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Washington Talking Book & Braille Library releases annual report
The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library released their annual report early this mon
High court upholds state's teacher pay system
Budget-writers, already buffeted by adverse lawsuits topping $300 million, no doubt breathed a sigh of relief when the state Supreme Court came down with a unanimous decision Thursday that upholds the state's method of paying teachers and school staff. The major decision http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/index.cfm?fa=opinions.showOpinion&filename=809437MAJ was written by Justice James Johnson and overturns a lower court decision in a Federal Way case that claimed the state's pay system leaves too much disparity from district to district.
DIY budget calculator ...
Filling the gi-ormous $6 billion state budget chasm is the No.1 task of the Washington Legislature right now ... and the problem is quite likely to get even worse when the state Revenue Forecast Council issues an interim update on February 19th. What to do? Governor Gregoire still is sticking by her read-my-lips pledge against tax and fee increases, but the Democratic majorities in the Legislature are pretty cranky about the budget cuts that she proposes to achieve a balanced budget. The governor and her budget office are offering a "budget calculator"
Holiday Giving Tip No. 8
Today’s Holiday Giving Tip: Spot the big red flags!!
There are some big, fat red flags you can watch for that will tell you if a charitable solicitor is not in compliance with the law. These are things like:
- Saying things that are deceptive and misleading (red flag!)
- Telling you the contribution is tax deductable when it is not
- Using the names “police,” “sheriff”, or “firefighter” without authorization from those groups
- Calling you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
Holiday Tip No. 9
Today’s Holiday Giving Tip: Request Material!
Yeah, that’s right. When someone asks you to give them money for a cause, ask them to provide you with a brochure, a Web site address, or other material that gives you more information about the group. Legitimate groups want you to learn more about them and are glad to provide you with this kind of stuff.
Ready, Set, Vote!
Back for its 9th year is the Washington State Mock Election! The Mock Election is a non-partisan educational program that gives students a taste of what it's like to research issues and "vote." The hope is that students will enjoy the experience and will look forward to getting registered and participating when they turn 18. Voting is free and quite simple. Anytime between Monday, Oct. 28, and noon on Nov. 1 students can go online to cast their vote. Students in grades K-12 will "vote" on real measures and candidates from the 2013 Washington elections.
Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, Read On!
The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library located in downtown Seattle, is a free and comprehensive library service dedicated to providing an array of services to Washington residents unable to read standard print material. These include the blind, visually impaired, legally blind, deaf-blind, physically disabled, those who can’t comfortably hold a book or turn pages and those who are reading disabled. Any genre you can think of, WTBBL has it!