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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

WA Convention-Goers: Fun, Exhausting, Worthwhile

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Thursday, August 28, 2008   

Denver, CO – As most of Washington State watches on television and online, 78 people from the state are experiencing the Democratic National Convention firsthand. The nomination for the most sleep-deprived Washingtonians...goes to this year's convention delegates.

The Washington delegation is staying about 10 miles from the Pepsi Center in Denver. A delegate's day starts with an early-morning breakfast; then caucuses and luncheons fill the time until the big speeches start at 3:00 p.m. and continue well into the night.

They've worked hard at local and state politics to get to the convention, and part of the thrill is the proximity to the mix of candidates, Congressional representatives and celebrities. James Trefry is a first-time delegate from the Second Congressional District in Snohomish County, who says negotiating the crowds has actually been fun.

"You just meet interesting people and hear their stories about why they're here. It's energizing, and everybody's friendly, and wants to talk to you. I love it! It's one of the coolest things I've ever done."

Trefry feels the media has played up the "disunity" theme between supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, although he says he hasn't seen much evidence of it on the convention floor. On Wednesday afternoon, Obama won the Democratic nomination by unanimous acclaim, at Senator Clinton's urging.

Blogger Bryan Bissell is following the Washington delegation, writing for the blogsite "politickerWA.com." He says there's a reason reporters seem to outnumber the delegates by about three to one - it's the relatively easy access to political movers and shakers.

"Back home, the elected officials are busy a lot, and they're all over the state – but here, I've got 'em in one room. You go to the delegate breakfast and you'll see four Congressmen, at a table 20 feet away. So, it really gives me a chance to get a lot of concentrated access."

As soon as he's done in Denver, Bissell heads to Minnesota for the Republican National Convention. He says he doesn't plan to get much sleep until both conventions are history.



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