OLYMPIA - A criminal investigative report on alleged animal cruelty and violations of the Humane Slaughter Act at a southeast Washington meatpacking plant today was forwarded to the Walla Walla County prosecuting attorney.

The action follows Gov. Gary Locke's request last June that an inter-agency team review slaughtering practices at the IBP plant in Wallula to determine if animal-cruelty, humane slaughter, worker-safety or food-safety violations may have occurred there.

Olympia - September 20, 2001 - Today the state Supreme Court unanimously held that Initiative 722 is unconstitutional because it asked voters to consider two unrelated subjects in the same bill, a violation of Article II, Section 19 of the state Constitution. The Attorney General's Office defended the Initiative, as it does all laws passed by the Legislature or by the people through the initiative process. We believe the decision was based on thorough arguments by all parties.

Olympia - September 14, 2001 - Washington's Attorney General and leaders of state police and prosecutor's associations today urged citizens to refrain from acts of racial or religious harassment in the wake of this week's terrorist attacks.

OLYMPIA - Today's state Supreme Court decision upholding Initiative 776 will help the drafters of future initiatives by clarifying the state constitutional requirement that initiatives contain only a single subject, Attorney General Christine Gregoire said.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court's majority agreed with the state that the single subject I-776 put before voters was whether to limit the cost of vehicle license tabs to $30 per year. Additional statements contained in the initiative were "policy expressions" that had no legal effect, the court majority said.

OLYMPIA -- The Attorney General's Office today notified state courts that it will seek state Supreme Court review of a King County Superior Court ruling that Initiative 776 is unconstitutional.

Attorney General Christine Gregoire said she wants the Supreme Court to review the decision in order to more quickly resolve important legal questions concerning the initiative. King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu's Feb. 10 decision raised issues that have never been addressed by the Supreme Court, Gregoire said.

SEATTLE -- On Friday, January 31, a King County Superior Court judge will consider summary judgment motions in a case challenging the constitutionality of Initiative 776.

Arguments on motions filed by both sides in the case will be heard by Superior Court Judge Mary Yu. The hearing begins at 9 a.m. in Room W-928 of the King County Courthouse.

OLYMPIA -- Attorney General Christine Gregoire today said her office will continue to vigorously defend Initiative 776 against constitutional challenges, but in a manner that will not leave taxpayers liable if the courts ultimately declare the initiative unconstitutional.

Seattle - April 24, 2003 - H&R Block, one of the nation's largest tax preparation firms, has agreed to provide $22 refunds to consumers who unknowingly paid for the company's "Peace of Mind" guarantee as part of the cost of having their 2000 tax returns prepared.

An investigation by Attorneys General from 41states showed the company automatically added the charge to consumers' tax preparation bills without first asking consumers if they wanted the guarantee.

SEATTLE - The checks are in the mail today for 10,419 Washington consumers who were overcharged for home loans by Household International.

This settlement provides the largest direct consumer restitution ever in a state or federal case. Consumers nationwide will receive up to $484 million in restitution for predatory lending practices, including about $21 million for Washington victims.

Olympia - Washington consumers eligible for restitution under the state's $21.15 million settlement with Household International have until Oct.14, 2003 to file a claim, according to Attorney General Christine Gregoire.

More than 12,000 Washington borrowers who secured loans from Household retail branches between Jan.1, 1999 and Sept. 30, 2002 are eligible for restitution and received claim information in August. To date, approximately 7,000 consumers have joined the settlement.