Snohomish County PUD’s rates are among the highest in the state, and have been since the 2000-01 energy crisis.

The Herald wants to hear from readers who have had a hard time paying their power bills the last three years.

If you have a story you want to share, contact reporter Lukas Velush at

lvelush@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3449.

Some might say it was reminiscent of a landfill or a wet horse or something else unpleasant.

But the cause of the odor that swept across several downtown blocks Thursday remains a mystery.

With all but one of the city’s pulp mills long gone, Kimberly Clark Corp. seemed a likely place to call. Officials there said it was not clear whether the odor was theirs.

Ray "The Bison" Meduna, who works at the Boeing Co. in Everett, will attempt to eat a whole bunch of doughnuts tonight as a fund-raiser for a Boeing co-worker suffering from brain cancer.

Meduna, a Mount Vernon resident, is a "professional eater" who competes on a national circuit. He hopes to eat 15 glazed doughnuts in less than 99 seconds to raise money for co-worker Kent Pohren.

To donate to the Kent Pohren fund, mail a check to Skagit State Bank, P.O. Box 1040, Mount Vernon, WA 98274.

Girl Scouts begin their annual cookie sale today.

If you have been dying for a Thin Mint or shortbread cookie, now is your chance. It’s the program’s only major fund-raiser, and contributes a significant part of Girl Scout council and troop operating budgets.

The Snohomish County Literacy Coalition hosts its annual trivia bee at 7 tonight at Everett Community College, 2000 Tower St.

The EvCC team consists of Mike "The Brain" Clyburn, Dennis "The Fount of Knowledge" Ryan and Mattie "The New Whiz Kid" Davis-Wolfe, with Dean Bill Sperling as trivia master.

Money raised goes to buy supplies and books for volunteer tutors to use with their students.

Competitors include: