Unemployment news:  

►  In today's NY Times -- 598,000 more jobs lost as U.S. jobless rate hit 7.6% -- The country moved into its second year of uninterrupted job losses in January, the most since December 1974. Job losses were once again spread across both manufacturing and service industries, reinforcing the picture of an economy contracting at its fastest pace in decades.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- State legislature poised to boost jobless benefits -- The state's unemployed could soon have an extra $45 dollars in their pockets each week. A measure, aimed at stimulating the economy by tapping into the state's flush unemployment-insurance fund, is expected to pass the House today and the Senate next week. The proposal has the support of Gov. Chris Gregoire (and the state's labor movement).

►  In today's Seattle Times -- It's all hands on deck at jobless centers -- Two Employment Security Department call centers have doubled staff and added phone lines -- and are still struggling to keep pace with the soaring state unemployment rate. "I've had a lot of criers," says ESD intake agent Diana O'Brien. "They don't know how they're going to pay their rent, or their mortgage." 

Legislative news: 

►  In today's Daily News -- Lawmakers poised to reshape green energy initiative -- Legislators are making the most of their first crack at I-937, which will influence Northwest electric rates and carbon emissions for decades to come. At least a dozen bills have been introduced to amend I-937, which voters approved in 2006 to force investments in green energy.

►  In today's Yakima H-R -- Longtime legislator Mary Skinner "always had class" -- Longtime Yakima lawmaker Mary Skinner died Thursday morning, less than a year after her final legislative session and less than a month after her husband's death. The first Latino legislator from the Yakima Valley, she leaves a legacy of child-safety policy and a reputation for optimism.

►  In today's Tri-City Herald -- 16th District seat to see challengers -- Republicans already are lining up to challenge whichever Democrat is named to fill the seat left open by the death of Bill Grant.

Local news: 

►  In today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing engineers reject contract in Wichita -- The engineers represented by SPEEA voted overwhelmingly Thursday to reject what Boeing had called its best offer. But rather than a strike, the parties are expected to return to the negotiating table.

►  In today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing jet orders: Minus 13 -- With the cancellation of another 16 orders for its 787, which is two years late, Boeing has started the year losing more orders than it's won.

National news: 

►  Today at AFL-CIO -- Solis vote postponed, but no hold on her DOL nomination 
Some news reports have pointed to Republican opposition to Hilda Solis as Labor Secretary over the Employee Free Choice Act -- she was a co-sponsor of the bill in the U.S. House -- and suggested there may have been plans to place a hold on her nomination by a Republican senator. But in a joint statement, the committee chairman and ranking minority member said the vote was merely postponed.

►  In today's Boston Globe -- Another cabinet nominee with tax issues -- Solis' husband reportedly paid about $6,400 on Wednesday to settle tax liens that had been outstanding for as long as 16 years against his business.

►  At Huffington Post -- Labor to open fire over Solis nomination --  The country's largest labor and Hispanic groups are ratcheting up the confirmation fight over Solis, preparing a full-out political and media blitz. "Enough is enough, the gloves are coming off on Friday," said one AFL-CIO official, outraged over the delays. "Labor, women's groups, Hispanic groups are opening fire. We worked with Republicans in good faith. Hilda Solis has answered all their questions but they continue to oppose her for partisan ideological reasons."

►  At Huffington Post -- Republican oppose pay limits on bailed-out bankers -- Wall Street bankers, with their $18 billion in bonuses, private jets and gaudy conferences, are causing headaches for the GOP. Obama wants to compensation for executives at banks that take bailout money at $500,000. Republicans hate the idea -- a position puts them uncomfortably on the side of people currently about as popular as child-porn producers and subprime mortgage brokers.

►  In today's LA Times -- Both parties work to trim stimulus bill -- The Senate postpones the vote to give centrists a chance to cut the $937-billion legislation by as much as $100 billion.

►  In today's NY Times -- As layoffs surge, women may surpass men in job force -- Women may soon surpass men on the nation’s payrolls, taking the majority for the first time in U.S. history.

►  In today's NY Times -- Please raise my taxes (op-ed by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings) -- I’m the CEO of a publicly traded company and, like my peers, I’m very highly paid. The difference between salaries like mine and those of average Americans creates a lot of tension, and I’d like to offer a suggestion. President Obama should celebrate our success, rather than trying to shame us or cap our pay. But he should also take half of our huge earnings in taxes, instead of the current one-third. Then, the next time a chief executive earns an eye-popping amount of money, we can cheer that half of it is going to pay for our soldiers, schools and security. Higher taxes on huge pay days can finance opportunity for the next generation of Americans.