OLYMPIA - Under a new state law that takes effect this Sunday, most employers in Washington can avoid unemployment-insurance charges for laid-off workers temporarily hired to backfill positions previously held by military reservists.

 Washington's unemployment-insurance program is an experience-based system. In general, an employer's tax rate depends on the unemployment benefits provided to former employees.

 Legislation (Senate Bill 5009) approved during the 2009 session allows employers to request relief from benefit charges for temporary employees whom they must lay off when a military reservist or National Guard member returns to work from active military service.  The measure goes into effect on July 26.

A $6,000 reward is being offered for information about last month's disappearance of an 11-year-old McCleary girl. Investigators hope someone knows something that will help authorities find Lindsey Baum. The girl vanished while walking home from a friend's house on June 26. She's described as 4-foot-9, 80 pounds, with brown hair and eyes.

Grays Harbor County Undersheriff Rick Scott tells us that the Department has from 6 to 10 officers including FBI agents involved in the search daily, Scott said that the amount of tips have tapered since the initial reports of Lindsey's disappearance "We're finding stuff that we need to do to clarify or expand on information that already came in."

Scott also said that surveilance video footage from nearby stores has yet to turn up anything, adding that officers have identified some people in the footage and contacted them, not as much as person's of interest, as persons who were in the area at the time of the disappearance.

Lindsey's mother said recently that they have established a couple of websites to promote the search efforts, www.lindseybaum.com and www.findlindseybaum.com

     Lindsey turned 11 years old on Tuesday July 7th, and is described as 4 foot-9, 80 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a grey pullover hoodie with blue jeans and black shoes.

 Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Grays Harbor Emergency 911 Center at 360-533-8765, toll free at 866-915-8299,  or the McCleary Police Department at 360-495-3107.

OLYMPIA - Today, Washington's Lottery launched Seahawks Winning Play Scratch, the first licensed professional football Scratch ticket available in the country. Washington's Lottery partnered with the Seattle Seahawks to offer football fans the opportunity to win big bucks while cheering on their hometown team. The ticket, which features a top prize of $50,000, also features a football fans' dream trip (details below) in a second chance drawing. The ticket goes on sale today at Lottery retail locations statewide and will be sold at Qwest Field during Seahawks home games.

"The new Seahawks Scratch ticket gives players another way to support their team throughout the season," said Washington's Lottery Director Christopher Liu. "In addition, ticket proceeds help pay down the debt on Qwest Field and Event Center."

Raspberries, Marionberries, Blackberries, Gooseberries, Thimbleberries- 

It's a berry fine time of year!  My husband decided last week to see how many different kinds of berry milkshakes he could make, and we had 8 fabulous flavors!  The surprise hit was Thimbleberry. It had a woodsy intensity, like the essence of all berries rolled into one.  I've always felt that they were underrated because they're so fragile.  So most of the time I just eat them right off of the bush. The Hoquiam Farmers Market has Raspberries and, ta-da! Marionberries this week!  The Little Wild Blackberries are having a great year, the best harvest in a long time.  I'll bear the scars for quite a while- I had a tussle with some vines and they don't fight fair.  But I won, I got the berries.

OLYMPIA ­- The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the Request for Letters of Interest for partnership in the Biomass Initiative.

This is the beginning of the selection process that will launch the Biomass Initiative in Washington State. The initiative, sanctioned by HB 2165 passed by the Washington Legislature this year, authorizes DNR to seek public-private partnerships that will allow state and local communities to benefit from biomass and create renewable energy.