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Tuesday, June 3

Evictions in WA skyrocket, overwhelming legal aid program for low-income renters
Evictions in Washington have been steadily increasing over the last few years, with no signs of slowing. The spike stems from rising rents coupled with stagnant wages, lack of affordable housing and the expiration of pandemic-era eviction protections such as increased rental assistance. Filings statewide reached an all-time high in 2024, having increased by 53% since 2019. And fiscal year 2025 is on pace to surpass those numbers. Continue reading at InvestigateWest. (Lindsey Wasson)

Speed-limiting tech coming for high-risk drivers in Washington
Washington is the second U.S. state to approve the use of speed-restricting devices for drivers who have a history of going too fast, though it will be more than three years before the law is enforced. Why it matters: Last year, 34% of the 731 traffic fatalities in the state involved speeding drivers, according to data from the state Traffic Safety Commission. Continue reading at Axios. (Aïda Amer)

Thousands in WA at risk of losing food benefits under GOP bill in Congress
Tens of thousands of low-income Washingtonians could lose federal food assistance if Republicans move ahead with plans in a bill the U.S. House passed last month. That’s according to estimates from the state and researchers at a left-leaning think tank. The cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, stem from a tax cut and spending package Republicans call their “big, beautiful bill.” This legislation passed the U.S. House on May 22 and still needs approval from the Senate before it can reach President Donald Trump’s desk. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen’s latest homeless survey results released

Axios
New COVID subvariant cases detected in Washington
Speed-limiting tech coming for high-risk drivers in Washington (Leavitt)
Gates pledges most of his wealth to health and education services in Africa

Bellingham Herald
Trump targets WA state with ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’ list, and wants to withhold funds

Capital Press
Juniper clear cut bill designed to conserve groundwater
Logging, grazing benefit from Supreme Court limiting NEPA review

The Daily News
Independent firm will help Port of Longview oversee $44M rail project, but Rotschy will be in charge of safety

Everett Herald
Kaiser Permanente to welcome patients to new Everett facility
Editorial: Latest ballpark figures drive hope for new stadium

News Tribune
TPS cuts to be ‘indefinite’ unless state changes school funding model, district says

Puget Sound Business Journal
Gen Z workers face an entry-level jobs crisis
Microsoft lays off hundreds more Washington employees
Alaska Air delays delivery of 2 imported planes, cancels flights

Seattle Medium
Trump Administration Designates Washington As ‘Sanctuary State,’ Sparking Controversy

Seattle Times
White House unveils a new, darker Trump presidential portrait
Bodycam footage shows Seattle police officer firing at man in Belltown
WA district reeling after superintendent and student die off Long Beach
Summer Running Start classes give WA students bigger jump on college
UW Medicine and Aetna fail to reach contract; thousands of patients notified
Opinion: Why public lands should stay public and protected
Opinion: WA lawmakers, it’s not hard to work in the sunlight
Editorial: Add this to the list for improving education: teacher training

Spokesman Review
Democratic attorneys general outline response to federal government during Seattle town hall
U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear case threatening ballots mailed by Election Day, but received later

Tri-City Herald
2 Benton County fires blacken 1,000 acres, damage equipment, vineyard
New ‘sanctuary’ list puts Tri-Cities in middle of fight between WA and feds
Update: Trump administration’s proposed Hanford ’26 budget too low to meet deadlines

Washington Post
The latest GOP push to cut waste and spending: Work requirements
Ernst’s ‘we all are going to die’ quip underscores GOP’s Medicaid challenge
Many coastal communities are flooding more than we thought, researchers find

WA State Standard
Thousands in WA at risk of losing food benefits under GOP bill in Congress
Homeland Security’s list of ‘sanctuary cities’ pulled down after sheriffs object
Washington’s attorney general sees no signs of legal battles with Trump letting up
Silence on E. Coli outbreak highlights how Trump team’s changes undermine food safety

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Cathy Moore to step down from Seattle City Council
More WA businesses frustrated over Google ‘suspending’ business profiles
All police in Washington must now report use-of-force data to public database
Washington DNR warns of challenging wildfire season following NOAA and NWS layoffs

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Microsoft laying off 305 Redmond employees
Seattle Councilmember Cathy Moore to step down July 7, citing health issues
Seattle’s Chinatown-International District gets its own public safety ambassadors
Homeland Security removes list of ‘sanctuary’ cities after pushback; most WA counties listed
Lumen Field to receive upgrades for upcoming World Cup, including first-time ever real grass
Armed teens who broke into Enumclaw High School may have been conducting ‘dry run’, FBI now involved

KUOW Public Radio
New Covid variant found in Washington state
Washington launches statewide database tracking police use-of-force (Lovick)
We have laws to improve WA’s involuntary commitment. They’re barely used
Bishops sue to overturn new Washington law requiring clergy to report child abuse

KXLY (ABC)
Three missing sisters found dead, father wanted for murders
DNR braces for challenges as state lawmakers slash millions from fire prevention
Washington State Patrol arrests person for shooting at passing cars in Stevens County
Spokane Valley using public safety funds to cover lawsuit against Councilmember Al Merkel
Spokane City Council approves construction of new affordable housing units in East Central

NW Public Radio
Washington State Library laying off some staff, changing services due to budget cuts
What’s coming out of the stack? Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant must pass emissions muster
Wildfire communication gaps persist for Spanish speakers in Washington. These groups are working to close them

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Student strike paused at Western Washington University
Meridian’s elementary students grow reading skills thanks to new teaching approach

Cascade PBS
Cathy Moore to resign from Seattle City Council
WA mobile homeowners, advocates react to new rent stabilization law

InvestigateWest
Evictions in WA skyrocket, overwhelming legal aid program for low-income renters

MyNorthwest
WA announces rent increase cap for 2025
Tariffs blamed for Port of Seattle traffic trouble
Microsoft layoffs: 305 jobs cut in Redmond, Washington
Washington child care prices among highest in the nation
Lumen Field to receive upgrades for upcoming World Cup, including first-time ever real grass

The Urbanist
King County Floats Sales Tax Bump to Fund Metro, Roads
Sound Transit CEO Preps Agency-wide Realignment to Keep Expansion on Track

Washington Observer
The new ceiling for rent hikes (Alvarado)
The fuzzy math of tracing dark weed

West Seattle Blog
More Seattle City Council turnover: Councilmember Cathy Moore resigning
TRAFFIC, ROAD WORK, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Tuesday notes, with eastbound West Seattle Bridge crash
FOLLOWUP: Is added Alki Avenue parking a done deal? What does ‘additional outreach’ mean? Here’s how SDOT replied

Monday, June 2

School and Medicaid funding worries linger post-session for WA lawmakers
The ink is hardly dry on Washington’s new budget and already legislative leaders are anticipating more fiscal uncertainty. Democrats are focused on threats to health care access if Congress slashes Medicaid funding, while Republicans are warning of renewed legal jeopardy in education funding. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (TVW)

Governor Ferguson orders flags lowered for passing of Washington’s longest-serving Speaker of the House
Governor Bob Ferguson has ordered state and U.S. flags at all state agency facilities to be lowered in honor of Washington’s longest-serving Speaker of the House. Representative Frank Chopp died on March 22, 2025. He was 71 years old. He served as the Washington Speaker of the House from 1999 to 2019. He was first elected to serve as the Representative of Washington’s 43rd Legislative District in 1994. Continue reading at KXLY. (LSS)

Seattle lands on federal sanctuary city list amid growing pressure by Trump administration
The Trump administration has put Seattle, King County and Washington state on notice, including them on a list of 500 so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that it accuses of obstructing federal immigration enforcement. Continue reading at Axios. (Axios Visuals)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Some federal library staff, services get reprieve, state not so much

Axios
Washington crashes down 10%, but concerns remain
Seattle lands on federal sanctuary city list amid growing pressure by Trump administration

Capital Press
EPA proposes new insecticide for honeybee nemesis
Federal court reinstates Trump’s tariffs pending appeal
Washington Fish and Wildlife closes key wolf policy meeting to public

Everett Herald
Everett Municipal Building to close for two weeks
Locals say goodbye to Marysville school after 74 years
Early learning group presents countywide survey findings
Sen. Murray hears from county homelessness assistance providers
Help Washington manage European green crabs with citizen science events
Editorial: Local shipyard should get shot to build state ferries
Letter: State should split ferry contract to keep jobs, speed up build
Comment: To save downtowns, find housing for those without homes

Kitsap Sun
Opinion: Bremerton school building project moving ahead

News Tribune
$20 million expansion of Tacoma’s largest homeless shelter in the works
Trump targets WA state with ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’ list, and wants to withhold funds
Rules of the Road: Consider consequences of resting feet on the dashboard
City of Tacoma pauses search for new police chief. Here’s what we know
Jobs report will show if tariffs are hitting economy
Opinion: AI education is vital for Washington. Trump’s order will help

Northwest Asian Weekly
Kshama Sawant to announce Congressional run

Puget Sound Business Journal
More than 100 summer flights cut from Sea-Tac Airport
Tariff uncertainty puts middle-market suppliers in a bind
Lumen Field to get World Cup makeover. Here’s what to expect.

Seattle Times
New rules for WA lawmakers with conflicts of interest (Pollet, Pederson)
Why efforts to improve involuntary treatment in WA haven’t worked (Dhingra, Davis)

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County releases drafts of comp plan, development regulations

Spokesman Review
New federal prosecutor seeks to limit drug trafficking in Spokane
Eastern WA dust storm causes deadly highway semitruck chain-reaction pileup
Spokane refugee communities search for path forward after Supreme Court decision allows parole status to be stripped
After Trump administration axes $500 million from Washington dam project, Patty Murray says she won’t let it happen again

Washington Post
DOGE-driven efforts appear to be backfiring
Republicans are trying to repeal Obamacare again. Sort of.
Supreme Court leaves in place Maryland’s ban on assault-style rifles
Wall Street warns Trump aides the GOP tax bill could jolt bond markets

WA State Standard
New COVID variant found in Washington
Washington’s new cap on rent hikes set at 10% through end of 2025
Frank Chopp, a force that reshaped Washington’s political landscape
Washington overdose deaths decline after years of growth, data show
School and Medicaid funding worries linger post-session for WA lawmakers (Fitzgibbon)
State budget shortfall delays $13 million bridge replacement project in Colfax
Alaska man sentenced to one year in prison over illegal transport of crab to Washington

Yakima Herald-Republic
Sunnyside wastewater plant releasing methane while awaiting repairs
Yakima ends up on federal list of ‘sanctuary’ cities, though county doesn’t

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Paine Field adds Frontier Airlines as airport eyes major expansion

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
USDA sends wildfire resource help to Canada
King County Metro resumes fare enforcement
Washington child care prices among nation’s highest, report finds

KNKX Public Radio
Loss of USGS program could hamper salmon research critical for Puget Sound

KXLY (ABC)
Washington State Patrol arrests person for shooting at passing cars in Stevens County
Governor Ferguson orders flags lowered for passing of Washington’s longest-serving Speaker of the House

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Mental health stigma leaves WA farming communities vulnerable
Closure of processing facilities, new tariffs adds stress for farm owners
‘Pretty chaotic’: More than two dozen beekeepers step in to contain millions of bees after crash
Guemes islanders isolated by an unprecedented ferry outage find workarounds for everyday life
Opinion: Former prosecutor: Outside counsel for Whatcom council? Only on their own dime, with limitations

Cascade PBS
Seattle Councilmember Moore bails on bill to rewrite ethics rules

The Urbanist
Sound Transit CEO Tabs Agency-wide Realignment to Keep Expansion on Track
Op-Ed: Democrats Acted Irresponsibly, Failed to Trump-Proof Washington State in 2025 Session (Ricelli, Frame)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: June’s first Monday, with alerts
VIDEO: From tax regrets to ‘fighting back,’ hear from your state legislators, mostly about what happened, and didn’t happen, in Olympia (Alvarado, Fitzgibbon, Thomas)

Friday, May 30

Communication between FEMA and local jurisdictions upended, officials say
County-level emergency management officials in Washington state have been barred in recent weeks from communicating with their traditional contacts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to a spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. Continue reading at King 5. (AP)

Inside the Washington juvenile prison opening next month
For the past few weeks, Kendrick Rochelle has been going to Washington’s overcrowded youth prison in Chehalis to build relationships with the young men held there. Rochelle is trying to recruit them to join a leadership program at a new juvenile detention center called Harbor Heights on the grounds of an adult prison near Aberdeen, where he’ll serve as superintendent. Harbor Heights is set to open June 9. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jake Goldstein-Street)

New WA law is ‘brazen’ discrimination, Catholic leaders say in lawsuit
Washington’s Catholic leaders sued state leaders and county prosecutors Thursday, alleging that a controversial new law requiring priests to break the confessional seal to report suspected child abuse is “a brazen act of religious discrimination.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Greg Gilbert)

Print

Axios
Washington state infant care now averages over $21K a year

Bainbridge Island Review
There are limits to window tinting in Washington

Capital Press
Army Corps of Engineers receives less federal funding for fish mitigation

Everett Herald
DNR removes derelict barge from Spencer Island
Everett’s possible new stadium has a possible price tag
Family of Lake Stevens man shot by police sues over mental health care delays
‘I’ll lose everything’: Snohomish County’s only adult day health center to close

Issaquah Reporter
More specialty license plates on the way in WA (Cortes, Ramos, Donaghy)

Kent Reporter
Six Congressional members demand answers about Kent ICE raid

Kitsap Sun
A first-year rep learns her Congressional role amid chaos of the Trump administration
Silverdale Cemetery becomes 30th Kitsap location inducted in Washington Heritage Register
Opinion: Leaders should commit to transparency, real change after another Poulsbo shooting

News Tribune
Family of six detained at Blaine border facility for more than three weeks
Gas prices in WA go up for third straight week, reach highest level of 2025
‘Careless act of violence.’ 7 wounded in Lakewood park shooting. No arrests yet
Pierce County teen fatally stabbed his mom’s boyfriend. Why case was dismissed
Can an unmarked patrol car pull you over in WA? What WSP policy, state law say

New York Times
Energy Dept. Cancels $3.7 Billion for New Technologies to Lower Emissions
Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration, for Now, to End Biden-Era Migrant Program

Puget Sound Business Journal
Everett stadium project faces tight timeline
Tax bill means big breaks, risks for middle-market companies
Washington home loan program expands amid legal challenge

Seattle Times
WA road deaths decreased nearly 10% last year
New WA law is ‘brazen’ discrimination, Catholic leaders say in lawsuit (Frame)
Boeing puts another DEI effort on ice, cites ‘shifting environment’ in US
Editorial: Cops and schools are a risky mix, but worth a try in Seattle
Opinion: I’m on the Seattle School Board. Here’s what we need to do to improve
Opinion: Pushing people into homelessness isn’t the way to revitalize downtowns

Spokesman Review
Green-card holder Lewelyn Dixon should not be deported, WA judge says
Trump’s clemency spree extends to ex-gangster, rapper, former congressmen
Washington small business owners face major health insurance hike: ‘Off the charts’
Beyond talking the talk: Regal Elementary staff literally walk the walk to boost attendance
Spokane, county fling accusations of ‘toxic’ relationship as sewer showdown resurfaces amid $57 million threat

Washington Post
Consumer spending slows as Americans pull back amid tariff uncertainty
Most new cars in Norway are EVs. How a freezing country beat range anxiety.
White House MAHA report may have garbled science by using AI, experts say
Supreme Court allows Trump to revoke legal status for more than 530,000 migrants for now

WA State Standard
New COVID variant found in Washington
Inside the Washington juvenile prison opening next month
Bishops sue to overturn new WA law requiring clergy to report child abuse
Immigrants in U.S. without permanent legal status grew to 12.2 million, study finds

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Judge orders release of UW lab tech from ICE custody
Armed civilian kills teen suspect after downtown Seattle shooting
State to revamp solitary jail unit for juvenile offenders’ rehabilitation
Sound Transit delays light rail extension between Seattle and Eastside
Communication between FEMA and local jurisdictions upended, officials say
Calls grow for King County Assessor John Wilson to resign over new stalking allegations
‘It’s devastating’: Skagit River summer-fall Chinook population expected to hit 15-year low
US formally moves to dismiss prosecution against Boeing and asks judge to cancel trial over crashes

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Public Health: Confirmed case of tuberculosis at Highline College
King County Court backs Burien’s sweeping camping ban as constitutional
3 PNW cities among top 5 worst U.S. housing market outlooks, study finds
International students weigh in on the revocation of Chinese student visas
UW Medicine, Aetna health insurance still far from deal as contract nears expiration
Catholic bishops sue Washington over law requiring priests to break confessional seal
Green card holder and 50-year U.S. resident has been released from Tacoma ICE detention center
US formally moves to dismiss prosecution against Boeing and asks judge to cancel trial over crashes

KNKX Public Radio
Seattle’s new Waterfront Park set for summer debut

KUOW Public Radio
Lawsuit blames oil companies for woman’s Seattle heat-dome death
Filipina green card holder and UW worker released from Tacoma ICE center
City of Bellingham sends love letter (of sorts) to Canadian neighbors boycotting the US
A Pierce County man expected to be deported to Vietnam. Instead, ICE flew him to South Sudan

KXLY (ABC)
Washington expands driver’s education requirements to age 21
Washington State University dissolves Office of the Chancellor in leadership structure shift

Web

Cascadia Daily News
PeaceHealth cutting 1% of workforce, local impact unknown
Daughter of Ferndale woman who died from 2021 heat dome suing Big Oil
Opinion: Farming First: Skagit Valley’s working landscape and the agritourism debate

Cascade PBS
After anti-LGBTQ+ rally, questions linger about Seattle’s response

InvestigateWest
Records reveal Snoqualmie police chief was fired for sexual comments, said recruit ‘could not keep her legs together’

MyNorthwest
Judge rules UW lab technician detained for months should not be deported

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: May’s final Friday
PARKING: Add more street spaces to Alki Avenue after diagonal spaces are removed? New SDOT proposal and survey

Thursday, May 29

Smokey Bear, pickleball, and pollinator license plates on the way in WA
Washington drivers really like their specialty license plates — and they are getting more of them. Up to six new options will arrive this fall, including plates featuring Smokey Bear, pickleball paddles, and pollinators. Old-style plates, one with white lettering on a black background and the other with green lettering on a white background, are in the mix too. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Washington State Beekeepers Association)

Even 6-figure earners rent in Seattle
The share of high-income renters is climbing in Seattle — and across much of the country — as sky-high home prices and rising mortgage rates prompt even affluent households to lease instead of buy. Why it matters: Homebuying costs have climbed faster than rents, making renting an attractive choice for many, even those with deep pockets. Continue reading at Axios. (Axios Visuals)

Washington tribal court warrants to be enforceable by state authorities
HB 1829 was signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on May 14. Lekanoff co-sponsored the bill with Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, and Gerry Pollett, D-North Seattle. “You are going to bring justice to the people whose homelands you call home, whose justice systems have been created based on what you have all been trained on,” Lekanoff told the Senate Law and Justice Committee on March 24. Continue reading at ICT. (Richard Arlin Walker)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Lawmakers conduct postmortem on legislative session (Chapman, Tharinger, Bernbaum)
Court denies request to halt logging activity in Elwha Watershed

Axios
Even 6-figure earners rent in Seattle
How the FBI came to investigate Seattle protests
Now what? Tariff ruling creates chaos on top of chaos
Companies that kept DEI commitments saw higher reputation scores in 2025

Bainbridge Island Review
WSF meetings provide updates on electrification, fares, shipbuilding

Capital Press
Snake Plain grasslands reach fire readiness early
Idaho’s dairy industry continues to grow as West Coast stagnates
Oregon lawmakers approve commercial irrigation with domestic wells
Oregon counties pause litigation over national flood insurance regulations

Columbian
Facing $13M shortfall, Camas School District to lay off 50 employees
East Vancouver development would have 151 apartments and condos, a community center and a dog park for residents

Everett Herald
Marysville schools audit shows some improvement
Snohomish County report: 10 bridges set for repairs, replacement
Southbound 529 to close near Marysville for four days for bridge work
Editorial: ‘Big, beautiful bill’ would take from our climate, too

Indian Country Today
Washington tribal court warrants to be enforceable by state authorities (Lekanoff, Goodman)

The Inlander
Cannabis goes to the California State Fair, but Washington fairs still say no

International Examiner
Seattle streetcar adds Filipinotown to wrap design, recognizing overlooked Chinatown-ID history

Islands’ Weekly
Column: Update on Washington State Ferries crew shortages

News Tribune
Pierce County Sheriff Swank to Prosecutor Robnett: ‘You are my peril’
Tacoma mayor visited Israel. Here’s what city’s ethics board decided about that
Opinion: City of Tacoma shouldn’t withhold Moore records on a technicality

Northwest Asian Weekly
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US will begin revoking the visas of Chinese students

Olympian
WA state employees fought against furloughs. They count new WA budget a ‘win’
Housing Justice Forum to address racially restrictive covenants in Thurston County

Puget Sound Business Journal
UW plans $61M welcome center

Seattle Times
Seattle City Council approves temporary housing density plan
Downtown Seattle shooting and nearby stabbing leave 2 dead, 2 injured
WA AG Nick Brown won’t make ‘Survivor’ return for show’s 50th season
Westneat: Seattle got owned in the latest free speech battle

Spokesman Review
‘We’re going to be looking at you’: Trump administration halts student visa application interviews
Spokane Valley City Council pulls public safety funding to cover costs of struggles with Councilman Al Merkel

Washington Post
Most of Trump’s tariffs halted by Court of International Trade
Elon Musk leaves Trump administration after contentious tenure
What is the Court of International Trade, and what impact does the decision have?
The loss of international students could hurt more than just a universities’ bottom line
Trump administration gives Harvard time to respond on international student enrollment threat
Supreme Court narrows scope of federal agencies’ environmental reviews of infrastructure projects

WA State Standard
Washington traffic deaths down after record year
Smokey Bear, pickleball, and pollinator license plates on the way in WA (Cortes, Donaghy, Ramos)
New book honors 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugees arriving in WA
Federal judges side with states in striking down tariffs imposed by President Trump
HHS presses health care providers, hospitals to curb gender-affirming treatments for kids

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Traffic deaths fall in Washington for the first time since 2019
Controversial Seattle rally spurs legal threats against Mayor Bruce Harrell
Former Green Hill employee admits she tried to smuggle drug filled burrito into detention center

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seven hospitalized in Lakewood park mass shooting; no suspects arrested
WA beach ranks among top 10 most bacteria-contaminated in U.S., report finds
Investigation: Snoqualmie police chief rated women’s bodies, mocked disabled staffer
Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration after leading effort to slash federal government

KXLY (ABC)
North Spokane homeless encampment, “Camp Dope,” continues to cause problems for neighbors

Web

Cascadia Daily News
1,200 WWU student employees go on strike
Opinion: Bill for public support of local news deserves a second chance (Liias)

Cascade PBS
Title IX federal investigation clashes with WA gender identity laws

MyNorthwest
Washington beach ranks in nation’s top 10 for bacteria
‘Obey God rather than men’: WA sued over clergy report law
Fight over hotly debated natural gas initiative headed to Washington State Supreme Court

The Urbanist
OPA, Seattle Police Violated Medical Privacy of Protester, Unearthed Investigation Reveals

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Thursday notes
CLOSURE ALERT: West Seattle low bridge closing June 7-8 weekend

Wednesday, May 28

White House cuts aid for state unemployment systems
The White House is terminating $400 million in funds for states meant to modernize their unemployment insurance systems. Why it matters: These systems fell apart when unemployment soared in the pandemic, leading to rampant fraud and delays for beneficiaries. Continue reading at Axios. (Maura Losch)

‘I’m pretty upset’: WA lawmaker wants to override governor’s veto of his bill
State lawmakers delivered 423 bills to Gov. Bob Ferguson this year and he signed them all. Except one. Its sponsor hopes the Washington Legislature will override the veto the next time it is in session. “It shocked me,” said Rep. Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla. “People were excited about this and the governor turned around and vetoed it.” Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)

A WA mother had custody of kids and protection from her abuser. Then a guardian ad litem got involved
For a long time, the justice system in Snohomish County believed Gina Bloom. When she told police in February 2020 that her then-husband, Brian Yorks, had assaulted her, they arrested him for second-degree rape. When she reported that he would control and intimidate her, the Snohomish County Superior Court granted her a protection order. And when Yorks filed for divorce following her rape accusation, a court commissioner gave her temporary custody of their 4- and 6-year-old sons. Continue reading at InvestigateWest. (Dan DeLong)