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Costs remain high for WA affordable housing projects
Many affordable housing projects in 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø are funded in part by the state’s Housing Trust Fund. A new report from the Department of Commerce looked at the cost of building more than 1,200 new affordable units with money from the fund last year. It shows project costs dipped but remained up overall statewide. Many affordable […]
First bills drop ahead of WA’s 2025 legislative session
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø lawmakers have begun teeing up legislation ahead of the 2025 session. Monday marked the first day they could pre-file bills. Legislators will have 105 days to push their ideas through the process after the session kicks off on Jan. 13. There’s no guarantee a pre-filed bill will receive a hearing, the first step on […]
Fees that pay for WA homelessness programs running short
State funds that pay for homelessness services in 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø are running low, and the Legislature may need to find extra money to avoid program cuts. The Department of Commerce anticipates a nearly $403 million shortfall in fee revenue that goes toward programs like emergency shelter grants, temporary rent assistance and support for homeless youth. This […]
A WA state Senate race heads to recount as counties certify results
Democrat Adrian Cortes narrowly defeated Republican Brad Benton on Tuesday in a closely-watched election for an open seat in the 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø state Senate. But with only a 172-vote margin in results certified by Clark County, a machine recount will be required to confirm the outcome. “I’m extraordinarily confident that we have secured a victory in […]
Inslee unveils plan for new juvenile detention center on grounds of Aberdeen prison
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø will open a new juvenile detention center on the campus of a prison in Aberdeen, an attempt to ease overcrowding at two existing state facilities for young people convicted of crimes. Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday said that the facility will be adjacent to Stafford Creek Corrections Center. It will house 48 young men […]
Care providers for developmentally disabled people ask Legislature for more pay
Providers of supported living services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are asking the Legislature for more funding to increase wages in an increasingly difficult-to-staff field. People with disabilities can sometimes require intensive 24/7 care to help them live as independently as possible. Those who meet certain eligibility guidelines can qualify for in-home or […]
WA agency seeks funding for new juvenile detention center as overcrowding persists
With overcrowding at 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s two juvenile detention centers, the Department of Children, Youth and Families is asking state lawmakers for money to open a new facility. The department wants to add a smaller, minimum and medium security site to help alleviate pressure on the other two centers, which had to pause admissions earlier this year […]
Three WA Senate Democrats are leaving their jobs. Here’s what happens next
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s Senate Democratic caucus will soon have three openings. Sens. Karen Keiser, Patty Kuderer and Emily Randall are all planning to leave the state Senate in the weeks ahead, opening the door for three appointments ahead of the January session. Keiser announced earlier this year that she would be retiring. Kuderer and Randall were both elected […]
WA Senate Democrats choose new committee chairs ahead of 2025 session
A half-dozen state Senate committees will have new chairpersons heading into the 2025 session, with Democrats releasing the lineup on Thursday. The caucus also outlined who will hold other leadership positions and unveiled a change to the structure of the budget-writing Ways & Means Committee. Democrats will likely have eight new Senate members come January […]
Same-day voter registrations hit new high mark in 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø
Long lines on Election Day aren’t common in 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø with the state’s vote-by-mail system. But this year, some counties were inundated with people taking advantage of a relatively new same-day registration system. Pierce County, for example, had hundreds of voters in line throughout Election Day. Traffic remained heavy all day at the county elections office […]
Race for WA Supreme Court seat still close as final votes are tallied
The trailing candidate for an open 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø state Supreme Court seat is urging voters to check that their ballots have been accepted as he looks to close the gap in a race that remains tight more than a week after Election Day. As of Friday morning, Sal Mungia, a trial lawyer, was leading Dave Larson, […]
WA agency failed to catch doubled-up benefit payments
Inadequate tracking by the Employment Security Department led to 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø workers receiving both unemployment insurance and Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits at the same time, a new state audit found. Under state law, no one is allowed to receive unemployment insurance and family leave benefits within the same week. But findings from the State […]