Morning News Roundup — Posted: 6:22 AM (Pacific)

STATE (top)

Gregoire on Immigration: ‘We are not Arizona’ Immigrant-bashing rouses mouth-breathers on talk radio and is lately a staple of the Republicans’ political diet, with airwaves filled with references to “illegals” and “lawbreakers” plus even an off-the-wall claim that Phoenix is America’s new murder capital. JOEL CONNELLY with Seattle PI — 7.30.10

Gregoire on tunnel funding: ‘It’s not Seattle’s money’ If Seattle ultimately decides to abandon the tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Gov. Chris Gregoire says the $2.8 billion in state money set aside to fix the aging bridge along the city’s waterfront could disappear. CHRIS GRYGIEL with Strange Bedfellows in Seattle PI  – 7.30.10

GOP goes after Murray for bringing Washington state federal pork.  Delivering dollars for Washington state is a point of pride for Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, whose efforts have helped her comfortably win re-election twice. Republicans insist that this November, it will be her downfall. CURT WOODWARD with Bellingham Herald — 7.30.10

Justice Sanders’ behavior is issue in state court race Washington State Supreme Court. Washington state Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders is no stranger to controversy, and his bid to seek a fourth term has led to an unusually spirited campaign that could extend beyond next month’s primary. AP’s RACHEL LA CORTE in TNT, Olympian  – 7.30.10

Didier, Akers join forces, but still vying for Senate nomination Republican U.S. Senate candidates Clint Didier and Paul Akers made an unusual announcement Thursday — they will be joining forces for the campaign, setting aside the fact they are competing on the ballot for the same seat. NICK PERRY with Seattle Times,  Didier fumbles big announcement. CHRIS GRYGIEL with Strange Bedfellows — 7.30.10

As senator, Clint Didier says, he plans to ‘pick a fight’ EVERETT — Clint Didier, his forehead beading with sweat, scans the sun-baked crowd at Henry M. Jackson Park. It’s midafternoon, the temperature’s climbing toward 90 degrees and this Republican candidate for U.S. Senate is about to crank up the heat even more. JERRY CORNFIELD with Everett Herald – 7.30.10

Citizen initiatives were meant to counter powerful interests. Now powerful fund ‘em. Initiatives are very popular this year and likely will equal the modern record set 10 years ago.  The folks over at the Public Disclosure Commission, which tracks contributions and spending by supporters and foes of ballot measures, report that as of mid-July, over $10 million has been raised and over $9 million spent, much of it to pay for signature-gathering. DAVID AMMONS with Washington Secretary of State blogs in Seattle Post Globe – 7.30.10

Schlafly: “All welfare goes to unmarried moms.” She wrote a best-selling book to boost Barry Goldwater and campaigned against the Equal Rights Amendment, and now Phyllis Schlafly has a new target in her sights – unmarried women. Schlafly, who has endorsed 60 Republican candidates in this year’s election, may have given the Democrats an early election day gift. JOEL CONNELLY with Strange Bedfellows — 7.30.10

Vance Report: A red tide is still favoring Republicans. The year started well for Republicans in Massachusetts, and things are looking good for them in Washington state so far. CHRIS VANCE with Crosscut – 7.30.10

Congressional candidate says he asked for sex, got assaulted A Democratic candidate for Congress told police he was assaulted Sunday night near downtown Spokane after making sexual advances to another man. JIM CAMDEN with The Spokesman Review — 7.30.10

John Koster launches first TV ad in race against U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen A television ad for congressional candidate John Koster will begin airing Friday and run through the Aug. 17 primary on cable channels in Skagit and Whatcom counties. Seattle Times — 7.30.10

Baker, Ryu and Kagi endorsed in the 32nd District legislative races. An outstanding legislator with expertise in early learning issues and two candidates with local-government experience are endorsed for the 32nd District legislative races. Seattle Times opinion – 7.30.10

10 reasons we shouldn’t vote on the waterfront tunnel. With two groups now pushing for a February vote on the tunnel, it’s time to take a deep breath and think of the consequences. DAVID BREWSTER with Crosscut – 7.30.10

Tri-Citians join protest against Arizona law. PHOENIX — The showdown over Arizona’s immigration law played out in court and on Phoenix’s sun-splashed streets Thursday, as the state sought to reinstate key parts of the measure and angry protesters chanted that they refused to “live in fear.” Dozens were arrested. AP in Tri-City Herald – 7.30.10

Council president moves to ban roosters after all The Seattle City Council will consider banning roosters after all in its urban agriculture legislation.  Seattle Times — 7.30.10

Seattle provides a backdrop for new film about 2001 City Council race. For the past month, a film called “Grassroots” has been shooting at dozens of locations in Seattle, including The 5 Spot, Re-Bar, the Space Needle, King County Courthouse, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and Seattle Central Community College. The cast includes Jason Biggs (“American Pie”), Cedric the Entertainer, Cobie Smulders (“How I Met Your Mother”) and Tom Arnold. MARIAN LIU with Seattle Times – 7.30.10

Herald Ed Board: Melious best choice for Whatcom County Council Good afternoon, all. As promised, I’d post if any endorsements came out, and I see that one did (from afar over here in Idaho). SAM TAYLOR with Bellingham Herald — 7.30.10

POTUS 44 (top)

Obama signs bill to combat crime in Indian Country President Barack Obama has signed a bill he says will address the unique public safety challenges facing American Indian tribes. AP in Seattle Times — 7.30.10

Obama acknowledges racial tensions. President Barack Obama gave an uncommonly candid assessment of race relations during his appearance on “The View,” saying Americans still must confront their “reptilian side” when dealing with people of different races. GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO with Politico – 7.30.10

ECONOMY (top)

Job market is slow to recover Ernest Ranuio is an affable guy with uncanny comedic timing. CELESTE CORNISH with North Kitsap Herald — 7.30.10

EDUCATION (top)

Pollard appointed to Clark College board Gov. Chris Gregoire has appointed former Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard to a seat on the five-member Clark College Board of Trustees — a post Pollard said he is pleased to accept. KATHIE DURBIN with The Columbian — 7.30.10

Schools to receive state funding Warden, Moses Lake and Othello school districts received state funding assistance grants to support construction projects. SARAH KEHOE with Columbia Basin Herald — 7.30.10

ENVIRONMENT & LAND USE (top)

Weather raising wildfire hazards across south-central and southeast Washington State With the National Weather Service predicting thunderstorms on the eastern slopes of the Cascades and across southeastern Washington tonight and tomorrow, DNR’s fire program is expecting a busy few days ahead. WSDNR with Ear to the Ground — 7.30.10

Mother wolf in state’s 1st pack in decades missing . The mother wolf of the state’s first confirmed pack of wolves in 70 years is missing. AP in The Bellingham Herald — 7.30.10

Judge: FWS plan excluded possible lynx habitat A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is arbitrarily excluding “critical habitat” that could be occupied by the elusive Canada lynx, which were listed a decade ago as threatened. AP in Seattle Times — 7.30.10

NOAA: That’s one hot decade. for the air conditioning or reach for the ice tea today, consider this: Today may be hot, but the last decade was the hottest one on record. Spin Control in Spokesman Review – 7.30.10

HEALTH CARE (top)

Grocery workers’ sick deal. Tasha West-Baker can make you a latte, slice your lunch meat or make you a cake at Safeway. And she could make your entire family ill for days. West-Baker doesn’t get paid sick days from the grocery chain, where she has worked for seven years. NICOLE BRODEUR with Seattle Times – 7.30.10

Health care reform: What does it mean to our small businesses?  For decades, America’s small business owners have asked for more affordable health insurance coverage and more tax relief. The new health reform law – the Affordable Care Act – provides both. CALVIN W. GOINGS with Auburn Reporter opinion — 7.30.10

PUBLIC SAFETY (top)

Taking the choice out of texting while driving? Asked if the statewide texting-while-driving ban is really working, drivers out there compare it to speeding — yes, they know what the law says, but many are just finding ways to conceal their activity around police. OWEN LEI with KING 5 — 7.30.10

GI suicides blamed on poor leaders. WASHINGTON – A new Army report has founded that inattention to rising rates of drug abuse and criminal activity among soldiers and not repeat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan is responsible for the record-high levels of suicide among troops. NANCY A. YOUSSEF with McClatchy in TNT – 7.30.10

TRANSPORTATION (top)

Tunnel foes will try to get public vote on the project. A group of tunnel foes filed Thursday to seek a public vote in February on the Highway 99 tunnel project. But they may face a competing ballot measure from another group of environmentalist and social-service activists who want to stop the tunnel, as well. EMILY HEFFTER with Seattle Times – 7.30.10

Transportation Department needs to be honest, transparent. What in the heck is going on at the state Department of Transportation?  At a time when transportation engineers are tackling one traffic improvement project after another — spending millions in tax dollars in the process — the public learns that some of those hard-earned dollars are being misspent because of engineering errors. Olympian opinion – 7.30.10

WSDOT closes I-90, I-5 this weekend WSDOT’s whirlwind interstate closure schedule may have some late night and early morning drivers on edge this weekend, so plan ahead before taking a trip on I-90 or I-5 from 11:30 p.m. Friday, July 31 through 10 a.m. Sunday, August 1. Mercer Island Reporter — 7.30.10

OTHER (top)

Some mobile apps banking more info than you bargained for So I’m getting a new phone for my birthday. No iPhone is in my future. But I am amazed about the endless stream of apps; both functional and insipidly awesome. DARIUS SCHWARZ with AG’s All Consuming Blog — 7.30.10

And finally, from the bottom of the WashBucket: Churchill’s choppers sold at auction in England.  A partial set of dentures used by former British leader Winston Churchill — described as the teeth that saved the world — sold at auction Thursday for 15,200 pounds ($23,723.) AP’s SYLVIA HUI has the story…