Washington state lawmakers to focus in on immigration in legislative session
State Rep. Chris Stearns said members of the Members of Color Caucus are especially concerned about continued federal access to that data…“The federal government, and particularly this administration, they’re going to try to — if one door is blocked — they’re going to try to go around and find another one,” he said. Both the Department of Licensing and the Washington State Patrol, which operates the system federal agents are using, say they are not violating state law that bars agencies from assisting immigration enforcement. Stearns said those assurances are not enough. “This fear is spreading across our country and spreading here to Washington,” he said. “My sense is we have a duty to act.” Continue reading at KING 5. (KING 5)
Proposed ban on police face coverings gains momentum in WA Legislature
The bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, said he thinks “it will make our marginalized immigrant communities feel safer” and build trust between the public and police. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
2026: The Year the Washington Legislature Catches Its Breath on Housing
Legislators are expecting more space to focus on the nitty gritty. “So that’s why you don’t see a rent stabilization [bill] in this session, or, a TOD or an [HB] 1110 because, we’ve been really successful in getting this done, which is really great,” Reed added. “It also means there’s some things on the edges that you know didn’t get done because we were really focused on some of these bigger bills.” Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Ryan Packer)
Aberdeen Daily World
County could lose ability to issue vehicle and boat licenses
Sen. Chapman visits Summit Pacific to discuss rural healthcare
Axios
Seattle’s I-5 lane crunch is here — and it won’t end soon
Washington ranks among 10 healthiest states, new report finds
Bellingham Herald
WA Gov. Ferguson talks about ICE, vaccines, taxes in state of the state address (Peterson, Valdez, Jinkins)
Capital Press
Oregon, Washington, California set December heat records
The Daily News
Longview OKs $45K contract to publicize fire district ballot measures
Pregnant in jail: Practices putting women, their unborn children at risk
Everett Herald
Marysville mayor to report ‘state of the city’
Everett High students walk out to protest ICE activity
Editorial: ‘Millionaires’ tax’ can deliver fairness, revenue
The Snohomish County Council recognizes Korean American Day
The Snohomish County solid waste voucher program has been extended
Bloomberg Comment: Keeping silence against injustice invites more injustice
Bloomberg Comment: Trump’s credit card cap would throw weakest to sharks
Behind the badge: Everett’s new police chief prioritizes community engagement
Kitsap Sun
Bainbridge High principal arrested on suspicion of DUI in Poulsbo
Contested races coming in 26th Dist. after several campaigns announce
New York Times
Supreme Court Backs Police Entry Without Warrant in Emergencies
Judge Strikes Down Trump’s Latest Effort to Stop Offshore Wind Project
As Trump Pushes Housing Affordability, His Mortgage Chief Undermines It
Northwest Asian Weekly
Locke to receive Richardson Prize for public service
Strickland criticizes Trump administration over ICE actions
Massage parlor workers protest anti-trafficking summit that includes DHS, ICE
Olympian
WA Gov. Ferguson talks about ICE, vaccines, taxes in state of the state address (Peterson, Jinkins)
Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson encourages law that prohibits federal agents in masks (Valdez)
Port Townsend Leader
Brinnon School earns top honor, secures $5.6 million grant
Facebook post triggers ethics complaint against councilmember
Seattle Medium
State Lawmakers To Consider Millionaire’s Tax During Current Legislative Session
King County Expands Substance Use Treatment Amid Rising Overdoses In Black Community
Concerned Families, Educators Come Together To Discuss Academic Inequities At Garfield High School
Seattle Times
WA flooding left at least $40M in road damage, says early estimate
Guess who supports a millionaires tax? Republicans, WA poll finds (Pedersen)
DHS curtails congressional visits to ICE facilities, including Tacoma
Group threatens legal action over WA initiatives, trans sports debate (Jinkins, Pedersen)
Ferguson sheds early maverick image in State address that slams Trump (Valdez, Lovick)
Opinion: New vaccine recommendations will harm Americans — for no good reason
Scientists call another near-record hot year a ‘warning shot’ of a shifting, dangerous climate
Skagit Valley Herald
Burlington adds tax for public safety
Concrete extends emergency status related to flooding
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Opinion: Ferry contingency plan: A good thing done wrong
Washington Post
FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home
These prosecutors spent years on cases. Then Trump granted pardons.
As Gen Z struggles to break into the job market, boomers stick around
WA State Standard
Multistate lawsuit challenges ‘gender conditions’ on HHS funding
Progressives in Congress vow to oppose immigration enforcement funding
Proposed ban on police face coverings gains momentum in WA Legislature (Valdez)
What WA Gov. Bob Ferguson said, and left unsaid, in his State of the State address (Ortiz-Self, Scott, Pedersen, Fitzgibbon)
US Supreme Court appears poised to affirm trans athlete bans in Idaho, West Virginia
Yakima Herald-Republic
Sunnyside Council picks Vicky Frausto as new mayor
Zillah seeks new council member after Williams resigns
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Key bills to watch as Washington’s 2026 legislative session begins (Jinkins)
Gov. Ferguson says his budget proposal is ‘laser focused’ on improvements
Washington state lawmakers to focus in on immigration in legislative session (Stearns)
Fast-spreading flu strain pushes ER visits higher across Western Washington
Video of masked ICE arrest in Redmond sparks push for ‘No Secret Police’ rules (Valdez)
Seattle warns its emergency management system is stretched thin ahead of major disasters
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Delta is adding the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to its fleet
Fewer Americans sign up for Affordable Care Act health insurance as costs spike
Proposed WA bill would remove juvenile offenses from ‘Three Strikes’ convictions (Wilson)
Proposed billionaires’ tax in California rattles Silicon Valley, entangles Gov. Newsom
Trump threatens to halt federal money next month not only to sanctuary cities but also their states
KUOW Public Radio
Can Washington state lawmakers cut their way out of a $2 billion shortfall?
A small town in Central Washington is Microsoft’s answer to the data center backlash
KXLY (ABC)
Washington lawmakers could ban law enforcement from wearing face coverings (Valdez)
Washington legislature considers bill that would expand health insurance coverage for life saving treatments
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County electeds hear from Nooksack River flood victims
Lynden School Board director Tonya Hickman announces intent to resign
InvestigateWest
WA crime victim orgs call for state help as falling federal funding has them at a ‘breaking point’
MyNorthwest
Microsoft vows to cover costs for AI data centers
Ferguson pitches millionaire’s tax in annual address
Puget Sound residents continue to battle stubbornly high inflation
New WA bill would bar most police from wearing face coverings, masks (Valdez)
WA bill aims to speed up DUI cases by allowing more labs to perform toxicology tests
The Urbanist
2026: The Year the Washington Legislature Catches Its Breath on Housing (Reed, Bateman, Alvarado, Salomon, Zahn, Gregerson, Taylor, Duerr)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Wednesday info