WA bill would offer unemployment benefits to immigrants not authorized to work in U.S.
State lawmakers have limited power over federal immigration enforcement. But in Washington’s upcoming legislative session, legislators will be looking at a bill to strengthen the safety net for immigrants working in the state without legal authorization. Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, is re-introducing a bill this session to help these workers access unemployment insurance. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Legislative Support Services)
Washington Legislature to again consider free school lunches for all students, could this be the year?
Governor-elect Bob Ferguson intends to trim $4.4 billion from the state budget, but listed universal free lunches for Washington schoolchildren in his budget priorities announced Thursday. He spent part of his day Friday visiting Whitman Elementary in Spokane emphasizing his commitment to free lunches. The push for universal free lunches in Washington started after the federal government instituted the practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading at Spokesman-Review. (Tyler Tjomsland)
Rent increases in WA could get capped at 7% under latest push by Democratic lawmakers
Housing affordability is a big concern among Washingtonians who feel crushed under the weight of inflation and skyrocketing rents. It’s why Democratic lawmakers this session are again trying to limit annual rent hikes to no more than 7%. State Sen. Yasmin Trudeau of Tacoma and state Rep. Emily Alvarado of Seattle are sponsoring legislation that would do just that. A similar push failed last session, but the lawmakers hope that 2025 will be their year. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Cameron Sheppard)
Axios
5 bills we’re watching in Washington’s Legislature this year
Budget battle to dominate new Washington legislative session (Jinkins, Pedersen)
Bellingham Herald
Cantwell, Murray say they’ll push for amendments to improve policies of Laken Riley Act
CA fires brought reports of insurers canceling home, fire coverage. Can that happen in WA?
Bellingham City Council poised to waive parking-space minimums for new housing projects
Rent increases in WA could get capped at 7% under latest push by Democratic lawmakers (Trudeau, Alvarado, Jinkins, Pedersen)
Capital Press
Inslee OKs solar project opposed by county
Lawsuit: Flood insurance rules subvert Oregon farmland protections
Cap-and-trade’s triumph emboldens Washington Democrats (Pedersen)
Everett Herald
Critics question proposed amendments to habitat ordinance
SMART investigators examine police use of force at Marysville Costco.
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence
Comment: King’s call to fulfill dream still ours to heed
Comment: Disaster relief no place for political football
Comment: Investors will sit at end of line for Boeing’s rebound
Comment: The struggle over the Department of Everything Else
Editorial: State, local leaders chew on budget, policy needs (Berg, Kloba)
Federal Way Mirror
Washington lawmakers begin push to ban flavored vapes (Reeves, Nobles)
Journal of the San Juan Islands
New report: Washington met 2020 greenhouse gas emissions limit
Kent Reporter
Kent city leaders to pursue state streamlined sales tax mitigation funds
News Tribune
5 key debates shaping homelessness funding in Pierce County
Popular pre-K class with a waitlist gets Pierce Co. kids outside. Its funding is at risk
Why 3 Pierce County drug-treatment facilities will be on probation for at least a decade
New executive ousts Pierce County’s director of homeless services. Interim chief named
Young people are key part of strategy to tackle homelessness in 2025, Pierce County says
Rent increases in WA could get capped at 7% under latest push by Democratic lawmakers (Trudeau, Alvarado, Jinkins, Pedersen)
New York Times
OpenAI Courts Trump With Vision for ‘A.I. in America’
How Lagging Vaccination Could Lead to a Polio Resurgence
Biden Administration Adopts Rules to Guide A.I.’s Global Spread
What if ICE Agents Show Up? Schools Prepare Teachers and Parents.
How Unauthorized Immigrants Help Finance Social Security Benefits
Dementia Cases in the U.S. Will Surge in the Coming Decades, Researchers Say
Group of Experts Says R.F.K. Jr. Would ‘Significantly Undermine’ Public Health
Olympian
What are local leaders doing to address housing affordability? Public invited to solutions forum (Bateman)
Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon joins other companies in cutting back diversity programs
Seattle Medium
Seattle In 2025: A Glimpse Into The City’s Future
Washington’s New Law Addresses Negligent Driving Incidents Involving Vulnerable Road Users
Seattle Times
WA parents launch a ‘Billion Dollar Bake Sale’ for K-12 funding
WA is a hotbed for carbon capture research. What is it anyway?
Jay Inslee’s wins and setbacks during his 12 years as WA governor
WA’s new police accountability office is up and running — partially
WA lawmakers to consider rent hike caps, housing density (Macri, Bateman, Walen)
WA Legislature considers climate, environmental bills this session (Fitzgibbon, Doglio, Berry, Mena)
Editorial: WA’s troubled local jails need independent oversight (Saldaña)
Opinion: Setting the record straight on WA clean truck rules
Spokesman Review
Extension of protected status could help thousands of Ukrainian refugees stay in Spokane
After Biden banned Russian uranium, Richland hopes to land $3B nuclear fuel plant with 1,000 jobs
Washington Legislature to again consider free school lunches for all students, could this be the year? (Riccelli)
No amount of drinking is without risk of cancer, surgeon general finds. What does that mean for Spokane?
Washington lawmakers focus on money woes as they consider cuts – and maybe taxes – to balance budget (Ormsby, Riccelli)
Cantwell and Murray say they’ll push for amendments as Senate gears up to debate deportation policy in Laken Riley Act
Opinion: How to keep up with the Legislature as it faces changes, red ink and drama
Tri-City Herald
Hanford nuclear site contractor dinged $10.2M for claims of some ‘excessively’ idle workers
Will Washington state finally make Daylight Saving Time permanent in 2025? What we know
Lawmakers focus on money woes as they consider cuts — and taxes — to balance WA budget (Ormsby, Riccelli)
Washington Post
China’s exports jump to record high in rush to beat Trump tariffs
Wall Street firms are ditching climate coalitions. Do they matter?
Billed as nonaddictive, new pain pill could soon win FDA approval
WA State Standard
Six lawmakers to watch in Washington’s 2025 session (Pedersen, Frame, Alvarado)
2025 Washington state legislative session begins today
Minimum wages are increasing in nearly half the states this year
Washington lawmakers revive plan for state cap on rent increases (Alvarado, Trudeau, Pedersen)
Everything you need to know about Washington’s 2025 legislative session
Democratic legislative staff in Washington approve first-ever labor contract
WA bill would offer unemployment benefits to immigrants not authorized to work in U.S. (Saldaña)
Native Americans still searched at far higher rates by Washington State Patrol, new data shows
Wenatchee World
Certain NCW retirees could see thousands in back pay, benefits
Wenatchee native becomes one of WA’s youngest police officers
Overdose deaths climb in Chelan County: Local experts discuss fentanyl
NCW firefighters head to California to help battle devastating Los Angeles wildfires
Yakima Herald-Republic
Path to mental health help isn’t always easy for first responders, but Yakima area officials trying to do more
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Shuttle buses replace light rail in Seattle this weekend for expansion work
Seattle neighborhood shaken after gunfire riddles home, car in school zone
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Centralia officer fatally shoots man during domestic dispute call
Memorial for slain Metro bus driver highlights need for safety improvements
Mercer Island detectives identify suspects involved in hate crime at middle school
Western Washington teachers ask lawmakers for changes to improve classroom safety
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
New legislative session to begin with $12 billion budget shortfall
Washington officials urge wildfire preparedness amid California crisis
Family, friends remember safe streets advocate killed in Burien road rage incident
Rescue flight moves 60+ animals from L.A. shelters to Seattle to help with wildfire impact
KNKX Public Radio
Progressive WA lawmakers reintroduce bill to cap rent increases (Alvarado, Macri)
Tribes, environmentalists gather forces against Amazon’s Northwest nuclear plan
Lawmakers aim to pass bill so striking workers can access unemployment benefits (Conway)
KUOW Public Radio
King County Metro drivers mourn Shawn Yim, decry violence
Hundreds of Washington firefighters sent to battle LA wildfires
‘We are at a crisis.’ Seattle Eastside schools call for increased state funding
Adams County violated Washington’s sanctuary laws by cooperating with Border Patrol, lawsuit alleges
KXLY (ABC)
WA lawmakers propose property tax freeze for seniors and disabled veterans
NW Public Radio
Fish hatchery transferred to Yakama Nation, upgrades underway
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Longer wait times, work visa impacts: What Trump policies could mean for northern border
Rep. Alex Ramel: Legislative preview: To balance budget, it’s time to talk about progressive tax reform
Crosscut
Washington’s 2025 legislative priorities: Budget, housing, police (Pedersen, Frame, Dhingra, Walen, Farivar)
Progressive WA lawmakers reintroduce bill to cap rent increases (Alvarado, Macri)
MyNorthwest
The Washington budget mystery: How big is the state’s deficit really? (Ormsby)
Inslee strengthens abortion laws as one of departing acts before leaving office
The Urbanist
Rent Stabilization Tops Washington Democrats’ Housing Agenda for 2025 Session (Alvarado, Jinkins)
Opinion: Washington State Should Allow Riders to Serve on Transit Boards (Timmons)
Washington Observer
Lawmakers aim for AI (Dhingra, Orwall, Shavers)
Ferguson offers his budget “proposal”