Construction has begun on the new $68 million University of Washington, Bothell Science and Academic Building. Constuction will take 21 months, with scheduled completion in May 2014. The 74,000-square-foot building will house 11 science labs, several classrooms, gathering space, and a 200-person lecture hall.

Redmond got a new got a new police chief Thursday, Aug. 16 – well, for one day. Police Chief Ron Gibson stepped aside to make way for 11-year-old Jason Richards as part of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s (WSCJTC) “Chief for a Day” program. The program honors children who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness.

Lake Washington School District (LWSD) avoided another round of major state cuts to its 2012-13 budget while creating a stable spending plan that continues a crucial cushion for possible future shortfalls. The board unanimously approved a $238.8 million general fund spending plan Aug. 6 and $151.1 million for the capital fund.

Democrat Suzan DelBene of Medina will face Republican John Koster in November’s general election in the 1st Congressional District race. The district stretches from King County up to Whatcom County at the Canadian border with Snohomish and Skagit counties in between.

Renton’s voters stuck by their beloved library over the Cedar River on Aug. 7, overwhelmingly voting to refurbish it rather than a site at another location favored by the King County Library System. The city will now meet with the library system to discuss how to proceed.

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R), who formerly represented Bellevue, led all challengers in voting in the Eighth Congressional District, gaining 48 percent of the votes. He will face Democrat Karen Porterfield in the General election. Redistricting this year switched Bellevue from the 8th to the 9th Congressional District.