state news

Meet Henry, our Pet of the Week! This 2-year-old Pit Bull/Shar Pei mix has come a long way since arriving at Tri-Cities Animal Services. Sweet and laid-back. His adoption fee is $50. Could you be the one to give him a forever home? 🐾❤️

(The Center Square) – The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee got an earful Thursday from supporters and detractors of proposed legislation “promoting a safe and supportive public education system” that critics contend would undo several provisions of a parents’ rights initiative passed by the Washington State Legislature last year. Engrossed Substitute Ho...

(The Center Square) – Although the 2021 Climate Commitment Act’s primary goal is to reduce carbon emissions, supporters defending it against a failed initiative last year argued the revenue generated by it was vital to support air quality projects. However...

(The Center Square) – A bill moving through the Washington State Legislature would allow lawful permanent residents and foreign nationals who are recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program to be able to enforce state law as police officers and press charges as deputy prosecutors, a move one critic says would enable noncitizens to “take away the rights of U.S. citize

(The Center Square) – Gaining momentum after years of failed attempts, House Democrats in the Washington State Legislature advanced a bill Wednesday that would make clergy members mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. The majority party passed Senate Bill 5375 out of the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee on Wednesday. Last mon...

It's not everyday, in fact it's not in many people's lifetime, they get to perform in the same venue that was famously opened by Tchaikovsky in 1891; and has gone on to feature the greatest names from nearly every genre of music.

(The Center Square) – The good news: Washington state is expecting a $54 million increase in anticipated revenue for the remainder of the current 2023-2025 budget cycle. The bad news: Revenue for the 2025-2027 and 2027-2029 budget cycles are down $479 million and $420 million, respectively, from the previous forecast in November. T...

(The Center Square) – The Seattle City Council has approved a bill to allow residential housing near Seattle’s professional sports venues despite pushback from council members. Council Bill 120933 amends the city’s land use code to allow for workforce housing in the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District, which encompasses Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park. The district ...

(The Center Square) – A top advisor to Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson has resigned amid accusations of creating a toxic workplace environment that contributed to the departure of another administration official. “I deeply regret that the allegations of a hostile work environment have created an unhelpful distraction that impacts the team’s ability to do their work, as well as my ability to be

(The Center Square) – Recently, the Washington State Legislature enacted a Clean Fuel Standard program, which directs fuel providers to reduce the carbon intensity in their products such as gasoline and diesel. Now, the original bill sponsor for that program wants to modify it in a way that supporters believe will improve implementation. H...