WA eyes pay-by-mile system as gas tax revenue declines
After more than a decade of tabletop exercises, pilot programs and studies, the legislature is finally going to take up the Road Usage Charge (RUC). The plan to have us pay-by-mile will have its first hearing on Thursday. The gas tax just doesn’t cut it anymore. I have been reporting on this idea for more than a decade. Fuel-efficient cars get better gas mileage and pay less gas tax. Electric vehicles don’t use gas, and their owners don’t pay gas taxes for the upkeep of roads. We know the legislature fails to fund the maintenance and preservation of roads by a billion dollars a year. Continue reading at KIRO. (Steve Johnson)
House Democrats begin push to repeal Washington’s cap on property tax hikes
Democratic state lawmakers are aiming to erase a voter-approved limit on annual property tax hikes as a way to generate hundreds of millions of dollars for public schools and local governments. The state House Finance Committee held a hearing Tuesday on House Bill 1334 which would repeal a 1% cap on annual growth for property tax collections and give the state and local governments the ability to levy hikes up to 3%. This could drive $818 million into state coffers for education and close to $1 billion for cities and counties over the next four fiscal years, according to a fiscal analysis. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Phil Augustavo)
Vashon leaders take the ferry cause to Olympia
Advocates from Vashon as well as the counties of San Juan, Island, and Kitsap met with more than 15 representatives and senators to advocate for three core priorities: build new boats to restore the WSF fleet as quickly as possible, allocate funds for continued crew retention and recruitment, and support policies to increase transparency and accountability at WSF. These “Fix Our Ferries” priorities are now co-signed by twenty-nine regional entities, representing local agencies, governments, organizations, healthcare advocates, chambers of commerce, and elected officials from communities across the Sound affected by ongoing WSF service disruptions. Continue reading at The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber. (Beachcomber)
Aberdeen Daily World
Bird flu found at farm north of Tri-Cities
Axios
U.S. air traffic controller shortage affects Washington state
DOGE plans for NOAA, FEMA could have big climate impacts
Bellingham Herald
WA bill would limit police officers’ ability to make certain traffic stops. Here’s why (Street)
WA, 21 other states sue Trump administration for defunding medical, public health research
Trump signed executive order against paper straws. Does that mean they’ll be banned in WA?
Columbian
Voters approve Vancouver, Evergreen, Ridgefield levies; Battle Ground trailing while Hockinson fails
Everett Herald
Edmonds community discusses annexation into the regional fire authority
Lake Stevens schools bond leading early; Arlington voters reject latest levy attempt
Column: Welch: State Democrats’ bill would undermine parental rights (Pedersen)
Editorial: Boost state Medicaid funding for long-term care
Kitsap Sun
Shipyard employee resource groups end after Trump’s order on DEI programs
News Tribune
‘Trigger happy’ deputy killed off-duty cop chasing suspect in Washington, lawsuit says
Opinion: Investing in child care would be a win for Washington’s economy and working families
New York Times
Who Pays for Tariffs
Trump’s W.H.O. Exit Throws Smallpox Defenses Into Upheaval
Republicans Love Trump’s Spending Cuts. Just Not in Their States.
Opinion: Trump’s War on D.E.I. Is Really a War on Civil Rights
Editorial: Trump’s Shameful Campaign Against Transgender Americans
Northwest Asian Weekly
Local and national advocates look to put ICE raids on ice
Olympian
Mason County has its first case of bird flu, WA state Department of Agriculture announces
WA Democrats back bill to raise revenue. But critics say folks ‘not in the mood’ for more taxes (Pollet, Fitzgibbon, Pedersen)
Opinion: Investing in child care would be a win for Washington’s economy and working families
Peninsula Daily News
State funding challenges dominate legislative conversations (Fey)
Port Townsend Leader
City cracks down on press access after salary story
Port executive expects big boost in jobs with shipyard expansion
Puget Sound Business Journal
States tighten grip on noncompete agreements
Skagit Valley Herald
La Conner voters passing school levy
South Whidbey Record
Ferry study shows economic impact on Whidbey
Spokesman Review
Washington moves forward with state-funded EV infrastructure after federal pause
‘What is the American dream?’: Kootenai County Jail’s border holds jump 450% after Trump inauguration
Spokane County facing unfair labor practice complaints following decision to expand agreement with company providing care to detainees
Opinion: Washington’s tax system for alcohol needs an update
Tri-City Herald
What happened to plans to build the 1st tribal casino in Tri-Cities?
Election results: 3 Tri-Cities area school levies failing by wide margins in 1st counts
Richland voters take resounding stand on $81M Mid-Columbia Performing Arts Center
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Vashon leaders take the ferry cause to Olympia (Alvarado, Thomas, Nance, Liias)
Washington Post
U.S.-China trade war hits small and midsize businesses especially hard
California’s insurer of last resort runs out of money to pay L.A. fire claims
Inflation heated up more than expected in January, driven by grocery and housing prices
WA State Standard
House Democrats begin push to repeal Washington’s cap on property tax hikes (Pollet, Pedersen, Berg, Ortiz-Self)
$156M solar power grant reopened for Washington amid federal funding turmoil
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
New bills could make school bond approval easier in Washington state (Stonier)
US inflation worsened last month with cost of groceries and gasoline rising
Seattle council approves limited use of blast balls, tear gas for crowd control
Advocates clash over Keeping Families Together Act as child deaths, near deaths rise
Former federal workers in Washington describe ‘chaos’ at their workplaces after Trump, Musk takeover
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
House Bill 1334 would raise property tax cap, effectively nullifying 2001 voter initiative (Pollet)
Seattle City Council approves new police crowd control rules with oversight, accountability
KNKX Public Radio
How a $22M judgment against Cle Elum pushed the city to bankruptcy
KXLY (ABC)
Voters pass $53 million levy for Moses Lake School District
Lawmakers propose pay-by-mile charge for Washington drivers (Fey)
Spokane foster parents rally against bill they say puts children in danger
Rosalia Swimming Pool faces closure without additional tax support from voters
Washington State University warns of potential cuts, hiring freeze with federal funding in question
WA legislature considers bill that could override Spokane’s ordinance that makes camping in public illegal
Web
Cascadia Daily News
WWU pays $18K penalty for hazardous waste violations
Special election results: La Conner schools levy poised to pass
MyNorthwest
WA eyes pay-by-mile system as gas tax revenue declines (Fey)
Democratic proposal would raise state minimum wage to $25/hour by 2032
WA Democrats debating ‘tax the rich’ property plan as alternative to cap increase (Pedersen, Fitzgibbon)
Legislation to lower school bond approval threshold stalls on eve of important elections (Wellman)
Reducing traffic stops: Bill proposes warnings by mail, targeted enforcement for safer roads (Street)
Democratic state lawmakers push back against Trump’s deportation policies with new clemency bill (Hasegawa)
Pluribus
Legislators eye car tech to slow down habitual speeders (Leavitt)
The Stranger
Right Now, and What You Can’t
UW Student Activists Fear Repression Under Trump’s New Executive Order
UPDATED: Trump’s Federal Government is Blocking Gender Marker Changes Here’s What You Can Change
The Urbanist
Mercer Island’s Growth Plan Doesn’t Meet State Standards, Appeal Alleges
Washington Observer
Does Washington’s flag…stink? (Peterson)