1. The Seattle Times' Jim Brunner reports on a testy exchange between Mayor Mike McGinn and state Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34) at last night's 34th District endorsement meeting, where the West Seattle Democrats went with one of McGinn's rivals, state Sen. Ed Murray.

Fitzgibbon, one of Olympia's environmental stars, "apologetically" told McGinn he had decided to endorse his legislative colleague Murray instead of staying neutral—as he apparently told McGinn he would.

In response, Brunner reports, McGinn lit into Fitzgibbon, and went out of his way to make sure Brunner knew it: “I just called him out on it right there,” McGinn said. “He’s not the first person who has done that to me."

To be honest, we had no idea Rep. Fitzgibbon, who lives in Burien, had endorsed Murray.

Now we do.

2. Former OneAmerica executive director Pramila Jayapal has a piece at Politico arguing that women will be the most heavily impacted by immigration reform.

Although Jayapal notes that the bill is far from perfect, the proposal includes several amendments that would help women.

Although Jayapal notes that the bill is far from perfect, the proposal includes several amendments that would provide extra support for women.

It provides greater protections for victims of domestic violence, including elder abuse and child abuse. It would allow immigrants to show proof of unpaid employment at places like churches or nonprofit organizations. And, similarly it includes an amendment allowing fines to be paid in installments—an important change for women, who are more likely than men to work part-time or be unpaid caregivers.

U.S. Rep Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA, 3) won't give up her crusade against the Columbia River Crossing, the Columbian reports.

3. Two of the three upriver businesses that would be impacted by the Columbia River Crossing have signed mitigation agreements with project planners (the third is in negotiations), but U.S. Rep Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA, 3) won't give up her crusade against the bridge, the Columbian reports.

The new bridge span would be lower than the current bridge, in part to accommodate light rail, which Congressional Republicans like Herrera Beutler oppose. CRC officials have said that increasing the height of the bridge would make the $3.4 billion project even more expensive, increase its impact on downtown Vancouver, and encroach on federal air space.

4. You may know that expectant and new mothers are supposed to avoid eating large, top-of-the-food-chain fish because they contain potentially harmful amounts of mercury, but did you know where a lot of that mercury comes from?

Mercury-coal-fired power plants, Sightline reports—a timely reminder of the dangers of coal (not to mention the climate-changing impact of getting our electricity from fossil fuels) as U.S. and state agencies debate a new coal port near Bellingham that would send as many as 18 mile-long coal trains through Washington state a day.