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Friday morning's headlines

Making headlines around the Northwest this morning:

  • Boeing and Region Cheer Contract Win
  • Seattle Schools "Rogue" Manager
  • Cold Weekend Ahead

 
Upset Victory Spawns Local Celebrations

Boeing was the "underdog" and came out fighting to win, according to U.S. Senator Patty Murray. At a celebratory Seattle news conference with Senator Maria Cantwell and other state congressional leaders, they praised the Pentagon's decision on the $35 billion Air Force tanker contract, as KPLU's Bellamy Pailthorp reported.

Boeing beat out Europe-based EADS, and outspent them on lobbying Congress as well, investing millions more on the political fight. The Herald of Everett's Michelle Dunlop reports Boeing CEO Jim McNerney called the contract award an 'honor':

"Our team is ready now to apply our 60 years of tanker experience and to develop and build an airplane that will serve the nation for decades to come," McNerney said.

The victory will impact thousands of workers in the state, writes Jim Gillie in The News Tribune:

For Washington, according to Boeing, the tanker program will create or keep active some 11,000 jobs and inject $693 million annually into the economy. Some 70 suppliers in Washington provide parts or services for the 767 program.

Boeing shares are up about 4% since yesterday afternoon's announcement, according to Reuters. 

Another celebration is scheduled this morning at Everett's Machinist's Union headquarters.

 

More Details Emerge in Seattle Schools Case

The Seattle Times is combing through audit documents that shed light on details surrounding alleged fraud and financial abuse within the Seattle Public Schools.

Reporters Steve Miletich, Linda Shaw and Bob Young write the figure at the center of the controversy, Silas Potter, Jr, who ran the district's small business contract program, "ran a rogue contracting operation within district offices, replete with overbilling, ethics violations and intimidation of critics, according to documents released by the state Thursday."

The release of the documents — the most comprehensive look yet at the allegations — comes as prosecutors conduct a secret criminal investigation of the financial dealings and the School Board considers whether to force out Goodloe-Johnson, sources familiar with the matter have told The Seattle Times.

The Times reports the Superintendent has not been named in wrongdoing, but is under scrutiny for oversight of Potter's office and district finances. About $1.8 million is identified by the state audit as being misspent for work not received or that could have been performed by existing staff.

 

Cold Weather for the Weekend

What does your thermometer read? Around Western Washington, it's bitterly cold for late February, with overnight lows hitting the teens and low to mid-20's. The Olympian's Rolf Boone reports National Weather Service forecasters are calling for bright skies today, then even colder temps tonight:

After an icy start today, the weather is expected to clear and be mostly sunny, but temperatures are forecast to fall to about 16 degrees tonight, meteorologist Carl Cerniglia said Thursday.

Late February high temperatures average near 50 degrees. Today's highs will be at or near freezing.