Police group to consider expelling Sheriff Keith Swank for ‘threatening’ remarks
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs announced Thursday it would consider expelling Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank from the organization, saying his testimony before a state Senate committee could be seen as threatening to legislators. Swank spoke at the statehouse Thursday afternoon in Olympia to oppose a bill that would create stricter eligibility requirements for police chiefs, marshals and sheriffs and remove elected sheriffs from office if the Criminal Justice Training Commission revokes their certification as a law enforcement officer. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Liesbeth Powers)
New bill would ban the retail sale of nitrous oxide in Washington state
The substance, also know as “laughing gas,” is widely available in convenience stores and other retail locations. According to the National Institutes of Health, abuse of the substance can lead to megaloblastic anemia, a vitamin B12 deficiency. In June 2025, the FDA issued an advisory warning against inhaling the substance, as abuse of nitrous oxide can sometimes lead to death. “This legislation is a commonsense step to protect people from serious injury and irreversible harm by stopping the sale of products that are being used to get high,” said Rep. Joe Timmons. Continue reading at KING 5. (KING 5)
Microsoft jumps into WA Legislature’s housing debate
The company is out with a 10-page report with housing priorities it wants to see lawmakers in Olympia tackle this year. Higher taxes to pay for housing programs are not part of that platform. And Smith rejects the notion that raising taxes on large corporations is a viable pathway to close the state’s affordable housing gap. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jeff Wang/Getty Images))
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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Friday + holiday weekend
UPDATE: Mayor Katie Wilson’s first executive orders, including one on homelessness