SALEM, Ore. – Business partners suing Oregon state Senator Brian Boquist asked a judge Friday to dismiss their own lawsuit. They originally accused the Republican lawmaker of fraud.

When he's not at the state capitol, Republican state senator Brian Boquist helps run a military training company. At a complex in Wyoming, ICI creates realistic scenarios to prepare US Armed Forces for what they can expect on the battlefield. That involves a lot of explosions, if the videos on ICI's website are any indication.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – A bipartisan duo of Washington lawmakers wants to end most tax breaks for businesses, nonprofits, farms, and others. The two representatives held a press conference Friday in Olympia asking their colleagues to rethink these tax exemptions.

BOISE, ID – Micron CEO Steve Appleton died in a plane crash at the Boise airport this morning (Friday). The 51-year old was at the helm of the Boise, Idaho based memory chip company for nearly 20 years. has the latest on the crash investigation.

Micron’s Steve Appleton was flying what’s described as an experimental fixed wing aircraft made by Lancair (lance air). Zoe Keliher, an investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, says Appleton’s first take-off attempt was cut short. He landed and returned to a hangar. According to witnesses, his plane ran into trouble soon after a second take-off.

Initially the press conference was to denounce the Komen Foundation’s plans to cut Planned Parenthood’s funding. But when the foundation backed off after days of public criticism, Senator Murray revised her message. She stood outside the Seattle Planned Parenthood office, and thanked supporters for voicing their outcry.

MURRAY: “But I want everybody to know our fight for women’s health care does not end here or today. There are many who continue to put partisan politics ahead of women’s health and we’ve got to continue to make sure we’ve got the grassroots support and energy, and fight to make sure this never happens again.”

This week, all six of Washington state’s public university presidents met for a Seattle Town Hall discussion on the risks of continued cuts to higher education. The state now ranks 48th in per capita enrollment in public baccalaureate programs. Some say these cuts are permanently undermining our state economy and killing job creation. Participants include Michael Young (UW), Elson Floyd (WSU, pictured), Bruce Shepard (WWU), Les Purce (The Evergreen State College), James Gaudino (Central Washington University), and Rodolfo Arevalo (Eastern Washington University). Moderated by Seattle Times Editorial Page Editor Kate Riley.

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With a good six weeks of winter left, flu vaccines are still in demand. While many see the benefits of vaccines, others are less sure. Dr. E. Kirsten Peters, the Rock Doc, weighs in on the efficacy and safety of a prominent feature of life in the 21st century.

When I was a youngster in the 1960s I had all the shots little kids went through at the time. And because I’m a klutz and regularly hurt myself outdoors, I’ve periodically had my tetanus immunity updated. A few years ago I underwent a series of shots for rabies after having a scary adventure with an ill coyote. Last summer I got the shingles vaccine when my assistant was suffering from a shingles outbreak. And to round it all out, each year I get the influenza vaccine.

The company that owns the troubled Lucky Friday Mine in north Idaho is now the subject of a new round of investigations. Only these don't come from mine safety inspectors. They're from the company's own investors. One group is even suing for what it calls “fraudulent conduct.”

Last year, two miners died and several more were seriously injured at the Lucky Friday Mine near Mullan, Idaho. The complaints claim that the Hecla Mining Company knew the mine wasn't in compliance with safety regulations and didn’t tell investors. The federal government has ordered the mine to clear hazardous debris from its primary shaft. It's a process Hecla says requires a year-long shut down, news that sent the company’s stock plunging in January.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Out-of-pocket medical expenses are crushing some Washington families – even though they have health insurance. A key legislative committee voted Thursday to place an overall cap on how much a family would have to pay each year.

At a recent legislative hearing, a parade of families – some on the verge of tears – told Washington lawmakers of their plight. The stories went like this: a chronic illness leads to expensive medications and treatments. Insurance covers some of it, but deductibles, co-pays and other out-of-pocket expenses mount. Kristin McNulty has a young son with hemophilia. She told the panel her family spent $16-thousand on health care last year.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington lawmakers are introducing several proposals that echo the demands of the Occupy protesters. In fact, the formal title of one proposal introduced Thursday says it is aimed at -- quote --“Guaranteeing that the top one percent pay too.” The chief sponsor, Democratic Representative Marko Liias , says the Occupy movement wasn’t the only thing that prompted this idea.

Marko Liias: “Really, this is out of a concern for our kids and for schools. But I think the energy and the momentum that’s been generated by the national conversation around income inequality has really helped us focus on a good message for this bill, and that is that the top one percent should pay too.”

WASHINGTON DC - The US Department of Labor is facing a backlash from farmers and ranchers.

Colorado Republican Scott Tipton says Washington bureaucrats don’t “get” agricultural America. As chair of a House subcommittee on Small Business, he had one of several testy exchanges with the Labor Department’s Nancy Leppink. Tipton said at age 12 he was bucking 80-pound bales of hay for a neighbor…

Scott Tipton … to be able to learn a work ethic – my father felt that was important for me.
Nancy Leppink: Well, first of all, I don’t think the rule we’re proposing would have precluded you from bucking hay-
Nancy Tipton: I was earning a wage.
Scott Leppink: I know – but this regulation only focuses on the most hazardous occupations.