The Weekend Wrap: Amanda Knox, Income Tax, Google Pix

The view from the deck at Ivar's on Lake Union

ABC News: Rudy Guede's cell mate claims Guede told him Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito weren't at the house when Meredith Kercher was killed--another man was. Guede says he never said that. Who do you trust, the convicted child killer or the convicted murderer? Once again, Andrea Vogt has all the details.

Here on The SunBreak, Jeremy has been covering Oregon's response to declining state revenues; now Washington Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown has unveiled her idea for a high earner's income tax referendum--letting the public vote on it in November. The initial reaction from the legislature is that they won't be rushed into anything--except of course deep cuts to basic services and health care for the working poor, and increases in the regressive sales tax that will hit the working poor hardest.

An income tax of 4.5 percent would be assessed on any income over $200,000 for an individual, $400,000 for a married couple. The state sales tax would drop to six cents. For instance, the Port of Seattle CEO makes $319,000. If he were single, he'd pay 4.5 percent of $119,000, or $5,355 in income taxes.

TechFlash reported on Google's acquisition of Picnik, the hometown photo editing service. Starbucks tried to defuse the uproar over its handgun-agnostic position. Tom Douglas can't wait to feed the Amazonian masses down in South Lake Union.

Around the city, transitional housing for felons sparked debate in the Central District. Capitol Hill homeowners protested the 520 bridge "A+" option, and college students walked out to protest tuition increases. Magnolia Voice had coverage of the battle of Fort Lawton (redevelopment). The crafty people behind the new Queen Anne Elementary will attract Microsoft, Google, and Amazon families by focusing on technology...for grade-schoolers: "Who knows how to spell 'failover'?"

West Seattle Blog has video of co-sponsor Sen. Joe McDermott explaining his "high earners" income tax bill, SB 6250. In the Rainier Valley, people came out in droves for the Mayor's "Youth & Families Initiative" meeting. Also the Columbia City Theatre was sold and is closed for three months for renovation. Lake City Live was keeping an eye out for car prowlers.

On The SunBreak, I discovered how our state's 12,000 added jobs in January could increase unemployment, and asked why teens were being singled out in the new cell phone bill. Seth explained why baseball catchers aren't rated by batting averages, Clint interviewed ex-Screaming Tree Mark Pickerel, Tony delved into the shadowy recesses of Noir Czar Eddie Muller's mind, and Jeremy sat down with Heiner Goebbels. I put in a good word for SPF #4, and Audrey directed you to this week's DVD releases.

We also went to Ballard's Original Pancake House for breakfast.