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Examines how Frank Chopp and Clyde Ballard lead Washington State's House as co-Speakers. Why two speaker positions were created; Number of ties in state legislatures across the United States between 1966 and 1997; Acknowledgement by Ballard that the position will likely get tougher as the topics get more controversial.

Discusses the idea of Ralph Munro, Washington's secretary of state, that the state only hire nonsmokers. The idea being a part of the growing movement among employers to cut health care costs by enticing workers to amend their potentially unhealthy behavior; Accusations by critics, including lifestyle discrimination.

Reports on the standoff between the Makah Indians in Washington state and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society regarding the efforts of the Makah to renew their tradition of hunting grey whales in Neah Bay. The 1855 treaty that the Makah signed with the United States which allows them to hunt whales; Claims from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society that the hunting of grey whales by the Makah will open the door to commercial whaling; How the International Whaling Commission views the Makah hunts.

Focuses on the conflict between the state of Alaska over which groups get priority hunting rights. How federal intervention would be unwelcome from Alaska; How the debate will affect tourism; Priorities for those who live off the land; Defining subsistence living; Comments of Marilyn Heiman, special assistant in Alaska for the Interior Department.

Focuses on Providence Mount Saint Vincent, a Seattle, Washington nursing home, as of May 6, 1999. The home as a model of the 1987 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act; Methods of creating a home-like atmosphere, including inviting children and animals to the home; Comments from Faith Mullen of the American Association of Retired Persons Public Policy Institute and others.

Discusses the efforts of the town of Cashmere, Washington to keep candy maker Liberty Orchards instead of allowing them to move to Leavenworth, Washington. What Liberty Orchards wanted the town to do for them; How residents and local businesses reacted; The national news story which made Liberty Orchards decide to stay even without the stipulations placed on the town.

Opinion. Discusses the near extinction of the wild honeybee due to the spread of foreign mites which have attacked hives. Percentage of bee populations in several states that have been lost to mites; How the mites attack and kill hives; How the extinction of bees is affecting amateur beekeepers; Possible negative environmental impacts of the extinction.

Opinion. Presents advice about ways to reduce racial tension. The importance of getting to know people of different races to understand their race; Wearing the shoes of another race; Fighting the seemingly more pervasive nature of racial slights; Surprising people with kindness.

Commends the proposal by the Northwest Environment Watch to tax pollution instead of business, income and sales. Developing an equitable system of taxation in which the heavy polluters bear more of the burden; Theories from the book `Tax Shift,' by Alan Thein Durning and Yoram Bauman; Incrementalization of pollution taxes; How proposed taxation changes would affect consumers.

Describes the experience of Elderhostelers as the crew aboard the yacht Rebecca. The diversity of the group; Their cruise of the San Juan Islands, an archipelago in Puget Sound between Bellingham, Washington in the United States and Victoria, British Columbia in Canada; Their mission to learn navigation, currents, knot-tying, and local history while acting as part of the crew. INSET: What is Elderhostel? by T.K..

Comments on the battle between native Alaskans and the federal government of the United States over the ability of native Alaskans to govern activities on the land that they own. Why the Supreme Court has said that native Alaskans do not have the same rights as Indians in the contiguous states; Speculation about why the state of Alaska wants jurisdiction over land owned by native Alaskans; The belief that self-determination is a fundamental human right.

Discusses some of the phrases attributed to various birdsongs, according to `The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Western Region.' The difficulty transcribing birdsong into English; Why many phrases attributed to birds are accurate and valid for the particular bird.

Opinion. Explains the difficulty the author experienced in trying to buy a home near Seattle, Washington. Impact of Microsoft employees on real estate market there; Duration of time houses stay on market; Comparison with other cities; Troubles for the first-time buyer; Description of the author's small home.

Opinion. Contends that television is an evil and pervasive entity that is taking over most people's entire life. The ubiquitous nature of television; Why the Channel Channel, a cable show broadcasting scenes of Gastineau Channel in Alaska, is what television should be used for.