Big roles in Washington state for two Native leaders
Casey Sixkiller and Chris Stearns will in January become the two highest-ranking Native Americans in Washington state government. Stearns, Navajo, who’s represented the 47th District in the state House of Representatives since December 2022, was nominated by House Democrats to be speaker pro tem, pending a confirmation vote by the House. He will be the second Native American to serve as speaker pro tem; Jeff Morris, Tsimshian, served as speaker pro tem from 2008-11. Continue reading at Indian Country Today. (Washington House Democrats)
Ferguson taps Mercer Island representative to lead children’s services agency
State Rep. Tana Senn will be the new head of the Department of Children, Youth and Families. Senn, a Democrat from Mercer Island, has served in the state Legislature since 2013. Her work has focused on improving education and increasing access to child care and youth mental health services. She helped craft the Fair Start for Kids Act, which passed in 2021 and made record investments into child care and early learning. In the Legislature, Senn has also worked on laws to close gender wage gaps and require zero-emissions school buses in districts across the state. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Legislative Support Services)
With RFK nomination, Washington state health leaders brace for local impacts
President-elect Donald Trump has named Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, a choice that worries some Washington state leaders, largely because of his position on vaccines. They anticipate funding cuts and increased vaccine skepticism under the next administration, and want to ensure local vaccination programs are safeguarded from a political shift. Public health officials are also worried about funding — Kennedy could cut funding for research into new vaccines, or reduce the federal budget for vaccine purchases and distribution. Continue reading at KUOW. (Meg Kinnard)
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Everett Herald
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Indian Country Today
Big roles in Washington state for two Native leaders (Stearns)
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The Inlander
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Olympian
Gov.-elect Ferguson names Tana Senn director of Department of Children, Youth and Families (Senn)
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Spokesman Review
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WA State Standard
Ferguson taps Mercer Island representative to lead children’s services agency (Senn)
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Broadcast
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The Urbanist
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Washington Observer
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Senn to head the Department of Child, Youth, and Family Services (Senn)