Gary Boone, chair of the Model Family Mentorship Program, shows off some of the rokkaku kites provided by the corporate sponsors of the Model Family Program at this year's Kite Fest 2006 Family Fun Fly and Picnic, held July 29 at Kite Hill at Sandpoint Magnuson Park. This year's event featured kite making, fighter kite demonstrations and a rokkaku kite battle.

OLYMPIA—Gov. Chris Gregoire has vowed to help defeat three prospective ballot measures with conservative roots, including Tim Eyman's third run at $30 car tabs.
Gregoire, a Democrat, also said Monday she's still weighing a fourth ballot measure — this one from the political left — that would force a renewable energy standard for large utilities.
In a news conference, Gregoire reinforced her opposition to Initiative 933, the Washington Farm Bureau measure that says government should pay landowners for regulations that damage property values, or waive those laws.
Gregoire said she sympathizes with the concerns behind the measure and will work with the Legislature to find a solution, particularly for preserving farmland in Washington.
"I want to do that," Gregoire said, but, "This piece of legislation is poorly drafted, far too broad."
Farm Bureau spokesman Dean Boyer said I-933 supporters are tired of getting no response from the Legislature.
"(Gregoire) certainly had an opportunity the past two years to come up with proposals that would address the situation, and she didn't," Boyer said.

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The First American Corp., America's largest provider of business information, and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the oldest and largest minority real estate trade association in the United States, announced recently that First American has been named as a NAREB strategic business information and title services partner.

King County Executive Ron Sims said he was disappointed by Wednesday's decision by the Washington State Supreme Court to deny gay and lesbian citizens of the state access to the benefits of marriage.
In a narrow 5-4 decision, the court upheld the constitutionality of the state's Defense of Marriage Act, which bars gay and lesbian couples from marrying. "I continue to believe that marriage equality is a fundamental civil rights issue," Sims said. "I wish the court had ruled differently, but I respect its decision, and as a public servant I'm committed to upholding the law."

OLYMPIA—Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed state government to boost opportunities for women and minorities to land state contracts, saying their share has sunk to 1 percent or less.
Tim Eyman, the original sponsor of the state's voter-approved initiative rolling back affirmative action in contracts, employment and college admission, said the governor may be trying an end-run around Initiative 200. He said he's preparing a "Son of I-200" for a potential campaign next year.
But Carolyn Crowson, director of the state Office of Minority & Women's Business Enterprises, said the governor's Monday letter to her cabinet is perfectly legal.