A Seattle Public Schools’ financial scandal that has prompted an ongoing criminal investigation has indirect ties to a longtime City of Tacoma employee, records and interviews show.

No one is accusing city employee Percy F. Jones, Jr of wrongdoing.

But state records show Jones, who coordinates the city’s Historically Underutilized Business Program, is listed as a registered agent and one of three governing members of the nonprofit at the center of the scandal: the Regional Small Business Development Program.

Public funds diverted into the private nonprofit’s bank account triggered …

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President Barack Obama is in Seattle tonight and Thursday for a campaign stop for Sen. Patty Murray. Whether you want to see him or avoid the traffic mess, here’s what you need to know:

RALLY INFO: President Obama will appear at the Hec Edmundson Pavilion, 3870 Montlake Blvd NE, on the University of Washington campus at 11 a.m. Thursday. The rally is free and open to the public. Admittance to will be on a first-come, first-served basis; overflow space will be provided. To RSVP, click here. With parking limited and thousands expected, participants are encouraged to take King …

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The pathway would be an amendment to the city sign code that was slowed down only when an activist noticed and started sounding the alarm.

This little amendment would allow any commercial tenant to affix four lighted signs, each 350 square feet (roughly the size of two parking stalls) to the top of its building. City staff estimate there are 10 buildings with tenants large enough to qualify. And get this: the City has issued a statement declaring there

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On Sunday I take a look at one of Tacoma’s first public relations efforts to entice people and business from Seattle.

It happened in and around the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition that opened 100 years ago this week on what is now the University of Washington’s main campus. Tacoma boosters used the fair to make a pitch for Tacoma – even though the fair itself was a celebration of Seattle’s dominance in the battle to dominate the Puget Sound economy.

Even though it happened 100 years ago, the competition exists today from the rivalry between the ports of Tacoma and

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I thought Gov. Chris Gregoire might veto the provision in the bill that lays any cost overruns for the tunnel in the lap of downtown Seattle businesses that benefit from having the viaduct removed from the Seattle waterfront. But I’m told there was a deal to keep House Speaker Frank Chopp‘s language in the bill.

I’m also told that provision probably can’t be enforced anyway, so it might as well stay in. Senate Bill 5768 says others have to pay for cost overruns, but when push comes to shove, the state will be signing to contract with whatever

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The Oklahoma Thunder (formerly Seattle Sonics, formerly Seattle SUPERSonics) would have owed Seattle an additional $30 million if the Legislature had given Seattle the means to pay for a $75 million NBA arena.

But that bill failed to pass the Legislature. Seattle still has until the end of the year to persuade the Legislature to do something, and it might be a candidate for a special session. If there is a special session.

There was more in the bill, SB 6116, — money for Husky Stadium, for Pioneer Square, Seattle’s International District, low-income housing — but I’ll have

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House Bill 2281: Relating to the visitor destination campus act of 2009.

That’s what they call a “title-only bill.” Please read it. It says almost nothing. It’s what lawmakers do when they can’t reach agreement about what to do about something, but they know they just might reach agreement later on. And just in case they do reach agreement, they pass a bill that has only a title to meet some self-imposed deadline for taking acting. It makes things easier down the line. (They basically write the rest of the bill (under the title) later on.)

Anyway,

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I don’t usually write about Seattle city politics, but what the heck. It’s a regional world. Besides, Seattle council members have a lot to say about what happens down in T-town, Olympia, Pierce County and South King County. For example, Sound Transit, Puget Sound Regional Council, etc.

It’s Official: Sally Bagshaw Files for Seat Being Vacated by Retiring Jan Drago

Former Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, transportation leader and small business advocate, thanks Drago for tenure of service, moves forward with fast starting campaign that has raised more than $30,000 in first months of campaigning.

SEATTLE—Sally Bagshaw,

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