SEATTLE – While citizens are encouraged to consider giving generously to tsunami-relief efforts, the Attorney General’s Office today advised doing some research to make sure the relief money is going to organizations that will use the donations effectively.

The best advice is to give to well-established organizations with proven track records of assisting in foreign countries following major disasters.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna and Labor &Industries Acting Director Judy Schurke warned consumers today to be on the lookout for The Washington Labor Law Poster Service that is sending out direct mail notices threatening businesses with $7,000 fines and state investigations for not having labor law posters displayed on the premises.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna and other leaders in Washington’s legal community will hold a media availability on Friday, July 22, 2005, to comment on the nomination and confirmation process of Judge John Roberts, Jr. for the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, and how his nomination could impact Washington state.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a multi-state agreement with Western Union Financial Services in which the company will increase its efforts to warn consumers about wire transfer scams.

The agreement came about in response to concerns about the use of the company’s wire transfer services by fraudulent telemarketers. Under the agreement, Western Union will warn and help educate consumers about telemarketing fraud when they use the company’s services, and will pay nearly $8.2 million toward a national consumer awareness program.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a settlement with Thesaurus Fine Arts, an Asian antiquities dealer that sold merchandise over eBay and in a downtown Seattle store. The proposed order, which does not contain an admission or finding of wrongdoing, would prohibit Thesaurus from selling Chinese antiques in Washington or misrepresenting the age of any Chinese antiquity.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced two Supreme Court victories for the Attorney General’s Office and the citizens of Washington state.

OLYMPIA -- The National Association of Attorneys General has given its annual award for excellence in legal brief writing to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

This year’s award went to the team working on the Locke v. Davey case. Team members include Attorney General Christine Gregoire, Solicitor General Narda Pierce, Senior Assistant Attorney General Bill Collins and Assistant Attorney General Michael Shinn.

OLYMPIA -- Anacortes Port Commissioner Pat Mooney has agreed to resign effective Sept. 1 to settle state claims that he won reelection in 2003 by committing violations of state campaign-finance reporting laws.

The resignation creates a vacancy that will require a special election to fill the unexpired term. Under state election law, a special three-day filing period will precede the special election, which may occur during the Nov. 2 general election.

OLYMPIA -- The unexplained disappearance of a family member or friend can be terrifying, but a partnership between the Attorney General’s Office and other state law enforcement agencies has produced some new tools to help police respond and assist those facing a missing-person crisis.

OLYMPIA -- May 27, 2004 - Attorney General Christine Gregoire has sent a letter to Gov. Gary Locke urging him to delay the July 1, 2004 implementation of a new state rule that could affect health care for thousands of needy children in Washington.

The rule would require Medicaid families whose incomes are more than 150 percent of the federal poverty level to pay monthly premiums to help control rising costs of the program.