1. From MSNBC:
"Only these 33 metro areas had increasing housing starts, out of 381 metro areas in the U.S., according to the Adversity Index from Moody's Economy.com and msnbc.com. They each showed increases between the three-month periods ending April 2008 and April 2008. Some areas cross state lines and are listed more than once."

Washington
Olympia, 77%
Tacoma, 32%

2. From The Olympian:
"Intercity Transit has won recognition as the best medium-sized transit system in the United States.

The award from the American Public Transportation Association is based on ridership growth, safety, financial management, community involvement and other measurable records during 2006-08, a period that saw IT ridership grow by more than 50 percent to about 5 million passengers a year.

That growth continues this year despite fare increases of 33 percent in January.

'It is a very significant recognition. ... In the transit industry, it’s one of the top awards,'’ said the Intercity Transit Authority’s citizen chairman, Tom Green, after general manager Mike Harbour announced the award Wednesday to IT’s 290 employees."