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Attempt to rein in surging lawsuit costs stalls in WA Legislature

by Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard February 24, 2026 Democrats’ main attempt to reduce skyrocketing lawsuit payouts by the state and local governments isn’t moving forward...

Suspected Explosive Device Prompts Temporary Closure of Kent City Hall Campus

Kent Police Department announced that a suspected military-grade undetonated explosive device brought to the city’s downtown campus led to the temporary closure of several...

No cops hired so far with WA’s new $100M grant program

by Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard February 24, 2026 Money from Washington’s new $100 million program to boost police hiring has yet to reach cities and...

WA Democrats drop push for business tax to cover Medicaid costs

by Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard February 23, 2026 Washington state Democrats are likely abandoning plans for a new tax on employers like Walmart and Amazon,...

Churches and advocates mobilize as ICE activity continues in WA

by Reneé Diaz, Washington State Standard February 23, 2026 As immigration customs enforcement agent sightings grow, local religious leaders face new concerns for their communities, trying to...

Man Killed in Capitol Hill Shooting; Suspect in Custody

Seattle, Wash. — Homicide detectives are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Friday night in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. At approximately 10:20 p.m., 911 dispatchers...

WA lawmakers work to keep bipartisan public defense proposals alive

by Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard February 20, 2026 A framework for assuring the state eventually pays a much greater share of public defense costs in...

Kent Police Arrest Domestic Violence Suspect After Vehicle Stop

Kent, Wash. — Officers with the Kent Police Department arrested a domestic violence suspect Friday evening following a vehicle stop in the city. The arrest...

Rollback of mortgage lender tax break eyed to help replenish WA wildfire account

by Aspen Ford, Washington State Standard February 19, 2026 Legislation to eliminate a Washington state tax break for large mortgage lenders and use the revenue to...

WA farmworker union bill doesn’t make it through Legislature

by Erick Bengel, Washington State Standard February 19, 2026 A bill that would have made it easier for Washington’s farmworkers to form a union will not...

New Officer Sworn Into Duty at Kent Police Department

Kent, Wash. — The Kent Police Department officially welcomed its newest officer during a swearing-in ceremony held Tuesday night before the Kent City Council. Deputy...

More bills falter as time dwindles for Washington Legislature

by Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard February 18, 2026 The third deadline in as many weeks came Tuesday in the Washington Legislature. It meant the end...

GOP demand for 39-page bill to be read aloud derails Democratic legislation in WA Senate

by Bill Lucia, Washington State Standard February 18, 2026 The end of the day Tuesday did not go as planned for Democrats in the Washington state...

Foes called it the ‘initiative killer.’ Now it’s dead in the WA Legislature

by Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard February 17, 2026 Democratic state senators’ pursuit of new barriers to Washington’s initiative process ended quietly Tuesday. Senate Bill 5973, dubbed...

It’s primary election day in WA. Here’s what you need to know

‘Truly dangerous’: Dry, windy forecast east of WA’s Cascades sparks dire wildfire warning

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson Appoints Andre Sayles as Interim Police Chief Following Shon Barnes’ Resignation