Combat, nonhostile gunfire and war-related accidents in Iraq and neighboring Kuwait claimed the lives of nine soldiers with Washington ties.

· Homefront journal series
· National Guard brigade ordered to serve in Iraq
· Keeping an eye on the homefront
· War news evokes tears, support here

Boeing decides to build the 7E7 in Everett — The world's biggest aerospace company experienced turbulence throughout the second half of the year. In the summer, the government banned the Seattle-founded company from bidding on military satellite launches because it used proprietary information from rival Lockheed Martin to win a contract in 1998. Boeing's troubles deepened in November, when it fired Chief Financial Officer Michael Sears for unethical conduct, saying he had negotiated the hiring of a missile-defense expert while she was still working for the Pentagon and was in a position to influence Boeing contracts. Chairman and CEO Phil Condit resigned a week later.

But Boeing cheered Washington workers in December, announcing it will offer its next-generation 7E7 jet for sale and assemble the plane in Everett.

· Focus on 7E7

Green River Killer confesses — More than 20 years after the first bodies were found at the Green River, serial killer Gary L. Ridgway confessed Nov. 5 to strangling 48 women, the most recent in 1998, as part of a plea deal to avoid execution. At an emotionally charged hearing Dec. 18, he was given 48 consecutive life sentences without the chance for release and fined $480,000.

· Green River Killer coverage

Mad Cow disease discovered in the Yakima Valley — A Holstein from Mabton, Yakima County, was infected with the country's first case of mad-cow disease, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The finding resulted in a meat recall in eight states and Guam and 25 countries banning the import of some American beef. The Agriculture department responded by banning meat from all so-called downer cows and promised to create a nationwide animal tracking system.

· Mad Cow disease coverage

Tacoma Police chief David Brame murders his estranged wife, Chrystal, and kills himself — In April, Tacoma Police Chief David Brame fatally shot his wife and killed himself after allegations that he had abused her surfaced. Crystal Brame's family sued the city for $75 million, alleging the city was aware of domestic-violence allegations against the chief but failed to protect his wife. The incident results in a shakeup at Tacoma City Hall, including the firing of the city manager.

· Tacoma police chief dies after shooting wife, self
· There were no warning signs, officials say
· Tacoma's city manager fired over Brame in 5-4 council vote

UW football coach Rick Neuheisel fired — Neuheisel was fired for participating in high-stakes NCAA basketball tournament pools, then lying about it to NCAA investigators. Huskies athletic director Barbara Hedges said Neuheisel's false answers when first questioned by the NCAA on June 4 were a violation of an edict issued to him after he lied in February about interviewing for the San Francisco 49ers' coaching job. Neuheisel sued the university and the NCAA

· It's official: UW fires Neuheisel
· Neuheisel's lawyers address Pac-10 on gambling charges

Marysville teachers walk out for 49 days — Teachers of the 11,000 student district went on strike on Sept. 1, calling for better pay, benefits and working conditions. The strike divided the community, caused hundreds of students to leave the district and delayed the start of school for almost two months, missed days students will have to make up. The longest school strike in state history ended shortly after a Snohomish County judge ruled the strike illegal and ordered the 650 teachers to return to classrooms under their old contract provisions while continuing to negotiate with the district.

· School strike leaves parents scrambling
· Marysville teachers vote to end long strike

Seattle Schools superintendent Joseph Olchefske resigns under pressure — A $35 million budget crisis required the district to cut programs, as well as possibly lay off teachers, nurses, counselors and other school staff members. After four years on the job, Olchefske stepped down following a no-confidence vote from the teachers union. After a high-profile national search for his replacement ended in controversy when the top candidates all dropped out, the School Board appointed the district's chief financial officer, Raj Manhas, to the job on a one-year contract.

· Olchefske steps down under fire
· Auditors dig into books at Seattle School District

Seattle voters toss out most incumbents — In local elections, Seattle voters tossed out three incumbent City Council members and three incumbent School Board members. City council challengers David Della, Jean Godden and Tom Rasmussen defeated incumbents Heidi Wills, Judy Nicastro and Margaret Pageler, respectively. Challengers tapped into an electorate frustrated by some council members' ethics violations and time spent on issues perceived as extraneous. Incumbents Nancy Waldman, Barbara Schlag Peterson and Steve Brown lost to their respective challengers, Brita Butler-Wall, Sally Soriano and Darlene Flynn.

· 3 Seattle School Board incumbents being defeated
· New Seattle City Council tone seen after three incumbents ousted

The explosion of the space shuttle Columbia — Space shuttle Columbia broke apart in flames 200,000 feet over Texas on Feb. 1 killing all seven astronauts just minutes before they were to glide to a landing in Florida. Among the crew was Spokane native and UW grad Michael Anderson

· Spokane astronaut 'belonged to this age'
· All seven astronauts aboard shuttle killed