Democrats in WA Legislature say they want to avoid ‘chaos machine’ in D.C.
With a large budget gap to solve and major bills on topics like housing and education to shepherd, Democratic leaders in Washington’s Legislature say they are trying to avoid getting too caught up with President Donald Trump’s actions during his early days in office. “We have our own job to do,” Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said Tuesday. “We’re, I think, not going to allow ourselves to be distracted by the chaos machine in Washington, D.C. We’re going to stay focused on meeting the needs of folks in Washington.” Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Ryan Berry)
Gun-safety advocates push for new, ‘common-sense’ restrictions in the WA Legislature
Proponents say such measures would make communities in Washington safer and they defend the bills’ constitutionality. But critics argue that the legislation infringes on the freedoms of law-abiding citizens. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Simone Carter)
Former inmates urge state oversight of Washington jails amid abuse claims, safety concerns
Lawmakers in Olympia on Tuesday considered a proposal to bring back statewide jail oversight. In a Senate Human Services Committee hearing on Jan. 21, former inmates and the family members of inmates who either suffered or died behind bars urged lawmakers to hold jails accountable in a way Washington state hasn’t seen for over 40 years. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)
Axios
Washington sues to block Trump’s birthright citizenship order
Trump rolls back bedrock civil rights measure in sweeping anti-DEI push
Bellevue Reporter
Washington AG sues over Trump’s birthright citizenship order
Bellingham Herald
Trump starts presidency with 3 executive orders affecting travel
WA leads multi-state lawsuit against Trump’s exec order ending birthright citizenship
Washington is the first place in the world to remove and ban this fish farming practice
Is TikTok here to stay after ban put on pause? Amid lawsuit, here’s what WA needs to know
Clearing begins at Bellingham’s Bakerview encampment with excavators, hand crews on scene
Capital Press
Trump energy policy clashes with West Coast
Columbian
Clearing the pathway out of poverty: Southwest Washington activists lobby in Olympia
Everett Herald
At least two Snohomish County residents exposed to measles
Jan. 6 rioters with Snohomish County ties included in Trump pardons
Everett small business owner struggles with health insurance rate hike
Letter: Columnist correct on state tax priorities
Kitsap Sun
How does Trump’s return to in-person work order affect NBK staff? What we know so far
News Tribune
As Trump tries to end birthright citizenship, what do Americans think? What poll found
Pierce County men charged in Capitol attack faced a verdict. Then Trump’s pardon came
Pierce County Council starts new year with Democrat majority. Meet the two new members
Organization working to house asylum seekers and refugees is looking to call Tacoma home
Opinion: Lawmakers propose huge tax increase for single-payer health care in Washington state
Northwest Asian Weekly
Seattle marches to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., against Project 2025
Olympian
WA leads multi-state lawsuit against Trump’s exec order ending birthright citizenship
Bill to cap WA rent increases passes first House hurdle (Richards, Pedersen, Alvarado, Peterson)
Gun-safety advocates push for new, ‘common-sense’ restrictions in the WA Legislature (Doglio, Taylor)
Port Townsend Leader
With new bills, Washington farmers seek agritourism law reforms
Puget Sound Business Journal
What Trump’s early executive orders mean for small businesses
President Trump fires new salvo in remote work, return-to-office fight
Federal government real estate portfolio could be a target of Trump cost-cutting efforts
Seattle Times
2025 James Beard Award semifinalists include 16 WA restaurants
What Trump’s climate policy rollbacks may mean for WA (Fitzgibbon)
Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County receives update on state legislative session (Lekanoff)
Spokesman Review
WA doulas now eligible for highest Medicaid reimbursement in U.S.
Bill to establish $100 million grant for law enforcement heart in committee (Dhingra)
After Trump pardons Jan. 6 rioters, some of his Northwest supporters disagree
Washington AG Nick Brown files lawsuit challenging Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship (Jinkins, Pedersen)
Hundreds of refugees set to resettle in Spokane could be stopped by day-one executive orders from Trump administration
Opinion: Big Tobacco cannot keep harming our students
Tri-City Herald
‘Highly dedicated’ Tri-Cities teacher wins $10,000 national STEM educator award
Washington Post
Federal DEI workers to be put on leave; layoffs to follow
Federal judge revives legal effort to limit access to abortion pill
Health agencies instructed to pause all external communications
Justice Dept. says it will prosecute local officials over deportations
WA State Standard
Trump orders withdrawal from Paris climate agreement, erases actions on LGBTQ+ equality
Democrats in WA Legislature say they want to avoid ‘chaos machine’ in D.C. (Pedersen, Jinkins, Mena, Fitzgibbon)
Replacements picked for two WA legislators who took jobs in Ferguson’s administration (Alvarado, Thomas, Zahn)
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Proposed bill would give unemployment benefits to workers who go on strike
Washington AG suing Trump Administration over end of birthright citizenship
Public hearings heat up in Washington over controversial gun control measures (Pedersen)
Former inmates urge state oversight of Washington jails amid abuse claims, safety concerns (Saldaña)
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Department of Homeland Security announces ICE arrest policy reversal
AG Brown announces lawsuit challenging President Trump Executive Order
WA lawmakers propose new stricter gun bills aimed to reduce gun violence
KUOW Public Radio
Credit card convenience comes at a price. This Olympia bill aims to change that (Saldaña)
WA justices look at “historical tradition” for high capacity magazines in Gator Guns case
Project 2025 and Hanford: What Trump’s second term could mean for WA’s toxic sludge
This time, it’s gubernatorial: Gov. Ferguson on how Washington will face another Trump administration
KXLY (ABC)
Lawmakers consider police hiring grant program
WA lawsuit challenges President Trump’s power to change birthright citizenship
Man accused of making past threats to Spokane officials accused of threatening corrections chief while in jail
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Indigenous communities reclaim 41 remains, hundreds of artifacts from WWU
Cascade PBS
WA Lands Commissioner pauses timber harvest from mature forests
Washington AG challenges Trump’s order on birthright citizenship
The Stranger
In Trump’s America, Washington Demands Bold Action, Not Timidity
The Urbanist
Washington Legislature Sets it Sights on Transit-Oriented Development…Again (Reed, Liias, Trudeau, Salomon)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Wednesday watch
FOLLOWUP: County Council appoints Emily Alvarado as State Senator, Brianna Thomas as State House Representative for 34th District (Alvarado, Thomas, Fitzgibbon)