Progressive group’s study debunks myth that ‘wealth tax’ drives rich residents out of WA
A progressive think tank is dismissing the claim that if a wealth tax is established in budget plans aimed at closing a $16 billion shortfall, the wealthiest Washingtonians would leave the state in droves. They say that’s just not true. A study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) found that the “millionaire class” grew by 38.6% in Massachusetts despite a wealth take and 46.9% in Washington despite a capital gains tax. Their wealth grew by more than $580 billion in current dollars in Massachusetts and $748 billion in Washington state between 2022 and 2024. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Anna Moneymaker)
Starter homes in Seattle suburbs hit $1M mark
First-time homebuyers in the Seattle area are facing staggering prices, even for so-called starter homes, which now top $1 million in eight local cities, per new Zillow data. Why it matters: Would-be buyers in some of the region’s most exclusive suburbs are confronting entry-level prices five to 10 times higher than the typical national starter home cost of about $193,000, a stark reminder of the region’s persistent affordability crisis. Continue reading at Axios. (Brendan Lynch)
The winners at the 2025 Legislature
We offer this selection of victors from this year’s session with the caveat that we know very little about Gov. Bob Ferguson’s enthusiasm for the veto pen, so some of this stuff might take a big hit at the goal line. Continue reading at Washington Observer. (Tim Gruver)
Aberdeen Daily World
County Commissioners complete strategic planning Phase II
Axios
Starter homes in Seattle suburbs hit $1M mark
Seattle air pollution ranks among worst in U.S., report finds
Bellingham Herald
Controversial EV tax credits will be bad news for Tesla (Macri, Fitzgibbon)
WA Legislature passes bevy of housing bills: ‘A good step forward’ (Bateman)
Health benefits, wages remain front of mind for picketing PeaceHealth nurses
Columbian
Students, parents, teachers ask Camas schools to save music programs from cuts
Battle Ground schools: ‘No matter how much we don’t want this to happen, cuts are going to happen’
Everett Herald
Snohomish County salmon recovery projects receive $1.9M in state funding
Five tax bills lawmakers passed to underpin Washington’s next state budget
Kitsap Sun
Children’s care to expand in Kitsap after new hospital partnership
News Tribune
Calls for accountability, transparency as Pierce County amends homelessness plan
New York Times
Trump’s Cuts to Science Funding Could Hurt U.S. Economy, Study Shows
Live Updates: Supreme Court Appears Open to Approving Religious Charter Schools
Northwest Asian Weekly
Kim to serve as Tacoma’s interim city manager
Olympian
WA Legislature passes bevy of housing bills: ‘A good step forward’ (Bateman)
Washington becomes twelfth state to restrict circus animal use. Here’s why (Liias)
Opportunity, not tragedy: Stronger labor protections for WA youth now law (Fosse)
Puget Sound Business Journal
Police hiring surges in Seattle
Women’s pro hockey league expands to Seattle
Amazon denies it planned to display tariff costs
Seattle Times
Seattle proposing new alternative court path for drug offenses
5 takeaways from the final budget approved by the WA Legislature
With symbolic vote, WA Democrats say wealth-tax fight is not over
Deputies defy Franklin County sheriff’s order to take guns from jail
U.S. economy shrinks 0.3% in first quarter as Trump trade wars disrupt businesses
Spokesman Review
Spokane County Commission approves $31,000 sheriff salary raise
WSU does not join other universities in letter condemning funding threats
Opinion: Why expanding doula care is vital for healthier Washington communities
Opinion: Congress should protect public broadcasting – and the communities it serves
Tri-City Herald
Jail commander says Franklin sheriff blocked entry to jail, got physical with him
Washington Post
Supreme Court seems open to allowing religious public schools
U.S. economy shrank in first quarter of 2025, as tariffs sapped growth
How ‘Make America Healthy Again’ mission has upended public health in Trump’s first 100 days
WA State Standard
Thousands of Washington state workers lose out on wage hikes (Stanford)
State lawmakers launch group to spur ‘guaranteed income’ cash to residents (Jinkins, Nobles)
Thousands of Washington and Oregon children at risk if Head Start ends, lawsuit alleges
Yakima Herald-Republic
Rep. Dufault talks about ban from House floor over parental rights changes (Simmons)
Yakima-Tieton canal, Selah wastewater plant among projects in state’s capital budget
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Report: Gun violence decreasing in King County
Washington women’s prison closure won’t mean job losses, DOC says
REAL ID deadline is 1 week out. What Washington residents should know
Gov. Bob Ferguson has signed 10 bills into law so far this week. Here’s what they do
Financial aid will be reduced for some WA college students, funding will go down for state colleges (Robinson)
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Coyote Ridge inmate dies following cell assault
KIRO 7 Investigates: Why your car insurance rates are rising
What’s behind King County’s significant drop in gun violence
After years of struggling, City of Seattle celebrates rise in police applications
Standoff between Franklin County sheriff, commissioners escalates over control of county jail
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
1,100 Seattle buildings in need of retrofit to withstand earthquake forces
AmericCorps cuts prompts two dozen states to sue Trump administration
Seattle’s police chief and mayor optimistic about rebuilding force by next year
Pierce County Council limits local resources for federal immigration surveillance programs
KUOW Public Radio
The plan to boost Black homeownership
WA2025 legislative session: New governor, new budget, new laws
Program to support Black homeowners offers hope, but is it enough to help them buy a house in Seattle? (Taylor)
Washington ACLU sues Trump administration over attempts to dismantle free Head Start preschool program
KREM (CBS)
Eastern Washington lawmakers secure state funding for community projects (Hill, Ormsby, Riccelli)
KXLY (ABC)
Washington childcare workers worried about losing crucial behavioral health support for kids
Central Valley School Board drafts letters requesting investigation into state and WIAA transgender athlete policy
Web
Cascadia Daily News
PeaceHealth nurses picket, set to negotiate with hospital again
Cascade PBS
New Washington energy chair’s industry ties raise ethics questions (Shewmake)
Spokane’s Spokesman-Review newspaper pivots to a nonprofit model
MyNorthwest
Trump Admin. compiling list of sanctuary states, cities
Washington AG fights Trump’s dismantling of AmeriCorps
Washington legislature passes EV credit tax targeting Tesla (Fitzgibbon)
Study debunks myth that wealth tax drives the rich out of WA
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library loses funding in Washington
The Urbanist
Final State Budget Puts Highway Expansion Ahead of Basic Maintenance (Liias)
Washington Observer
The winners at the 2025 Legislature (Fosse)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Last day of April
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Feds issue ‘record of decision’ for project