Washington will offer the option of a “non-binary” gender X designation on birth certificates, starting January 27. Adults can ask the state for an updated birth certificate then, but applications for minors must be initiated by guardians and include a health care providers’ sign-off. (The Seattle Times)

“Modest car-tab relief should be (a) priority in Olympia,” when lawmakers convene their session today. The News Tribune editorial board says it would be a mistake to forego spending time on ST3 reform because of the short 60-day session window. Many are wondering if car-tab relief should be more than modest, after ST3 nearly tripled peoples’ car tab taxes last year. (The News Tribune)

Sen. Steve O’Ban (R-Tacoma) is calling for public hearings to investigate the Amtrak train derailment, saying, “We have a responsibility to ask these tough questions after two derailments in about a year,” and that we need to get to the bottom of the derailments now instead of waiting for federal investigations to provide answers. (MyNorthwest)

Sen. Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) was appointed to a senior advisor position in the EPA’s Seattle office and will begin his position soon, according to reports. (MyNorthwest)

Democrats are already pushing the carbon tax idea back onto the table, with Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands, “urging that any carbon policy is smart… and makes sure there’s a nexus with carbon reduction.” We’re wondering just what exactly “any” applies to… (The Seattle Times)

SW Washington lawmakers are coming together to defend timber jobs. Representatives Jim Walsh (R-Aberdeen) and Brian Blake (D-Aberdeen) call for a task force “involving members of the Legislature, local governments and other agencies… to minimize the unintended economic consequences” that protecting the marbled murrelet would have on the timber industry in Washington. (The Daily News)

Seattle’s sweetened beverage tax has already made a splash as people are beginning to realize just how much more the tax is costing them. One image showed the tax adding $10.34 to a $15.99 case of Gatorade. Costco responded with signage directing shoppers to stores outside Seattle city limits…which will work until Democrats in Olympia decide to take this policy statewide. (Washington Policy Center)

Traffic woes in Seattle are likely to get much, much worse. “More bike lanes, more buses that feed rail stations, and wider sidewalks are coming. Car capacity, however, won’t improve. Curbside parking will be swept away.” It’s not like people use, or park, their cars in Seattle anyway, right? It’s another social engineering scheme that just makes travel to downtown more difficult. (The Seattle Times)

The average Eastside home price is $134,000 higher than last year, and home prices around the Sound continue to smash previous housing cost records. (The Seattle Times)

Olympia removed anti-panhandling language from its municipal code, falling in line with a state Supreme Court decision from last July that partly overturned a panhandling conviction in Lakewood. (The Olympian)

Cooke Aquaculture Pacific is suing to keep its Port Angeles Atlantic Salmon fish farm open. Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands, called it a “meritless lawsuit” and encouraged Cooke to drop it and “work cooperatively with the Department of Natural Resources to safely close down the facility.” (The Seattle Times)

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