TUESDAY, MAY 23  ■  Laborers quit AFL-CIO; no word yet on Solidarity Charters
■  Today from AP -- Laborers union exits AFL-CIO -- The Laborers had remained in the AFL-CIO despite joining the Change to Win coalition of unions that have left the giant federation last July.
■  In today's Chicago Tribune -- Laborers to leave AFL-CIO -- A spokesman says the union needed the last few months to "resolve" a number of internal issues before making its break.

Local news:
■  In yesterday's Columbian -- Wal-Mart tops local police calls, sheriff office finds -- Beating out the entire county for police calls to any "retail, commercial or residential development" is the Wal-Mart retail complex at the intersection of Mill Plain Boulevard and Interstate 205.
■  In today's Seattle Times -- $1.8 billion surprise: Nickels beefs up roads plan -- Some business leaders are riled, saying the 20-year plan and new taxes are more than the city can afford.
■  In today's King Co. Journal -- Library board wants info on no-confidence vote -- Both Director Bill Ptacek and the union agree that clustering is one area of disagreement, but beyond that union leaders are vague, though poor communication also seems to be a source of discontentment.
■  In today's King Co. Journal -- Why is library union (AFSCME 1857) unhappy? Let's guess (editorial)
■  In today's Everett Herald -- Clerks rejects county's offer -- The Snohomish County Superior Court clerks union (an independent union that broke away from AFSCME in January 2005) threatens a work stoppage that could shut down much of the court system.
■  In today's King Co. Journal -- Microsoft forcing contract workers to take unpaid leave -- About 1,000 are told to take seven days off the job, without pay, as the company unveils a series of new perks for its internal staff. (Contract workers: What are you going to do about it? Click here!)

Political news:
■  In today's Seattle Times -- Interest groups targeting state Supreme Court races -- Groups on both ends of the political spectrum -- including the powerful homebuilders lobby on one side and labor unions on the other -- are preparing to do battle over at least two of the three seats on the ballot.
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Pass the Ref. 65 petition (editorial) -- The attempt to enlist some churches to roll back civil rights legislation was woefully out of character with that community's tradition of opposing discrimination. Civil liberties -- like freedom of religion -- are just that, civil; provided by law, not subject to the whims of a straw vote on whose liberties are protected and whose aren't.
■  In today's TCH Olympia Dispatch blog -- Eyman looks for another comeback -- We're pretty much used to Eyman's annual warnings that he'd need a big push late to get his measure on the ballot only to watch him carry in boxes upon boxes of petitions at the signature deadline.
■  In today's King Co. Journal -- All-mail voting nears approval -- King County would become the largest single government in the United States that votes entirely by mail.
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Maybe McGavick should get red-carded (Jamieson column) -- Most irksome is how Americancentric and huffy he sounds. McGavick seems to suggest that because America doesn't like Iran's nuclear saber-rattling the rest of the world should join us on a soccer-sacking sortie... If it were up to a vote of World Cup nations, the U.S. -- not Iran -- may get the boot first.

Boeing news:
■  In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing mechanics to do more 787 work, at first -- Parts of the global supplier network won't be quite ready when the first 787s come together in just over two years, so mechanics in Everett will install some of the planes' electrical wiring and other systems.
■  In today's King Co. Journal -- 787 production schedule fills up -- Boeing has enough firm orders and tentative commitments to fill its production schedule into 2011.
■  In today's Everett Herald -- 787 production hits a milestone -- Work will begin in Japan next month to build the new Boeing jet's first major assembly.
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- In a year, Boeing to sell bigger 787 model that could carry up to 310

National news:
■  From AP -- Senate vote preserves immigration bill ...but in the Wash. Post -- Hastert may block it
■  Today from AP -- Machinists union: Northwest pact includes layoffs for 719 ground workers
■  In today's Washington Post -- OSHA does the darndest things -- In a year when families lost loved ones in multiple mining accidents and at a BP refinery in Ohio, many interpreted OSHA Director Edwin G. Foulke's recent remarks as a slam at workers, blaming them for stupid mistakes.