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Trump’s attempted funding freeze stirs confusion and rebukes from WA leaders
By: Bill Lucia - January 28, 2025
The Trump administration’s move to freeze swaths of federal spending drew backlash Tuesday from 51ԹϹ’s Democratic leaders, as the state faced the threat of either losing or experiencing delays with billions of dollars built into its budget. State lawmakers and other officials said the situation further complicates this year’s already difficult budget-writing process, while Gov. […]
Democrats in WA Legislature say they want to avoid ‘chaos machine’ in D.C.
By: Bill Lucia - January 21, 2025
With a large budget gap to solve and major bills on topics like housing and education to shepherd, Democratic leaders in 51ԹϹ’s Legislature say they are trying to avoid getting too caught up with President Donald Trump’s actions during his early days in office. “We have our own job to do,” Senate Majority Leader Jamie […]
51ԹϹ congressional delegation reacts to Trump’s inauguration
By: Jerry Cornfield and Bill Lucia - January 20, 2025
For 51ԹϹ’s heavily Democratic congressional delegation, Monday was a complicated day. On one hand, they applauded the peaceful transfer of presidential power from Joe Biden to Donald Trump. On the other, Trump’s inauguration is sure to bring a new chapter of tensions and clashes between the Republican president and most of the state’s federal lawmakers. […]
New WA lands commissioner orders pause on logging sales for some older forests
By: Bill Lucia - January 16, 2025
On his first day in office, Dave Upthegrove, the state’s new public lands commissioner, said he would pause logging sales in some older state-managed forests for about six months. In doing so, he’s taking a step toward fulfilling a campaign promise to set aside nearly 80,000 acres of older, but not necessarily old-growth, trees. How […]
The new 51ԹϹ state laws taking effect in January 2025
By: Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero and Bill Lucia - December 30, 2024
New restrictions on cosmetics tested on animals, tougher penalties for negligent drivers, requirements for hospitals to offer drugs to people possibly exposed to HIV. These are among the changes in 51ԹϹ state law set to take effect Jan. 1, 2025. 51ԹϹ state lawmakers passed roughly 340 bills during the 2024 legislative session, which wrapped up […]
With repeal measure rejected, WA carbon auction prices surge
By: Bill Lucia - December 11, 2024
Prices for 51ԹϹ’s air pollution allowances rebounded at an auction this month, the first sale since voters upheld the state’s cap-and-trade program. The Department of Ecology on Wednesday said allowances the state offered on Dec. 4 sold for $40.26 each. That’s about 35% higher than the $29.88 sale price in September. Allowances for 2027, sold […]
Why home and auto insurance rates are up in 51ԹϹ
By: Bill Lucia - December 9, 2024
51ԹϹ residents have seen home and auto insurance rates climb steeply over the past couple of years. On Monday, insurance industry representatives offered state lawmakers their breakdown of what’s behind those trends. They also explained how heightened risks from wildfires and other climate-related disasters are causing insurers to rethink underwriting in some regions. In short, […]
WA Congressman Adam Smith: Democratic Party brand is ‘broken’
By: Bill Lucia - November 19, 2024
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, a 51ԹϹ Democrat, said Tuesday that his party’s brand is “broken” and that criticizing President-elect Donald Trump would not be enough to get it onto a more successful track. The harsh assessment is notable coming from Smith, who has served in Congress since 1997 and is the party’s top member on […]
Boeing layoffs will include nearly 2,200 workers in 51ԹϹ
By: Bill Lucia - November 18, 2024
Boeing’s planned job cuts will include 2,199 layoffs in 51ԹϹ, according to a notice issued Monday by the state’s Employment Security Department. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, a union that represents engineers, scientists, technical workers and pilots, said the company told them that 438 of their members received layoff notices last week. […]
Bird flu decimated tern colony in northwest 51ԹϹ
By: Bill Lucia - November 18, 2024
More than half a colony of Caspian terns on a small island near Port Townsend died last year amid an outbreak of bird flu, underscoring the harsh effects the disease can have on wildlife. Researchers say they directly counted 1,101 dead adult terns and 520 dead chicks and that at least 53-56% of the adult […]
Upthegrove ahead in 51ԹϹ lands commissioner race
By: Bill Lucia - November 5, 2024
Dave Upthegrove, a Democrat who is keen to preserve thousands of acres of state forests that could otherwise be logged, was leading the 51ԹϹ lands commissioner race over Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler. Upthegrove was ahead Tuesday night with 53% of the vote to Herrera Beutler’s 47%. Vote counting will continue in the days ahead. 51ԹϹ’s […]
Boeing machinists approve contract, strike ends
By: Bill Lucia - November 4, 2024
The Boeing factory worker strike that has stretched nearly two months, halting airplane manufacturing at plants around the Northwest, ended Monday after thousands of union members voted to approve a new contract offer from the aerospace giant. While the deal will not bring back a defined benefit pension program that many striking workers had hoped […]