The state of Washington is participating in a national training exercise aimed at coordinating local, state and federal agencies in the event of terrorism or a natural disaster. In a scenario conducted Mondayh through Fort Lewis, agencies must adapt to a chemical plant explosion near the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle that kills first responders. The National Level Exercise began last Thursday and concludes next week. Two other scenarios include a deadly tanker crash in Whatcom County and a toxic release at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in northeast Oregon. Officials with the Washington State Emergency Management Division say the state has activated its emergency operations center as part of the exercise. Participants include the National Guard, FEMA, and Homeland Security.
(AP)

Boeing has started assembly in Renton of the first P-8A Poseidon for the Navy, an anti-submarine plane that will replace older propeller-driven P-3 Orions.

The new jet uses the body of a 737 commercial jet, modified to deploy buoys to track subs and with a door in the bottom to launch torpedoes. It can also carry guided bombs and anti-ship missiles.

Also called the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft, or MMA, the plane will be packed with high-technology tracking and communications equipment.

The first flight is scheduled for next year.

The Navy plans to purchase 108 of the Poseidons and put the first squadron into operation in 2013.

Washington Democratic U.S. Senator Patty Murray is calling for the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, chief mental health official for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Murray says her stance regarding Dr. Katz is a response to e-mails from a lawsuit showing that the VA deliberately withheld crucial information on the rising number of veteran suicides. Murray, a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, believes Katz acted irresponsibly and should leave the job. (AP)

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is pushing for improved education benefits for U.S. National Guard and military reserve members through the Reserve Educational Assistance Program Enhancement Act of 2008. Crapo believes the changes proposed to REAP will improve the educational options to all citizen soldiers.

US Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) comments

Crapo says as members of America’s Guard and Reserve are called upon more and more to defend the nation’s security in the war on terror, a better education benefit needs to be implemented to reflect their contributions.

Crapo continues

Crapo worked with Arkansas Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln last year to improve other inequities in education under the GI Bill. Those changes were reflected in the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization Act that passed Congress. Along with Idaho Senator Crapo, other co-sponsors of the measure include Senators from Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Maryland, Colorado and Oregon.

A car used this year in a NASCAR race and driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be on display at the Lewis-Clark State College’s Mechanical Technical Building next week. 

The car has been used in a NASCAR race this year and is not a show car, which are not used in races.

The April 18 viewing, from 8 a.m.-noon, is free and open to the public.  Pictures also will be allowed.

The display is sponsored by the Army National Guard.

The car will later be on display at the Lewiston Shopping Center.

An Idaho National Guard Army reservist from Emmett was fatally wounded in Baghdad on Sunday during an insurgent attack.  Maj. Stuart A. Wolfer, a 36-year-old father of three, was assigned to the 11th Battalion, 104th Division when his unit came under mortar attack.  Another soldier also died. 

Wolfer first served in Kuwait in 2004, and began a second tour of duty in December 2007.

Meanwhile, the Department of Defense announced Wednesday the death of a Boise soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  

Sgt. Michael T. Lilly, 23, died Monday in Sadr City, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked using a rocket propelled grenade. 

He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Two Idaho Congressional leaders are urging military officials to grant clemency to a soldier raised in Idaho and convicted for planting evidence and killing an unarmed Iraqi citizen. 

Sgt. Evan Vela, of St. Anthony, faces a possible life sentence after a military jury in February found him guilty of murder without premeditation in the 2007 killing of an Iraqi man outside Baghdad.  The Army sniper’s case is on appeal. 

However, Republicans Sen. Mike Crapo and Rep. Mike Simpson say Vela was simply following the orders of his superiors – the same claims Vela argued during the investigation and trial.  Crapo and Simpson have each written letters to Army leaders saying the facts of the case warrant clemency for Vela.

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has signed into law a bill that provides special “Gold Star Parents” license plates for mothers and fathers of fallen servicemen and women from Washington. 

The plates resemble those now available to Pearl Harbor veterans, former POWs and Medal of Honor recipients. 

Gold Star Parents’ license plates will be available to families who are certified by the state Department of Veterans Affairs beginning next Jan. 1 at no extra charge. 

The Gold Star has its roots in the first and second World Wars, when families who had lost a loved one to war displayed a banner with a gold star in their windows.