Washington State businesses are now required to offer paid sick leave for all employees, including part-time and seasonal workers. The rules are controversial, with many worried about the complicated rules. At least one Snohomish County restaurant owner is trying to see the upside, saying “happier employee, better quality of work, better output — we support that totally.” (MyNorthwest)

Tim Eyman’s most recent initiative effort didn’t to gain enough signatures by the December deadline. The initiative would have brought car tab fees down to a flat $30. (MyNorthwest)

Yesterday marked the first day of Seattle’s sugary drink tax. Because “Government always knows best,” the Seattle City Council passed the tax as a disincentive for consuming pop.  (The Seattle Times)

Not all sugary drinks will be taxed though. In order to not tick off people who vote, Seattle decided to exempt those Triple Venti Soy No-Foam Lattes. The tax was written to exclude “drinks that list milk as their first ingredient.” (The Seattle Times)

What could Seattle’s latest useless spending be, you ask? Well, taxpayers will be footing $150,000 to settle a lawsuit brought against former mayor Ed Murray. The lawsuit was filed by one of five men who publicly accused the former mayor of sexual abuse. (The Seattle Times)

Western State Hospital tried to release a mentally ill man charged with murder, possibly due to State attorneys and hospital leaders sidestepping a law. The Times reported lawyers Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office did not apply the “additional scrutiny and oversight the law was intended to provide.” (The Seattle Times)

Despite continually missing the mark, a recent WSDOT study suggests that, to fix the I-405 tolls lanes, lawmakers should raise the maximum toll rates. The study conveniently did not explore whether the express toll lane system should be abolished and the corridor restored to regular HOV lanes. (The Lens)

Spokane Mayor David Condon is nixing city council-passed campaign finance law. The mayor said he will veto the proposal because campaign finance is a subject better handled at the state level. (The Spokesman Review)

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