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Snake River Dam preservation added to legislative agenda
SPOKANE VALLEY – The preservation of the Snake River dams has been solidified as a key item on the legislative agenda for the city council. The move comes amidst ongoing debate and litigation surrounding the dams’ future and their... — Updated 3/13/2024
Committee advances two Padden bills
OLYMPIA – The House Housing Committee has moved forward two bills introduced by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden, aiming to bolster home ownership and streamline property leasing in W... — Updated 2/22/2024
McMorris Rodgers won't seek re-election
SPOKANE - The 5th Congressional District will have an opening next year. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, announced Thursday, Feb. 8, that she is not seeking... — Updated 2/14/2024
Schoesler liquor bill moves to House
OLYMPIA – By a 47-2 vote, the Senate passed a bill Feb. 6 that would speed up the process for restaurants, bars and taverns seeking liquor licenses. Under Senate Bill 5291, applicat... — Updated 2/14/2024
Lawmakers plan virtual meetings
RITZVILLE – Ninth Legislative District lawmakers are planning virtual meetings to hear from residents. Republican Reps. Joe Schmick of Colfax and Mary Dye of Pomeroy will host a v... — Updated 2/14/2024
Bill bars banning of LGBTQ+ books
OLYMPIA — A bill being considered in the state House of Representatives would require schools to keep alternative sexual lifestyle books on the shelves in schools. House Bill 2331 would prevent school districts from rejecting or c... — Updated 2/14/2024
Pursuit reaches 150 mph on U.S. 395
HATTON — A Portland, Ore., man was arrested shortly after noon Sunday, Feb. 4, after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase in excess of 150 mph. Issac D. Burks Jr., 33, of Portland, Ore., was arrested near the i... — Updated 2/14/2024
Moses Lake man killed in Highway 17 crash
WARDEN — The Washington State Patrol is looking for information on the driver of a vehicle involved in a fatal crash early Sunday morning, Feb. 4, on state Highway 17. Jeremiah T. Gregg, 36, of Moses Lake, was killed in the c... — Updated 2/14/2024
'Understanding the Pledge' bill receives hearing
OLYMPIA – The Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee heard testimony Jan. 25 in a student-led bill to require schools to teach the history and meaning of the Pledge o... — Updated 2/8/2024
Bill would help Winona, other fire victims rebuild
SPOKANE – Rep. Mike Volz wants to give 2023 wildfire victims more say in rebuilding homes and property that were destroyed. Volz, R-Spokane, introduced House Bill 1899, which w... — Updated 1/31/2024
Bills could shift 'sin taxes'
OLYMPIA – Sen. Keith Wagoner has introduced two bills in the Legislature to return more “sin tax” revenues to local governments. Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley, has introduced Senate Bills 5568 and 5404 to shift the tax revenue as alter... — Updated 1/31/2024
State task force may study artificial intelligence impact
OLYMPIA — Some fear Artificial Intelligence might open a dark chapter to a dystopian future. Others say the progress it promises is virtually unlimited. To find a balance among those concerns, state officials are considering a t... — Updated 1/17/2024
Legislature to decide on high-speed pursuits
OLYMPIA — An initiative aimed at giving police wider discretion on when they engage in high-speed pursuits was forwarded to the Legislature on Jan. 11. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs notified the Legislature petitions for I... — Updated 1/17/2024
Knox testifies against deceptive police interrogations
OLYMPIA - Amanda Knox, the Seattle resident who spent nearly four years in an Italian prison for a murder she did not commit, offered heartfelt testimony Jan. 8 in favor of a bill... — Updated 1/17/2024
New building rises on Capital campus
OLYMPIA - Facing health and safety hazards and experiencing overcrowding, in May 2023 the original Irving R. Newhouse Building on the capitol campus in Olympia was entirely... — Updated 1/17/2024
Auditor's Office to test ballot equipment
PASCO — Franklin County elections officials will conduct a logic and accuracy test of ballot-tallying equipment on Jan. 18. The test will take place at 2 p.m. in the Franklin County Election Center, 116 N. Third Ave. It is open t... — Updated 1/17/2024
Military ballots mailed
PASCO — The Franklin County Auditor's Office has mailed military and overseas ballots for the Feb. 13 special election. "We anticipate mailing ballots to all Franklin County registered voters no later than Friday, Jan. 26," A... — Updated 1/12/2024
Kitsap court to hear attempt to keep Trump off ballot
OLYMPIA – Eight Kitsap County residents have filed a lawsuit to try to remove former President Donald Trump from the March 12 primary election ballot. The lawsuit (Kitsap County Superior Court case No. 24-2- 00075-18) was filed i... — Updated 1/12/2024
Republicans select primary candidates
OLYMPIA — Five Republicans will appear on the March 12 presidential primary ballot. According to the Office of the Secretary of State, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris Christie will be on the b... — Updated 1/12/2024
Akins sells $50,000 winner
RITZVILLE – The local grocery store sold a $50,000 prize-winning lottery ticket in the Dec. 13 Powerball drawing. According to the Washington State Lottery, the winner claimed the prize money last week. The state Lottery C... — Updated 1/12/2024
Lawmakers may reconsider checkpoints
OLYMPIA – Some lawmakers are reconsidering sobriety checkpoints and automated enforcement cameras in a bid to bring the number of road deaths down in the state. Traffic deaths in Washington hit a high in 2022, with 750 f... — Updated 1/12/2024
Auditor seeks writers for ballot measures
PASCO – The Franklin County Auditor’s Office is seeking individuals interested in writing statements “For” and “Against” measures for the Feb. 13 special election Local Voters’ Pamphlet for the following districts: • Fire Protec... — Updated 1/3/2024
Snake River salmon pact filed in court
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Biden Administration and environmental activists formalized an agreement Dec. 14 on plans to manage and improve salmon populations on the Snake River. A “memorandum of understanding” was filed with U.S.... — Updated 1/3/2024
New wildfire smoke goes into effect Jan. 15
TUMWATER – The state Department of Labor and Industries is imposing a new rule regulating workers’ exposure to smoke from wildfires. On Jan. 15, the agency’s new rule requires employers to have train employees on the hazards of sm... — Updated 1/3/2024
Padden bill on DUI penalties passes Senate, again
OLYMPIA - With traffic deaths in Washington reaching their highest point in more than 30 years, the Senate again approved an anti-impaired driving bill sponsored by 4th District Sen...