The state Supreme Court has spoken, no questions please

Happening in Olympia

Thanks to a ruling by the state Supreme Court, the gun control measure Initiative 1639 is back on the November ballot. The decision comes after a Thurston County judge previously ruled that its signature petitions were invalid. But the Supreme Court said state law “does not allow for pre-election judicial review of the form, process, substance, or constitutionality of an initiative petition,” so opponents’ challenges will have to wait until after the election. (Seattle Times)

State Sen. John Braun (R-Centralia) wants statewide elected officials to intervene against illegal teacher strikes. Braun sent a letter to Gov. Inslee, Attorney General Ferguson, and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal asking them to take a stand against strikes that disrupt students’ learning. “As statewide elected officials, you share a unique position and responsibility to act, including seeking an injunction to keep our public schools open,” he wrote. (Washington State Wire)

Western Washington

The King County Council will vote on a proposal to use $180 million of the county’s hotel-motel tax for upgrades to Safeco Field. “If we didn’t have sports, what would we cheer about?” asked Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. He added, “It’s important to recognize not just the economic benefit, but the community involvement.” (My Northwest)

A female inmate at the Spokane County Jail was pronounced dead at a local hospital Saturday evening, becoming the eighth Spokane County inmate to die in the last 14 months. Sgt. Tom Hill, spokesman for the downtown jail, said in mid-July he planned to review the circumstances of each incident, and was weighing the option of using an outside consultant, to learn if and how these deaths might have been prevented. (The Spokesman-Review)

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