Bill offering wildfire survivors relief from taxes and fees passes Congress
After more than five years of waiting in some cases, wildfire survivors across the West will be relieved of paying federal income taxes on their recovery settlements and lawyers fees. The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 passed the Senate on Wednesday night, about six months after it was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives nearly unanimously. The bill, which is likely to be signed by President Joe Biden, would exempt people who have survived a wildfire between 2016 and 2026 from paying federal income taxes on disaster recovery settlements and fees paid to lawyers that were received or paid between 2020 and 2026. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Chris Majors)
King County seeks help from State legislature After Approving 2025 Budget
Days after finalizing a 2025 budget, King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Council met with state lawmakers this week, advocating for legislative fixes to some of the county’s most structural financial issues. Monday’s annual meeting with King County’s legislative delegation, lawmakers from 17 districts from Woodinville to Federal Way, was a formal opportunity to present the County’s legislative priorities for the 2025 session, which starts January 13. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Ryan Packer)
Area school districts discuss legislative priorities
The superintendents and many school board representatives from area school districts met Thursday afternoon to speak about their legislative priorities for the coming session. They were joined by state Reps. Carolyn Eslick, Sam Low and Clyde Shavers, and Sens. Liz Lovelett and Keith Wagoner. Mount Vernon School Board President Larry Otos said several years ago the districts decided to form a group with the area superintendents and board presidents to better relay the collective needs of the districts to elected officials. Continue reading at The Skagit Valley Herald.
Aberdeen Daily World
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Axios
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Capital Press
Northwest family foresters feel drought effect in 2025
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Everett Herald
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International Examiner
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U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland elected secretary of Congressional Black Caucus
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Skagit Valley Herald
Area school districts discuss legislative priorities (Lovelett, Shavers)
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Bill offering wildfire survivors relief from taxes and fees passes Congress
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Broadcast
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Muslims in Washington likely to have experienced discrimination
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KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
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Social Security benefits to increase for millions of recipients in 2025
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KUOW Public Radio
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NW Public Radio
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Group representing retired Clarkston ophthalmologist asks US Supreme Court for injunctive relief
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Lummi Nation receives nearly $5M for salmon habitat projects
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Crosscut
Strickland takes Congressional Black Caucus leadership role
The Urbanist
King County seeks help from State Legislature after approving 2025 budget (Pedersen)
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