Thursday, October 31, 2013

Energy News Digest for October 31, 2013

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest word cloud for October 31, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Aviation Expert Says Boeing Is Using ‘Economic Blackmail’ Against Washington (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Washington State Completes Installation Of 1,600-Mile, $140 Million Broadband Network for Rural Areas (GeekWire)

U-S Senators Propose National Renewable Electricity Standard (Renew Grid)

Landscaper Trimming Hedges Electrocuted in Southwest Portland (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

Earth’s Oceans Warming at an Alarming Rate (USA Today)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Landscaper Trimming Hedges Electrocuted in Southwest Portland
  • Cost of Service Increasing for Cascade Natural Gas Customers
  • Avista Natural Gas Customers’ Bills to Rise
  • Iconic Greenpeace Ship Delivers Anti-Coal Message to Longview
  • Bellingham: The Future of a Big Coal-Export Project Will Be Decided By This Small Washington Community
  • $1.2 Billion Canada-U-S Hydropower Line Proposed
  • New Mexico: Kit Carson Electric Warns of Fraudulent Calls
  • Consumers Elect Cooperatives for Most Affordable, Reliable Utility Services
  • U-S Representative Herrera Beutler Signs on to Salmon Habitat Bill
  • Unregulated Bumblebee Trade Threatens Bumblebees
  • Diverse Push for Salal Permits on Olympic Peninsula
  • River Fluctuations Expected through Winter around Rocky Reach Dam on Columbia River
  • U-S Senators Propose National Renewable Electricity Standard
  • Arizona Commissioner Probes Utility’s Secret Funding of Anti-Solar Campaign
  • How Solar Power is Lighting up Business in Rural East Africa
  • New Regs for Thursday: Energy Conservation Rules Extend to Wine Chillers
  • Vampire Slaying & More: NRDC’s Halloween Energy Survival Guide
  • Earth’s Oceans Warming at an Alarming Rate
  • Tracking a Building’s Carbon Footprint Harder than You Might Think
  • New Products: Power Pot Converts Heat to Electric Power
  • Washington State Completes Installation Of 1,600-Mile, $140 Million Broadband Network for Rural Areas
  • Tacoma’s NoaNet Helps State Finish “Broadband Highway”
  • U-S Broadband Adoption Goal Remains Elusive Despite Government’s Assistance
  • A Tale of Two Internets of Things: Connectivity Will Invade Your Home & Office in Different Ways
  • Study Finds Women Are More Addicted to Smartphones than Men
  • Yes, Twitter is Flawed during an Event like the Boston Bombings; And So Is Everything Else
  • Aviation Expert Says Boeing Is Using ‘Economic Blackmail’ Against Washington
  • Doug Reed: Green Diamond Forest Products Firm Names New President
  • Neutral Weather Season Could Mean Pineapple Express
  • FAA OKs Air Passengers Using Gadgets on Planes
  • Thirsty? There’s a Global Wine Shortage
  • Oregon’s Exploding-Whale Engineer George Thornton Has Died At Age 84
  • Thieves Stealing Baby Formula, But Not to Feed Children

WORD OF THE DAY

Splendiferous • \splenn-DIFF-uh-russ\ • Adjective - Extraordinarily or showily impressive.

Bertino’s resume was the perfect example of a splendiferous creation intended to divert the reader from the limits of its contents. Beautiful, illuminated script in the manner of bibles crafted by monks of the middle-ages; illustrations in the Peter Maxx style of the college president handing down his bachelor’s degree in Albanian art history that hinted at the delivery of the Ten Commandments from the hands of God; sealing wax to embellish his cover letter signature. None of these could cover the fact that Bertie was woefully underqualified for the position of fry chef at the local Arby’s restaurant.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Landscaper Trimming Hedges Electrocuted in Southwest Portland (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

Cost of Service Increasing for Cascade Natural Gas Customers (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

Avista Natural Gas Customers’ Bills to Rise (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Iconic Greenpeace Ship Delivers Anti-Coal Message to Longview (Longview Daily News, WA)

Bellingham: The Future of a Big Coal-Export Project Will Be Decided By This Small Washington Community (Grist Online)

$1.2 Billion Canada-U-S Hydropower line proposed - Privately financed project would go from Quebec & under Lake Champlain (Burlington Free Press, VT)

New Mexico: Kit Carson Electric Warns of Fraudulent Calls (Taos News, NM)

Consumers Elect Cooperatives for Most Affordable, Reliable Utility Services (Agri-View)

FISH & WILDLIFE

U-S Representative Herrera Beutler Signs on to Salmon Habitat Bill (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Unregulated Bumblebee Trade Threatens Bumblebees (Grist Online)

Diverse Push for Salal Permits on Olympic Peninsula (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

River Fluctuations Expected through Winter around Rocky Reach Dam on Columbia River (Wenatchee World, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

U-S Senators Propose National Renewable Electricity Standard (Renew Grid)

Arizona Commissioner Probes Utility’s Secret Funding Of Anti-Solar Campaign (Huffington Post)

How Solar Power is Lighting up Business in Rural East Africa (Christian Science Monitor)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

New Regs for Thursday: Energy Conservation Rules Extend to Wine Chillers (The Hill)

Vampire Slaying & More: NRDC’s Halloween Energy Survival Guide (The Energy Collective)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Earth’s Oceans Warming at an Alarming Rate (USA Today)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Tracking a Building’s Carbon Footprint Harder Than You Might Think (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

New Products: Power Pot Converts Heat to Electric Power (USA Today)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington State Completes Installation Of 1,600-Mile, $140 Million Broadband Network for Rural Areas (GeekWire)

Tacoma’s NoaNet Helps State Finish “Broadband Highway” (South Sound Business Examiner, WA)

U-S Broadband Adoption Goal Remains Elusive Despite Government’s Assistance (Bloomberg News)

Report: NSA Broke Into Yahoo, Google Data Centers (Associated Press)

A Tale of Two Internets of Things: Connectivity Will Invade Your Home & Office in Different Ways (GigaOM)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Study Finds Women Are More Addicted to Smartphones than Men (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Yes, Twitter is Flawed during an Event like the Boston Bombings; And So Is Everything Else (GigaOM)

GENERAL NEWS

Aviation Expert Says Boeing Is Using ‘Economic Blackmail’ Against Washington (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Doug Reed: Green Diamond Forest Products Firm Names New President (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Neutral Weather Season Could Mean Pineapple Express (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

FAA OKs Air Passengers Using Gadgets on Planes (Associated Press)

Thirsty? There’s a Global Wine Shortage (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Oregon’s Exploding-Whale Engineer George Thornton Has Died At Age 84 (Oregonian, Portland)

Thieves Stealing Baby Formula, But Not to Feed Children (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

DIVERSIONS

170 Years of Music Player History in One Glorious Chart

Odor from Los Angeles Sriracha Chili Plant a Nuisance

Uber Will Deliver You Kittens RIGHT NOW. (If you live in Seattle or San Francisco.)

‘No Herb Is Safe:’ Portland’s Urban Gardeners Say Chefs Won’t Stop Stealing Their Crops

SONG OF THE DAY

The O’Jays - I Love Music

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.


Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Energy News Digest for October 30, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for October 30, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Pacific States Push for Price on Carbon. Is it Effective? (Christian Science Monitor)

Bonneville Power Administration Grand Bargain on Residential Exchange is Legal, Court Says (Oregonian, Portland)

Go-Go NoaNet: Washington State Governor Hails Completion of $140 Million Broadband Network (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Scheduling Conflict: Washington State Governor Cancels Appearance at Port Angeles Biomass Ceremony (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday; Change Clocks & Alarms (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Bonneville Power Administration Grand Bargain on Residential Exchange is Legal, Court Says
  • End of a Litigation Era? Ninth Circuit Upholds Bonneville Power’s Residential Exchange Settlement
  • Editorial: Chilly Directives to BPA Must Not Undercut Northwest Priorities
  • Grant PUD Looking at Smaller Rate Increase than Expected
  • October 30 - Planned Mason PUD 3 Outage for Maggie Lake Area for Needed Power Pole Repairs
  • Editorial: Tacoma’s Prop. 1 - Keep Politics Away from Power Rates
  • Low Sales Growth Challenges Utilities’ Traditional Business Models, Fitch Says
  • Massachusetts: National Grid Educates Local First Responders Using Live Electricity
  • South Korea: As Power Line Grows, So Does Fight Between Ancient & Modern Korea
  • Washington State Governor Jay Inslee: Ellensburg Area Stream Restoration Good for Salmon & Farms
  • Broad Agreement That New Water Storage Needed for Water Supply, Hydropower & Environmental Uses
  • Scheduling Conflict: Washington State Governor Cancels Appearance at Port Angeles Biomass Ceremony
  • More Than 4,999 Served: Energy Trust of Oregon Hits Solar Milestone
  • British Columbia Announces Funds for First Nations to Get Involved in Clean Energy
  • Wal-Mart Now Draws More Solar Power than 38 U-S States
  • Maine: Op/Ed - No, Wind Power Still Isn’t Competitive with Conventional Sources
  • Energy Efficiency Standards Could Save Up to $1000 on Energy Bills
  • Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance & Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association Launch Industrial Energy Efficiency Certification
  • Pacific States Push for Price on Carbon. Is it Effective?
  • Should We Use Geoengineering to Cool the Planet?
  • Electric Vehicles Myths 2: Mandates Are Not Victory
  • Go-Go NoaNet: Washington State Governor Hails Completion of $140 Million Broadband Network
  • Intel May Sell OnCue Video Box to Verizon
  • Comcast Now Has Almost 21 Million Broadband Subscribers
  • Will 4G Replace Your Home Broadband?
  • New Chief of the FCC Confirmed
  • That Adobe Hack? It Was 13 Times Larger than Originally Announced
  • Who Benefits from Muni Bonds? It’s More Complicated Than You Think
  • Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday; Change Clocks & Alarms
  • Washington Prisons Looking for More Space
  • Social Security Benefits to Go Up By 1.5 Percent
  • Grays Harbor County to Start Taxing Pre-Paid Wireless
  • Postal Worker Who Stole, Threw Away Thousands of Letters on Rochester Route Hired As State Employee
  • Thieves Stealing Warm Cars

WORD OF THE DAY

Rambunctious• \ram-BUNK-shuss\ • Adjective - Uncontrolled in a way that is playful or full of energy

Fall winds, swirling gusts
Rambunctious leaves playing tag
Float softly to rest

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Bonneville Power Administration Grand Bargain on Residential Exchange is Legal, Court Says (Oregonian, Portland)

End of a Litigation Era? Ninth Circuit Upholds Bonneville Power’s Residential Exchange Settlement (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

Editorial: Chilly Directives to BPA Must Not Undercut Northwest Priorities (Oregonian, Portland)

Grant PUD Looking at Smaller Rate Increase than Expected (iFiber One News, Ephrata, WA)

October 30 - Planned Mason PUD 3 Outage for Maggie Lake Area for Needed Power Pole Repairs (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Editorial: Tacoma’s Prop. 1 - Keep Politics Away from Power Rates (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Low Sales Growth Challenges Utilities’ Traditional Business Models, Fitch Says (American Public Power Association)

Massachusetts: National Grid Educates Local First Responders Using Live Electricity (Bridgewater Independent, Raynham, MA)

South Korea: As Power Line Grows, So Does Fight Between Ancient & Modern Korea (NY Times)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee: Ellensburg Area Stream Restoration Good for Salmon & Farms (Northwest Public Radio)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Broad Agreement That New Water Storage Needed for Water Supply, Hydropower & Environmental Uses (U-S House Committee on Natural Resources)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Scheduling Conflict: Washington State Governor Cancels Appearance at Port Angeles Biomass Ceremony (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

More Than 4,999 Served: Energy Trust of Oregon Hits Solar Milestone (Sustainable Business Oregon)

British Columbia Announces Funds for First Nations to Get Involved in Clean Energy (CTV, Canada)

Wal-Mart Now Draws More Solar Power than 38 U-S States (Bloomberg News)

Maine: Op/Ed - No, Wind Power Still Isn’t Competitive with Conventional Sources (Bangor Daily News, ME)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency Standards Could Save Up to $1000 on Energy Bills (The Energy Collective)

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance & Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association Launch Industrial Energy Efficiency Certification (PR NewsWire)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Pacific States Push for Price on Carbon. Is it Effective? (Christian Science Monitor)

Should We Use Geoengineering to Cool the Planet? (Washington Post)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Vehicles Myths 2: Mandates Are Not Victory (Forbes Magazine)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Go-Go NoaNet: Washington State Governor Hails Completion of $140 Million Broadband Network (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Intel May Sell OnCue Video Box to Verizon (Oregonian, Portland)

Comcast Now Has Almost 21 Million Broadband Subscribers (GigaOM)

Will 4G Replace Your Home Broadband? (The Next Web)

New Chief of the FCC Confirmed (NY Times)

That Adobe Hack? It Was 13 Times Larger than Originally Announced (Consumerist)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Who Benefits from Muni Bonds? It’s More Complicated Than You Think (Christian Science Monitor)

GENERAL NEWS

Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday; Change Clocks & Alarms (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Washington Prisons Looking for More Space (Associated Press)

Social Security Benefits to Go Up By 1.5 Percent (Associated Press)

Grays Harbor County to Start Taxing Pre-Paid Wireless (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Postal Worker Who Stole, Threw Away Thousands of Letters on Rochester Route Hired As State Employee (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Thieves Stealing Warm Cars (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

DIVERSIONS

The Day 1 Million Americans Thought Aliens Invaded Earth

Bullet-Stopping Cellphone Saves Gas Station Clerk Held at Gunpoint

Mouth-to-Snout Breathing Brings Puppy Back to Life

Deep-Fried Twinkie Burger Now Available to Clog Your Arteries

SONG OF THE DAY

Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds - Thunder Child

Jeff Wayne Featuring Justin Hayward - Forever Autumn

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.


Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Energy News Digest for October 29, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for October 29, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Attackers in Mexico Blow Up Nine Electrical Substations (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Bonneville Power Deal ‘Is Lawful,’ Court Rules (Courthouse News Service)

Western U-S States, British Columbia Sign Climate Change Pact (Bloomberg News)

More Proof That without Competition U-S Broadband Costs More & Delivers Less (GigaOM)

U-S Utilities Say Columbia River Treaty Payments to Canada Are Excessive (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Attackers in Mexico Blow Up Nine Electrical Substations
  • Bonneville Power Deal ‘Is Lawful,’ Court Rules
  • Editorial: DOE Should Tread Lightly - Scrutiny of Bonneville Power Administration justified, but no excuse for more intrusive federal oversight
  • U-S Utilities Say Columbia River Treaty Payments to Canada Are Excessive
  • Heavy Winds Topple Trees, Cut Power to Thousands in Flathead
  • Downed Power Poles in Seattle Trap People in Construction Equipment
  • Electrical Problem Forces Kennewick Mobile Home Park to Close
  • Montana: A Buyer for Gibson Dam Power Has Proven to be Elusive
  • Oregon: Expect an Increase in Your Natural Gas Bill
  • Transmission Line Removal Means New Line of Thinking
  • Polls Show Energy Doesn’t Spark Americans’ Interest
  • Severe Storms Cut Power to Thousands of Homes in France & the U.K.
  • Berlin’s Electric Rates Become Highest in Europe: $.40 kWh
  • Tennessee Valley Authority Ramps Wind Power, But Environmentalist Call for More Efficiency
  • Sunny Climate for Solar Income Up North
  • U-S Solar Surge: Flipping Switches on a Hoover Dam of Utility-scale Concentrated Solar Power
  • How Global Warming Could Boost Green Energy in an Unexpected Way
  • Can LED Bulbs Make Nuclear Plants Obsolete?
  • Montana’s First Car Shredder Real Energy Hog
  • 1931 Refrigerators Win “Focus on Energy’s” Oldest Fridge Contest
  • Western U-S States, British Columbia Sign Climate Change Pact
  • West Coast States & British Columbia to Link Climate Policies
  • Another Model S Fire, Tesla Stock Tumbles
  • How Electric Vehicles Could Drive Changes in Power Grid Management
  • More Proof That without Competition U-S Broadband Costs More & Delivers Less
  • Local Utilities & Google May Be America’s Only Hope for Cheap Broadband
  • Broadband Awareness: The Dalles Economic District Wins Innovation Award
  • FCC Seeks Better Phone Service for Rural America
  • Is Google Floating Mystery Barges Around The World?
  • Steve Wozniak’s Home ‘Can’t Get Broadband,’ Sounds Off on iPad Air
  • Identity Thieves Troll Facebook for Information
  • Editorial: Media Consolidation Decimates KOMO 4
  • White House Grants Extension on Health Law Sign-Up
  • NSA Official: ‘We’re Really Screwed Now’
  • Cheating Scandal at State Police Academy Triggers Investigation
  • Drills Tuesday on Hood Canal Will Cause Bridge Closures
  • Another Budget Crisis: Shelton
  • Studded Tires Legal in Washington State & Oregon on Friday
  • Puget Sound Area Veterinarians Reporting Fall Flea Explosion
  • Fall Colors Have Been Especially Good This Year

WORD OF THE DAY

Irrepressible • \ihr-uh-PRESS-uh-bull\ • Adjective - Impossible to hold back, stop, or control: very lively and cheerful

Irrepressible: see dog chasing ball. Over and over. See owner getting tired. Over and over.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Attackers in Mexico Blow Up Nine Electrical Substations (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Bonneville Power Deal ‘Is Lawful,’ Court Rules (Courthouse News Service)

Editorial: DOE Should Tread Lightly - Scrutiny of Bonneville Power Administration justified, but no excuse for more intrusive federal oversight (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

U-S Utilities Say Columbia River Treaty Payments to Canada Are Excessive (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Heavy Winds Topple Trees, Cut Power to Thousands in Flathead (The Missoulian, MT)

Downed Power Poles in Seattle Trap People in Construction Equipment (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Electrical Problem Forces Kennewick Mobile Home Park to Close (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Montana: A Buyer for Gibson Dam Power Has Proven to be Elusive (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

Oregon: Expect an Increase in Your Natural Gas Bill (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Transmission Line Removal Means New Line of Thinking (Bonneville Power Administration)

Polls Show Energy Doesn’t Spark Americans’ Interest (Politico)

Severe Storms Cut Power to Thousands of Homes in France & the U.K. (U-S World & News Report)

Berlin’s Electric Rates Become Highest in Europe: $.40 kWh (Forbes Magazine)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Tennessee Valley Authority Ramps Wind Power, But Environmentalist Call for More Efficiency (Chattanooga Times Free Oress, TN)

Sunny Climate for Solar Income Up North (Renewable Energy World)

U-S Solar Surge: Flipping Switches on a Hoover Dam of Utility-scale Concentrated Solar Power (Renewable Energy World)

How Global Warming Could Boost Green Energy in an Unexpected Way (Christian Science Monitor)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Can LED Bulbs Make Nuclear Plants Obsolete? (Forbes Magazine)

Montana’s First Car Shredder Real Energy Hog (Billings Gazette MT)

1931 Refrigerators Win “Focus on Energy’s” Oldest Fridge Contest (Sacramento Bee, CA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Western U-S States, British Columbia Sign Climate Change Pact (Bloomberg News)

West Coast States & British Columbia to Link Climate Policies (Associated Press)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Another Model S Fire, Tesla Stock Tumbles (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

How Electric Vehicles Could Drive Changes in Power Grid Management (Forbes Magazine)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

More Proof That without Competition U-S Broadband Costs More & Delivers Less (GigaOM)

Local Utilities & Google May Be America’s Only Hope for Cheap Broadband (Quartz)

Broadband Awareness: The Dalles Economic District Wins Innovation Award (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)

FCC Seeks Better Phone Service for Rural America (NY Times)

Is Google Floating Mystery Barges Around The World? (Christian Science Monitor)

Steve Wozniak’s Home ‘Can’t Get Broadband,’ Sounds Off on iPad Air (Saratoga Patch, CA)

SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING

Identity Thieves Troll Facebook for Information (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

Editorial: Media Consolidation Decimates KOMO 4 (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

White House Grants Extension on Health Law Sign-Up (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

NSA Official: ‘We’re Really Screwed Now’ (Yahoo! News)

GENERAL NEWS

Cheating Scandal at State Police Academy Triggers Investigation (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Drills Tuesday on Hood Canal Will Cause Bridge Closures (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Another Budget Crisis: Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Studded Tires Legal in Washington State & Oregon on Friday (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

Puget Sound Area Veterinarians Reporting Fall Flea Explosion (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Fall Colors Have Been Especially Good This Year (National Public Radio)

DIVERSIONS: ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER

Biologist: Halloween Masks Full of Scary Germs

Cleaners Find Load of Gold Bars in Airplane Toilet worth $1.8 Million

Postal Worker Pleads Guilty To Stealing $450,000 worth of Mailed Jewelry

Want to Be a Tree After You Die? How About a Diamond?

SONG OF THE DAY

Joan Baez - Diamonds & Rust

Judas Priest - Diamonds & Rust

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.


Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.