The Center Square

Find out how the OII's advisory board influences policies and procedures in use of force investigations.

Rep. Walsh introduces House Bill 1000 to combat fentanyl trafficking and possession with stricter sentencing.

President-elect Trump's proposed tariffs may increase household costs by $2,600 yearly, impacting Washington state's international trade.

Spokane CORE plan update by Chief Hall: Only 13 service referrals made out of 143 targets, highlighting challenges in downtown crime intervention.

(The Center Square) – Families of incarcerated youth and juvenile justice advocates are speaking out against Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent announcement regarding plans for a new juvenile rehabilitation center. Last week, Inslee announced a proposal to open a new juvenile rehabilitation center at the Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen. This co...

(The Center Square) – Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee is calling for a freeze on hiring, services contracts, goods and equipment purchases, and travel to deal with a projected operating budget shortfall between $10 billion and $12 billion over the next four years. T...

(The Center Square) – Nearly a year after the relaunch of the Washington State Productivity Board, 97 state employees have submitted suggestions for streamlining government efficiency in state agencies. The productivity board encourages all state employees to help save taxpayer money by offering up to $10,000 for a successful proposal that either increases government efficiency or creates a new re

(The Center Square) – The federal government has the authority to deport foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally over the objection of local authorities, a panel of three judges on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled. The 29-page ruling was written by Judge Daniel Bress, with judges Michael Hawkins and Richard Clinton concurring. A...

(The Center Square) – Over the past decade, many state lawmakers have advocated fiscal restraint during years of enormous revenue growth, arguing that Washington could face a budgetary crisis if an economic downturn were to occur. Although the state operating budget now faces an estimated $10 billion to $12 billion deficit, their dire predictions weren’t entirely accurate, as revenue levels still

(The Center Square) – Spokane County passed its 2025 budget on Monday, decreasing total spending by nearly 6% while using up $57.4 million of its overall fund balance. The $864.8 million budget pulls back the reins as inflation continues and tax revenues flatline. The ...