CURRENT NEWS ITEM: WASHINGTON AT WASHINGTON STATE: ONE WILL WIN, BUT WHO WILL CARE?

TOP - 50 RELEVANT BREAKING NEWS

1. Washington state voters mull assisted-suicide law

   Read full story for latest details.

2. Beavers overpower Washington State

   CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- For Jacquizz Rodgers, the question wasn't whether Oregon State would beat Washington State, but by how much. The answer: Plenty....

3. Washington State loses another starting QB

   Read full story for latest details.

4. Nigeria: Nurses Condemn State of Primary Health Care

   National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives has decried the situation at the primary health level, describing it as "very pathetic" and therefore called on the three tiers of government to intervene immediately before the total collapse of the sector.

5. News release: Subsidiary of EDS, an HP Company, to Modernize Washington State Unemployment Insurance Tax System

   EDS, an HP company, announced that Saber Government Solutions, its non-healthcare U.S. state and local government subsidiary, has been awarded a $24 million contract to develop and design the new tax system for the Washington Employment Security Department (WA ESD).

6. Washington State going from bad to worst?

   The Cougars, who play USC Saturday, aren't just 0-4 in Pac-10 play, they've been outscored 223-33 in those games. Some are wondering if they might be the worst team in conference history. At first glance, the point spread might seem outlandish, USC heading into Washington State favored to win by more than six touchdowns.

7. Will Washington State bring out worst in Trojans?

   Pete Carroll's USC teams have a history of playing poorly when heavily favored. The Cougars are roughly six-touchdown underdogs, but then so was Stanford last year. USC moved up in the rankings with a shutout against Arizona State that belied the Trojans' turnover-plagued performance on offense. Times staff writer Gary Klein looks at some of the key issues and matchups as USC, which has a history of not performing well against lightly regarded foes, plays one of the nation's poorest-performing teams:

8. No. 6 USC routs Washington State — 69-0!

   Trojans' largest shutout win since '39; Cougars suffer worst loss ever

9. USC plays it fast in Palouse in 69-0 romp over Washington State

   Mark Sanchez ties a school record with five touchdown passes, three backs run for more than 100 yards and Trojans post back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1971. PULLMAN, Wash. -- As midterms go, it was kind of like having a professor supply all of the answers before the test.

10. From the start, no win in Washington State's sails

    A bad season gets worse for the Cougars. PULLMAN, Wash. -- Could be that this is a bit condescending, but honestly, it was hard not to feel a tinge of sorrow for banged-up little Washington State on Saturday.

11. Among 11 Races for Governor, a Tight Rematch in Washington State

    An incumbent Democrat who won by 133 votes in 2004 is hoping for a boost from Obama's candidacy.

12. Washington State Police Investigate Hate Crimes

    Three members of gay community assaulted in past week.

13. Seven orcas missing from Washington State waters

    Seven Puget Sound killer whales are missing and presumed dead in what could be the biggest decline among the sound's orcas in nearly a decade, say scientists who carefully track the endangered animals.

14. Washington State will play freshman QB Levenseller

    Washington State quarterback J.T. Levenseller will give up his redshirt season and play in his first game Saturday at Stanford.

15. Washington revenue forecast is state outlook

    OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The latest report from the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council will tell Gov. Chris Gregoire and Washington lawmakers how many billions they'll have to spend in the next two-year budget....

16. Colorado Marine posts bail in Washington State

    PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) -- Bail of $5,000 has been posted for a Colorado Marine arrested in Washington state on desertion and contempt of court charges....

17. State late on child care checks

    From today's print edition: Bad economy forces some parents to cut back on child care 'We're hanging in for now, but in the future, who knows?' says a single mom of 2 By Bonnie Miller Rubin Tribune reporter Walgreens recently...

18. No. 4 Pittsburgh 57, Washington State 43

    NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Sam Young scored 15 points and Levance Fields added 14 to lead No. 4 Pittsburgh to a 57-43 victory over Washington State on Saturday night in the championship game of the Legends Classic.

19. Texas time warp? State criticized for mental care

    DENTON, Texas (AP) -- For more than a century, thousands of mentally disabled Americans were isolated from society, sometimes for life, by being confined to huge public hospitals....

20. Arizona State University Beats Competition to Hire the Washington Post's Len Downie

21. No. 4 Gonzaga 74, Washington State 52

    Josh Heytvelt scored 22 points and No. 4 Gonzaga broke open a close game in the second half and went on to a 74-52 victory over Washington State on Wednesday night.

22. Arctic air turns Washington state into icebox

    SEATTLE (AP) -- Bitterly cold winds blew across Washington on Sunday, and weather forecasters said there's no relief in sight for at least a few days....

23. Demon Deacons Take Care of Wright State

    Harvey Hale scores a season-high 17 points to help No. 11 Wake Forest beat Wright State, 66-53, on Sunday afternoon in North Carolina.

24. State and City Feuding Over Cost of Subsidizing Day Care

    The financing battle is over a year-old state order to increase the amount the city pays providers of subsidized day care to make it closer to market rate.

25. Washington state a mess from heavy snow, cold

    SEATTLE (AP) -- Thursday was no day to be on the road in Washington state as snow brought traffic to a crawl on streets and highways. In Seattle, the storm was ushered in by lightning and thunder....

26. Less snow but still cold in Washington state

    SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- The snow has eased up, but cold weather is still making life difficult across most of Washington....

27. Washington state starts free PC, TV recycling

    Washington state residents looking to safely get rid of old computers and TVs can do so for free when a new statewide recycling program begins next year.

28. Gov. Chris Gregoire out of Washington state

    OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Gregoire is out of the state, but her office won't say where she is....

29. Washington State Police Find Baby's Remains in Trash

    Authorities combing through 60 tons of trash, searching for the body of a baby allegedly dumped by his 16-year-old mother, found a dead infant in the garbage Monday.

30. Washington State Devastated By Floods

    Floods, mudslides and avalanches in the Pacific Northwest kept tens of thousands of people from their homes Thursday, shut down highways and choked commerce throught the region.

31. No. 13 California handles Washington State

    Ashley Walker had 25 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 13 California to a 68-45 victory against Washington State on Thursday night.

32. State, fed officials tour Washington flood damage

    OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Gregoire will tour flood damage with Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters....

33. Ukraine resumes state tests of An-70 military-transport aircraft

34. Police Say Middle Tennessee State Student Sent E-mail Threats

    A freshman has been charged with three counts of arson and one count of terrorism.

35. USC's Mark Sanchez is ready, but Arizona State's Rudy Carpenter might not be

    Ankle injury could sideline Sun Devils quarterback for game at the Coliseum. The Trojans returned to their winning ways by routing previously ranked Oregon. Now comes the hard part: Getting up for a struggling opponent. Times staff writer Gary Klein looks at some of the key issues and matchups when USC plays the Sun Devils, who have lost three consecutive games and have not defeated USC since 1999:

36. USC, Arizona State's Omar Bolden downplay flap

    Trojans fans may be upset about the way Bolden handled his announcement not to go to USC, but Trojans assistant David Watson praises Bolden's skills, and Bolden says it was just a stunt. The question is simple: What should USC fans do when Omar Bolden runs onto the field today? More to the point, should they boo him?

37. State school outshines private rivals

    If he looked at its pupil intake, Alastair Campbell would quite likely decide that Kingsbury High School was one of those infamous "bog standard" comprehensives he talked about.

38. Court makes Conn. 3rd state to allow gay marriage

    HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- A sharply divided Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Friday that gay couples have the right to get married, saying legislators did not go far enough when they approved same-sex civil unions that were identical to marriages in virtually every respect except the name....