By Mike Archbold, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Jun. 5--The Pierce County Council has approved a hefty increase in the penalty for tying boats together for floating parties on Lake Tapps. The base fine will increase from $60 to $300.

By Susan Gordon, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Oct. 17--Foes of commercial geoduck farming came away winners Tuesday after the Pierce County Council wholeheartedly endorsed resurrected rules that would limit its proliferation.

By Susan Gordon, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. May 8--Shellfish growers and the waterfront-area residents who oppose geoduck farms are again facing off. This time, instead of at the Legislature in Olympia, the focus is the Pierce County Council.

By Eijiro Kawada, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Sep. 26--About 200 people filled the Spanaway Lake High School auditorium on a summer night in 2002 to show support for tighter development rules in the East Pierce communities of Parkland, Midland and Spanaway.

By The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Aug. 17--The Pierce County Council's hemming and hawing about regulating bird breeders has been a ridiculous waste of time, but that's not all.