Election news:

►  In today's Olympian -- Ref. 71 gains wider lead, but foes not ready to concede -- A large count from King and Thurston counties expands Referendum 71's lead to about 38,000 votes. Additional counts are planned today and Friday in most jurisdictions.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Gay-rights support stops at Cascades -- Social and religious conservatives leading the effort to defeat Ref. 71 say the campaign has revitalized their movement and that they will work to get more of their own elected to the Legislature.

►  In today's Everett Herald -- A historic vote for fairness (editorial) -- Washington voters are to be congratulated for leading the nation toward a new standard of fairness. We have made history with the first voter-approved, statewide expansion of gay rights. 

►  In today's Seattle Times -- McGinn lead over Mallahan shrinks to 462 votes in mayor's race -- Votes are trending in Mallahan's direction. King County Elections has counted about 105,000 votes, about half the expected total. "If this trend continues, we're solid," Mallahan said.

►  In today's News Tribune -- Margin in Tacoma mayor's race shrinks to 117 -- Labor-endorsed City Councilwoman Marilyn Strickland’s lead dwindles over Jim Merritt. 

National election redux:

►  From AP -- Voters to politicians: give us jobs, results, not spats -- Voters' memo to politicians: We're angry and fearful, mostly about jobs and the economy. We want tangible solutions, not partisan bickering or intraparty spats. And we'll vote either party out of office if we don't think you're listening. That's the latest warning to candidates who will seek offices low and high in all 50 states next year, when the number of elections will far exceed those held Tuesday.

►  In today's NY Times -- Democrats to use election to push agenda in Congress -- Democrats say  voters remained very uneasy about the economy and did not see Democrats producing on the health, energy and national security changes they promised when voters swept them to power.

►  In today's NY Times -- Energized Republicans looking to avoid intraparty feud -- Energized by victories in Virginia and New Jersey, their leaders have begun maneuvering to avoid a prolonged battle with conservative activists over what the party stands for and how to regain power.

Local news:

►  In today's Everett Herald -- Tale of 1916 Everett Massacre retold in style of radio play -- The Everett Public Library is offering a free radio show-style performance of a one-act sketch written by a union activist in the weeks after the massacre. “Their Court & Our Class” is performed by local actors and is available to listen to free on the library’s Web site at www.epls.org. Historian David Dilgard calls the sketch as a “rare, entertaining piece of the history of Everett and the labor movement.”

►  In today's Tri-City Herald -- State Liquor Board cancels security contract with HWA -- Five months into the one-year contract, the board decides the Seattle private security firm is too fragile financially to guarantee it can complete the contract. The departments of Employment Security and L&I share that concern.

►  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Cuts in juvenile justice don't make financial sense (editorial) -- Every effort should be made to find a way to protect the Benton-Franklin Juvenile Justice Center. It's not only a smart investment, but there's a moral imperative too. It's cliché but true -- today's children are tomorrow's future. If we give up trying to save them, what will tomorrow bring?

►  In today's (Longview) Daily News -- State needs to become more business-friendly (editorial) -- We’re encouraged to hope that the 2010 session will be different than past sessions. With the economy in the tank, Boeing taking jobs out of state and small businesses still shedding jobs, state officials surely recognize the wisdom of giving private-sector employers an assist. What those employers need, in a nutshell, is fewer government rules and regulations.

National news:

►  In today's NY Times -- U.S. Senate approves extension in jobless benefits -- The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to offer up to 20 more weeks of unemployment benefits to those who have been out of work a long time, after weeks of delay in which hundreds of thousands of Americans exhausted their government aid. The measure will increase to 99 weeks, or nearly two years, the maximum length of time that a jobless worker can get benefits in some states. As early as Thursday, the House is expected to approve the Senate version

►  In today's NY Times -- Some Wall Street year-end bonuses could hit pre-downturn highs -- Thanks to federal bailouts, many banks are turning handsome profits. So top producers are looking forward to blowout paydays once again.

►  In today's Philadelphia Inquirer -- Funding union pensions a sticking point in Philly transit strike -- In the face of public opposition and political pressure, the leader of striking workers vowed yesterday to "stay out as long as it takes" to get a better contract offer from the city.