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Wednesday, May 21

Governor Ferguson signs Washington’s contentious $77.9B operating budget
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has signed one of the most hotly debated pieces of legislation—the state’s operating budget. After months of political tug-of-war, lawmakers agreed on SB 5167, a massive $77.9 billion operating budget for the next two years. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (TVW)

WA vaccine scientists push back against FDA changes around COVID shots
Seattle vaccine experts were surprised and confused by the country’s apparent new direction around updated COVID-19 shots, which top officials at the Food and Drug Administration revealed Tuesday and appears to restrict availability to older adults and people at higher risk for severe disease. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

You will have to get a permit to purchase a gun in Washington under this new law
Those looking to acquire a firearm in Washington state will have to acquire a permit to do so, due to a new law signed Tuesday by Gov. Bob Ferguson. The bill will take effect May 1, 2027. House Bill 1163 requires that a person apply for a permit to purchase firearms through the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Firearms Background Check program. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Proposed Medicaid cuts could devastate Grays Harbor

Axios
New laws aim to boost housing across Washington state

Capital Press
Farm groups warn against tariffs on China-built containers, cranes

Courier-Herald
New state law directs $100M in grants toward hiring police or other public safety options (Entenman, Reeves)

Federal Way Mirror
State Rep. Jamila Taylor recovers from stroke (Taylor)

News Tribune
‘We stay on top of it.’ New Pierce County homeless shelter hub showing success
Pierce County police pursuit turned deadly. Should deputies, WA be held liable?
Opinion: If Congress slashes health care for poor people, Tacoma will suffer

Olympian
Gov. Bob Ferguson signs into law a state operating budget with more taxes
Washington state medical groups sue over deleted health, science data from websites

Seattle Times
Why Washington’s huge tax bill is worrying bond investors
Ferguson signs $9 billion in new taxes to fund state budget
WA vaccine scientists push back against FDA changes around COVID shots
Editorial: A long time coming: WA governor to prioritize school funding
Opinion: New WA law will help ferry system, but there’s still work to do

Spokesman Review
FDA steps away from COVID vaccines for healthy adults under 65
Feds pick temporary manager for 13,000 workers at WA’s toxic Hanford site
Cantwell, researchers lament Trump administrations calls to halve funding for National Science Foundation
Baumgartner calls on RFK Jr. to reopen Spokane research lab focused on safety for miners, wildland firefighters
Washington State University shock physics researchers to continue overseeing national lab facility to tune of $32.5 million

Washington Post
A Kansas family farm, barely getting by, grapples with Trump’s cuts
Major newspapers ran a summer reading list. AI made up book titles.
Target stumbles as tariffs hit earnings and traffic falls amid DEI backlash
Fractious House GOP tries to push Trump’s tax bill closer to the finish line

WA State Standard
WA governor signs parental ‘bill of rights’ rewrite (Stonier)
Washingtonians will need state permit to buy guns under new law (Berry)
Ferguson signs budget boosting Washington state spending and taxes (Robinson)
Giant tax and spending bill in U.S. House remains snagged by GOP disputes
Looking to keep wildlife out of the ‘emergency room,’ states expand managers’ role

Wenatchee World
Waste Management in Douglas County fined $152,400 by state commission

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
ICE operation leads to 17 arrests at Kent business
Gov. Ferguson signs new state budget following ‘challenging’ session
Green card holder detained at SEA Airport coming back from family vacation
You will have to get a permit to purchase a gun in Washington under this new law
New company report shows large spike in Boeing employees making safety reports
Dozens of bills signed into Washington state law Monday and Tuesday. Here’s what they are

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Sixth measles case identified in Washington
‘Rapid snowmelt’ increases fire danger across the West
Activist sits 80 feet up in tree near Port Angeles for two weeks
Governor Ferguson signs Washington’s contentious $77.9B operating budget

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington governor signs controversial student rights bill into law (Stonier)
ICE operation in Kent leads to 17 arrests for illegal employment violations
Gov. Bob Ferguson signs $9 billion in new taxes, admitting concerns over the impact
Pierce County sheriff’s union tells deputies to look for other jobs if they want fair pay

KUOW Public Radio
A tech job at Microsoft meant stability. Not anymore
ICE arrests 17 in raid at Kent specialty beverage company
Gov. Ferguson signs new WA budget into law, leaving bulk of tax increases intact
Washington state groups sue Trump administration over sweeping public health data erasures

KXLY (ABC)
Washingtonians will need state permit to buy guns under new law (Berry)
Governor Ferguson signs state budget with billions in tax increases into law (Berg)

Web

Cascade PBS
WA mother’s lawsuit spotlights bias in child advocate services

MyNorthwest
ICE raid leads to 16 workers arrested in Kent
Gun permit bill signed into law by Gov. Ferguson (Dhingra)
Seattle renters need to earn nearly $100K to afford rent, per study
Governor Ferguson signs Washington’s contentious $77.9B operating budget (Pedersen)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Wednesday watch

Tuesday, May 20

Right to wheelchair repair bill signed into law
People who use wheelchairs to get around Washington will soon have more options for repairing them. It’s thanks to legislation signed into law Monday. Senate Bill 5680 will require wheelchair equipment manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair providers access to documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and tools. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (zeevveez)

After ‘Year of Housing 2.0’, Policymakers Eye Next Big Housing Moves
Over the past few weeks, as Governor Bob Ferguson added his signature to hundreds of bills approved during the 2025 legislative session, it became clear that “Year of Housing 2.0” is a moniker that is going to stick around. Over the 105 days lawmakers were in Olympia, they sent over a dozen housing-related bills to Ferguson’s desk: policies running the gamut from wonky subdivision reform to a sweeping transit-oriented development (TOD) bill. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Ryan Packer)

Here’s why Washington is increasing the price of a Discover Pass
Starting this fall, the annual Discover Pass will be more expensive for those wanting to travel to Washington state parks. According to Washington State Parks, the Discover Pass will rise from $30 to $45 starting Oct. 1. The 50% price increase was passed by the Washington Legislature in April and made official Saturday when Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the bill into law. This will be the Discover Pass’s first price increase since 2011. Continue reading at KING 5. (KING 5)

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Auburn Reporter
Murray blasts Trump administration for cutting Hanson Dam funds

Axios
A $91K salary is needed to afford rent in the Seattle area
Seattle violent crime trends down despite weekend shooting
Spot shrimp season hits Seattle — but blink and you’ll miss it

Bellingham Herald
With funding in place, Bellingham airport ready to launch runway project
New WA law fulfills key Gov. Bob Ferguson promise: $100M for police hiring (Entenman, Reeves)

Capital Press
Northwest sweet cherries have big potential this season

Everett Herald
Trial to begin in case of driver charged in trooper’s death
Take Snohomish County’s climate resiliency survey before May 23
Sound Transit seeks input on Everett bike, pedestrian improvements

Issaquah Reporter
Mayor Harrell announces new Chinatown-ID Ambassadors Program in effort to improve public safety and help small businesses

News Tribune
Trump cuts threaten mental health resources for Tacoma school students
Tacoma won’t release investigation on ex-police chief’s use of leave. Here’s why
100 letters, 48 hours: Pierce County towns fight for access after bridge closure
Opinion: I chose to be a U.S. citizen. Would the U.S. still want people like me?

New York Times
F.D.A. Poised to Restrict Access to Covid Vaccines

Peninsula Daily News
Sequim corridor project delayed (Chapman, Theringer)
Port of Port Angeles is seeking grant dollars for airport

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA overhauls another loan program
Microsoft layoffs affect hundreds of software engineers in WA

Seattle Times
WA raises annual Discover Pass fee
Red states win, blue states lose in Army Corps spending plan
New WA law increases fines for litter, delays thicker plastic bags
WA’s growing diversity not reflected in elected officials, study finds
WA joins two other states in providing benefits for striking workers (Riccelli, Bernbaum)
Another Filipino green card holder returning to WA detained at Sea-Tac
Raises for one union not funded in WA budget, leading to finger-pointing
Snohomish County prosecutor’s office violated WA law by talking to ICE, judge says
Trump signs a bill to make posting ‘revenge porn’ a federal crime. He had the first lady sign, too

Spokesman Review
County Commissioner Al French believes it’s too early to count out tech hub funding
WA governor signs hunting, fishing fee increases into law; Discover Pass price also rising
Despite federal government targeting DEI programs, cultural graduations continue to empower, honor Spokane grads
‘Some people would have given up’: The Kettle Falls Historical Center reopens after it closed 2 years ago from flood damage
As Trump seeks to defund NPR and PBS over ‘woke propaganda,’ Inland Northwest public broadcasters appeal to Congress and the public

Washington Post
Trump tries to persuade, and threaten, GOP to support his budget bill
FDA to limit covid shot approval to elderly, those with medical conditions
White House officials wanted to put federal workers ‘in trauma.’ It’s working.

WA State Standard
Washington will pay unemployment benefits to striking workers
New Washington law directs $100M in grants toward hiring police, improving public safety (Entenman, Reeves)
Fears over Columbia Basin dams, hydroelectricity grow as agencies lose hundreds of employees

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County burn ban takes effect June 1

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Schools must upgrade security under ‘Alyssa’s Law’
Here’s why Washington is increasing the price of a Discover Pass
Green card holder detained at SEA Airport coming back from family vacation
Unemployment benefits now extended to workers who go on strike under new Washington state law (Riccelli)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle school introduces new road blocks
Right to wheelchair repair bill signed into law (Hansen, Gregerson)
Sea-Tac announces new nonstop flights to Europe
Family and friends rally together as Filipino father detained for days at SEA
City works with Lake City Community Center to provide shelter for encampment
Palm Springs bombing suspect shared ideology with Pierce County woman killed in April

KNKX Public Radio
Low prices and Trump’s trade war are pushing these Northwest farmers to the brink

KUOW Public Radio
Negotiations stall on Columbia River Treaty
Amid federal cuts, here’s why UW’s lab animals could be euthanized
Washington will offer special education to students longer under new law (Cortes, A.)
A fight between romantic rivals in Washington state results in ICE arrests
Low prices and Trump’s trade war are pushing these Northwest farmers to the brink
Seattle judge rescinds order directing Trump administration to admit 12,000 refugees
Democratic Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez won in a Trump district. Now she faces an uprising from the left

KXLY (ABC)
Cost of Washington’s Discover Pass to increase this fall
“They failed my daughter”: Mother seeks answers for teen’s death at Sacred Heart

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom Community College’s student newspaper a target of budget cuts
WTA to enhance existing bus routes instead of pursuing rapid transit system
Low-income discounts may expand as major Bellingham water rate hikes loom

MyNorthwest
Washington’s AG calls 10-year ban on US states regulating AI ‘dangerous’

The Urbanist
After ‘Year of Housing 2.0’, Policymakers Eye Next Big Housing Moves (Alvarado, Bateman, Salomon)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Tuesday notes

Monday, May 19

New WA law increases penalties for litter, delays plastic bag requirements
Washington residents will soon face heftier fines for littering and higher prices for plastic grocery bags. A new law signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday toughens the punishment for littering and delays requirements for retailers to offer thicker bags for sale from Jan. 1, 2026 until 2028. The Legislature will use the two years to review the state’s reusable bag policies, Ferguson said. Retailers who sell thicker bags before the mandate is in effect will be penalized four cents a bag, under the new law. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

Washington’s AG calls 10-year ban on US states regulating AI ‘dangerous’
Not allowing states to regulate artificial intelligence would be “dangerous,” Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown said Thursday. House Republicans surprised tech industry watchers and outraged state governments when they added a clause to Republicans’ signature “big, beautiful” tax bill that would ban states and localities from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (Fole)

Transgender students’ struggles shared during emotional protest at Lynden School Board
Devin Luna, one of the main organizers of a transgender student support rally at the Lynden School District on Thursday, May 15, came out to a school counselor when she was a student at Lynden High School. But the 2022 graduate told the school board, she quickly “took it back,” because she said Lynden is “hostile” to transgender people like her. She told the school board that their actions are about more than sports: They have the potential to make students feel unsafe expressing their identities. Continue reading at Cascadia Daily News. (Santiago Ochoa)

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Aberdeen Daily World
National, state, local library systems at risk

Axios
Seattle gains nearly 17,000 residents in a year

Bainbridge Island Review
Whooping cough cases continue to rise in Kitsap County

Capital Press
Yakima basin water supply drops to 48% of normal
House Democrats urge court to repeal Trump’s tariffs
Environmental group sues feds over logging expansion plan
Klamath irrigators applaud new guidance on Endangered Species Act
Washington fines farm labor contractor $1.25 million for paperwork violations

Columbian
Tolling delay on I-5 bridge could mean higher rates for Washington and Oregon drivers.

The Daily News
Businesses on way to Mount St. Helens say road closure signs hurting traffic
Libraries are cutting back on staff and services after Trump’s order to dismantle small agency

Everett Herald
Sustainable aviation fuel center gets funding boost (Liias)
Comment: Cuts to Medicaid will make fentanyl fight harder

Kitsap Sun
Peninsula Alliance adds affordable housing for clients in Bremerton

News Tribune
Rules of the Road: Are passengers required to provide ID during traffic stops?
Opinion: Trump’s zeal to remove undocumented immigrants is already threatening the economy

Northwest Asian Weekly
Seattle mayor unveils $1 million initiative to boost safety, economic vitality in Chinatown, Japantown, and Little Saigon

Seattle Medium
Major US Cities, Including Seattle, Face Sinking Threat
Seattle Tourism Surged With 40 Million Visitors In 2024
Catholic Church Warns Of Excommunication Over WA Child Abuse Reporting Law

Seattle Times
Nonstop flights from Sea-Tac to Switzerland, Denmark coming soon
Raises for one union not funded in WA budget, leading to finger-pointing
Supreme Court allows Trump to strip protections from some Venezuelans; deportations could follow

Spokesman Review
As lease deadline approaches, Seattle homeless camp may have nowhere to go
Hunting advocates petition for removal of four Washington Fish and Wildlife commissioners
After 2023 failure, Spokane County jurisdictions working on a more collaborative jail tax proposal for 2026
‘It’s necessary for a community to thrive’: Rural newspapers refocus their publications as news deserts grow
New Washington law keeps identifying information of whistleblowers private following investigation into Spokane Valley councilman

Washington Post
Trump calls on Walmart to absorb tariffs rather than raise prices
After key vote, White House urges Republicans to back budget bill
Trump orders the government to stop enforcing rules he doesn’t like
Deportation fears trigger decline in tax filings in immigrant communities

WA State Standard
Washington will offer special education to students longer under new law (Cortes)
New WA law increases penalties for litter, delays plastic bag requirements
Rural-focused organization launches effort to address infrastructure needs in rural WA
Tolling delay on I-5 bridge could mean higher rates for Washington and Oregon drivers
Comment: Fear and defiance are this Washington’s response to Trump’s education funding threats

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma schools reveal how many staff members will be impacted by budget cuts
Students with Seattle Student Union push back on possible return of resource officers
Restaurant owner shaken after mass shooting in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood
New late-night venue regulations take effect in Seattle after mass shooting in Pioneer Square

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Planes clip wings at SEA, passengers deplane
3 killed, 1 critically hurt in Pioneer Square shooting
Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting in Whatcom County
KIRO 7 Investigates: The 3-strike law and the case of Jahmed Haynes
Washington’s AG calls 10-year ban on US states regulating AI ‘dangerous’
Palm Springs clinic bombing suspect could have a connection Pierce County murder case

KNKX Public Radio
A grassroots movement trying to keep the Washington coast clean
Despite headwinds, Washington is forging ahead with clean trucking

KXLY (ABC)
Governor Ferguson signs Recycling Reform Act into law
After court setback, Spokane City Council considers revised approach to unauthorized camping

NW Public Radio
Inside a ‘life changing’ class at the Washington State Penitentiary
New sensors could show your wildfire smoke exposure immediately
Federal funding cut a program that would place mental health professionals in rural schools
Nearly two-year Gorge shooting investigations now to prosecutors, suspected shooter trial set for July 23

Web

Cascadia Daily News
PeaceHealth nurses to vote on new proposed contract
Grassroots-formed Salish Sea Deaf School will hit 10 years this fall
Border Patrol conducting more frequent car searches at WA crossing to Canada
Transgender students’ struggles shared during emotional protest at Lynden School Board

Cascade PBS
Shoreline’s answer to offset carbon emissions? Free e-bikes

The Urbanist
Governor Signs Washington’s First-in-the-Nation Shared Streets Law (Alvarado, Timmons)

Washington Observer
Tax targets clamor for veto relief
A bill-signing tribute to Sen. Bill Ramos
A dearth of sunshine on state government (Liias)
Is the BPA where clean energy projects go to die?

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

Friday, May 16

In Toxic Detention
The detention center imprisons people who are suspected of violating civil immigration laws. While immigrants detained in the facility are from countries across the globe, many are from Latin America, one of several regions that has felt the brunt of European colonization and American imperialism. The impacts of these forces have made life in the countries unlivable for many, forcing people to migrate. However, when they reach the borders of the countries, including the United States, which have contributed to or caused their displacement, they are met with hostility and immigration policies that turn their plight into profit. Continue reading at The Nation. (Rico Moore)

As lease deadline approaches, Seattle homeless camp may have nowhere to go
A plan to move a sanctioned homeless encampment in Seattle appears to have fallen apart at the last minute, eliciting finger-pointing from public officials. Leaders of the encampment say barring a quick resolution they will move to an unsanctioned location on Saturday. More than 100 people including 17 children live at Tent City 4, a self-managed community outside the Seattle Mennonite Church in the Lake City neighborhood, where they’ve been for the past year. Their lease expires Saturday. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Dean Rutz)

Tesla, Netflix, Philip Morris among those pushing WA governor for tax vetoes
Corporate titans. Bank executives. Restaurant operators. Airplane owners. They’re all trying to convince Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson that there are problems with the tax bills on his desk, and they are suggesting vetoes as a fix. Not surprisingly, they say the provisions drawing their antipathy will cost them, and by extension their customers, more money. Ferguson has received written requests from hundreds of people and groups hoping to influence him ahead of Tuesday, the deadline to make decisions on pending bills. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)

Print

Axios
Bartell Drugs: A Seattle legacy fades away
Overdose deaths drop in Washington state
Why new Starbucks dress code prompted hundreds of baristas to strike

Capital Press
French utility pulls plug on Washington wind project

Everett Herald
Everett Community College to close Early Learning Center
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval
Washington tries to maintain B.C. ties amid Trump era tensions (Heck, Wellman, Shewmake)
Next stop for Washington housing: More construction near transit (Heck)
Snohomish County plans to resurface about 76 miles of roads this summer

The Nation
In Toxic Detention (Ortiz-Self)

News Tribune
Tacoma police leader ‘feared coming forward’ about ex-Deputy Chief Paul Junger
Can Tacoma preserve tree canopy while increasing housing? City embarks on plan
Opinion: Bill will hobble Washington’s affordable housing
Opinion: ICE detained a parent taking his kid to school. Our leaders need to stand up to it

New York Times
Trump Administration Live Updates: Right-Wing House Members Who Want Deeper Cuts Block Domestic Policy Bill

Olympian
From child care to textured hair, here are some new laws coming to WA (Hunt, Doglio, Morgan, Hansen, Alvarado, Nance, Krishnadasan, Ortiz-Self)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Mariners plan multimillion-dollar stadium upgrades
Valley Medical Center to close clinics amid financial strain

Seattle Times
Cyber attack affects operations at Pierce County Library System
Survivor of deadly North Cascades climbing fall speaks to officials
Supreme Court unravels ‘absurdity’ of Trump birthright ban, says AG Brown
As lease deadline approaches, Seattle homeless camp may have nowhere to go
Trump suspends asylum system, leaving immigrants to face an uncertain future
Trump administration must resume $11 billion in funding for public health departments, judge rules

Spokesman Review
Spokane promised share of 911 dispatch funds if negotiations fail with regional dispatcher (Ormsby, Hill)
Challenge from Washington and other states to Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship makes way to U.S. Supreme Court
Opinion: We can’t solve the housing crisis by reducing our options

Washington Post
Big U.S. cities grew in 2024, reversing covid-era population declines
As Republicans weigh Medicaid work requirements, Georgia offers a warning
Supreme Court grapples with nationwide orders blocking birthright citizenship ban
Unanimous Supreme Court ruling could make it easier to prove excessive force by police

WA State Standard
Washington will offer special education to students longer under new law
Tesla, Netflix, Philip Morris among those pushing WA governor for tax vetoes

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Medicaid cut threatens $700M loss for Washington state
Proposed 24/7 crisis center in Capitol Hill draws mixed reactions
Lewis County juvenile facility to remain overcrowded after bills fail
Gov. Ferguson signs Sen. Bill Ramos’ final bills at event in Issaquah

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Sound Transit looking for input on Everett light rail Link extension
CVS bids to take over Bartell Drugs, Rite Aid locations in Pacific Northwest
Clark County settles with family of motorist shot and killed by deputy in 2021
Report: Kroger stores overcharging consumers on discounted or ‘for sale’ items
Family alleges Auburn hospital let loved one with severe dementia leave facility, found 9 miles away

KUOW Public Radio
Washington AG Brown’s 3 takeaways from birthright citizenship SCOTUS hearing
Family of Garfield High student fatally shot on campus sues Seattle Public Schools

KXLY (ABC)
Study reveals urgent need for child care in Spokane’s University District
Drug use and crime concerns near Ridpath Apartments in downtown Spokane
Local music teacher to be honored by Barry Manilow during his summer concert in Spokane

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Anacortes Superintendent leaving for top job in Northshore School District
Lummi Island ferry fares will increase again after lawsuit temporarily rolled back fares

Cascade PBS
WA governor signs three immigrants rights bills into law (Ortiz-Self, Hasegawa, Trudeau)
Proposed state and federal budget cuts threaten WA abortion access

MyNorthwest
AG Brown defends birthright citizenship as Supreme Court weighs order, nationwide injunctions

The Urbanist
Seattle Police Want to Add StarChase Car Tracking to Technology Arsenal
Op Ed: Five Ways to Lower Rents in Seattle

Thursday, May 15

Forget doomsday — Seattle preppers are bracing for real-world crises
Amid concerns about inflation and a potential recession, more Seattle-area residents are adopting a pragmatic approach to preparedness, eschewing doomsday scenarios in favor of everyday resilience, local preppers say. Why it matters: Seattle’s economy has historically been among the strongest in the nation, but concerns about rising costs locally and interest rates and economic policy nationally have left many feeling vulnerable. Continue reading at Axios. (Brendan Lynch)

WA AG at Supreme Court hearing on Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown is in Washington, D.C. to hear the Supreme Court’s arguments on the Trump Administration’s executive order to end birthright citizenship. Within the first few hours of his second term as President, one of the executive orders Trump signed looks to end birthright citizenship– where, according to the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, a person born on American soil to an undocumented person still has American citizenship. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)

New law expands accountability in hate crime cases across WA
Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law HB 1052 on Monday—it’s a bill aimed at improving accountability in hate crime cases. The law, championed by King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion, will help address confusion in current hate crime statutes and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions. State Rep. Cindy Ryu and state Sen. Manka Dhingra led the charge in sponsoring the bill, which addresses an issue in the current law that has made it difficult for prosecutors to charge certain hate crimes. Continue reading at NW Asian Weekly. (Gov. Ferguson’s Office)