Nate’s Corner: Stronger Public Notice Required Before Tax Increases
We often hear about the importance of transparency in government, but in practice it requires intentional effort by policymakers to ensure constituents are aware of proposals that may affect them. Earlier this month, my colleagues and I took a small but meaningful step forward to improve public awareness when the Council considered and then approved […]
SRFR honors Braven Metals for 11 years of commitment to public safety and training
LAKE STEVENS—South County Regional Fire and Rescue (SRFR) presented the rare Distinguished Public Service Award to Braven Auto and Metals Thursday, March 26, recognizing their continued support of public safety and partnership in training first responders. This is only one of a handful of times the SRFR has presented this award since its inception. Since […]
Sound Transit awards $350M Hoffman contract for Operations and Maintenance Facility South in Federal Way
SEATTLE—The Sound Transit Board has approved a progressive design-build contract for the Operations and Maintenance Facility South, located on about 70 acres at South 336th Street in Federal Way, to Hoffman Construction Company of Washington. When complete in 2032, the essential facility will house maintenance and operations equipment and staff in support of the existing […]
Snohomish County Litter Wranglers 2026 season set to begin
EVERETT– After a one-season hiatus due to budget and staffing difficulties, the Snohomish County Litter Wranglers will soon head out onto county roads to help rustle up garbage and other debris that’s been carelessly discarded by passersby. With a population of more than 870,000 residents and countless visitors, it takes a concerted effort to help ensure our county’s infrastructure is not decorated with trash. “We live in a beautiful part of […]
WA’s status solidifies as one of the most expensive places in US
[JERRY CORNFIELD]—In the past decade, Washington has become one of the most expensive states to live in. Drawing from an array of federal and state data, a new analysis shows the state’s cost of living rising faster than the national average over that time, with only California, New Jersey, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. considered more […]
Public Comment Welcome on Draft Housing and Community Development Plan
EVERETT—Snohomish County is seeking public comment on a draft affordable housing and community development plan. The plan is for the Snohomish County Urban County Consortium and proposes spending more than $5.5 million in federal grant funds to improve housing options and living environments for those in need. The activities will primarily benefit low and moderate-income people and neighborhoods in our community. The proposed projects will help […]
US Senate passes funding for DHS, no money for ICE and CBP
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate in a late night/early morning Friday vote, passed a modified version of HR-7147 to fund DHS without allocations for ICE and CBP. The bill now heads to House for concurrence. Friday morning’s vote comes just hours after President Donald J Trump threated to use his executive authority to pay TSA workers, […]
