Washington state agency under fire for sharing drivers’ data with ICE
The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) is facing scrutiny after a KING 5 investigation revealed it has been sharing private driver’s license information with federal immigration authorities, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. Washington’s DOL agency is responsible for issuing driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)
Trump cuts could leave 250,000 Washingtonians without health coverage, shutter rural hospitals
State leaders and hospital officials say the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law earlier this month by President Donald Trump could impact the access of hundreds of thousands of Washington residents to health care, especially in rural parts of the state. “On so many levels, it’s just possibly the worst piece of legislation I’ve seen in 20 years in politics,” Gov. Bob Ferguson told KUOW’s “Soundside.” “As a state, it’s going to be a challenge for us.” Continue reading at KUOW. (AP)
AI data centers are using more power. Regular customers are footing the bill
Regular energy consumers, not corporations, will bear the brunt of the increased costs of a boom in artificial intelligence that has contributed to a growth in data centers and a surge in power usage, recent research suggests. Between 2024 and 2025, data center power usage accounted for $9 billion, or 174%, of increased power costs, a June report by Monitoring Analytics, an external market monitor for PJM Interconnection, found. PJM manages the electrical power grid and wholesale electric market for 13 states and Washington, D.C., and this spring, customers were told to expect roughly a $25 increase on their monthly electric bill starting June 1. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Dana DiFilippo)
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