Washington State

WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor temporarily stopped doctors in Washington state yesterday from helping any terminally ill patients there end their lives by suicide.In a brief order, O'Connor blocked a federal appeals court ruling from taking effect last night. Without the justice's action, the lower court's decision would have immediately nullified a Washington state law that makes "assisted suicide" a crime.The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled in March, by an 8-3 vote, that patients who are so ill that they will not recover have a constitutional right, if they are mentally competent, "to hasten their own deaths" with the aid of a doctor.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court declined yesterday to hear cases from New York and Washington state on whether states violate the federal Voting Rights Act when they refuse to let felons vote. But with 48 states, all except Maine and Vermont, disenfranchising millions of people who have been convicted of crimes, the issue remains alive in the lower courts, and the justices' action did not rule out accepting a future case. The Voting Rights Act prohibits states from applying any "voting qualification or prerequisite" in a manner that has a racially discriminatory effect.

Although they are thousands of miles away, the members of the Hemlock Society of Maryland feel that the struggle in Washington state to legalize doctor-assisted suicide is their fight, too.They have sent checks to support the "Yes on 119" campaign. They have made telephone calls to friends and relatives in Washington state, asking them to vote for the referendum. They are taking notes on the strategy used by Initiative 119 proponents and have begun laying the foundation for a similar effort here.

Washington -- WHEN THE story broke recently about members of the House of Representatives having overdrawn checks covered by the House bank without penalty, Speaker Tom Foley was chagrined. And as one of the check-bouncers, there was more reason for his concern than his pride in the institution he heads. The disclosure that congressional checks were being bounced with impunity was only the latest fuel for a bonfire of public indignation toward elected officials that is manifesting itself across the country, including in Foley's home state of Washington, to clamp a limit on how long they can serve.

Last week, voters in Washington state narrowly shot down the harshest term limit measure ever placed on a statewide ballot. The impact could be enormous.It's way too early, both sides insist, to declare the term limit movement dead, especially since voters in three states have already imposed limits on state legislators, at least ten more states may have term limit proposals on the ballot next year and public sentiment is wildly supportive of the idea. Also, there are special factors about Washington state -- including the severity of the proposal (six-year limits for congressmen)

New Year's Day is celebrated because it's the start of a new calendar year and another opportunity to look forward, and resolve to do things differently - better, we hope - in the year to come. But what about Jan. 2, 2010? As it happens, this year it's a rare opportunity to look at the date itself - both forward and backward. The date is a palindrome. When written as a series of digits - month, date and year - it reads the same, from left to right, as it does from right to left: 01-02-2010.

Humanitarian Bowl Louisiana Tech (7-4) vs. Clemson (6-5) Site: Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho TV: ESPN, 12:30 p.m. Line:Clemson by 6 1/2 Key matchup: Louisiana Tech QB Luke McCown vs. Clemson's secondary. McCown, a sophomore, doesn't get much national publicity, but he's a good fit for the Bulldogs' spread-the-field passing attack. He averages 303.4 passing yards - with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions - and will have success against a mediocre Clemson secondary (21 TDs allowed, just 10 INTs)

Donald Glenn Brotzman, 82, a former five-term Colorado congressman, died of cancer Wednesday in Alexandria, Va. He began working as an attorney in Boulder in 1950, the same year he was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives. He also served in the state Senate. After unsuccessful runs for governor in 1954 and 1956, he was appointed U.S. attorney for Colorado in 1959. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1962, when fellow lawmakers named him president of the Republican freshman class.

Iowa (7-4) vs. No. 20 Washington (7-3-1)Site: El Paso, TexasTime: 2:30 p.m. todayTV: Ch. 13Line: Washington by 5Players to watch:Sedrick Shaw, Iowa: The junior tailback is the Hawkeyes' career rushing leader and had two games this season of more than 40 carries and more than 200 yards.Damon Huard, Washington: In a program with a history of good quarterbacks, Huard has eclipsed them all with 5,692 yards passing and 34 touchdowns -- one shy of the school mark -- in his three-year career.Best win:Best win:Iowa 33, Wisconsin 20: A surprising 5-0 start was followed by four consecutive losses in which the Hawkeyes were outscored, 154-89.

Oklahoma State got its statement win. Critics of the Cowboys had questioned whether they were worthy of playing for the national championship. Their 44-10 win over Oklahoma proved they are ready for the big time. LSU's defense is really, really good. Looking disinterested for most of the first half, the Tigers relied on a huge punt return by Tyrann Mathieu, then forced three Georgia turnovers in the second half, including a Morris Claiborne interception return for a touchdown, to cruise to a 42-10 win. The Big Ten title game was a rousing success.