Homeowners who would like to help keep Puget Sound clean by growing oysters, clams, mussels and geoducks can purchase seed at Taylor Shellfish Farms, 130 SE Lynch Road in Shelton Saturday, July18, 8:00 AM--11:00 AM. Instructions available. Taylor experts will be on hand to answer questions.  The sale is timed to coincide with a low minus tide. Also "The Prettiest homegrown Oyster Contest" grown from Taylor seed. Prizes!  For further information visit http://www.taylorshellfish.com/

OLYMPIA - The Department of Corrections will receive nearly $185 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to support public safety programs in Washington and protect thousands of jobs.

"We are in the process of reconciling our program operations with the projected state budget deficit that was brought about by the current economic recession," said DOC Secretary Eldon Vail. "These funds will help to lessen the severity of the service delivery and workforce reductions we have to make to manage the agency within our appropriated budget."

A Washington State Patrol Trooper saved the life of a 16-year-old boy by physically pulling him from the East Channel Bridge railing of I-90 during the morning commute. The boy was determined to take his own life as he fought with the trooper before he was taken into protective custody.

At approximately 9:40am King County Troopers responded to reports of a suicidal subject westbound I-90 near Bellevue. Trooper Tom Zielinski was the first to arrive on scene (approximately 1 minute after the call was broadcasted) and observed the subject with one leg over the railing and in the process of jumping over the East Channel Bridge. Trooper Zielinski quickly reacted and pulled the subject from the railing before he was able to jump over. While on the ground the subject began to fight with the trooper in an attempt to get free. After a short altercation Trooper Zielinski was able to take him into protective custody.

No injuries were reported. The subject, a 16-year-old Bellevue resident, was transported to Harborview Medical Center for a physiological evaluation.

Local Red Cross disaster volunteers rushed to the scene of an early morning apartment fire at the Elma Arms Apartments (321 South 2nd Street, Elma) on Monday, July 13, 2009. The American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter is providing immediate emergency assistance for the families and their disaster-caused needs such as temporary shelter, food, clothing, medication replacement and emotional support. Early estimates indicate six units were affected by the fire which displaced 10 residents (6 adults and 4 children).

OLYMPIA -They may have sent Joe Camel the way of the buffalo but that didn't stop tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. from violating the 10-year-old agreement prohibiting the use of cartoons in tobacco advertising, the Division One Court of Appeals ruled today.

Washington was one of several states who filed suit against the tobacco company, alleging the November 2007 ad campaign for "The Farm: Free Range Music" in Rolling Stone included cartoon images in violation of the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA).