WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Friday, July 25

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that would make it easier to shift homeless people into long-term institutional settings, a move that he said would restore public order. (Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post)
Trump order pushes forcible hospitalization of homeless people
President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to find ways to make it easier to forcibly hospitalize homeless people with mental illness and addiction for longer periods – an effort to fight what the administration calls “vagrancy” threatening the streets of U.S. cities. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Astrid Riecken)


Data: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via UC Berkeley; Note: Arrests were counted even if they did not lead to detainment; Multiple arrests of the same individual were counted separately; Chart: Axios Visuals
Noncriminal ICE arrests surge in Washington, Oregon and Alaska
More than half of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests last month in Washington, Oregon and Alaska involved people with no criminal charges or convictions — a sharp increase from recent norms, newly obtained data shows. Why it matters: The numbers illustrate a major shift that came soon after the Trump administration tripled ICE’s arrest quota. Continue reading at Axios. (Axios Visuals)


The Astria Toppenish Hospital In Toppenish is one of several rural Washington hospitals considered in danger of closing due to funding and Medicaid cuts in the Republicans’ new spending bill. Rep. Dan Newhouse has introduced legislation to designate the facility as a Critical Access Hospital, giving it access to financial benefits that may allow it to continue providing care. Photographed July 14, 2025. (Genna Martin/Cascade PBS)
14 rural WA hospitals deemed at risk of closure from Medicaid cuts
Like many other hospitals, Three Rivers Hospital is facing fallout from the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and its cuts to Medicaid, the federally funded insurance program. The Central Washington hospital has already seen the effects of President Trump’s policies. Continue reading at Cascade PBS. (Genna Martin)


Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Wishkah River Bridge repairs — another preservation tale
Montesano City Forest Tour showcases community benefits (Chapman, Tharinger)

Axios
Seattle’s urban core regains momentum
Seattle’s Pier 58 to reopen with major new park space
Noncriminal ICE arrests surge in Washington, Oregon and Alaska

Capital Press
Energy Department: U.S. heading toward more blackouts by 2030

Columbian
Vaccination rates continue to drop in Clark County; Public Health hopes coalition can help

Everett Herald
Lake Stevens appeals sewer district assumption ruling
Snohomish County Council pass Food and Farming Center regulations

The Inlander
Question of the Week: “Are you worried about the Trump administration’s federal funding cuts?”

News Tribune
A new 60-unit tiny home village for the homeless opens in Tacoma
Opinion: Time for the right to step up and own Trump’s ethnic cleansing immigration policies

Olympian
Opinion: Cantwell blocked an AI regulation moratorium. Big tech will be back

Puget Sound Business Journal
AI ‘crisis’ looms amid emerging divide
Federal Way Link service to start months early
Microsoft CEO addresses layoffs in memo to employees
Sustainable jet fuel startup plans giant plant in Longview

Seattle Times
Wildfire near Columbia River Gorge now WA’s largest
Trump order pushes forcible hospitalization of homeless people
WA sues to block data of food stamp recipients from Trump administration

Sol De Yakima
Estaciones de radio pública en WA se preparan para recorte ‘devastador’ de fondos federales

Spokesman Review
$1 to ride the bus: Plan calls for many STA riders to pay reduced fare
RFK Jr. contradicts Trump, talks salmon preservation at Nez Perce Tribe Hatchery
West Valley School Board split on transgender sports participation amid federal Title IX investigation

Tri-City Herald
Washington wildfire fighting efforts ‘finally’ get $20 million after delays

WA State Standard
WA sues contractor to prevent sharing of food stamp data with feds
Trump framework for compensating college athletes limits some payments
Late campaign finance reports and haircuts earn Washington lawmaker an $11K fine (Scott)
The Forest Service claims it’s fully staffed for fire season. Data shows thousands of unfilled jobs


Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Faith communities rally for immigrant rights at Seattle courthouse
Innovative tech lending library transforms farming in Snohomish County
Sound Transit updates rail expansion timelines, OKs new security cameras
Gun maker sues to block Washington’s police academy ban on Sig Sauer P320s
‘It saved my life’: Detox services expanded in Tacoma to help combat opioid crisis

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle’s revitalized Pier 58 opening on Friday
Two types of ivy now banned to sell in Washington
Brace for another round of highway closures in Western Washington
20 years ago today: King County renamed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

KUOW Public Radio
Bellingham family moves forward after hate crime sentencing
King County Prosecutor pauses youth felony diversion, citing high reoffending rates
Small town on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula shows its pride following school trans ban


Web

Cascade PBS
14 rural WA hospitals deemed at risk of closure from Medicaid cuts

The Stranger
New State Legislation Kills Pay Transparency

The Urbanist
Seattle’s Pier 58 Reopens as Final Piece of Waterfront Park Puzzle

West Seattle Blog
HEALTH ALERT: Shellfish toxin detected on West Seattle shores too
TRAFFIC, ROAD WORK, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Friday + weekend info