By Jason Hagey, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Dec. 17--After holding most city employee pay raises at 1 percent, the Tacoma City Council is poised to loosen its budget belt a bit by giving nonunion employees a bigger boost next year.

By Jason Hagey, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Nov. 28--Sound Transit's controversial 1.2-mile commuter rail line extension in downtown Tacoma would cross over Pacific Avenue on a bridge, if Tacoma City Council members have their way.

By Dan Voelpel, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Nov. 25--Time out. Whoa. Stop the train. Yes, voters in 1996 approved the concept for commuter rail between Tacoma and Lakewood. Yes, Sound Transit has spent 10 years working out how to make it happen.

By Jason Hagey, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Oct. 9--Tacoma City Councilwoman Julie Anderson wants the City Council to lend its support to Proposition 1, the regional roads and transportation package that goes before voters in November.

By Kelly Kearsley, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Sep. 20--The Port of Tacoma will vote today on whether to fund a trade office in Tacoma's sister city of Fuzhou, China.