PNW
What's happening in the Pacific Northwest? For information and details regarding Northwest news, see our articles below.
Thompson leads 13th District race, plans focus on costs, access
EPHRATA — Joshua Thompson led Deanna Martinez by 3,278 votes for the 13th Legislative District’s state representat…
State House passes bump stock ban
OLYMPIA — The state House voted to ban bump stocks, a stock attachment that allows a semi-automatic rifle to fire in rapid succession.
Lawmakers push through public records exemption
A bill exempting state lawmakers from the Public Records Acts was heard Thursday less than 24 hours after the proposal was made public, bypassing rules and pro…
Privacy vs. accountability in public employees birthdate bill
A proposal that would exempt the birthdates of public employees from public records requests recently passed through the state Senate 25-22, which supporters of the bill say will protect against identity theft.
Bill would put foster parent training online
A bill that would make some training for potential foster parents more easily available is likely to travel from the legislature to the governor’s desk.
Hundreds tune in for telephone town hall
Hundreds of constituents of the 13th Legislative District tuned in to a telephone town hall Monday evening hosted by their local lawmakers.
9th District telephone town hall on Thursday
Constituents of the 9th Legislative District will have an opportunity to talk with their elected officials in the state House of Representatives during a telep…
Senate votes out death penalty
OLYMPIA — The state Senate voted 26-22 to repeal the death penalty Wednesday night, rejecting several Republican amendments without debate to the consternation…
Telephone town hall is Monday
Constituents of the 13th Legislative District will have an opportunity to talk with their elected officials during an hour-long telephone town hall at 6 p.m., …
Dems hit roadblock on statewide individual mandate
OLYMPIA — Some Democratic lawmakers in Washington are looking for a way to replace the Obamacare-era individual mandate for health insurance, which ended as pa…
Bill would end non-criminal juvenile incarceration
OLYMPIA — Democratic lawmakers are pushing a bill that would end juvenile detention in the state for status offenses like truancy or running away, which are only illegal due to the age of the perpetrator.
Software error leads to delay for ballots
OLYMPIA — A database error discovered last month resulted in nearly 7,000 voters statewide receiving their February special election ballots late.
$15 million included in budget for Odessa groundwater project
MOSES LAKE — Although the amount won’t entirely fund the project, the $15 million that was included in the state capital budget for the Odessa Groundwater Repl…
Legislative Republicans unimpressed with Democratic majority
Halfway through the 2018 legislative session, state Republican lawmakers are not impressed with the accomplishments of the Democratic majority.
Color and music in Olympia for Latino Legislative Day
Hundreds marched through Olympia Monday for Latino Legislative Day, calling for immigration reform and improvements to workers’ rights.
Bill would raise age to buy tobacco to 21
OLYMPIA — State lawmakers are considering raising the age to buy tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21 in an effort to lower addiction rates and cut back o…