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Is home ownership out of reach in Washington state?
Affordable housing is a key issue for lawmakers this year, with numerous bills and programs aimed at the issue every session. Three key costs for every family are housing ,...
KCTS: Frank Chopp the Affordable Housing Crusader
House Speaker Frank Chopp doesn’t like the spotlight, unless it’s pointed at the issues he cares about. Over the years Chopp has accomplished a great deal for his Seattle district...
KIRO investigators: Confusing state law allows violent felons to get guns
After the deadly school shooting in Marysville and the passage of Initiative 594, there’s a renewed look at gun safe legislation, including a proposal from Rep. Ruth Kagi on the...
Workers’ comp rate increase is way below expectations
The Department of Labor and Industries announced last week that workers’ comp premiums in 2015 will increase by less than half of the 1.8 percent proposed back in September. The...
Government data shedding light on oil train routes
The safe transporting of oil through Washington (and around the country) has been a top concern of constituents, first responders, and lawmakers over the last couple years. Domestic oil production...
We can do better; Washington’s foster children are depending on us
The lives of foster children are often filled with unbearable trauma. Many have endured abuse or neglect, and been removed from their families. These children are our most vulnerable; they...
We’re out for a few days
Your Advance team is taking a break to spend the holiday with family and friends, and to reflect upon all we have to be thankful for this time of year....
Hiring is on the rise. So is unemployment. Huh?
It might seem counterintuitive, but while Washington added close to 6,000 jobs last month, the state Employment Security Department (ESD) reports the unemployment rate also ticked up a bit. And...
What’s the real story with the budget shortfall?
We heard the news last week that revenues are up, because the economy is better, but that our state still faces a budget deficit of about $2 billion. That’s not...
Where’s all the carbon in our air coming from?
New research published in the journal Climactic Change shows that a remarkably small number of companies (90) are responsible for two-thirds of global warming causing carbon emissions. Between the years...