Last Throes update:  ■  Today from MSNBC.com -- Four more U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq; death toll now at 1,986
■  In today's NY Times -- In testy hearing, Rice cites progress in Iraq -- The Secretary of State declines to predict when American forces could withdraw, or to rule out widening the war to Syria. At the contentious hearing's end, Rice offers a weary concession about efforts to train Iraqi forces and heal Iraq's fractious society: "I understand that, yes, it might not work."
■  Today from MSNBC -- Sources: Rove, Libby discussed contacts with reporters about CIA agent -- In effort to discredit an Iraq war critic, it appears that two senior White House staffers committed treason by revealing an undercover CIA agent's identity... during a war. Fire these American traitors and send them to jail. Then, investigate who else knew about it, and when.

Election news: ■  In today's Spokesman- Review -- I-912 means bigger expense down the road (editorial) -- The now-is-not-the-time argument was invoked when Ref. 51 was shot down in 2002, when gas prices were about half what they are now.  So, when is it a good time to raise taxes?  Repealing the transportation package would solve nothing, but it would add a significant sum to the eventual bill.
■  In the Seattle P-I -- Reject all initiatives (editorial) -- While all of them have some merit, all should be rejected in favor of representative democracy.
■  In yesterday's Daily News -- Get rid of the gas tax? -- Sen. Joe Zarelli (R-Ridgefield) voted for the tax and shrugs off his party's endorsement of repealing it, pointing to $4 million set aside to fund performance audits of transportation projects. "My party's faithful have wanted that forever," he says.
■  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Ferries plot future in face of funding uncertainties -- The ferries already face a $28 million shortfall due to high fuel costs. Budget woes will get even worse if I-912 is approved, which would eliminate some $140 million in capital funding.
■  From AP -- West has raised only $4,000 in recall fight

Also today:  ■  Make a difference: Volunteer to help improve community, technical colleges
■  Today from Bloomberg --  Boeing may speed up 787 Dreamliner production -- With high fuel prices, a Boeing executive says "demand is high" and early deliveries are being sought for the fuel-efficient jet. Boeing now forecasts the production rate for 787 models at seven aircraft a month, but declines to say how much more the plane maker can bolster production.

National news:  ■  Today from AP -- Senate again rejects minimum wage increase -- Two Democratic proposals to increase the federal minimum wage are quietly killed. At $5.15 an hour (or $10,712 a year for a full-time worker), it hasn't been raised in MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS. Thankfully, many states, like Washington, are not waiting for this Congress to do the right thing.
■  In today's NY Daily News -- It is time to protect unions (op-ed) -- The protection of labor rights in America has regressed to where this country stood in the 1920s. The result is neutered unions, stagnant wages, shrinking benefits and more insecurity. 
■  At BusinessWeek.org -- Stepped-up assault on Wal-Mart -- A scathing documentary and a campaign by labor, religious and environmental groups spell more trouble for the giant retailer.
■  Today from AP -- Biggest Katrina contracts go to firms in the political loop
■  Today from AP -- Stay-at-home mom goes on strike -- Sitting in a lawn chair outside her home with a sign saying "Mom on Strike," an Indiana woman gives up her daily chores until her family gives her more help around the house. (Would she still think her strike was funny if her husband  hired a scab permanent replacement Mom? Or moved the entire family overseas?  Discuss.) 

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19  ■  UFW: Global Horizons abuses continue after settlement

State of the Unions:  ■  In today’s Oregonian -- Ex-firefighter elected Oregon AFL-CIO President -- Tom Chamberlain promises to focus on ballot initiatives and increasing voter turnout.
■  In today’s Salem S-J -- Labor adviser Chamberlain will lead Oregon AFL-CIO -- His first order of business is seeking the return to the federation of unions defecting via the Change to Win Federation, led by the largest state workers union, SEIU Local 503. A tentative national accord could pave the way for the CTW unions to re-affiliate with state and local labor federations.
■  Today from AP -- AFL-CIO closer to deal on Solidarity Charters -- CTW's Burger: "We can be optimistic... (but) this has nothing to do with rejoining the AFL-CIO. It's about the local level." 

I-912 news:  ■  In the Seattle Weekly -- The rough road to "no" -- The campaign opposing I-912 has an intriguing regional strategy to overcome voter hatred of the gas tax.
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Biggest business names fight repeal of gas tax 
■  In today’s Spokesman-Review -- Cash pumps up gas tax campaign -- Encouraged by recent poll results, businesses and unions are pouring 11th-hour cash into the campaign to save a multibillion-dollar gas tax increase from a ballot measure that would torpedo it.

Other political news:  ■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Nurses oppose malpractice Initiatives 330, 336 -- Five nurses groups, including WSNA, announce their opposition. But Tom Curry, CEO of the Washington State Medical Association that's backing I-330, says: "Labor bosses representing one-fifth of the nurses... We've got over 200 real nurses that work on the ground ... saying (labor leaders) don't represent us." All of you unionized fake nurses who are offended by Curry's remarks should e-mail him and say so.
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Yes on I-901: Clean indoor air protects everyone -- Imagine going out with your family to listen to music, go bowling or to go skating with your kids. Suddenly, there's a toxic chemical leak in the building and the air is filled with dozens of chemicals known to cause cancer. That's what happens every day in buildings open to the public all across the state. 

Local news:  ■  In today’s Yakima H-R -- Yakima County budget forces cuts in staffing
■  In today’s Yakima H-R -- Yakima city budget squeezes services to fit budget -- Costs for delivering city services are increasing faster than revenues, and that has put Yakima in a tight spot.
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Monorail plans meet skepticism; financing changes don't draw city support
■  In today’s Everett Herald -- Jeld-Wen, Xantrex workers certified for federal aid -- Hundreds laid off in factory closures are eligible for aid because the companies shipped their jobs out of the country.
■  In today’s Everett Herald -- Customer requests may lead to Boeing 787 tweaks (Corliss column)
■  In today’s King Co. Journal -- Group threatens to sue state over school funding -- Education associations and school districts are threatening legal action over inadequate funding.
■  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Sen. Murray calls for scrutiny of Black Rock Reservoir plans

National news:  ■  In today’s NY Times -- Bush renews push for immigration reform -- In a renewed effort to win support, the White House is now emphasizing the border enforcement part of the plan.
■  In today’s Washington Post -- The fate of "Made in the USA" (Samuelson column) -- The question posed by the bankruptcy filing of Delphi Corp. -- the largest U.S. auto parts company -- is whether manufacturing in America has a future. Or is it sliding toward extinction?
■  In today’s NY Times -- Abolishing the poll tax again (editorial) -- It is shameful that in 2005 Georgia needs to be told by federal courts not to try to stop its black citizens from voting.
■  In today’s Seattle Times -- The shoe is on the other foot (Dionne column) -- Investigations and prosecutions were about "the rule of law" when Democrats were in power. Now that Republicans are being held accountable, conservatives say it's an outrageous criminalization of politics.

More bad news:  ■  Today from AP -- Wilma most intense Atlantic storm ever -- Gathering strength at a fierce pace, Hurricane Wilma has swirled into a Category 5 monster packing 175 mph winds that forecasters call "extremely dangerous"... it is a "significant threat" to Florida this weekend.

TUESDAY, OCT. 18  ■  Rally on Friday for health care and to save Tacoma janitors' jobs

National news:  ■  In today's LA Times -- U.S. labor in retreat as global forces squeeze pay, benefits -- Four years into an economic recovery, American workers should be riding high. Instead, they're facing new demands to surrender hard-won benefits and make wage concessions. Companies say cutbacks are needed to stay competitive in an increasingly globalized economy.
■  In today's Detroit News -- GM, UAW cost-cutting deal is a coup for U.S. auto industry
■  At the House of Labor blog -- Where are GM investor givebacks? -- GM investors drained dividends during decades of profitability, instead of investing in new technology and fuel efficiency.
■  In today's Washington Post -- GOP brass urge small steps on immigration -- There will be a Senate hearing today on "comprehensive immigration reform." But top House and Senate officials say  they want to address enforcement and border-control issues before tackling proposals that could help undocumented workers obtain legal status, such as guest-worker programs.
■  In today's Washington Post -- Cheney's office a focus in CIA leak case -- It is increasingly clear that Cheney and his aides have been deeply enmeshed in events surrounding the Plame affair.

MONDAY, OCT. 17  ■  In-home care workers at Senior Life Resources join OPEIU 8

Also today:  ■  Significant progress reported in Solidarity Charter talks -- AFL-CIO President John Sweeney reports agreement in principle with CTW on two major issues: allowing CTW members to serve as officers and CTW paying cost-sharing at the national level. So the deadline for strict enforcement of state fed/CLC exclusion of CTW unions is extended to November 15.
■  In today’s Salem (Ore.) S-J -- Tentative labor deal would keep peace -- "I'm glad to hear that," said Joe DiNicola, SEIU Local 503 president. "That means that we can continue to work together on issues that affect workers all over Oregon."

Boeing news:  ■  In today’s KCJ -- SPEEA expects more -- Unlike the Machinists, who passed up pay raises to  improve pensions and preserve health care, SPEEA expects significant pay raises and inclusion in the employee incentive program, plus benefits and pension payouts on par with what their blue-collar co-workers got.
■  Today from AP -- SPEEA submits contract wish list
■  In today’s Seattle Times -- State technology salaries climbing -- Competition for technology-sector workers is heating up. Average salaries for Washington technology workers surged 8 percent this year, the biggest increase in five years

I-912 news:  ■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Initiative 912: Costing us already (editorial) -- The delay in starting crucial projects will cost taxpayers $66 million. Perhaps it's trickle-down from the profligate Bush administration, but I-912 spokesman Brett Bader refers that money as "a few dollars." 
■  In the Bainbridge Review -- Ferry funds depend on I-912's defeat (editorial) -- Ferry-dependent communities like our own will be among those hardest hit should the initiative pass.
■  In today’s News Tribune -- Voting no on I-912 would be accountable thing to do (op-ed) -- While other agencies have suffered from high-profile problems, DOT has for the most part been nothing short of a model of efficiency. Without doubt, Secretary Doug McDonald has transformed a once rudderless ship into an organization that is clearly the best our government has to offer.
■  In today’s KCJ -- If I-912 passes, what happens next? (Carlson column) -- Carlson fantasizes that I-912 passage would be a mandate for transportation "reform." Meanwhile, back on Earth, a poll shows 44% of I-912 supporters cite gas prices as their motivation. Just 12% cite DOT mistrust.
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Latest Eyman initiative on performance audits isn't as scary as the others 
■  In today’s Seattle Times -- Doctors defend lobbying of patients for I-330 -- Some medical ethicists say the letters, which introduce politics into the doctor-patient relationship, are improper.

Other political news:  ■  In the Daily News -- Keep Rep. Dean Takko (editorial)
■  In today’s News Tribune -- I-901: All workers deserve clean air (editorial) -- I-901 isn’t primarily about customers... It's about workplace safety. As Washington law now stands, most workers are entitled to clean air in their offices, shops, etc. But waiters and bartenders employed in taverns, lounges and other “adult” establishments are excluded from that protection. Their exclusion is indefensible in light of steadily mounting evidence that secondhand smoke sickens and kills people -- especially people exposed to it regularly for extended periods.
■  In Sunday’s News Tribune -- Reject both malpractice initiatives (op-ed by Mike Kriedler and AARP boss) 

Local news:  ■  In today’s Olympian -- WFSE kicks in more for locals -- Local unions will get a bigger share of dues revenue after delegates amended the WFSE constitution on Sunday.
■  In Saturday's News Tribune -- Alaska mechanics (AMFA) ratify pact -- The 700 union mechanics will get a 10% pay increase and a $1,000 bonus in the first year of a new 4-year contract.
■  In today’s News Tribune -- "You're NOT covered" -- About 80% of full-time workers are eligible for health care benefits, but fewer than a quarter of part-timers working under 20 hours a week are.
■  In today’s Olympian -- New Tumwater Worksource building unites job programs
■  In today’s Bellingham Herald -- Border hassles push jobs south -- Canadian companies are investing in U.S. manufacturing and distribution facilities to prevent border security delays.
■  In the P.S. Business Journal -- Middle-wage jobs are key to economic prosperity (op-ed) -- With the Prosperity Partnership, we can make Seattle the first city in our nation to place widely shared prosperity at the center of its job creation strategy.

National news:  ■  Today from AP -- Unions feeling pressure from many sides -- The outlook for organized labor seems to grow worse by the day in this year of turmoil for unions.
■  In today’s NY Times -- GM, UAW reach agreement on health care costs
■  In today’s NY Times -- Lured by work, but struggling to get paid -- Hundreds of illegal immigrants have have been promised good pay, three meals a day and a place to stay for Hurricane Katrina rebuilding work. Some contractors make good on this, but many do not.
■  In today’s NY Times -- Wrong solution for the uninsured (editorial) -- It's easy to sympathize with the frustration of local governments left holding the bag for big companies like Wal-Mart that don't provide affordable health benefits, but piecemeal legislation requiring coverage is no answer.
■  In today’s Washington Post -- House GOP to push for $50 billion in federal budget cuts