News Item: The state agency that oversees the Capitol grounds has put a moratorium on any more displays in the Capitol building until it completes a review of its policy on exhibits.

Comment: Finally. I don’t know what irritated me more – that atheists put their anti-God message on display near a Nativity scene, a group wanted to promote “Festivus,” the joke holiday spawned by the TV show “Seinfeld,” or the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church which applied for permission to put up a “Santa Claus Will Take You to Hell” sign.

If this isn’t reined in, I suspect come the Fourth of July we’ll see a pro-British group wanting to gripe about the American Revolution.

News Item: President Bush’s aides have turned down a request from the president-elect to move from Chicago into Blair House, the official guest residence across from the White House, in time for Obama’s daughters to start school in Washington on Jan. 5.

Comment: The Bush administration says it has booked facility for “receptions and gatherings” by members of the outgoing Bush administration.

Still, you wonder. Blair House is a complex of four townhouses with 119 rooms and 70,000 square feet of space. There are 14 guest bedrooms, eight staff bedrooms, 35 bathrooms, four dining rooms, kitchen facilities, laundry and dry-cleaning facilities, an exercise room, a flower shop and a fully equipped hair salon. Who would think the Obama family of four would be such an imposition?

News Item: Four Bellevue high schools have placed among the best nationally according to the latest report by U.S. News & World Report.

Comment: The legacy of former superintendent Mike Riley lives on. His insistence that every child can and should push themselves academically shows what a visionary he was.

News Item: Bellevue family wins $8.9 million Lottery jackpot.

Comment: Well, here’s one family for whom the recession shouldn’t be much of a concern.

News Item: Gunnar Nordstrom has moved his art back to Bellevue after 17 years in Kirkland.

Comment: Who knew that a location in downtown Bellevue would be more attractive and affordable than downtown Kirkland?

News Item: Bellevue High School wins its sixth state football title in eight years.

Comment: Given the sorry state of the college and professional football teams in this area, it’s nice to see what success actually looks like.