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Tanker Contract

February 24, 2011 by · Comments Off on Tanker Contract 

Tanker Contract, (AP) – The Air Force has awarded a contract for one billion and 35 to build the next generation of air refueling tankers from Boeing Co. The announcement was made at the Pentagon Thursday afternoon after the close of financial markets. He was certain to be good news in Washington state and Kansas, where most of the work on the tanker will be done. The decision was a blow to the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., which also had an offer for the contract. It was a big disappointment for Alabama, which had relied on the work at military base long vanes. The Air Force has tried for nearly a decade to replace its aging fleet of tankers from the Eisenhower era, the equivalent of a flight service station.

The United States announced Thursday the winner of a 35 billion U.S. Air Force tanker-refueling contract to Airbus and Boeing contested by the Department of Defense.

The decision will be announced at 17:10 (2210 GMT), said Col. David Lapan, spokesman for the Pentagon.

Several analysts have tipped the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, parent company of France-based Airbus, to win the politically charged contest; one of the largest procurement contracts in U.S. history.

The U.S. Air Force has been trying for almost a decade to begin to replace its tanker fleet of Boeing KC-135 built dating back to 1950.

At stake is a contract, estimated at 35 billion and, for the first 179 tankers.

In a surprise twist in a long saga, the Air Force on Thursday and received a 35 billion contract for Boeing aerial truck rather than a European company that builds Airbus aircraft.
Pentagon officials said the decision was based solely on price. Boeing’s offer was more than 1 per cent lower than its rival, European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company, officials said. If the bids were within one percent, the Air Force would have affected 92 of the additional requirements for the plan as a tiebreaker, and some of them were widely thought to promote the wider plan of EADS.

Reaction to the decision was taken even as the Pentagon was the conclusion of his news conference, paving the way for a possible fight in Congress.

Rival Boeing, European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company, argued that his plan was bigger and better. And legislators of the Gulf Coast, still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, relied on the promise of EADS to build an assembly plant in Alabama, which would have created thousands of jobs.

“I’m disappointed but not surprised,” said Senator Richard C. Shelby of Alabama. “Only in Chicago politics could tip the balance in favor of the lower plane of Boeing. EADS offers clear that the aircraft performance. If this decision is, our fighters will not get the higher quality components they deserve. ”

EADS has also aligned the company of other politically important states like Ohio, to supply parts, and legislators in these states could raise questions about the decision as well. The company has days to decide on protest against the decision.

Seattle Public Schools

January 12, 2011 by · Comments Off on Seattle Public Schools 

Seattle Public Schools, Seattle lawyer Chris Davis and his wife Mischelle launched a program to help public school teachers get the classroom supplies they need without having to dip into their own pockets. The Davis Law Group School Supplies Donation Program will give a card and 100 Office Depot gifts every week to a teacher who deserves Seattle public school and his class.

According to a study by the National School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSE), a huge 97% of public school teachers often dip into their own pockets to buy school supplies. NSSE states that public school teachers from the United States spent over $ 1.33 billion and out of pocket on supplies and materials for the 2009-2010 school year.

“My mother’s mother and Chris were both public school teachers,” said Mischelle Davis. “When we learned that teachers pass and 356 per year on average from their own money on school supplies, we knew we wanted to help.”

The poor economy shriveled and school budgets have forced officials to make drastic reductions in expenditures. The cuts are so deep that teachers have to spend their own money to buy basic supplies for students. This is not fair. Teachers now spend much money on software, educational games, paper, pencils, crayons, glue and similar materials. And some are buying supplies for students who simply cannot afford to buy the essentials.

“We wanted to find a way to recognize teachers for their commitment and help relieve some of their financial burdens,” said lawyer Chris Davis.

Each week during the school year Davis Law Group will provide a map and 100 Office Depot gift to a lucky teacher Seattle Public Schools to use in her classroom. Anyone can nominate a teacher for this program, including teachers and students, parents and administrators.

To learn more about the program and get information on visiting the winners: http://www.injurytriallawyer.com/library/davis-law-group-school-supplies-gift-program.cfm

King County Metro

January 12, 2011 by · Comments Off on King County Metro 

King County Metro, (AFP) – Peace activists are planning to display ads Seattle anti-Israel on the sides of commuter buses in protest against U.S. support for the Jewish state, prompting outcry from Jewish groups.

Banners show for Palestinian children standing around a demolished building, with the caption “Israeli war crimes. Your tax dollars at work”

A group called the Middle East Seattle campaign paid 1,794 dollars from King County to plaster ads on the sides of 12 buses from Monday to coincide with the anniversary of three years from the start of Israel’s war with the Gaza Strip.

Ads are due to a period of four weeks.

Operation Lead Cast launched by Israel in response to hundreds of rockets fired into the Jewish state, killed 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers also died.

In a website created to accompany the ads, stop30billion-seattle.org, Seattle activist Ed Mast said he was protesting against a promise of 2007 by the United States to give 30 billion dollars in military aid to Israel during the next decade.

“The Middle East Seattle awareness campaign is launching the advertising campaign aimed at ensuring equal rights for Palestinians and Israelis, and the end of U.S. military aid to Israel, which continues to a time of economic crisis and severe budget cuts that have resulted in massive unemployment, “the website said.

A UN report on the battle both sides accused of war crimes. Israel has condemned the report, written by a Jewish South African judge, saying he was antisemitic.

In Seattle, the proposed bus advertisements led to more than 2,000 calls and e-mails to the Department of Transportation King County – most of them opposing the move – according to the spokeswoman Linda Thielke.

Earlier this week, King County Councilmember Peter Von Reichbauer sent a letter to the Chief Executive Dow Constantine County asking that the ads be pulled.

Von Reichbauer refers to a July 28, 2006 shooting in the building of the Jewish Federation of Seattle that left one woman dead.

“Now, I ask why a system of public transport advertising polarizing political statements,” he added.

Bus advertising guidelines prohibit advertisements of tobacco products and alcohol, or anything sexually explicit statements that are so offensive, they are likely to “incite or produce imminent lawless action in the form of reprisals, acts of vandalism or a breach of security, peace and public order. ”

In a written statement, Constantine said he requested a review of the policy of King County Metro Transit bus ads on non-commercial use.

But he acknowledged that there was little authorities could do to stop the ads to go forward.

“Our lawyers have repeatedly said that Metro is legally limited in its ability to accept or reject any advertisement based on the identity of the group purchasing of advertising, or the message,” writes Constantine.

But this has not prevented a group calling itself the American Freedom Defense Initiative to propose two ads to counter anti-Israel campaign.

“A billion dollars to Hamas: Your tax dollars at work,” reads an advertisement by the group Stop Islamization of America program. It shows scenes of anti-Israel and anti-US rallies organized by the Islamist movement Hamas, which rules the small coastal enclave of Gaza.

Another reads “In any war between civilized and savage, the support of the civilized man: Support for Israel, Islamic Jihad defeat”

The ads feature photomontages of what appears to be Hamas activists, a Palestinian scarf hid including children with blood stained hands of Hitler and taking arms and shoulders of a man whose face and head.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.

Obama In Seattle

August 18, 2010 by · Comments Off on Obama In Seattle 

Obama In Seattle, ABC News’ Karen Travers and David Kerley report:

For months, President Obama has been to punish the Republicans for obstructing their agenda in Washington. Today ramps up the sarcasm in front of an enthusiastic crowd in favor.

At a Seattle fundraiser for Sen. Patty Murray, who faces a tough re-election battle, Obama once again said that Republicans are the party of “no.”

“Do you remember your slogan for the campaign – Yes we can. His motto: ‘No, we can not say,'” he said to laughter from the crowd Democratic fundraiser. “No, we can not. It’s really inspiring.”

Obama said that all Republicans have to interfere with any agenda, he and his fellow Democrats are pushing in Washington.

“No aid for small businesses, not tax cuts for the middle class, not the use of clean energy, not on making college more affordable, without reform of Wall Street,” he said.

Despite the gloomy economic data which remains a drag on his approval ratings, Obama had an optimistic tone.

“After 18 months, I’ve never been more sure that our country is headed in the right direction,” he said. “We’re doing what it takes to move forward. And we are doing what is necessary not only to rebuild the economy in the short term, we want to rebuild in the long term, for our children, our grandchildren.”

Obama said Republicans have only strategy is to hope that Americans forget what happened when they were in control, driving the economy into a ditch.

Basically, what this campaign comes down to is that between now and November are betting that you all come with a case of amnesia,” he said.

Earlier Obama met with the owners of three Seattle-area small businesses and said it was “difficult times” for people in their shoes.

“Nobody is getting too fat and happy, everyone here is operating on very thin margins, and are constantly thinking about their employees and their obligations and responsibilities to them,” he said.

Obama again urged the Senate to pass a jobs bill would cut taxes and make more loans to small businesses and blamed the hold up to the Republicans.

“Not even the will to vote. And every day goes in this obstruction is another day a small business somewhere in the country can not get a loan or can not get the tax cuts he needs to grow and hire,” said .

The president said that the owners of the nation’s small businesses are not interested in political games or what is best for a party.

Karen Travers and David Kerley

Komo News

August 18, 2010 by · Comments Off on Komo News 

Komo News, TACOMA, Wash. – The sheriff’s office says Pierce County fire that destroyed a TAPPS lake house on Sunday was arson.

Ed Troyer, spokesman says the house was attacked. He says detectives have several people who would like to question about the fire.

The News Tribune of Tacoma reports that the fire started in the basement of the house in daylight.

The woman who lives in the house was in town at the time of marriage.

KOMO News reports and Michelle Ryan Karns returned from Las Vegas to find his home in ashes.

With information from: The News Tribune, KOMO-TV

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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