Health reform news:

►  In today's Washington Post -- U.S. losing ground on preventable deaths -- Although the United States now spends $2.4 trillion a year on medical care -- vastly more per capita than comparable countries -- the nation ranks near the bottom on premature deaths caused by illnesses such as diabetes, epilepsy, stroke, influenza, ulcers and pneumonia.

►  In today's LA Times -- Verification of illegal immigrants is scrutinized amid health debate -- Since July 2008, when L.A. County began implementing tougher federal verification rules, the county has spent $28 million in state and federal funds to recheck the documents of more than 100,000 recipients of Medi-Cal, the public healthcare program for low-income residents. So far, they have not found one illegal immigrant who posed as a legal resident to get benefits.

►  At SeattlePI.com -- States lead the way on health reform (Sen. Karen Keiser column) -- Washington state has been piloting health care reform efforts for several years, but roadblocks of federal pre-emption and jurisdiction, and limited state budgets, have stymied some of our efforts. Now Washington state is helping Congress find solutions during the current health reform debate.

►  In today's Columbian -- More health care myths to debunk (John Laird column) -- More myths that simply aren't true: a public option will put all of the private insurers out of business, the cost of reform isn't worth it to taxpayers, and Canadians hate their terrible health care system.

►  In today's Daily News -- Another reminder of the need for health-care reform (editorial) -- Reducing the ranks of the uninsured is absolutely essential to fixing what ails our health-care system.

►  Today from AP -- Boeing to take $1 billion charge due to 747-8 costs -- About $640 million of it reflects higher estimated costs to produce the 747-8. The remaining $360 million relates to "challenging market conditions" and its decision to maintain the 747-8 production rate at 1.5 airplanes per month nearly two years longer than previously planned, delaying a 747-8 production increase to two per month. Boeing reported a 17% rise in second-quarter profit, beating Wall Street expectations, but the company said it expected to reevaluate its earnings forecast and announce a revised schedule for the eagerly anticipated 787, in the third quarter.

►  In the Spokesman-Review -- A move South could also take Boeing profits south -- Aerospace industry analyst Scott Hamilton has become more optimistic about the odds Washington might yet be home to the second 787 line. Carp as it will about its relations with its workers, Hamilton says persistent supplier foul-ups have demonstrated repeatedly just how much Boeing relies on employee skills and knowledge acquired across generations. The strike was costly, but probably less so than the costs of fixing suppliers’ errors, he says.

►  In the LA Times -- Boeing-Airbus tanker contest got ugly in a hurry -- Awarding one of the largest military contracts in history hasn’t been easy for the Pentagon. It's not getting easier. 

Local news: 

►  In today's Spokesman-Review -- City council says I-1033’s outcome would be grim -- The Spokane City Council makes grave warnings about Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033, which would limit government spending. City Councilman Bob Apple predicts that if I-1033 passes, “in a few years you just simply wouldn’t have a local government.” The council voted unanimously to recommend voters reject I-1033. (Learn more: Tim Eyman's I-1033: Don't Buy It!)

►  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Federal money fueling projects across region -- The $787 billion federal economic stimulus package is showing up in the Inland Northwest. It’s in a grant for an Iraq War veteran's college textbooks, the asphalt on a new pedestrian trail in Wilbur, in business loans to midwives and construction firms and landscape companies, in grants to school districts, in salaries for arts association employees, and it’s in road projects across the region -- millions and millions of dollars in road projects.

►  In today's Columbian -- Union criticizes Leavitt's voting record -- Vancouver mayoral candidate Tim Leavitt has missed "an outrageous" 16 elections over the past 10 years, according to a review of voting records by the Vancouver Firefighters Union. Leavitt doesn't dispute missing the votes, but says it has nothing to do with his ability to serve as mayor.

►  In today's Yakima H-R -- Yakima County studies four-day work week -- Commissioners may have planning, auditor and other offices open nine hours a day, four days a week, instead of eight hours a day, five days a week. The switch would amount to a 10% cut in hours for some staff.

►  In today's Yakima H-R -- City of Yakima to lay off 5 workers -- The layoffs are the city's first in 27 years. Combined with 18 positions lost through attrition, it will have trimmed 23 jobs next year.

►  In today's Columbian -- Vancouver lands Democratic convention -- The Democratic Party announces that it will hold its state convention in Clark County on June 25-26. The state Republicans announced in June that it would hold its convention in Clark County June 10-12.

►  In today's Tri-City Herald -- PNNL among employers struggling to find qualified applicants for jobs -- Even with 15 million people hunting for work and an unemployment rate nearing 10%, some employers like Richland's PNNL can't find enough qualified people for good-paying career jobs.