International Trade news:
▪  In today's NY Times -- Break seen in logjam over trade -- Prospects for Congressional approval of several pending trade pacts got a surprising lift Tuesday when Democrats in the House proposed a series of revisions that won guarded praise from both organized labor and the White House.
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- AFL-CIO calls Rangel-Levin free trade agreement "significant step forward" 
▪  In today's Washington Post -- An opportunity on trade (Pearlstein column) -- With business backing, the White House has agreed to put enforceable labor and environmental standards into the treaties. It is also prepared to talk about adding billions of dollars each year to an expanded unemployment insurance regime and trade adjustment assistance programs to create an effective safety net for American workers hurt by globalization. But just when they were on the cusp of achieving this victory, Democrats have decided to overplay their hand, demanding even tougher enforcement of labor and environmental standards, not only abroad but at home.

Legislative news:
▪  Today from AP -- Senate unveils roads plan -- The $8.1 billion plan (the House's was $7.4 billion) would get hundreds of road projects back on schedule and cover hefty cost overruns.
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- Ferries still can't account for cash -- Another audit finds the WSF can't properly track ticket sales. (The Senate transportation budget includes another 2.5% fare increase; the House version freezes fares.)
▪  In today's Salem S-J -- Nurses divided about setting staffing standards in Oregon -- Some aim to specify how many patients can be assigned to a nurse.

Local news:
▪  In The Columbian -- Traffic slows Woodland Wal-Mart -- Before a Wal-Mart SuperCenter can be built there, examiner says developers need to do more to fix traffic congestion it might cause.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Koster won't run for Snohomish County Exec -- Neither will Sheriff Bart. 

National news:
▪  Today at AFL-CIO Now -- Senate hears testimony for Employee Free Choice Act -- Sen. Edward Kennedy: "Unscrupulous employers intimidate workers. It's illegal, but it happens every day."
▪  In today's Washington Post -- Democratic candidates praise value of organized labor -- Barack Obama, John Edwards and Hilary Clinton address the Communications Workers of America. 
▪  From AP -- Circuit City to cut more than 3,500 jobs -- The retailer announces that it plans to cut costs by laying off thousands of store workers and hiring lower-paid employees to replace them. 
▪  From AP -- "Our union is on guard:" UAW chief strikes defiant tone as contract talks loom
▪  In today's NY Times -- Wal-Mart chief gives up on NYC -- Frustrated by a bruising, and so far unsuccessful battle to open its first NYC store, the CEO says, “I don’t care if we are ever here.”