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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

WA: Civil Rights

A bill to give voting rights for people in prison was introduced by Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Kitsap, who was formerly incarcerated. (Brian/Adobe Stock)
WA voting rights bill for people in prison would ‘restore humanity'

Legislation in Olympia could give people in Washington prisons their voting rights. House Bill 2030, known as the Free the Vote Act, would allow …

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Washington was the second state to allow elections to be conducted completely by mail. (CLShebley/Adobe Stock)
Research links faster postal service to higher voter turnout

When the postal service works better, people are more likely to vote - according to new research. The study published in the Election Law Journal …

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Bellingham is the largest city in Whatcom County, which borders Canada. (CascadeCreatives/Adobe Stock)
Opponents push back on initiative to build jail in NW WA

A new jail would be built in northwest Washington if a measure on the November ballot passes. Opponents say it isn't a good solution to issues facing …

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Preventable injuries are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. (whyframeshot/Adobe Stock)
Workplace Injuries in Spotlight During Safety Month

June is national safety month and workplace injuries are an important focus. What is considered a workplace injury is broader than many workers may …

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Turnout for local Seattle elections is about half the turnout for federal elections in even-numbered years. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)
Voter-Approved Democracy Reforms Changing WA Elections

Democracy reforms got the seal of approval from many Washington state voters this November. While some changes were big, others were subtle but …

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A recent report finds 30 Washington state legislators were in far-right groups which frequently spread disinformation on Facebook. (cirquedesprit/Adobe Stock)
WA Candidates Tied to Far-Right On Ballot in November

Washington state's primary results have diminished fears of a far-right insurgency in the state's elections. But there are still concerns that 2020 …

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The share of arrests of young people has decreased in every major crime category over the past two decades. (sakhorn38/Adobe Stock)
Research Undermines Narrative of Youth-Led Crime Wave

Crime rates among young people have dropped dramatically in recent decades - despite media coverage that points to a supposed "crime wave" led by yout…

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George Floyd's killing in 2020 sparked massive protests, in Seattle and across the country, to spotlight the need for racial justice. (SoundersBruce/Wikimedia Commons)
NW Racial Equity Struggle in Focus on MLK Day

The quest for greater racial equity in the Northwest is in the spotlight today on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and it's part of the mission of one …

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Some have referred to October as
Reconciliation Bill Includes Union-Friendly PRO Act Provisions

SEATTLE - Unions could get a boost under provisions currently included in the budget reconciliation package. The Biden administration has released …

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Health professionals compare bike-helmet laws to laws requiring people to wear seat belts. (Maridav/Adobe Stock)
Health Profs Object to Repealing King County Bike Helmet Law

SEATTLE - A proposal to repeal King County's law requiring helmets while riding bicycles has health professionals concerned. The King County Board …

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There are more than 2,000 people incarcerated in the Monroe Correctional Complex, located in a small southeast Washington town. (SounderBruce/Wikimedia Commons)
As Redistricting Begins, New WA Law Ends 'Prison Gerrymandering'

OLYMPIA, Wash. - The recent release of detailed Census data means states can begin drawing up new voting maps. In Washington state, a new law will …

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At least 11 states have introduced legislation guaranteeing the right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases. (pixelrobot/Adobe Stock)
WA First to Guarantee Right to Counsel in Eviction Cases

SEATTLE - With the threats of evictions rising as the pandemic eases, Washington state took a major step this year to protect tenants. In the 2021 …

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