After hoisting champagne glasses to cheer the end of their two-month regular session Thursday night, state lawmakers must reconvene at high noon Monday to actually finish their work - balancing a $2.8 billion gap in the state's budget.

Under the measure that was unanimously passed by both the House and Senate, ballots will have to be clearly marked to show where ballot instructions end and the spot to vote begins.

The measure would let judges deny bail when a suspect is charged with a crime carrying a possible life sentence and, based on evidence, is considered a danger to the community.

The state House approved its version of a tuned-up state spending plan late Friday night, a prelude to final negotiations over how to bridge a $2.8 billion budget shortfall.

The state Senate left out a key provision in the survivor benefits bill that would have allowed widows of police officers to remarry without losing their benefits.

With less than two weeks left in their election-year legislative session, Democratic state lawmakers are tied in knots over which taxes to raise to keep their preferred state programs afloat.

With less than three weeks remaining to strike a deal, the state's Democratic leaders are split over which taxes to raise as they work toward balancing a $2.8 billion budget deficit.

The Washington state Legislature passed a temporary suspension of Initiative 960 Monday night, just ahead of House and Senate Democrats unveiling their budget proposals.

The state House started contentious debate Tuesday night over the temporary suspension of tax-limiting Initiative 960, with opposition Republicans maneuvering to delay a vote.

Gov. Chris Gregoire on Monday signed into law a trio of bills meant to trim state expenses and said she's still finalizing a tax-increase plan to rescue state programs from budget cuts.

Parents who rely on help to pay for daycare are worried that help may run out. On Thursday, parents and day care providers held a news conference warning about proposed budget cuts that could affect the "Working Connections" program.

The state Senate voted late Wednesday to temporarily suspend tax-limiting Initiative 960 in its entirety, including a requirement for a public advisory vote on tax increases that are deemed an emergency by lawmakers.

At least a half-dozen states are considering measures that would toughen restrictions on young athletes returning to play after head injuries, inspired by individual cases and the attention the issue has received in the NFL.

Gov. Chris Gregoire violated state law by soliciting money for a congressional candidate during the legislative session, state regulators said Wednesday.