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Wednesday, August 20

‘Leave us the hell alone,’ WA Democrats tell Bondi on immigration
Tensions are escalating between the federal government and so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions” like Washington state. Last week, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to seven governors and a number of mayors – including Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell – demanding the states cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Continue reading at KUOW. (Washington State Office of the Governor)

‘Comply or you’re next’: U.S. Attorney General threatens to send National Guard to Seattle
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi — who last week identified Washington and Seattle as “sanctuary jurisdictions” that impede federal immigration enforcement — threatened to deploy the National Guard. “We are going to send in law enforcement just like we did during the L.A. riots, just like we’re doing here in Washington, D.C. You better comply or you’re next,” Bondi said. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Kevin Dietsch)

Seattle metro home prices dip, but pain remains
Prices are cooling and listings are climbing in the Seattle area, but for many would-be homebuyers, the door is still shut. Why it matters: Slightly lower prices don’t help much when monthly payments remain sky high, especially for first-time buyers. What they’re saying: Affordability is the catch, says Zillow spokesperson Mark Stayton. “Mortgage rates have come down a bit lately, but the typical monthly payment is still nearly $2,000 higher than pre-pandemic in the Seattle metro area.” Continue reading at Axios. (Annelise Capossela)

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Axios
Seattle metro home prices dip, but pain remains
Washington state will hold line on sanctuary law, governor says

Bellingham Herald
Measles cases hit double digits in WA. What to know about disease and vaccine
Gov. Bob Ferguson to U.S. AG Pam Bondi: WA won’t ‘bend the knee’ to Trump regime

Capital Press
Ferguson blasts Bondi, defends law shielding illegal immigrants

Columbian
Vancouver identifies 20 underutilized sites in downtown for potential new housing
‘Going in a better direction’: Fewer people have died on Vancouver’s streets so far this year

The Daily News
Cowlitz County unemployment rate rises after June dip

Everett Herald
Port of Everett, EarthCorps host event at Union Slough
Snohomish County Conservation District proposes rate increase
Delays, empty storefronts frustrate residents at Everett riverfront
Comment: CDC shooting shows contagion of misinformation

Kitsap Sun
Washington state has one of the wealthiest suburbs in the US, new study finds. See where

News Tribune
Algae turned this entire Pierce County lake green. The fix won’t be cheap
Republican lawmaker slams Dems for ‘hypocrisy’ over state budget Medicaid cuts (Macri, Robinson)
Opinion: Children in Washington’s foster care system have unique medical needs

New York Times
Environmental Groups Sue Over D.O.E. Report Downplaying Climate Change

Olympian
Gov. Bob Ferguson to U.S. AG Pam Bondi: WA won’t ‘bend the knee’ to Trump regime (Cortes, Wellman)

Peninsula Daily News
Timber sales bring in funds for Jefferson County

Puget Sound Business Journal
How the pandemic permanently altered wage growth
Snohomish County breaks ground on multimillion-dollar redevelopment

Seattle Medium
Neighbors Clash With Developers Over Tree Canopy
Tubman Health Launches Values-Driven Alternative To Profit-Based Medicine
Urban League’s Summer Resource Festival Draws Nearly 1,800 To Jimi Hendrix Park
Washington State African American Achievement Awards Announce 2026 Honorees
Families, Educators Voice Priorities In Seattle Superintendent Search At Community Meeting

Seattle Times
Ferguson says he won’t be ‘bullied’ by Trump threats over sanctuary law
Editorial: Give the Enchantments a chance. Close the gate (for a while)

Skagit Valley Herald
Election 2025: Results of primary election certified
Skagit County to hold open houses on draft hazard mitigation plan

Spokesman Review
Central Valley joins lawsuit against OSPI gender identity policy
Washington officials question Trump’s fight against mail-in voting
RFK Jr. poked at vaccine research funds. That could hurt local research, industry
Effort underway for Spokane, local governments to support Trump’s crackdown on homeless

Tri-City Herald
Pasco leader urges contractors, union to talk as strike enters 2nd week
Republican lawmaker slams Dems for ‘hypocrisy’ over state budget Medicaid cuts (Macri, Robinson)

Washington Post
Trump administration to vet immigrants for ‘anti-American’ views
Trump budget officials claim sweeping spending power from Congress, records show

WA State Standard
WA ‘will not be bullied or intimidated,’ Ferguson tells Bondi
Trump administration vows to ‘come after’ sanctuary states and cities
Lower interest rates, higher incomes made homes more affordable in June
Change to state’s suicide and crisis line has driven large increases in contacts
Lawsuit claims former WA lands commissioner Hilary Franz mishandled abuse allegations

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Snohomish County considers using drones as first responders
Drivers warned of major weekend highway closures across Puget Sound
Trump wants to stop people from voting by mail. Here’s what it means for Washington
Gov. Bob Ferguson pushes back against Trump administration’s demand to end ‘sanctuary’ policies (Cortes, Wellman)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Budget cuts force Pierce County school district to end SRO program
Fred Meyer announces two store closings in Lake City and Redmond
New data shows more people are experiencing homelessness in Pierce County
Ferguson rejects U.S. attorney general’s threat over Washington immigration law (Wellman, Pedersen, Ortiz-Self, Cortes)
Oklahoma ideology test for teachers from New York and California draws criticism
$400M mixed-use development breaks ground at former Seattle Burgermaster site

KUOW Public Radio
So much for starter homes
Therapists are waiting months to begin practicing in WA
‘Leave us the hell alone,’ WA Democrats tell Bondi on immigration (Wellman)
As gun tests in criminal investigations surge, WA struggles to keep up

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Fire, DNR investigating suspicious fires in Latah Valley
Spokane protesters detail allegations of police violence during anti-ICE demonstration
“Stop threatening states”: Senator Cantwell responds to Attorney General Pam Bondi’s letter

NW Public Radio
Tribal activists rally on Snake River to protect salmon, oppose dams
‘It was a double-edged sword’: Immigrant communities concerned after health data leak

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Meet the crew who saps the sprawl of toxic wood in the Salish Sea
Gov. Bob Ferguson pushing back against AG Bondi’s ‘threats’ in letter
Lummi Nation family calling for better response after son dies in fishing accident

Cascade PBS
The controversial medical exams that help decide WA workers’ comp

MyNorthwest
U.S. Attorney General threatens National Guard in Seattle

The Urbanist
E Marginal Way Revamp Would Add New Multimodal Connections in Georgetown

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Wednesday info

Tuesday, August 19

Trump vows to end mail-in ballots with executive order
President Donald Trump said Monday that he plans to sign an executive order aimed at ending mail-in voting and eliminating voting machines, a proposal that election experts note he cannot carry out on his own. Trump has long criticized mail-in ballots, calling them fraudulent. On his Truth Social account, Trump wrote: “THE MAIL-IN BALLOT HOAX, USING VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER, MUST END, NOW!!!” Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)

Ferguson pushes back after Bondi designates WA a ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is pushing back against U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who last week identified the state as a “sanctuary” jurisdiction that impedes federal immigration enforcement. Bondi sent Ferguson a letter on August 13, in which she told him to repeal laws that she said obstruct federal efforts. In the letter, posted by Ferguson on X, she cited a Trump administration executive order that could tie federal funding to immigration cooperation. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (AP)

Change to state’s suicide and crisis line has driven large increases in contacts
During Dianna Caber’s 15-year tenure at South Sound 911 – the public safety answering center for a majority of fire and law enforcement agencies in Pierce County – dispatchers have rarely transferred anyone to a regional crisis and suicide hotline. Practically every call that reached their Tacoma communication center was handled by first responders. “The only caller we were transferring to a crisis line before was someone who called and said ‘can I talk to crisis?’” Caber, manager of the center, said. “Outside of that, it was getting entered for a law enforcement or fire department response.” Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (South Sound 911)

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Axios
The online school helping Washington level up

Capital Press
A beautiful crop and a ‘bloodbath’ of a cherry season
Washington forecast for record apple harvest, big year expected for U.S.

The Daily News
Catlin Rotary Spray Park reopens after 3 years of renovations

Everett Herald
Applicants sought for housing programs in Snohomish County
Snohomish County honored nationally for Index-Galena road repair
Judge grants injunction in Snohomish County lawsuit versus Trump admin

Kitsap Sun
Change to state’s suicide and crisis line has driven large increases in contacts

News Tribune
Records show Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank’s trips in U.S. and abroad
Day shelter for the homeless closes. ‘This certainly is going to have an effect’
What are rules for using WA handicap parking placards or plates? What state says
Tacoma may pay $600K to ex-cop who said city defamed him after Manny Ellis’ death
How many Washington students have childhood vaccine exemptions? What data shows
Opinion: Can the Tacoma City Council play fair on initiatives for once?

Olympian
Thurston County must hire dozens more attorneys, staff by 2036 to serve poor defendants

Puget Sound Business Journal
Billions in Covid-era dollars remain for small businesses
Potential Opportunity Zones in program’s new iteration, mapped
Seattle food bank prepares to open facility at former mortuary site
Construction to begin on giant housing project near University Village

Seattle Medium
Disabled Navy Veteran Grateful to Be Alive After Shooting While Busking On Seattle Waterfront

Seattle Times
WA sues Trump administration over electrical grid cuts
WA sues Trump administration over withheld funding for crime victims
Gov. Ferguson defends WA immigration policy from White House attacks
Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court should reject appeal of WA gun magazine ban

Spokesman Review
Washington officials question Trump’s fight against mail-in voting
Dry fuels – and weather – could spread Sunset fire near Lake Pend Oreille
RFK Jr. poked at vaccine research funds. That could hurt local research, industry
Unions, contractors clash over proposal to require labor equity in Spokane projects

Tri-City Herald
One team, one dream.’ Inside Pasco’s $127M high school and new ‘blended’ culture
Comment: Christian nationalists embrace the immoral if they have power

Washington Post
Trump says he will ‘lead a movement’ to eliminate mail-in voting
Trump budget officials claim sweeping spending power from Congress
Oklahoma to require teaching candidates from two blue states to take ‘America-first’ exam
Education Dept. prioritizes allegations that students of color are getting unfair advantages

WA State Standard
Trump administration vows to ‘come after’ sanctuary states and cities
As gun tests in criminal investigations surge, WA struggles to keep up
Trump wants states to feed voter info into powerful citizenship data program
Democratic AGs sue DOJ to receive federal funding for victims of violent crimes

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Sound Transit increases security presence to combat safety concerns

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Construction isn’t just a season anymore
Trump vows to end mail-in ballots with executive order
Kroger announces plan to close two more stores in Everett and Kent
Ferguson pushes back after Bondi designates WA a ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’

KNKX Public Radio
Trump wants to stop states from voting by mail and using voting machines
Washington’s hydropower has created a data center boom. Some are concerned about its future.

KUOW Public Radio
WA budget cuts end a “Meaningful” program for people with disabilities
WA officials respond to DOJ letter threatening state over sanctuary policies
Washington interpreters demand state address more than $280K in missed payments
Washington’s hydropower has created a data center boom. Some are concerned about its future.

KXLY (ABC)
Evacuations in place for 200-acre wildfire burning near Cle Elum
City of Spokane allocates $7.5 million for affordable housing projects
WATCH on KXLY+: Governor Ferguson to hold press conference responding to AG Pam Bondi’s letter on Washington immigration policy

NW Public Radio
Controversy bleats among 4-H leaders and parents. Rules on goats’ weights are changing at this WA fair

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Animal feeding operations are increasing Whatcom’s air pollution, study finds
How many local kindergartners have all their vaccines? Fewer than the state average

Cascade PBS
Native nations collaborate with WA, OR on Walla Walla water rights

MyNorthwest
WA senators challenge Trump’s vote-by-mail plan
Ferguson challenges Bondi’s ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Tuesday info

Monday, August 18

Washington sees surge in COVID rates
Washington is among a dozen states seeing elevated levels of COVID as a new variant ripples through the nation. Why it matters: The XFG “stratus” variant is driving up cases just as kids return to school — and as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unilaterally alters federal vaccine guidance. Driving the news: The CDC updated its regional data for COVID-19 test positivity on Monday, Aug. 11. The data accounts for the week ending Aug. 2. Continue reading at Axios. (Sarah Grillo)

‘Pennies from the sun’: Schools in rural communities look to save money in solar power project
Harrington School District is one of 16 rural schools across Eastern Washington turning sunlight into savings, thanks to a new project bringing solar power to rural communities. “It’s pennies from the sun,” said David Funk, president of Zero Emissions Northwest. Partners for Rural Washington and Zero Emissions Northwest have partnered to bring solar projects to 16 rural schools across Eastern Washington. The initiative is funded by one-time incentives from the Community Solar Expansion Program, which was authorized by the state Legislature and is administered through the Washington State University Energy Program. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Monica Carrillo-Casas)

UW study sees success during test for new opioid-use therapy
UW Medicine doctors have possibly discovered a new treatment for opioid-use disorder that causes less withdrawal than some other forms of treatment. Their findings were published in JAMA Network Open on Friday, according to the University of Washington Newsroom website. UW doctors worked with the Downtown Emergency Service Center, a non-profit that helps people who struggle with long-term homelessness and the issues that cause it. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (Robert Cianflone)

Print

Axios
Washington sees surge in COVID rates
Washington state wineries bet on events as wine sales slow
Trump raises end to mail-in ballots after claiming Putin questioned their security

Capital Press
USDA plant inspectors challenge exclusion from union rights
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission picks new chairman

Columbian
Manufacturing-dependent Cowlitz County is an industrial air pollution hotspot in WA
‘Community kind of feel’: Property owner wants to build 19-home cottage cluster in Clark County

The Daily News
Financial tech CEO obtains stake in small Longview bank
Cowlitz County residents confront Gluesenkamp Perez over Israel policy
Report: Reported rapes down, drug offenses up in most parts of Cowlitz County

Everett Herald
Mill Creek raises concerns over South County Fire deployment plan
ICYMI: Stillaguamish Tribe merges both worlds to save salmon near Stanwood
The Snohomish County Health Department prepares to use a nearly $100,000 state grant to form a new safety council

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap County plans next phase to fix Point No Point beach
TSA launches faster PreCheck lane at Sea-Tac Airport. How does it work?
Updated approval rating polls show where Donald Trump stands in Washington state
Questions raised about traffic, noise raised as comment period continues on Navy drydock

News Tribune
This street will be closed all week, Puyallup drivers. Here’s why
Day shelter for the homeless closes. ‘This certainly is going to have an effect’

Puget Sound Business Journal
T-Mobile cutting 121 jobs in King County

Seattle Medium
Suspect Arrested In Golden Gardens Park Shooting; Man Hospitalized
Washington Attorney General Enforces New Rent Hike Cap, Fines Eight Landlords
Superintendent of Washington State School For The Blind Resigns Amid Threats From Former Employee

Spokesman Review
Sunset, Crescent Road fires continue to burn with drier weather incoming
‘Pennies from the sun’: Schools in rural communities look to save money in solar power project
Jenkins set to retire after modernizing Pullman Police Department, rebuilding culture at WSU Police Department

WA State Standard
People in ICE custody complain of long waits for deportation
WA fire officials press for safety reforms amid accessory dwelling unit surge
20 WA superintendents are reenvisioning state’s ‘broken’ K-12 funding model

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Trump says he’s going to ‘lead a movement’ to get rid of mail-in ballots
Washington governor defends law on ICE cooperation after federal legal threat

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
UW study sees success during test for new opioid-use therapy
WSDOT to close SR 99 tunnel overnight for $1.5M road grip project
Fence at Denny Blaine Park installed to hide nudity, vandalized day after installation

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane man arrested on rape and kidnapping charges
Gov. Ferguson stands firm on sanctuary state status despite federal pressure
Cow takes ‘high-steaks’ adventure on I-90 in Spokane, blocks westbound lanes
“The crop is great”: Green Bluff farms bounce back from last year’s failed harvest with plentiful peach trees

NW Public Radio
Fewer Canadians are visiting the US. Here’s how business owners in one border town are reacting

Web

InvestigateWest
After Homeland Security ‘welfare check,’ Idaho school district says immigration requests will draw new scrutiny

The Urbanist
‘Save the Corner’ Campaign Targets 92 Affordable Homes on Bainbridge Island

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Monday info

Friday, August 15

Top Biden official to lead Washington’s largest state agency
Gov. Bob Ferguson on Thursday announced the hiring of a Biden administration executive to lead the state Department of Social and Health Services whose programs serve nearly a quarter of Washington’s population. Ferguson chose Angela Ramirez, chief of staff to former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, to guide the department that oversees vocational rehabilitation, long-term care, behavioral health treatment and developmental disabilities services. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)

WA resumes EV charger program after court rules against Trump pause
Washington state has resumed a program to build a network of electric vehicle chargers that the Trump administration had withheld funding for earlier this year. A federal judge in Seattle in June ordered the Trump administration to restore the funding, in response to a lawsuit brought by Washington and other states. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Hal Bernton)

Idaho’s latest anti-drag crusade began with a falsehood, lawsuit says
The claim — a drag queen exposing his genitals to children — was so incendiary, so horrifying that the Idaho Family Policy Center demanded voters change the law to “address these vile sexual exhibitions in places where children are present.” But when Coeur d’Alene prosecutors reviewed unedited video of the drag performance at the city’s 2022 Pride in the Park festival, they concluded there had been no exposure of genitalia — nothing illegal, nothing to charge. A year later, a jury reached the same conclusion in a civil suit, awarding $1.1 million to the performer, Eric Posey, after finding that a right-wing blogger had defamed him by accusing him of indecent exposure. Continue reading at InvestigateWest. (Kaye Thornbrugh)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Bear Gulch Fire expands to 7,360 acres
Ecology opens public comments for Cosmo Specialty Fibers remediation

Axios
Seattle braces for rare August atmospheric river
Which Seattle-area industries rely most on noncitizen workers

Capital Press
USDA plant inspectors challenge exclusion from union rights
Odds tilt in favor of winter La Niña, National Weather Service says
National FFA sees record membership, Northwest and California all grow

Columbian
Anxious about tariffs, Clark County families get early start on back-to-school shopping
Battle Ground adopts new policy to curb students’ cellphone use; Ridgefield and Washougal in the process

The Daily News
Split Longview council passes 15% trash rate increase
Kelso schools lose staff through attrition after $2.3M cut from budget
Castle Rock housing development changes from multifamily units to single-family
Appeals court upholds Stuffys II COVID fines; Longview diner focused on reopening

Everett Herald
Department of Ecology extends drought funding
Everett council approves $360,000 for new ‘skate dot’
Lynnwood holds special budget meeting during summer recess

Islands’ Weekly
Healthy smiles, healthy community: Hot topics in oral health
Library levy lid lift approved by wide margin | Where possibilities thrive, now and into the future

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Nature Nugget: YCC upgrades the Patos Island lighthouse and trails
The San Juan Preservation Trust launches effort to protect 30 acres on San Juan Island

Kent Reporter
SR 18 to close over Tiger Mountain summit Aug. 15-18
Overnight lane closures coming near Kent on SR 99 at SR 516

Kitsap Sun
Bear Gulch Fire on Olympic Peninsula continues to grow
Gap in West Sound coverage of naloxone sites means pharmacies, health care fills need

Mercer Island Reporter
King County Metro adding more than 900 weekly bus trips, improved 2 Line connections

New York Times
Judge Halts White House Effort to Defund Schools With D.E.I. Programs
Tribal Colleges Rely on Federal Funding. Their Leaders Fear the Trump Years.

Northwest Asian Weekly
Proof of belonging: Asian American citizens carry passports amid ICE fears
Interpreter denied, protection orders ignored: Chinese American women and advocates say legal system continues to fail them

Puget Sound Business Journal
$274M project breaks ground in Bothell
Companies brace for higher health-care costs
Apartment construction in Puget Sound region has shifted
SBA is stepping up one aspect of its Covid-era collections effort

Renton Reporter
What’s going on around Renton? | Aug. 14 edition

Seattle Times
King County takes next steps toward crisis center on Capitol Hill
WA resumes EV charger program after court rules against Trump pause

Tri-City Herald
NAACP gets ‘safe space for advocacy’ after 75+ years in Tri-Cities
Protesters to rally in Lacey Aug. 16 against Trump’s redistricting ‘power grab’
Comment: The role of local government should have in immigration enforcement

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Islanders celebrate, commemorate belonging
VHS educator named Washington history teacher of the year

WA State Standard
Top Biden official to lead Washington’s largest state agency
With more self-driving cars on the road, states put more rules in place
Immigration crackdown intensifies in D.C. under Trump order for federal control
Happy birthday, Social Security. Unless Congress acts, full benefits end in 7 years.
Washington interpreters demand state address more than $280K in missed payments

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
On thin ice: A closer look at Pacific Northwest’s glaciers
Lawyer: Visa issue led to ICE detention of Everett mom from New Zealand
With I-5 closure ahead, WSDOT urges alternatives — are commuters listening?
Former Seattle police officers who attended Capitol riot described it as peaceful, docs show

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Nordstrom asks these employees to return to office 4 days per week
Seattle tech layoffs: Oracle cutting 161 jobs amid AI investment push
WA AG’s Office: Judge blocks use of Medicaid data for immigration enforcement
Judge strikes down Trump administration guidance against diversity programs at schools and colleges

KUOW Public Radio
First-class flights and resort booze. WA Commerce failed to oversee ed grant, audit finds
Religious groups pressure retail pharmacies, including Costco, not to carry abortion drug

NW Public Radio
Washington state is getting three new ferries, and they’re hybrid-electric
Federal judge hears arguments in ACLU lawsuit against HHS about Head Start
Juez federal escucha argumentos en demanda de ACLU contra HHS sobre Head Start
Fewer Canadians are visiting the US. Here’s how business owners in one border town are reacting

Web

Cascade PBS
Yakima voters to decide on $6M levy to cover 2026 city deficit
Scientists monitor the loss of vital eelgrass plants in Salish Sea

InvestigateWest
Idaho’s latest anti-drag crusade began with a falsehood, lawsuit says

MyNorthwest
Judge blocks Medicaid data use in immigration enforcement

The Urbanist
Sound Transit’s 2 Line Is Even More Popular Than We Thought
Op-Ed: PCC Provides Model for State Rail Ownership in Washington State

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Friday + weekend notes

Thursday, August 14

Concealed carry licenses in Washington jump after approval of gun permit law
The number of Washingtonians licensed to carry concealed pistols is climbing rapidly in the face of a new state law that will require prospective gun owners to secure a state permit before purchasing a firearm. In all of 2024, the total number of Washingtonians with concealed carry licenses increased by fewer than 6,000, compared to about 14,000 already this year, state data show. By the end of July, Washington had 713,195 active concealed pistol licenses, known as CPLs, according to the state Department of Licensing. That’s up from 699,000 licenses to start the year and equivalent to about one license for every 11 residents. Continue reading at KUOW. (Timothy Dykes)

Washington ferries are going hybrid-electric, but disposal of old ones poses environmental, legal risks
An abandoned former Washington state ferry, the Olympic, rests slanted on a shoreline off Ketron Island, in southern Puget Sound. Aboard, flakes of corroded steel and other debris scatter across the floors, graffiti lines the walls, and at high tide, water pours over the deck. Rust has crept over its forest green paint, the signature color of Washington State Ferries. Some 25 years ago, the Olympic sold for $71,000 at a state surplus auction. Years later, it sold again. This time, allegedly, on eBay. Continue reading at InvestigateWest. (Aspen Ford)

WA unemployment holds steady at 4.5%, job growth shows signs of slowing
Washington’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.5% in July, the Employment Security Department confirmed. The state added 10,800 jobs, showing signs of continued, but slowing growth, according to the department. “After a slow start to 2025, job growth in June and July brought the Washington employment landscape back to the overall story of continuing — but slowing – growth,” Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist at the Employment Security Department, said in a prepared statement. “Washington businesses added 10,800 jobs in July and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.5%.” Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (KIRO 7)