The end of several eras

As two Seattle icons celebrate a combined 70 years on the scene, two other mainstays prepare their exit.

Wednesday morning, July 30, KIRO-AM (710) talk-show host Dave Ross celebrated his 30th year on the air with a three-hour retrospective featuring tributes from U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, visits from colleagues past and present, and a liberal helping of the parodist's musical stylings. Friday night, Aug. 1, KING-TV (5) news anchor Jean Enersen will celebrate her 40th anniversary at the station with a one-hour special that she only allowed after management "suggested the piece could be a springboard for talking about mobile vans where anybody can get a mammogram."

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Writing Wikipedia for Seattle

A former Wikipedian explains what drove him to update and correct entries on Seattle's city streets — and why he's since found better ways to use his time.

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It's safe to ask what's in a name

Notwithstanding assurances from their CEOs that the sale of Safeco Corp. to Liberty Mutual Insurance will result in little outward change, Crosscut sports writer Mike Henderson was right to ask "with Safeco gone, what will we call the Field?"

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Defragging King County

In a municipality dominated by Dems, the assessor argues for a radical idea: less bureaucracy.

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Top-two primary boosts chances for instant run-off voting

Washington's nominating process for partisan political office has a long, tortuous history — and it just got a little longer. Last week's Supreme Court decision upholding Initiative 872, which established a "top-two" or "Louisiana-style" primary to replace the blanket primary declared unconstitutional in 2003, gives the Evergreen state its third distinct system in the space of five years.

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