Energy News Digest for February 22, 2012

The energy news digest was communing with utility bigwigs in Olympia yesterday, halting the information fire hose that is the digest. It returns today with lots of interesting tidbits.

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

High Court Sides with Power Company over Montana Dams (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/feb/22/high-court-sides-power-company-over-montana-dams/

Yakima Valley Experiences Different Kind of Wind Power - Hundreds of Valley residents lose electricity due to high winds Tuesday, but today could be even worse, with gusts up to 70 mph (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/02/21/valley-experiences-different-kind-of-wind-power

California - Coroner identifies men in murder-suicide outside Sacramento Municipal Utility District “…not SMUD employees but were among a group of people using facilities for a meeting…” (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2012/02/coroner-identifies-men-in-murder-suicide-outside-smud.html

Apple Buys Land from Oregon’s Crook County for New Data Center (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/02/apple_buys_land_from_crook_cou.html

Climategate Sequel? Scientist Lies to Get Heartland Institute Documents (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0221/Climategate-sequel-Scientist-lies-to-get-Heartland-Institute-documents

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• High Court Sides with Power Company over Montana Dams
• Yakima Valley Experiences Different Kind of Wind Power
• California - Coroner identifies men in murder-suicide outside Sacramento Municipal Utility District
• Eugene Water & Electric Board hears some dissent over rate rise
• Generator Safety - Fire Causes $100,000 in Damage near Shelton
• Hoku Reaches Agreement with Idaho Power Company
• Avista, Kootenai Electric Cooperative Reach Short-Term Power Deal
• Washington State Officials Shocked By Energy Secretary’s Hanford Remark
• Federal Bankruptcy Judge Rules for Yellowstone Valley in Power Bill Dispute
• Power Rates Up 7%; Nearly Double What British Columbia Wanted
• Vancouver Island - Would-Be Copper Thieves Take Chainsaw to Live Power Pole
• California - Copper Wire worth $460,000 Stolen from Fremont Street Lights
• Idiot Thief Exploded Himself by Peeing on a Power Transformer
• More than 100,000 Austin Energy Customers Hit by Billing Errors from $55 Million IBM System
• Moody’s: Natural Gas to Remain in Excess Supply in 2012
• Drawing the Line at Power Lines
• Salmon Run Forecast Release Kicks Off the Annual Season-Setting Process
• Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby Reveals Plenty of Hatchery Chinook in the Eastern Strait of Juan De Fuca
• Oregon Senate Oks Bill Creating New Marine Reserves
• Mason PUD 3, Port of Shelton, City of Shelton Awarded for Johns Prairie Water Main Efforts
• Washington State Legislature Considers Changes to Geothermal Law
• Idaho Lawmaker Pushes Wind Moratorium Bill
• Biomass Bloviation - Pollution Concerns in Port Townsend Trigger Request for Second Air Monitor
• Alaska - Biomass Could Ease Pressure on Hydropower
• California - Shasta County Releases Third Environmental Report on Proposed Power Plant
• Blast Furnace Waste Gas Could Be Considered Renewable Energy under Ohio Law
• Vermont Won’t Make Renewable Energy Goals
• Goodnight Sunshine - Germany is Cutting Solar-Power Subsidies Because They Are Expensive & Inefficient
• Energy Efficiency: Where to Begin?
• Climategate Sequel? Scientist Lies to Get Heartland Institute Documents
• Mukilteo Family Explains Why They’re Using Solar to Cut Their Heating, Electric Bills
• Clothesline Bans Void in 19 States
• Apple Buys Land from Oregon’s Crook County for New Data Center
• Sorry, America: Your Wireless Airwaves Are Full
• Legislators Aim to Turn States into Broadband Backwaters
• Hi, I Am a Big Dumb Fat Pipe & I Am Okay with That
• Washington State Office Allegedly Granted a No-Bid Contract to Leader’s Friend
• Gas Prices Defy Bounds of Supply, Demand
• There Might be a Little Snow This Weekend - Flood & Avalanche Warnings Issued

WORD OF THE DAY

Duende • \doo-END-day\ • noun - The power to attract through personal magnetism & charm.

The high-powered car salesman prowled through the gleaming new cars on his sprawling lot, his duende was described as potent as the musk aftershave that legend decreed was purchased by the barrel, and secretly stored with the windshield wiper blades on the bowels of the auto shop. No customer would withstand either his personality, or his cologne…as one or the other led to the signing of a contract for escape…similar to a wolf chewing off its leg to get out of a trap.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

High Court Sides with Power Company over Montana Dams (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/feb/22/high-court-sides-power-company-over-montana-dams/

Yakima Valley Experiences Different Kind of Wind Power - Hundreds of Valley residents lose electricity due to high winds Tuesday, but today could be even worse, with gusts up to 70 mph (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/02/21/valley-experiences-different-kind-of-wind-power

California - Coroner identifies men in murder-suicide outside Sacramento Municipal Utility District “…not SMUD employees but were among a group of people using facilities for a meeting…” (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2012/02/coroner-identifies-men-in-murder-suicide-outside-smud.html

Eugene Water & Electric Board hears some dissent over rate rise (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/27650121-41/increase-board-eweb-percent-rate.html.csp

Generator Safety - Fire Causes $100,000 in Damage near Shelton (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/21/1999326/fire-causes-100000-in-damage-near.html

Hoku Reaches Agreement with Idaho Power Company (Pacific Business News, HI)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2012/02/17/hoku-reaches-agreement-with-idaho.html

Avista, Kootenai Electric Cooperative Reach Short-Term Power Deal (Coeur d’Alene Press, ID)

http://www.cdapress.com/news/business/article_549a20c8-057c-5294-8f2b-e06ee5988b3a.html

Washington State Officials Shocked By Energy Secretary’s Hanford Remark (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/washington_officials_react_to_energy_secretarys_remark_on_hanford_cleanup_schedule/

Federal Bankruptcy Judge Rules for Yellowstone Valley in Power Bill Dispute (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/judge-rules-for-yellowstone-valley-in-power-bill-dispute/article_f857e872-2075-5904-94e9-414c42becb38.html

Power Rates Up 7%; Nearly Double What British Columbia Wanted (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/Power+rates+nearly+double+what+wanted/6174697/story.html

Vancouver Island - Would-Be Copper Thieves Take Chainsaw to Live Power Pole (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Would+copper+thieves+take+chainsaw+live+power+pole/6170345/story.html

California - Copper Wire worth $460,000 Stolen from Fremont Street Lights (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19995406

Idiot Thief Exploded Himself by Peeing on a Power Transformer (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5886555/idiot-thief-exploded-himself-by-peeing-on-a-power-transformer

More than 100,000 Austin Energy Customers Hit by Billing Errors from $55 Million IBM System (Austin Statesman-American, TX)

http://www.statesman.com/news/statesman-investigates/more-than-100-000-austin-energy-customers-hit-2185031.html

Moody’s: Natural Gas to Remain in Excess Supply in 2012 (Dallas Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2012/02/20/moodys-natural-gas-to-remain-in.html

Drawing the Line at Power Lines (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/sunday-review/drawing-the-line-at-power-lines.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Run Forecast Release Kicks Off the Annual Season-Setting Process (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/02/19/2032735/salmon-run-forecast-release-kicks.html

Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby Reveals Plenty of Hatchery Chinook in the Eastern Strait of Juan De Fuca (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2017562464_final_olympic_peninsula_salmon.html

Oregon Senate Oks Bill Creating New Marine Reserves (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017563145_aporxgrmarinereserves3rdldwritethru.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Mason PUD 3, Port of Shelton, City of Shelton Awarded for Johns Prairie Water Main Efforts (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=986

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Washington State Legislature Considers Changes to Geothermal Law (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/02/washington-state-legislature-considers-changes-to-geothermal-law?cmpid=rss

Idaho Lawmaker Pushes Wind Moratorium Bill (Idaho Public Radio)
http://earthfix.boisestatepublicradio.org/energy/article/idaho-lawmaker-pushes-wind-moratorium-bill/

Biomass Bloviation - Pollution Concerns in Port Townsend Trigger Request for Second Air Monitor (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120221/news/302219994/pollution-concerns-in-port-townsend-trigger-request-for-second-air

Alaska - Biomass Could Ease Pressure on Hydropower - Imported wood pellets compete with diesel fuel, even after the cost of importation to Alaska (Juneau Empire, AK)

http://juneauempire.com/local/2012-02-22/biomass-could-ease-pressure-ses-hydro

California - Shasta County Releases Third Environmental Report on Proposed Power Plant: New report calls facility ‘carbon neutral’ (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)

http://www.redding.com/news/2012/feb/18/shasta-county-releases-third-environmental-on/

Blast Furnace Waste Gas Could Be Considered Renewable Energy under Ohio Law (Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH)

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/02/blast_furnace_waste_gas_could.html

Vermont Won’t Make Renewable Energy Goals (Bennington Banner, VT)

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_20014851

Goodnight Sunshine - Germany is Cutting Solar-Power Subsidies Because They Are Expensive & Inefficient (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/project_syndicate/2012/02/why_germany_is_phasing_out_its_solar_power_subsidies_.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency: Where to Begin? (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2012/02/22/energy-efficiency-where-to-begin/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climategate Sequel? Scientist Lies to Get Heartland Institute Documents (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0221/Climategate-sequel-Scientist-lies-to-get-Heartland-Institute-documents

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Mukilteo Family Explains Why They’re Using Solar to Cut Their Heating, Electric Bills (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120219/BIZ/702199971/1005

Clothesline Bans Void in 19 States (Sightline Daily)

http://daily.sightline.org/2012/02/21/clothesline-bans-void-in-19-states/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Apple Buys Land from Oregon’s Crook County for New Data Center (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/02/apple_buys_land_from_crook_cou.html

Sorry, America: Your Wireless Airwaves Are Full - Wireless data growth leads to spectrum deficit (KCPQ-TV - Tacoma/Seattle)

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-sorry-america-your-wireless-airwaves-are-full-20120221,0,6455864.story

Legislators Aim to Turn States into Broadband Backwaters (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/legislators-aim-to-turn-states-into-broadband-backwaters/

Hi, I Am a Big Dumb Fat Pipe & I Am Okay with That (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/hi-i-am-a-big-dumb-fat-pipe-i-am-okay-with-that/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Office Allegedly Granted a No-Bid Contract to Leader’s Friend (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/02/18/2032070/ethics-board-checking-if-state.html

GENERAL NEWS

Gas Prices Defy Bounds of Supply, Demand (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/feb/22/gas-prices-defy-bounds-of-supply-demand/

There Might be a Little Snow This Weekend - Flood & Avalanche Warnings Issued (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/22/2000202/there-might-be-a-little-snow-this.html

DIVERSIONS

Porsche Stuck in Wet Concrete: Proof Karma Exists?

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/porsche-stuck-wet-cement-proves-karma-exists-210302568.html

Does Seattle Need Its Own Special Font (Typeface)?

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/02/17/does-seattle-need-its-own-special-font/

Typeface vs. Font - What’s the Difference Between Them?

http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/publishing/articles/17194.aspx

Munch’s ‘Scream’ Up for Auction, May Bring More than $80 Million

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_20010395

Ice Age Plant Brought Back to Life - Mammals Next?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/21/MNKU1NA41R.DTL

SONG OF THE DAY

Johnny Rivers - Where Have All the Flowers Gone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y2Mqt0UYUg

Energy News Digest for February 17, 2012

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Congress Deals Major Blow to Wind Power Industry (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120217/BIZ/702179895

Energy Complaints Rise to Top of Washington State Consumer Complaint List (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/energy-complaints-rise-to-top

The FBI Might Cut Off the Internet for Millions of People on March 8^th (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5885716/the-fbi-might-cut-off-the-internet-for-millions-of-people-on-march-8th

Supreme Court Sides with Landowners on Mason Conservation District Fee (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/16/1993061/supreme-court-sides-with-landowners.html

Winter Storm Moving Through Washington (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/17/1994056/winter-storm-moving-through-washington.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Energy Complaints Rise to Top of Washington State Consumer Complaint List
• Monsanto Takes On Idaho Utilities in Disclosure Fight
• Energy Secretary Says Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Schedule Might Slip
• BC Hydro Bills to Jump by Seven Per Cent This April
• Bonneville Power Administration’s Bethany Tree-Cutting Damage Expected to Cost Thousands of Dollars to Replace
• Groups to File Suit to Block Georgia Nuclear Plant
• Sam Houston Electric Coop Automates Outage Response
• Ruling Halts Grant PUD White River Fish Plan - Utility Studying Option to Appeal
• Cowlitz River Smelt Run Brings Gulls Galore to Lexington Church
• Groups Consider Program to Bolster Klamath Basin Coho Growth
• Congressional Panel Seeks More Tree Cutting on Public Land
• Bainbridge Council Revives Water Utility Debate
• Bill Dispute Could Leave Suncadia Resort near Cle Elum without Running Water
• Op/Ed - Welcome to Puget Sound, Mr. President: Environmental Work in Progress
• Congress Deals Major Blow to Wind Power Industry
• Congress’s Failure to Renew Tax Credit for Wind Production Has Ramifications for Oregon
• California - New Push to Replace 255 Windmills with 50 Faster Turbines
• Club for Growth Criticizes Congressional Solyndra Critic Upton
• Lack of Power Lines Prevents New Offshore Wind Farms in Germany
• United Kingdom - Analysis: Pumped Storage is Vital Part of Scotland’s Renewables Futur
• Obama Bypasses Congress Again on Climate Change
• Microsoft Takes Flak for Donating Software to Think Tank Skeptical of Climate Change
• City Grids May Not be Ready for Electric Cars
• The FBI Might Cut Off the Internet for Millions of People on March 8^th
• White Space Broadband Dodges a Bullet - Compromise Language Keeps FCC Authority Intact
• Congress to Sell Public Airwaves to Pay Benefits
• Clearwire Says it May Need to Raise More Money
• March Madness Games No Longer Free Online for All
• Post Office Closings May Increase Rural Isolation, Economic Disparity
• Supreme Court Sides with Landowners on Mason Conservation District Fee
• Winter Storm Moving Through Washington
• Get Ready for Steady Climb in Gas Prices
• Army Accuses Private of $630K in Equipment Theft
• Occupy Tacoma Encampment’s Power is Out, Probably for Good
• Flu Season Off to Latest Start in Decades
• Mild Winter May Help Boost the Economy
• ‘Piggyback Bandit’ Banned from High School Sports
• Teen Is First Female to Win Iowa State Wrestling Match

WORD OF THE DAY

Neophilia • \nee-uh-FILL-lee-uh\ • Noun - Love of or enthusiasm for what is new or novel

Neophilia

See the line at Apple store

So sad, no bathrooms

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Energy Complaints Rise to Top of Washington State Consumer Complaint List (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/energy-complaints-rise-to-top

Monsanto Takes On Idaho Utilities in Disclosure Fight (Idaho Press Tribune, Nampa)

http://www.idahopress.com/news/state/monsanto-takes-on-utilities-in-disclosure-fight/article_332f4518-593b-11e1-b762-001871e3ce6c.html

Energy Secretary Says Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Schedule Might Slip (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/energy_secretary_says_hanford_plant_schedule_might_slip/

BC Hydro Bills to Jump by Seven Per Cent This April (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/Hydro+bills+jump+seven+cent+this+April/6169598/story.html

Bonneville Power Administration’s Bethany Tree-Cutting Damage Expected to Cost Thousands of Dollars to Replace (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/north-of-26/index.ssf/2012/02/bpas_bethany_tree-cutting_dama.html

Groups to File Suit to Block Georgia Nuclear Plant (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2017522917_apusnuclearpower.html

Sam Houston Electric Coop Automates Outage Response (Fierce Energy)

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/coop-automates-outage-response/2012-02-16

FISH & WILDLIFE

Ruling Halts Grant PUD White River Fish Plan - Utility Studying Option to Appeal (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/feb/16/ruling-halts-white-river-fish-plan-grant-pud/

Cowlitz River Smelt Run Brings Gulls Galore to Lexington Church (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/smelt-run-brings-gulls-galore-to-lexington-church/article_55d57df6-590b-11e1-a88f-0019bb2963f4.html

Groups Consider Program to Bolster Klamath Basin Coho Growth (Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA)

http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/news/x1717085577/Groups-consider-program-to-bolster-coho-growth

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Congressional Panel Seeks More Tree Cutting on Public Land (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017527372_aportimberpaymentsstates1stldwritethru.html

Bainbridge Council Revives Water Utility Debate (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/feb/16/bainbridge-council-revives-water-utility-debate/

Bill Dispute Could Leave Suncadia Resort near Cle Elum without Running Water (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Bill-dispute-could-leave-Suncadia-resort-without-running-water-139487908.html

Op/Ed - Welcome to Puget Sound, Mr. President: Environmental Work in Progress

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2017527171_lance17.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Congress Deals Major Blow to Wind Power Industry (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120217/BIZ/702179895

Congress’s Failure to Renew Tax Credit for Wind Production Has Ramifications for Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/02/congresss_failure_to_renew_tax.html

California - New Push to Replace 255 Windmills with 50 Faster Turbines (KTVU-TV, San Jose, CA)

http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/new-push-make-hundreds-idle-wind-turbines-operatio/nH7CT/

Club for Growth Criticizes Congressional Solyndra Critic Upton (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/02/club-for-growth-criticizes-upton-solyndra/1?csp=34news

Lack of Power Lines Prevents New Offshore Wind Farms in Germany (Oye Times)

http://www.oyetimes.com/news/104-europe/18160-lack-of-power-lines-prevents-new-offshore-wind-farms-in-germany

United Kingdom - Analysis: Pumped Storage is Vital Part of Scotland’s Renewables Future (The Scotsman, UK)
http://www.scotsman.com/news/analysis_pumped_storage_is_vital_part_of_scotland_s_renewables_future_1_2122524

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Obama Bypasses Congress Again on Climate Change (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2012/02/obama-bypasses-congress-on-climate-change/1?csp=34money

Microsoft Takes Flak for Donating Software to Think Tank Skeptical of Climate Change (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2017522350_microsoft_takes_flak_for_donating_software_to_thin.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

City Grids May Not be Ready for Electric Cars - The Nation’s Grid Is Ready: Your neighborhood’s power supply might be another story (Chicago Tribune, IL)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-201202160942usnewsusnwr201202150215electricfeb16,0,272456.story

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The FBI Might Cut Off the Internet for Millions of People on March 8^th (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5885716/the-fbi-might-cut-off-the-internet-for-millions-of-people-on-march-8th

White Space Broadband Dodges a Bullet - Compromise Language Keeps FCC Authority Intact (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/White-Space-Broadband-Dodges-a-Bullet-118414

Congress to Sell Public Airwaves to Pay Benefits (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/business/media/congress-to-sell-public-airwaves-to-pay-benefits.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Clearwire Says it May Need to Raise More Money (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Clearwire-says-it-may-need-to-raise-more-money-3338771.php

March Madness Games No Longer Free Online for All (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-02-16/march-madness-streaming/53122166/1?csp=34tech

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Post Office Closings May Increase Rural Isolation, Economic Disparity (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/post-office-closings-may-increase-rural-isolation-economic-disparity/2012/02/14/gIQANOdnJR_story.html?wprss=rss_business

GENERAL NEWS

Supreme Court Sides with Landowners on Mason Conservation District Fee (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/16/1993061/supreme-court-sides-with-landowners.html

Winter Storm Moving Through Washington (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/17/1994056/winter-storm-moving-through-washington.html

Get Ready for Steady Climb in Gas Prices (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/02/17/2029751/get-ready-for-steady-climb-in.html

Army Accuses Private of $630K in Equipment Theft (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017527260_apwajblmtheft.html

Occupy Tacoma Encampment’s Power is Out, Probably for Good (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/02/16/2029436/occupy-tacoma-encampments-power.html

Flu Season Off to Latest Start in Decades (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2017531858_apusmedfluseason.html

Mild Winter May Help Boost the Economy (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/story/2012-02-14/economy-mild-weather/53097236/1?csp=34money

‘Piggyback Bandit’ Banned from High School Sports (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=629352

Teen Is First Female to Win Iowa State Wrestling Match (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/02/teen-is-first-female-to-win-iowa-state-wrestling-match/1?csp=34news

DIVERSIONS

‘The Check is in the Mail’ Could Soon Be a Legal Excuse

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017506510_postal15.html

Drinking Vodka Makes You Talk More Better

http://gizmodo.com/5884963/drinking-vodka-makes-you-talk-more-better

Wow! Some Words Are, Like, Really Old!

http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Verbal-Energy/2012/0214/Wow!-Some-words-are-like-really-old

Petco Sued for ‘Accidentally Cutting Puppy’s Ear Off Then Gluing it Back On’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2101379/Petco-pet-shop-sued-accidentally-cutting-puppys-ear-GLUING-on.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Bee Gees – ‘Words’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JECTUQVrvzE