Local news:  ▪  Operating Engineers Local 302 open to resuming talks in King Co. strike
▪  In the (Longview) Daily News -- Longview Fibre workers (AWPPW) approve contact -- Members will get 2% pay raises each of the next four years alongside health care costs increases. Unlike the previous offer that was rejected, the contract won't cut off retirees' health benefits after 2010.
▪  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Fluor Hanford to lay off 100 in September
▪  In the (Aberdeen) Daily World -- It's a race against clock for Cosmopolis pulp mill -- A buyer must be found quickly before Weyco’s customers sign long-term agreements with foreign competitors.
▪  In the (Aberdeen) Daily World -- L&I Director Gary Weeks advocates cooperative approach
▪  In today's Salem S-J -- SEIU rally today will focus on Oregon contract bargaining

GOP Tip Penalty redux:  ▪  Rally in Yakima TODAY to thank Cantwell for last week's vote
TAKE ACTION: ▪  Tell Congress it's time for a REAL vote to raise the minimum wage
▪  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Cantwell defends minimum wage vote -- Cantwell tells about 50 cheering service industry workers that she was proud of last Thursday's vote. She says tying a minimum-wage increase and sales tax deductions to an estate tax reduction is "blackmail."
▪  In today's Olympian -- Political gaming is getting old (editorial) -- If Congress had any political backbone, it would take on the minimum wage issue without burying it in a bill loaded with a slew of tax breaks... Senate Republicans' effort to lure crucial swing votes out of Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray didn't work, nor should it have worked.

Political news: 
▪  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Poulsbo Rep. Sherry Appleton's husband dies at age 75
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Seattle City Council puts transportation tax on ballot in November
▪  At Horses Ass -- Property rights begins at home (and apparently ends there) -- An I-933 signature-gathering captain publicly advocates tearing down the "No" campaign's signs.
▪  At Postman on Politics -- McGavick's hardball consultant -- Mike!™, whose campaign champions civility, has hired a notorious Republican consultant who unapologetically supported the Willie Horton ads against Dukakis, was paid to help spread "Troopergate" allegations against Clinton, and launched a business-backed political group that is known for its negative attack ads. 
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Border security focus of hearings -- The Republican immigrant-bashing immigration-reform hearings come to Bellingham today, and will be greeted by protesters.
▪  In today's Washington Post -- Corruption probe fells third House Republican: Ohio Rep. Bob Ney
▪  In today's Washington Post -- House incumbents at risk, poll finds -- The percentage of people who approve of their own representative's performance is at the lowest level since 1994.
▪  In today's Washington Post -- Lieberman's troubles go beyond war ...plus -- Lamont's lead slips

National news:
▪  In today's Chicago Sun-Times -- AFL-CIO survey: Working women focus on health care costs
▪  In today's LA Times -- Wal-Mart to raise and limit wages -- It plans to raise the starting wages an average of 6% at fewer than a third of its U.S. stores and will impose a new "maximum wage."
▪  From AP -- Starbucks fires union organizer -- The New York City barista and organizer for IWW Starbucks Workers Union, said he is the fourth member who has been fired in the last year.
▪  In today's NY Times -- Public pension plans face billions in shortages -- State and local governments owe retirees an estimated $375 billion more than they've committed to their funds. 
▪  In the (Longview) Daily News -- Employers should bolster pension funds (editorial)
▪  In today's Washington Post -- If Northwest flight attendants strike, it could be a bumpy ride (column)
▪  In today's San Diego U-T -- Due to internal bickering, UNITE HERE local placed into trusteeship -- Tensions between the executive officers boiled over in the spring when the secretary-treasurer was re-elected and a new president was elected, leading a slate that took seven of the nine executive board slots. The two elected officers were formerly married but divorced last year.