Election provides Tim Eyman with mixed results
Voters have rejected Tim Eyman's anti-tolling measure, Initiative 1125. The measure was getting only 48.44 percent of the vote in unofficial returns released Wednesday evening. Many of the remaining hundreds of thousands of ballots left to count were in King County, which was sharply rejecting I-1125. Eyman said late Wednesday that organizers are proud of the number of voters who supported the initiative. He said he was amazed at how close it was for the initiative considering how much opponents outspent them.

UW student demonstrators march
About four-dozen officers, including police on horses and bikes, escorted about 100 students, union members and other demonstrators who marched from the University of Washington Wednesday afternoon to banks in the nearby University District in Seattle. The demonstrators chanted "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out" as officers separated them from Chase and Wells Fargo branches. The march was organized by a group calling itself the Defend Education for the 99 (percent) Coalition. Marchers were peaceful but vocal, chanting, "We are the 99 percent and so are you!" and "They say cutbacks, we say fight back."

Colder, wetter weather blowing into Washington
Don't be lulled by Thursday's mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s in Washington. The National Weather Service says a cold front will move across the Northwest on Friday bringing wind, rain and mountain snow. Forecasters say a series of frontal systems will continue into next week. Low temperatures are forecast in the 30s in Western Washington and below freezing in Eastern Washington, bringing a chance of snow mixed with rain in some inland valleys.

Landmark Columbia bridge to get 5-year repair job
Oregon state officials have announced a $50 million project to repaint and put new rivets in the Astoria-Megler bridge near the mouth of the Columbia River. The project is set to begin next year and last until 2016. It's widely acknowledged as necessary work for an important link between Oregon and Washington state. But the sandblasting and re-riveting is going to be noisy work, too. Managers of the hotels under the span on the Oregon side worry that to avoid traffic problems, the work will go on through the night, keeping guests awake. And the bridge ends at a populated Astoria hillside where the sounds could reverberate. State planners tell the Daily Astorian they're working on ways to muffle the sound and minimize the impact of the project.

After Washington liquor plan, attention turns elsewhere
The landslide passage of liquor privatization in Washington has been closely watched in other states that still maintain strong government controls - particularly Washington's two neighbors. Northwest Grocery Association officials said Wednesday that industry leaders will likely begin talks in the coming months with liquor regulators and lawmakers in both Oregon and Idaho. He said both states have different systems from Washington, meaning that the rules proposed by Initiative 1183 likely won't be replicated. About 18 states have broad control over liquor distribution, and lawmakers in those states have frequently examined the possibility of privatization. Washington's initiative campaign got a $22 million boost from retailing giant Costco Wholesale Corp. Unofficial results show it passing with 60 percent of the vote.

Inspection finds cracks in year-old state ferry
The Washington State Ferries says inspectors have found cracks on the propellers of one of the state's newest ferries. The Kitsap Sun reports an Oct. 19 inspection found hairline cracks in one propeller of the Chetzemoka (chet-za-moh-kah). Additional tests showed each of the five blades on both propellers had cracked near the hub. The ferry system says the propellers were improperly cast. the 64-car ferry has been in service for a year. It had been in dry dock in Anacortes for scheduled repairs when the cracks were found. The ferry was built by Vigor Industrial, but the propellers were made by Rolls-Royce Marine. KOMO News says both businesses are trying to figure out what happened. The ferry is running with patched-up propellers, while replacement parts are being made.

Husband of slain ex-trooper to speak out
The husband of a slain former Washington state trooper is speaking out about his wife death at a news conference set for 11 a.m. Thursday. The Seattle Times says Ronald A. Reynolds will appear with his son, Jonathan A. Reynolds, at the Olympia office of defense attorney Rick Cordes. An inquest jury last month found father and son responsible for the 1998 death of Rhonda Reynolds. The coroner had issued an arrest warrant for the two men, but the county prosecutor said there's not enough evidence to charge them. Cordes says Ron Reynolds will dispute testimony that came out during the Lewis County coroner's inquest into Reynolds' death. The son is not expected to speak. Her death had been initially ruled a suicide, but was later overturned to homicide.

Bremerton celebrates new Manette Bridge
Bremerton is celebrating the opening of a key highway link with Thursday's ribbon cutting at the new Manette Bridge. The Bremerton High School band, Congressman Norm Dicks, state Transportation Department and civic leaders were in line to take the first steps and rides across the new Highway 303 span on the Washington Narrows. The $46 million bridge was built next to the 80-year-old Manette Bridge that was closed to traffic in July. The old bridge will now be demolished.
    
JBLM court-martial jury weighing verdict
A court-martial jury at Joint Base Lewis-McChord could return a verdict as soon as Thursday in the trial of a soldier charged with murder in the slaying of three civilians in Afghanistan. Prosecutors says Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs led a team that killed three unarmed Afghans early last year and then dropped weapons nearthe bodies to make them appear to be combatants. Gibbs maintains they were killed in combat. His lawyer says four co-defendants conspired to blame him when they were caught. Gibbs pleaded not guilty to a total of 16 charges. The 26-year-old from Billings, Mont., could face up to life in prison if convicted. Four out of five jurors must agree for a conviction.
    
Driver killed in tanker crash on Interstate 405 at Bellevue
The driver of a tanker was killed when it overturned onto a cement barrier on Interstate 405 at Bellevue. The Washington State Patrol says 56-year-old Arville James Chappell of Port Orchard died at the scene of the crash about 3 a.m. Wednesday. Trooper Cliff Pratt told KOMO radio the truck made a hard turn on the ramp from eastbound Interstate 90 to southbound I-405. A small amount of harmless carbon dioxide - the same gas as in soda bubbles - leaked from the tanker. Tow trucks with cranes righted the truck, and two I-405 lanes that were closed for the crash investigation reopened about 7 a.m.
              
Even in Seattle, voters say not to taxes
Perhaps it was the struggling economy. Perhaps it was the thought of paying triple figures for vehicle registration. But Seattle voters did something on Tuesday they don't often do: They said no to a tax increase. As many states and cities face budget deficits tied to the Great Recession, lawmakers and voters have been reluctant to raise taxes, or to even bring up the issue. Not Seattle, which has approved $1.3 billion in tax increases since 2000 to fund parks, low income housing and to renovate the city's iconic Pike Place Market. But a $60 car tab fee on the ballot Tuesday proved to be too much, with 60 percent of the voters rejecting it. The proposal's defeat was a major blow to Mayor Mike McGinn and the City Council.
    
Washington appeals court orders new murder trial
A Washington state appeals court has ordered for a new trial for a man convicted of fatally shooting his friend during a melee. The three-judge panel says Pierce County deputy prosecutor John Neeb violated Aquarius T. Walker's right to a fair trial by making comments during closing arguments that misstated the law and trivialized the jury's duty in reaching a verdict. A jury convicted Walker in 2009 of first-degree murder and other charges stemming from a shooting outside a Lakewood tavern in 2006. During a fight with a group people, Walker shot at a man who was beating up his friend Tavarrus Moss and hit Moss in the head instead. The News Tribune of Tacoma reports prosecutors intend to ask the state Supreme Court to review the decision.
         
Police: Mom of missing Washington boy had gas in car
Police in Washington state say the mother of a missing toddler had not run out of gas as she had previously told investigators. Julia Biryukova told police that her 2-year-old son, Sky Metalwala, vanished Sunday in Bellevue when she left him sleeping alone in her unlocked car after it ran out of gas. Bellevue police Maj. Mike Johnson said Wednesday afternoon there was enough gas in the car to run a considerable distance. Police have not ruled out some other mechanical problem with the car.
        
Washington election may result in mid-session seat swap
A state Senate seat up for election this week may change hands in the middle a special legislative session that starts after Thanksgiving. The quirky swap could take place because election returns indicate that Republican Sen. Jeff Baxter is likely to lose the seat. He was appointed to the position earlier this year to fill the vacant Spokane-area seat representing the 4th Legislative District. He was running to solidify that position, but election results Wednesday show him trailing GOP challenger Mike Padden. The election is scheduled to be certified on Nov. 29, a day after the special session is to begin. Baxter is holding out hope that he will win as more ballots get counted. But he said he would work with Padden to transition responsibilities if he does end up losing.
         
Rhode Island firm recalls possibly tainted olives, bean soup
United Natural Foods Inc. is recalling some stuffed olives and bean soup that may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism - a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition. No illness has been reported. The firm on Wednesday recalled FoodMatch Inc. Divina Olives stuffed with feta cheese sold in 4-ounce cups with a 'best by' date of Jan 11, 2012, and UPC 63172352780 distributed to Safeway Inc. stores in South Dakota, Colorado and Wyoming. It is also recalling olives stuffed with blue cheese and UPC 63172352790 distributed through Carrs, Safeway, Pavilion and Vons stores in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, Colorado and Wyoming. The Providence, R.I.-based distributor is also recalling Tabatchnic Yankee Bean Soup sold in 15-ounce cups with a "best by" date of April 5, 2014 and UPC 07126229491 sold in California.
    
Spokane County police training cars vandalized
Six Spokane County police training cars had their tires slashed at Raceway Park. In addition to ruining 24 tires, someone stole six spares. KREM reports the loss is estimated at $3,000, not counting lost training time. The sheriff's office uses the cars to teach pursuit driving and PIT maneuvers.