PNW
What's happening in the Pacific Northwest? For information and details regarding Northwest news, see our articles below.
Capital gains tax surge eases but doesn’t solve WA budget woes
A windfall of capital gains tax payments is providing temporary relief for Washington’s budget, but other collecti…
Warnick to lead Republicans in Senate
Members of the Washington state Senate Republican Caucus on Thursday elected Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, as their caucus chair and Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, as caucus vice chair.
Job not done: State redistricting left up to court, will affect local legislators
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Redistricting Commission failed to reach an agreement on new legislative district boundaries by the midnight Monday deadline, me…
Republicans call for repeal of WA Cares Fund
State House Republicans on Nov. 1 called for a repeal of the Democrats’ long-term care insurance program and payroll tax, according to a release from the Washington House Republicans.
State health plan market open for enrollment
Fifteen health insurers were approved to sell in Washington’s 2022 individual health insurance market, according to a release Nov. 1 from the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
All three COVID-19 vaccine boosters available for some
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is expanding COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to certain people after getting recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Centers for Disease Contr…
Inslee: Nine out of 10 state workers complied with vaccine mandate
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee said thanks to the more than 91% vaccination and exemption rate among state employees, essential state services should be relatively unaffected as the vaccination deadline passes on Monday.
WDFW lifts most fire restrictions; ban remains in Columbia Basin Wildlife Area
OLYMPIA — With lower temperatures and higher humidity reducing wildfire danger, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says it lifted fire restrictions Friday, including the ban on target shooting on most l…
Drawing lines: Eastern Washington to see redistricting
MOSES LAKE — Big changes are potentially in store for the Columbia Basin as the four voting members of the Washington State Redistricting Commission have relea…
Newhouse calls on Inslee to support a type of COVID-19 therapy, hospitals
Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., on Wednesday sent a letter to Gov. Inslee calling on him to prioritize and publicly acknowledge the success and the availability of monoclonal antibody therapy as a tool that has the abi…
Moses Lake man charged in benefits scheme
SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities say a former employee with the state Employment Security Department was arrested Friday and charged with defrauding the government of at least $360,000 in jobless benefits.
Proposals for state legislative districts up for comment
The four voting members of the Washington State Redistricting Commission published their proposed maps for state legislative districts Tuesday.
Health officers urge wearing of masks
SEATTLE (AP) — Health officers throughout Washington have issued a joint statement recommending all residents wear facial coverings in indoor public settings where the vaccination status of other people is unknown.
Inslee orders state, health care workers to get vaccine
SEATTLE — Gov. Jay Inslee is ordering all state government employees and health care workers across Washington to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 18 or risk losing their jobs.
Ecology seeks comments on phase-out of HFCs
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Ecology is seeking input from farmers in developing a program to deal with the environmentally sound disposal of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.
Opening up: Day arrives for end of pandemic-related restrictions imposed on businesses
OLYMPIA — Most of the COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place and modified several times since last spring were to be lifted in Washington state Wednesday at 12:01 a.m., meaning restaurants and bars and other…