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It's become a tragic pattern in Washington State: a police officer is killed by a criminal on probation. It happened twice this month five times in the past two years. The state has already made some changes to the probation system. But the killings continue. Now the question is what more can be done to protect police officers and the public from violent parolees? Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has launched a series of new attack ads against Republican challenger Dino Rossi. The Democratic Governor has aired hard hitting commercials before, but these new spots focus Rossi's positions on social issues. Correspondent Austin Jenkins truth squads the allegations.

Washington State Treasurer Mike Murphy is retiring after 3 terms in office. Deputy Treasurer Allan Martin, a Republican, wants the job. So does Democratic state lawmaker Jim McIntire. The stakes are high. The Treasurer plays a key role in managing more than a HUNDRED BILLION dollars for the state. In this edition of our voters' guide, Correspondent Austin Jenkins profiles the race for Washington State Treasurer.

Washington State faces a shortfall of nearly three billion dollars in the next two year budget cycle. In the race for Washington governor, both candidates refuse to say how they will close that deficit if elected. But Dino Rossi and Chris Gregoire have faced budget shortfalls before. Now, their budget balancing records have become a key issue in this year's campaign. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Today is primary day for Washington state, and it also marks the first time voters will use the Top Two system. Under the new system, whichever two candidates get the most votes go on to the fall election, even if they're from the same party. To get details about today's primary, KUOW's Derek Wang spoke with Olympia Correspondent, Austin Jenkins.

It's been ten years (May 1998) since Kip Kinkel shot and killed his parents and then opened fire at his school in Springfield, Oregon. Currently, Kinkel is serving a 111 year sentence. He is one of at least 60 juvenile murderers serving life sentences in Northwest prisons. Some like Kinkel will probably die in prison. Others have a chance at parole. But is it good public policy to prosecute juveniles as adults and sentence them to life? Correspondent Austin Jenkins takes us behind bars in search of some answers.

Five juvenile murderers in Oregon are waging a legal battle against the state. They say that because of a legal glitch they've been given much harsher sentences than if they'd been older when they committed their crimes. So far the courts have not been moved. And the state isn't backing down. Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Republican Dino Rossi lost his 2004 bid for governor by a nose. Now he's back on the campaign trail with new proposals on everything from transportation to the environment. What does Dino Rossi have to say about global warming? Do you have question for the candidate? Give us a call.Also, in this week's edition of Beat the Press Northwest: is late night talk comedy hurting democracy? Our guest today, a professor and former stand up comedian says yes. Call in with your thoughts at 1:40 pm.

The Clinton campaign was asked Monday why Barack Obama is being considered for the VP slot if (they say) he's not ready to be commander in chief. Yesterday Senator Obama called this the double speak, double talk that Washington is very good at. And John McCain is accusing Barack Obama of 'doublespeak' on the question of public financing for his campaign. Today we explore the pleasures and pitfalls of political doublespeak with two special guests. Call in with your favorite examples. Also, we start the show here in Washington State with an update on the wrangling down in Olympia as the legislative session winds down. And a political science professor analyzes President Bush's veto of a torture bill over the weekend. Are there more Abu Ghraib's in America's future?

The Washington State House could vote as early as today [MON] on its supplemental budget proposal. Washington state lawmakers are frenetically working on completing their agenda. Lawmakers are working through holidays and evenings on issues such as the budget, the state ferry crisis and domestic partnership legislation. And tracking it all, is KUOW's Olympia Correspondent, Austin Jenkins. He spoke with KUOW's Derek Wang about the news from the state capital.