julep
editors' picks
- Vintage, consignment and used clothing
- Local jewelry designers
- Independent video stores
- Spas & beauty salons
