Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Ybarra announces run for Washington Senate
QUINCY — State Representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, has announced his candidacy for the Washington Senate. If he…
WA Legislature will not proceed with property tax increase
OLYMPIA – A bill – Senate Bill 5770 – to increase the annual cap on property tax collections dies in the Senate after receiving a hard pushback from Senate Re…
Washington’s H-2A bill aims to enhance data collection, faces fiscal concerns
OLYMPIA - Washington Subsitute House Bill 2226, aims to address wage suppression in the H-2A guest worker program. The bill advances to the Senate with a 54-42…
Legislation would impose fines for untreated sewage discharge
OLYMPIA – A proposal to fine counties and cities when untreated sewage is released into Puget Sound is part of an effort to save dwindling salmon runs. The…
WA Senate advances bill to make DUI offenders pay child support
OLYMPIA - Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are uniting to address deadly crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers from the past year.
Overtime bill hits a dead end in WA Legislature
OLYMPIA - Senate Bill 5476 which aimed to provide agricultural employers with the flexibility to schedule up to 12 weeks of 50-hour of “special circumstance” w…
Washington Senate honors Carroll
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Senate approved a resolution Friday morning that honored former Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll, who spent 14 years as …
McMorris Rodgers will not run for reelection
WASHINGTON D.C. – Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, announced Wednesday that she will not be running for reelection when her current term ends in early 202…
Legislature looks at lowering blood alcohol content statute
OLYMPIA – To curb traffic fatalities, lawmakers are proposing reducing the legal limit for driving while intoxicated.
Washingtonians demand hearings on citizen initiatives
OLYMPIA — A sea of red, white and blue covered the Capitol steps in Olympia Friday as hundreds of Washingtonians waved American flags and demanded hearings on …
Grant Co. seeks Board of Equalization applicants
EPHRATA — Grant County officials are looking for qualified applicants to fill two open seats on the county’s Board of Equalization.
Overtime flexibility or worker rights? SB 5476 looks at flexible overtime rules for ag workers
OLYMPIA- Senator Curtis King, R-Yakima, introduced Senate Bill 5476 which will grant agricultural employers the flexibility to select up to 12 weeks in a calen…
Warnick bill promoting WDFW, nonprofit cooperation advances
OLYMPIA — Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, received unanimous approval from the Senate to enable the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish co…
Ephrata’s ‘new’ mayor pro tem looks at growing as residents choose
EPHRATA – After serving on the Ephrata City Council since 2015, Matt Moore has taken on a new title: mayor pro tem.
Washington eyes changes to jaywalking regulations
OLYMPIA – There's a push to lighten up on jaywalking fines — a move that hits the headlines for its impact on both the homeless community and Black pedestrians.
No recounts for Grant Co. in Nov. general election
EPHRATA — While there were two races that might’ve qualified for an automatic recount after the November 2023 general election, in the end neither of them did.