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.
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HOT TOPICS – TOP FIVE STORIES
North Mason School District Recognized for Technology Use – Uses a Mason PUD 3 Fiber Diet (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Warns Utility Members of Perfect Storm Leading to Higher Rates in 2011 (LaGrande Observer, OR)
Congressional Republicans Kill Global Warming Committee (Associated Press)
Staying Warm While Staying on Budget (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
Despite Dog Electrocution, City of Seattle Says Streetlights Are Safe (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Warns Utility Members of Perfect Storm Leading to Higher Rates in 2011
- Grant PUD Braces for Rate Jump
- Despite Dog Electrocution, City of Seattle Says Streetlights Are Safe
- Alaska - Susitna Dam Would Generate Electricity for Mat-Su
- South Dakota - Electric Cooperatives Bury More Power Lines
- Op/Ed - Special Interests Threaten Salmon Fisheries
- Angler Earns $81,366 in Columbia River Pikeminnow Bounty Program
- Asian Carp Create Nagging Fear in Lake Erie Towns
- Washington Forests Robbed for Wreaths
- Amid Portland City Council Vote, River Plan Still Divides Environmentalists, Industrialists
- California - Wood Chip Electricity Plant Gets Green Light But Raises Red Flags
- Maine - School Turns Down Federal Stimulus Grant for Pellet Boiler
- Maine Officials Say Turbines Are Too Loud
- Ohio - Blade Comes Off Wind Turbine at Perkins High School
- North Carolina - Asheville Waterlines Could Generate Electricity
- Staying Warm While Staying on Budget
- LED Christmas Lights Fuel Big Savings
- Congressional Republicans Kill Global Warming Committee
- GOP Plans Strategy to Stymie EPA
- Lake Effect: World’s Lakes Warming Due to Climate Change
- Op/Ed - The Northwest’s Newest Export: Global Warming
- Frozen Fish Help Cool the Climate
- Washington Eco-Saboteurs Topple Everett Radio Towers
- San Francisco Approves Biodiesel Plant After Long Delay
- Rent A Christmas Tree & Ease Your Guilt
- North Mason School District Recognized for Technology Use – Uses a Mason PUD 3 Fiber Diet
- FCC’s Net-Neutrality Plan May Face Stiff Opposition
- FCC Opens the Door for Metered Broadband
- Mixed Reaction to FCC Internet Plan
- ‘Do Not Track’ Online Privacy Measure Under Consideration
- Verizon Wireless to Launch 4G Service on Sunday
- State Treasurer Seeks $4 Billion Long-Term Solution for Pension Fund
- Washington State Special Legislative Session Now More Likely
- Environmentalists Outline Legislative Agenda for 2011 Session
- US Rep. McMorris Rodgers Gives Birth to Girl
- Sedro Woolley Food Bank Evicted Over Parking
- Weather Alert Radios to be Provided for Washington Coastal Residents
- Companies Beware: The Next Big Leak Could be Yours
- 50,000 Inmates Claim Tax Refunds, Report No Wages
- Townsquare Media to Acquire Six Yakima Radio Stations
- Study Says Vegas Among World’s Worst Economies
PET PEEVE EDITION - WORD OF THE DAY
Burglary versus Robbery
Burglary • \BURR-gluh-ree\ • Noun – Stealing something by stealth. The act of breaking and entering a dwelling at night to commit a felony (as theft); broadly: the entering of a building with the intent to commit a crime.
Robbery • \ROBB-uh-ree\ • Noun – Stealing something through the use or threat of violence. The act or practice of robbing; specifically: arceny from the person or presence of another by violence or threat.
So, all you budding (and experienced news reporters out there): if a person comes home and finds a criminal broke into their home to “get the goods,” their home was burglarized; they were not ROBBED. If someone comes home; a criminal confronts them; threatens them in order to “get the goods,” they were not burglarized, they were ROBBED.
WEATHER
Shelton Forecast & Weather Alerts
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Grant PUD Braces for Rate Jump - Five-year plan would raise bills 8 percent a year through 2015 (Wenatchee World, WA)
Alaska - Susitna Dam Would Generate Electricity for Mat-Su (Associated Press)
South Dakota - Electric Cooperatives Bury More Power Lines (KELO-TV, Sioux Falls, SD)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Op/Ed - Special Interests Threaten Salmon Fisheries (SF Chronicle)
Angler Earns $81,366 in Columbia River Pikeminnow Bounty Program (South Lincoln County News, Waldport, OR)
Asian Carp Create Nagging Fear in Lake Erie Towns (Associated Press)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Washington Forests Robbed for Wreaths (KING-TV, Seattle)
Amid Portland City Council Vote, River Plan Still Divides Environmentalists, Industrialists (Oregonian, Portland)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
California - Wood Chip Electricity Plant Gets Green Light But Raises Red Flags: Residents claim pollution, noise not fully addressed (Stockton Record, CA)
Maine - School Turns Down Federal Stimulus Grant for Pellet Boiler (Maine Public Broadcasting)
Maine Officials Say Turbines Are Too Loud (NY Times)
Ohio - Blade Comes Off Wind Turbine at Perkins High School (Lorain Morning Journal, OH)
North Carolina - Asheville Waterlines Could Generate Electricity (Ashville Citizen Times, NC)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
LED Christmas Lights Fuel Big Savings (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
GOP Plans Strategy to Stymie EPA (Politico)
Lake Effect: World’s Lakes Warming Due to Climate Change (USA Today)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
Op/Ed - The Northwest’s Newest Export: Global Warming (Oregonian, Portland)
Frozen Fish Help Cool the Climate (KUOW Radio, Seattle)
Washington Eco-Saboteurs Topple Everett Radio Towers - Monkey-wrenching of radio station doesn’t last (High Country News)
San Francisco Approves Biodiesel Plant After Long Delay (SF Chronicle)
Rent A Christmas Tree & Ease Your Guilt (KING-TV, Seattle)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
North Mason School District Recognized for Technology Use – Uses a Mason PUD 3 Fiber Diet (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
FCC’s Net-Neutrality Plan May Face Stiff Opposition (Associated Press)
FCC Opens the Door for Metered Broadband
Mixed Reaction to FCC Internet Plan (NY Times)
‘Do Not Track’ Online Privacy Measure Under Consideration (USA Today)
Verizon Wireless to Launch 4G Service on Sunday (Associated Press)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
State Treasurer Seeks $4 Billion Long-Term Solution for Pension Fund (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Washington State Special Legislative Session Now More Likely - Deficit: Governor pushes lawmakers to meet early, focus on budget shortfall (Olympian, WA)
US Rep. McMorris Rodgers Gives Birth to Girl (Associated Press)
GENERAL NEWS
Sedro Woolley Food Bank Evicted Over Parking (KING-TV, Seattle)
Weather Alert Radios to be Provided for Washington Coastal Residents (KING-TV, Seattle)
Companies Beware: The Next Big Leak Could be Yours - WikiLeaks Founder Says Number of Leaks Submitted Increasing ‘Exponentially’ (Associated Press)
50,000 Inmates Claim Tax Refunds, Report No Wages (Associated Press)
Townsquare Media to Acquire Six Yakima Radio Stations (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)
Study Says Vegas Among World’s Worst Economies (Associated Press)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Twitter Tweet Turns Into $20,000 College Scholarship
Starry Starry Starry Night: Star Count May Triple
Pickled Person - Man Registers .423 in DUI Arrest
SONG OF THE DAY
Don McLean - Vincent (Starry Starry Night)
