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BAREFOOT BANDIT-CHARGES
MOUNT VERNON — A Superior Court judge has ordered a new court date for two charges being pursued against convicted "Barefoot Bandit" Colton Harris-Moore. Defense attorney John Henry Browne said he will file a motion to dismiss the two charges before the April 10 hearing. By Ted S. Warren.
AP Photos.
NATURAL GAS HEDGING
OLYMPIA — The hedging practices of natural gas companies in Washington state have cost ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years, and officials say they are recommending a moratorium on new hedging arrangements. The state attorney general's office said it wants the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to continue investigating the purchasing strategies used by utilities. By Mike Baker.
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee says passing a transportation funding package this year must be a priority for the Washington Legislature. In an interview with The Associated Press, Inslee said he is concerned that momentum for passing such a plan has been dissipating. By Jonathan Kaminsky and Mike Baker.
LAWFUL ARREST
OLYMPIA — The state Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a man who was arrested on drug charges because the officer who saw the alleged action from a second floor of a building was not the arresting officer. Under state law, unless a specific statutory exception applies, an officer can only arrest a misdemeanor crime suspect without a warrant if the office was present for the crime. By Rachel La Corte.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD-OREGON
SALEM — Oregon lawmakers have heard testimony on several bills to require labels on genetically modified food and prohibit importing genetically modified fish. Supporters say consumers should know what kind of food they are buying at the grocery store, and genetically engineered fish threaten Oregon's native fish. Opponents say labeling foods would stigmatize the products, and the engineering process has been proven safe. By Lauren Gambino.
WSU-ALCOHOL ABUSE
PULLMAN — A task force formed by Washington State University President Elson S. Floyd is close to developing a plan to reduce alcohol abuse among students. The task force expects to submit a list of recommendations to Floyd in mid-April.
INTERIOR SECRETARY
WASHINGTON — The Senate Energy Committee has endorsed President Barack Obama's nomination of Sally Jewell to be Interior secretary, moving her nomination to the Senate floor for an expected vote next month. The committee's 19-3 vote in favor of Jewell came after current Interior Secretary Ken Salazar agreed to review a decision blocking construction of a gravel road through a wildlife refuge to provide access to an all-weather airport in rural Alaska. By Matthew Daly. AP Photo SLC102.
WINE SHIPMENTS
BOSTON — Former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe, now a winemaker, returned to Massachusetts on Thursday to urge legislators to lift a ban on the direct shipment of wine to consumers. Bledsoe said the prohibition prevents him from shipping products from his Doubleback winery in Walla Walla, Wash., to most Massachusetts residents, including some former fans and teammates from when he played for the New England Patriots. By Bob Salsberg.
WINE BOTTLE MAKER
KALAMA — Two-foot-long cylinders of glass, still red-hot and glowing, drop once a second into molds at Bennu Glass' wine-bottle manufacturing facility. By the end of the day in this sprawling, nondescript warehouse, 220 tons of melted and mixed sand, soda ash and limestone will drop like small bombs from a molten soup down into forming machines. AP Member Exchange by Dara Tims, The Oregonian. Pursuing AP Photo.
SPORTS
BKC--NCAA-SOUTHERN-GONZAGA
SALT LAKE CITY — Still don't think Gonzaga deserved that No. 1 seed? There might be a few more doubters now. Entering the NCAA tournament top-seeded and top-ranked for the first time in program history, the Zags nearly made another kind of history Thursday — coming only a few minutes and a rimmed-out shot or two from becoming the first 1 to lose to a 16. Gonzaga prevailed 64-58 over Southern University in a game that wasn't safely in hand until the final buzzer sounded. By Sports Writer Eddie Pells.
BKW--NCAA-MID-MAJOR SUCCESS
If postseason experience is the key for a mid-major program to make an impact in the NCAA tournament, the women's field this year offers plenty of candidates. Programs such as Green Bay, Gonzaga, Marist, Chattanooga and Liberty reach this tournament just about every year and often aren't satisfied with merely making the field. In many of these cases, coaching stability has played a role in their success.
BBO--CUBS-MARINERS
PEORIA, Ariz. — Pitcher Jeff Samardzija hit his second home run this spring and also threw six innings Thursday night to lead a split squad of Chicago Cubs over the Seattle Mariners 7-4.
ALSO
— SPRING SNOW — Spring? Wash highways slowed by snow, tornado damages SW Wash. barn. AP Photo.
— BOMB THREATS-MULTIPLE STATES — Ohio man accused in federal investigation of dozens of courthouse bomb threats in 5 states, including Washington.
— SPRING FERRY SCHEDULE — Washington ferries increase service with spring schedule starting Sunday.
— SPOTTED OWL LAWSUIT — Timber industry files lawsuit challenging habitat protections for northern spotted owl.
— POT-SNIFFING DOGS — Some drug-sniffing dogs in Washington state now trained to ignore marijuana because it's legal.
— MUDSLIDE — Mudslide closes train tracks north of Seattle.
— BOUNDARY DAM — Feds renew Seattle license for Boundary Dam.
— WASHINGTON FUGITIVE — King County prosecutors charge man accused of killing grandparents with aggravated murder. AP Photo SE101.
— GONZAGA MERCHANDISE — Gonzaga goods selling briskly.
— WASHOUGAL OFFICER CONVICTED — Ex-Washougal police officer convicted of assault.
— PORT ANGELES MILL STRIKE — Union strikes at Port Angeles paper mill. AP Photo WAPAN101.
— TACOMA ATTACK — Charges filed against suspect in violent sexual assault on woman at Tacoma day care.
