ISSAQUAH — The League of Education Voters' prospects of getting a $1 billion education tax package passed in November rest largely with people like Kelly Munn. A mother of three school-age kids, Munn has devoted years to pushing school levies in Issaquah. She joined the league to help organize a successful 2000 state initiative campaign, I-728, to reduce class sizes. Now she's gearing up for the group's latest effort. "I consider this my job," said Munn, a brisk woman with a determined air. "I'm a community organizer."

DENVER -- Sidewalk tables fill quickly in LoDo, a trendy district of shops and cafes, as the playful sound of jazz wafts into the warm spring afternoon. A dozen blocks south, however, a darker mood prevails under the dome of the state Capitol where lawmakers study the state's finances and shudder.

The European Commission (EC) recently ruled Microsoft in violation of competition laws, fined the company a record $613 million and issued a new set of restrictions that would replace innovators with regulators when it comes to deciding how to upgrade products. Ultimately, the EC has put Microsoft on notice that any further attempts to improve its flagship Windows operating system may be illegal.

DURHAM -- As the Grim Reaper walked up and down in front of the Hillsborough post office protesting federal taxes Thursday morning, the chief of the Hillsborough Police Department walked up to deliver some bad news. Without a permit, the reaper and her cohorts would have to stop protesting on the sidewalk, the chief said. The reaper disagreed, saying it was a violation of her right to free speech. But after a short and mild argument with the chief, she retired to a car parked on the street in front of the post office and stuck her sign out the sunroof.

When it comes to raising money for contested party nominations to Mid-Willamette Valley seats in the Oregon House, it’s better to be in than out, according to finance reports filed Monday. Reps. Vic Backlund of Keizer, Jeff Kropf of Sublimity and Donna Nelson of McMinnville have raised more than their challengers for the Republican nomination for new two-year terms in the May 18 primary.

By Leo Morris for the editorial board Thursday is T-Day, otherwise known as April 15. To take your mind off your own situation, ponder these 10 argument-stopping or argument-starting tidbits, collected from a variety of sources. 1 Congratulations -- you're working for yourself now. April 7 was Indiana's Tax Freedom Day. That was the point at which you had earned enough to pay off your total tax bill -- federal, state and local. That was fours days earlier than National Tax Freedom Day and ranked us 28th in the nation as far as tax burdens go.