FRIDAY, JUNE 9  ■  WSLC's Jim Tusler retiring after 20 years of service -- All are invited to celebrate with Jim as the Council recognizes him for his work at a retirement party on July 8.

REMINDER:  ■  Forum on Saturday aims to stop White House spin on seniors -- The Alliance for Retired Americans is hosting "The Untold Story of the White House Conference on Aging" on Saturday, June 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 First Ave.  Join us there!

Grateful Heirs news:
■  In today's NY Times -- GOP fails in Senate attempt to repeal federal estate tax -- In 57-41 vote, the Senate was three votes short of the number needed to advance the measure.  Both Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray voted to oppose repeal of the estate tax.  (Thank you!)
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Repeal of state estate tax has wealthy backers -- Some of Seattle's best-known business moguls (including Selig and Nordstrom) are bankrolling an initiative campaign by a controversial right-wing activist to do away with Washington state's estate tax.
■  At the Postman on Politics blog -- Campaign to protect estate tax begins today -- Ads running for campaign (whose funders include Bill Gates, SEIU and WEA) to dissuade people from signing petitions for the repeal of the Washington estate tax. See the ad.

Other Political news:
■  In today's Yakima H-R -- R-65 rejection a victory for all civil rights (editorial) -- We're happy to see the wheels fall of this Eyman bandwagon before it could even build up any momentum.
■  In today's Seattle Times -- An Eyman backer with bucks -- Woodinville investment adviser Michael Dunmire has given Eyman's various campaigns $1 million in just the past two years. He's not dissuaded by Eyman's latest failure, saying his "money could not be better spent."
■  Today from AP -- Talk-radio case heard by high court -- The State Supreme Court considers whether requiring reports of on-air campaign organizing violates free-speech rights.

Local news:
■  In today's Oregonian -- Cowlitz casino backers work to build support -- With union members in their midst, supporters of a proposed casino imitated their organized labor friends -- they organized, announcing the formation of Friends of the Cowlitz Tribe to promote the project.
■  In today's Seattle Times -- Records request leads to lawsuit -- A permanent part-time state employee being denied health insurance asks state agencies provide the names, hours worked and whether health insurance is provided for all employees classified as temporary, seasonal or intermittent. Most did, but the Dept. of Corrections refused. So he is suing the DOC.
■  In today's News Tribune -- Port of Tacoma laments loss of extra security funds 
■  In today's Seattle Times -- Sea-Tac's troubles on the tarmac -- Airport records make it clear that ramp accidents are a long-standing problem for carriers that fly in and out of the airport.
■  In today's Seattle Times -- Alaska Airlines touts improved ramp record -- After a flurry of accidents alarmed travelers and tarnished Alaska's reputation, Menzies Aviation (the non-union baggage handling contractor hired to replace 471 IAM workers) says it has improved its safety record.
■  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Sandpoint health-care temp firm moves 55 workers to Spokane

Boeing news:
■  In BusinessWeek -- On a wing and a prayer -- The stakes have never been higher for Boeing and its Dreamliner.  But as crucial deadlines loom, Boeing engineers are wrestling with significant technical and production problems that could threaten the scheduled 2008 delivery of the jet.
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- A stumble in 787 development -- Boeing recently had to scrap one of the large barrel-shaped fuselage sections of the new airplane made in its East Marginal Way research center after discovering defects had formed inside the carbon-plastic skin.
■  Today from AP -- Key 787 supplier opens new facility in South Carolina -- Vought Aircraft will build fuselages at a new $560 million complex near the Charleston airport that company officials say will eventually employ about 725 workers at wages of $40,000 a year and higher.
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Order for passenger version of 747-8 is the first in years
■  In today's News Tribune -- Turkish airline announces orders for three 737-900ERs

TAKE ACTION:  ■  Stop China's repression of human rights -- The AFL-CIO is taking action to protect America’s jobs and stop the unconscionable abuse of workers by the Chinese government. Click here to help by sending a message to Congress and President Bush.
■  In today's Des Moines Register -- Abuse of China's workers hurts U.S. workers, too (op-ed by AFL-CIO's Trumka and Iowa AFL-CIO's Smith) -- It's 6,515 miles from Des Moines to Beijing, but for Iowa workers, China's way of doing business is right around the corner. Exploitation of human beings through repression of fundamental rights for economic gain is both morally repugnant and economically dangerous. Americans won't tolerate it. Our government shouldn't, either.
■  In today's NY Times -- AFL-CIO files a trade complaint against China's labor practices -- It filed a similar complaint two years ago, but Bush quickly rejected it, saying his administration would use persuasion and cooperation, rather than confrontation, to deal with labor violations in China.

Other national news:
■  In today's Oregonian -- Temporary skilled worker visas run out -- The U.S. hits its H-1B cap of 65,000 in record time, prompting the tech industry to renew its campaign to raise the limit.