Gov. Inslee unveils plan to add a juvenile facility amid ‘avalanche’ of new offenders
Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday announced plans to open another juvenile rehabilitation facility in Washington — a proposal that he cast as necessary amid an “avalanche” of new offenders. Inslee shared the proposal during a news conference at the Green Hill School in Chehalis. Since last year, Green Hill has experienced a 60% spike in its youth population. The outgoing governor joined leaders from the Department of Children, Youth and Families in discussing the proposal that they’ll send to lawmakers early next year. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Steve Bloom)
Cities cut red tape to turn unused office buildings into housing
Nearly a fifth of office space across the country sits empty, a record high vacancy rate that’s expected to keep growing. Seeking both to boost their economies and ease their housing shortages, cities are taking steps to encourage the conversion of unused office space into much-needed housing. They include reductions in approval times, exemptions from affordable housing rules and changes in building code requirements. Some cities and states also are providing tax incentives or subsidies to developers. Regulatory hurdles — such as outdated building codes, minimum unit sizes and natural light requirements — push up costs. Cities are trying a variety of ways to overcome these obstacles. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Justin Sullivan)
The Washington state Legislature is more diverse than ever
Washington’s Legislature, like that of other states, has been growing more diverse in terms of age, gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. In 2020, the state for the first time had five Black women serving in the House simultaneously. Washington’s Democratic legislators have caucuses for members of color, LGBTQ+, and Black and Latino lawmakers. The Members of Color Caucus has grown over the years, with 26 members for the 2023-24 year. In the Senate, there were 10 people in the Members of Color Caucus for the same year. Republicans do not have similar groups for their members, though there are several Republican legislators of color, including Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, and state Reps. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, and the newly elected Gloria Mendoza of Grandview. Continue reading at Crosscut. (M. Scott Brauer)
Axios
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MyNorthwest
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