Washington News & Current Events | Public News Service

If approved, the Democracy Voucher program would bring in $4.5 million each year through a property tax. (Road Red Runner/Adobe Stock)

Seattle votes on democracy vouchers designed to counteract wealthy donors

A public funding mechanism for Seattle elections is up for renewal in next week's election. The Democracy Voucher program was passed 10 years ago…

Studies show participating in sports lowers rates of anxiety and depression for children. (Adobe Stock)

WA coaches struggle for fair wages

Coaches in the Renton School District, just south of Seattle, are organizing with the American Federation of Teachers to fight for what they say are …

Employees need quick access to their files in order to know what documents they have signed, such as non-competition agreements. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New WA law provides workers easier access to files

A new Washington law ensures employees quick access to their personnel files, which are necessary for many things including filing for workers' …

Washington Bee Atlas volunteers participate in a collecting event in the Palouse, a region in the state known for its agricultural production. (WA State Dept of Agriculture)<br />

First complete survey of native WA bees finds new species

After one year, Washington's first comprehensive bee survey has documented 15 species that have never been collected in the state before. The …

A march for immigrant rights in Spokane, led by student leaders and supported by the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane and other community organizations. (PJALS)

WA joins national Families First protests on Saturday

This Saturday is a National Day of Protest in response to the Trump administration's recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cuts funding …

Research shows nearly 60% of Washington residents have avoided seeking medical treatment or modified their use of prescriptions in the last year because of the cost. (Kanokwan/Adobe Stock)

WA law wipes medical debt from credit reports

While a new ruling by a federal judge allows medical debt to remain on Americans' credit reports, Washington residents will be protected from the …

Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane will use its AARP Community Challenge funds to teach digital literacy skills to refugee seniors. (Adobe Stock)

Amid rising homelessness, grants help more WA seniors age in place

More seniors in Washington state are facing financial strain or even losing their homes and seven local organizations will expand support for them wit…

The Washington State Health Care Authority estimated rebalancing spending for state workers and school employees through Senate Bill 5083 could save the state over $400 million by 2029. (stokkete/Adobe Stock)

New law will lower health care costs for WA state employees

As federal Medicaid cuts loom, consumer advocates are celebrating Washington's new bill limiting hospital prices for state and public school …

Washington state has the world's largest public port system. (Adobe Stock)

Calls grow for WA to cut ship emissions at ports

Environmental advocates are urging Washington state lawmakers to require cargo ships to plug in while in port. The Port of Seattle will require all …

The recommended ratio of students to counselors is 250 to 1, Washington is over that at 363 to 1. (Christoph Burgstedt/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Gen Z teens don’t know their options after high school

Most Gen Z high school students and their parents are unaware of the range of options available to kids after graduation, according to a new survey…

State governments await guidance on whether or when $6.8 billion dollars in federal grants to school districts will be released. (Insta_photos/Adobe Stock)<br />

Freeze on federal grants squeezes WA school budgets

Panic has set in at school districts across Washington state as the Trump administration continues to withhold federal funds. Chris Reykdal…

The dam removal opened up more than 30 miles of new spawning grounds for steelhead and 15 miles of salmon habitat. (Ian Shive)

WA conservationists preserve 5 miles of lower White Salmon River

Conservationists are celebrating the protection of five miles of river frontage along the White Salmon River. The 174-acre site was purchased by The …

In Snohomish County, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths more than doubled between 2017 and 2022, mostly from fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)

WA Native Americans feel disproportionate effects of fentanyl

CORRECTIONS: Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson was not at the 3rd annual taskforce summit. An earlier version incorrectly stated he had attended. In …

Treehouse, an organization helping foster children graduate high school, lost a third of its funding due to state budget cuts. Graduation rates for foster kids have gone up in recent years but cuts could reverse the trend. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)

WA budget cuts hit orgs serving at-risk youth

Washington nonprofits supporting vulnerable youth have faced large state funding cuts this year and are calling on communities to help keep the progra…

A new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center suggested a number of ways to strengthen primary care outcomes in Medicare, including enabling federal tracking and target-setting to report on primary care spending across federal health care programs. (Maha Heang 245789/Adobe Stock)

Alternative payment models better for WA patients and providers

Adopting alternative payment models for people receiving primary care through Medicare is better for providers and patients, according to a new …

Nationwide, 10% of the farm labor force is in the United States on an H-2A visa. (nick barounis/Adobe Stock)

WA workers could be harmed by H-2A visa expansion

Advocates for immigrants' rights in Washington state are voicing concerns about the possible expansion of the H-2A visa program, which they say …

The late Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman was remembered at a

Expert fears political violence becoming 'part of the game'

Washingtonians cannot help but feel the emotional weight of political violence after this weekend's assassination of a top Democratic state lawmaker i…

Research shows students of color are more likely to be suspended and also less likely to receive support with schoolwork while they are out of class. (jovannig/Adobe Stock)

Child rights advocates: New WA school discipline rules roll back protections

Washington's Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has revised its public school discipline policies, and advocates for children said …

The Washington legislature passed a number of bills this session aimed at protecting queer and trans rights, including a controversial bill that expands students' privacy in regards to counseling they receive at school. (Mitch/Adobe Stock)

WA group highlights Black trans performers for Pride Month

June is Pride Month, and Washington's Lavender Rights Project is celebrating with a Black Trans Comedy Showcase. This is the largest fundraiser of …

According to 2025 Kids Count Data Book, nationally nearly one in three children live in households burdened by high housing costs and Washington follows the trend. (Louis-Photo/Adobe Stock)

Report ranks Washington down in overall child well-being

Washington state has dropped to 16th in the nation for overall child well-being, according to the 2025 Kids Count Data Book, a national report …

Advocates for rent stabilization rallied on the state Capitol steps in March. (Caleb Ewings Photography)

WA’s new rent stabilization law brings immediate relief

Gov. Bob Ferguson has signed Washington's first rent stabilization law and renters and advocates who fought for the bill are breathing sighs of …

The new Washington law triples penalties for employers who delay workers' compensation payments. (Courtney H/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

New WA law aims to reel in workers' comp abuse

Workers' rights advocates are celebrating a new law mandating "good faith and fair dealing" in Washington's workers' compensation system. They said …

Allen Institute scientists Trygve Bakken (left) and Jonathan Ting (right) discuss research figures and data related to enhancer AAV tools. (Jenny Burns/Allen Institute)

WA scientists create new tools to treat brain diseases

Researchers from Washington and across North America have teamed up to develop a powerful new set of biological tools which could be a game changer fo…

Health care is the fastest growing industry in Spokane, Washington, with nearly 4,000 jobs created locally in the last five years. (imtmphoto/Adobe Stock)

Spokane coalition aims to diversify the city's economy

By Laura Aka for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Washington News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Coll…

Research shows less than one ounce of alcohol each day is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. (encierro/Adobe Stock)

WA expert weighs in on higher rates of women binge drinking

As Women's Health Month winds down, experts in alcohol abuse are speaking out about an increase in binge drinking among women over the past five …

Nearly 20% of Washington's labor force is foreign-born. (DisobeyArt/Adobe Stock)

Fear of detention prevents some WA migrants from getting food

Immigrants' rights advocates are voicing concerns that migrant communities in Washington may be avoiding visiting food banks or getting food assistanc…

Oregon and California have created prescribed burn liability funds to help reduce the risk for landowners and contractors. (David Elkins/Adobe Stock)

WA to see more prescribed burns thanks to new liability fund

Washington lawmakers have created a new Prescribed Burn Liability Fund to help make controlled burns less risky on public, private and tribal lands …

Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has served nearly 40 million children and their families. (Save the Children)

Head Start supports WA parents, celebrates 60 years

This Sunday is the 60th anniversary of Head Start, the federally funded preschool program supporting more than 12,000 children, up to age four…

Green Hill School is the largest state-run juvenile detention facility in the state, and has been plagued with overcrowding and understaffing in recent years. (Darya/Adobe Stock)

New WA law reels in felony convictions for incarcerated youths who fight

Advocates for juvenile justice reform in Washington are celebrating the passage of House Bill 1815. The law redefines "prison riot" and lets judges …

Supporters call for the release of Alfredo 'Lelo' Juarez Zeferino. As of their most recent update in March, ICE is currently detaining more than 46,000 people across the country. (C2C)

WA immigration rights advocates call for release of union organizer

Immigrant rights advocates are calling on state leaders to do more to protect Washington farmworkers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement…

As WA air quality worsens, Congress rolls back protections

Air pollution in Washington is getting worse, according to a new report citing transportation emissions as the primary culprit. Eight of the 12 …

Since Seattle's Democracy Voucher program was implemented in 2017, data show campaign donations from large contributions, over $250, have decreased by 93%. (Suriyo/Adobe Stock)

WA voting rights advocates push for democracy vouchers state-wide

Seattle's City Council voted last week to put the city's Democracy Voucher Program on the ballot to be renewed in August and supporters of the program…

Research shows if Washington households saved about $95 a month, collectively they could erase the<br />taxpayer burden while ensuring themselves a decent standard of living in retirement. (Uwe/Adobe Stock)

WA on track to state retirement savings program

More than 1 million private sector workers nationwide have joined state retirement savings programs, which advocates for seniors said is a key step …

An American Heart Association program is helping Washington food pantries tailor their supplies by adopting nutritional guidelines for the food they distribute. (Adobe Stock/AI)

WA food pantries implement new policies to provide healthy nutrition

Research shows people experiencing food insecurity often suffer from chronic health conditions due to a lack of proper nutrition. Now, a group of …

Immigrants make up 16% of all workers in the construction industry in Washington state. Removing thousands of workers from the labor force would increase the cost and limit the total construction feasible during a historic housing shortage. (Soleila/Adobe Stock)

New report: Mass deportations would harm WA economy

A new report warned mass deportations of undocumented immigrants in Washington would lead to labor shortages and make many goods and services more exp…

The Young Activist Leaders Program provides a place for young people to ask questions, educate each other, and explore social justice work together. (Carlo/Adobe Stock)

WA youth: Money for medicaid, not war

A group of Washington youths, fresh from a grassroots leadership development program, is speaking up against the Trump Administration's plans to cut …

The Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington is the largest in the Bonneville Power Administration system. (Will/Adobe Stock)

BPA urged to focus on salmon, clean energy in market choice

A major player in the Northwest's energy landscape is considering changes in the future as extreme climate events make power delivery in Washington mo…

In the last two years, more than 100,000 jobs in EV manufacturing have been created. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Congressional vote could slow WA's electric vehicle transition

Congress is voting this week whether to roll back states' authority to set their own, stricter clean car and truck emissions standards, which could …

Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act funding pays for job training programs like welding and carpentry, a post-high-school counselor and a therapist, among other things in Skamania County. (EFStock/Adobe Stock)

Rural WA counties face challenges without key federal funding

By Claire Carlson and Lane Wendell Fischer for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Washington News Service for the Public News Ser…

The report found Washington needs to almost double its number of school psychologists in order to meet the recommended minimum. (peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

WA investments in school mental-health services slowly helping

Washington has done well enacting some policies that improve school mental-health systems in the last year, while still falling short in other areas…

Seasonal allergies are getting worse in part because increased CO2 in the air triggers plants to produce more pollen. (gamelover/Adobe Stock)

WA's advanced pollen tracking tool can help allergy sufferers

Washington's pollen season is starting earlier and lasting longer, thanks to climate change, with research showing airborne pollen levels across the …

An average of 40 people per year have been killed by police in Washington state since 2015. (AlexanderIO/Adobe Stock)

Police reform advocate: WA must do more to reduce deaths

Five years after George Floyd's murder by a white police officer sparked nationwide protests and demands for police reform, progress remains slow…

When cows eat plant cover faster than it can regrow, it erodes and degrades the soil beneath, making it more susceptible to runoff and other undesirable consequences. (Saed/Adobe Stock)

WA cattle grazing can harm 'food webs'

By Seth Millstein for Sentient Climate.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Washington News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service C…

King County reported more than 16,000 people experiencing homelessness last year, which is more than half the state's unhoused population. (Mallivan/Adobe Stock)

Unique approach to helping WA homeless youth 'highly effective'

A unique approach to preventing youth homelessness in Washington is proving highly effective, with more than 93% of participants still housed one …

IRS Direct File was piloted in 12 states last year, but this year it's available in 25 states. (PeakPoints/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

For now, WA residents can e-file taxes directly with IRS

Washington is one of 25 states where people can use the online "IRS Direct File" system, to file their income-tax returns with the Internal Revenue …

Wolves are not expert hunters, only succeeding about 10% of the time, but their presence keeps deer and other animals from destroying too much plant life. (Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife)

Wildlife advocates decry WA wolf population decline

Wildlife advocates are alarmed by a new report from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife showing the state's wolf population fell nearly 10%…

Democratic lawmakers' proposed state budget includes increasing the payroll tax for large employers, generating about $2.3 billion a year. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Working people in WA call for higher taxes on the rich

Washington lawmakers and Gov. Robert Ferguson disagree about how to address the state's $16 billion revenue shortfall. The House and Senate have …

Nearly 100 protests are planned on Saturday in Washington and Oregon. (Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

Thousands to rally across WA on Saturday to protest Trump policies

More than 1,000 protests against the policies of the Trump Administration are set for this Saturday across the country, with 50 planned in Washington …

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