WSDOT continues to aggressively pursue additional federal stimulus dollars that will be distributed nationwide, applying for high speed passenger rail funds, fish passage grants, and discretionary grants for surface transportation improvements. WSDOT and local governments continue to construct American Recovery and Reinvestment Act highway projects, and have completed 38 projects. This week’s project highlight describes how stimulus funds are helping preserve a 100-year-old bridge in Wenatchee.

The Department of Labor and Industries says the state’s minimum wage will remain at $8.55 for another year because there was no increase in the Consumer Price Index. The state recalculates the wage each September as required by an initiative passed by voters 11 years ago. It requires the state to increase the minimum wage based on the federal “CPI-W,” which is a national index covering the cost of goods and services needed for day-to-day living. The CPI-W decreased 1.9 % over the past 12 months. You can find more information at http://Wages.Lni.wa.gov

Grays Harbor County, WA - The first razor-clam dig of the fall season will get under way Oct. 16 if marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today. Additional digging opportunities are scheduled through Jan. 3

Evening digs are tentatively planned at Twin Harbors (Oct. 16-19); Long Beach and Copalis (Oct. 16, 17 and 18); and Mocrocks and Kalaloch Beach (Oct. 17 and18). Digging at all beaches will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight. 

"The results of our 2009 summer stock assessment show that Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch Beach have had an increase in their total allowable catch, while Copalis and Mocrocks are about the same," said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. "This is great news for Kalaloch, which will have harvest opportunities for the first time since spring 2007."

CHEHALIS, Wash. - A former resident of Lewis County, Washington, KAREN KRISTINE SUDDERTH, 52, formerly of Chehalis, Washington, was taken into custody today at Sea-Tac Airport as she arrived on a flight from Thailand. There has been a warrant out for SUDDERTH’s arrest since January 22, 1997, for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. In July 1999, SUDDERTH was indicted by a federal grand jury for International Parental Kidnapping. According to court documents, the case began on August 30, 1996, when SUDDERTH failed to bring her son, who was then five-years-old, to a scheduled weekend visitation with his father. Mother and son fled the U.S. in September 1996, and remained out of the reach of law enforcement until today. The son turned 18 last week, prompting SUDDERTH to contact law enforcement and return to the United States.