Cost to battle 20 wildfires in WA has topped $200M
OLYMPIA [ASPEN FORD] — In the span of a month, firefighting costs for 20 wildfires burning across Washington have totaled $207 million, according to data from the state’s Department of Natural Resources. The expenses will be split among local, state and federal agencies. But the number is telling: Those 20 fires, some of which are still burning, […]
Watchdog data shows higher WA child welfare deaths than previously reported
OLYMPIA [JAKE GOLDSTEIN-STREET] — Deaths and serious injuries of children involved with Washington’s child welfare system last year were even higher than record levels the state previously reported, according to new data. In 2025, 35 children died and 49 more nearly died either from abuse, neglect and other maltreatment, or amid these concerns, after having […]
Court rebuffs attempt to ax ballot statement on WA income tax measure’s budget effects
THURSTON COUNTY [JERRY CORNFIELD] — A citizen activist lost his bid Thursday to keep a one-sentence statement off the ballot that summarizes how an initiative to repeal Washington’s new income tax on high earners would affect the state budget. State Supreme Court Commissioner Michael Johnston denied Arthur West’s request for a preliminary injunction to block […]
Boeing engineers and technical professionals vote down contract, greenlights strike
EVERETT — Members of Boeing’s largest white-collar union, SPEEA, on Friday rejected the company’s proposed four-year contracts for engineers and technical workers, while overwhelmingly authorizing their leaders to call a strike if talks fail before the current agreements expire in early October. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, or SPEEA, announced the results […]
Woodland Park Zoo Updates: Kitoko Moves, Jessie the Sloth, OktoBEARfest
SEATTLE — Woodland Park Zoo is preparing to transfer a young gorilla to a new facility while welcoming a second sloth and launches the sale of tickets for its OktoBEARfest. Kitoko, a 6-year-old male western lowland gorilla born March 4, 2020, will leave the zoo after August 31, the last day visitors can see him. […]
