King County Executive allocates $2M for immigrant services, bars ICE from properties
SEATTLE—King County Executive Girmay Zahilay signed his first executive order since taking office earlier this year, directing $2 million in emergency funding toward immigrant and refugee communities and barring federal immigration agents (ICE) from staging enforcement operations in non-public county properties. The move came in response to growing fears among residents over intensified federal immigration […]
SOS Steve Hobbs announces John Lewis Youth Leadership Award recipients
OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is proud to announce the Washington state recipients of the 2025 John Lewis Youth Leadership Award, Kiprey Kalume and Luna Esmeralda Perez. The award recognizes these outstanding youth for their commitment to civic engagement, social justice, and community empowerment. “Both of these individuals are doing fantastic work supporting their communities,” Secretary Hobbs said. “Their hard […]
Letter to the Editor: Protect Crime Victim Services in Snohomish County
Crime victim services in Washington are facing a serious funding cliff, and consequences will be felt in communities like ours if action is not taken this legislative session. Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center serves children and families impacted by abuse, sexual assault, and other serious crimes in Snohomish County — some of the most vulnerable […]
Mukilteo welcomes Year of the Fire Horse with record-breaking First Lunar New Year event
MUKILTEO—As the Year of the Snake comes to an end, well over 650 people throughout the evening attended the City of Mukilteo’s first-ever Lunar New Year celebration on Thursday, February 12, to usher in the Year of the Fire Horse—an amplified and intense “double-Yang” fire cycle that occurs every 60 years. Spanning from February 17, […]
Snohomish County voters approve $2.9 billion for education in Special Election
SNOHOMISH COUNTY—Voters in Snohomish County approved 17 out of 21 school district levies and bonds in the Feb. 10, special election, channeling $2.916 billion toward educational programs, facility upgrades and technology amid a 22.62% turnout from 454,289 registered voters. Bonds require a 60 percent threshold to pass, whereas levies require a simple majority. The results […]
New Telehealth Hub at LETI in Snohomish County Boosts Access to Care
EVERETT—Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI) in Everett recently launched a new telehealth space, at its Everett training center, thanks to a donation from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington (UHC). The space features 25 Wi-Fi-enabled computers and medical equipment such as blood pressure monitors and infrared thermometers, helping residents without reliable internet access or personal devices […]
Some public employees could get a pension boost
OLYMPIA — Retired teachers and other public employees who established state pensions before 1977 might receive a one-time, 3% increase in retirement benefits this year — up to $110 dollars per month, under a bipartisan bill this legislative session. The Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) on Plan 1 includes […]
Washington Senate passes abortion medication expansion
OLYMPIA – Legislation increasing the accessibility of mifepristone and misoprostol, used for abortion and to manage miscarriages, advanced out of the Washington Senate Feb. 10. Senate Bill 5917 is a follow-up to Senate Bill 5768, which passed during the 2023 legislative session as a safeguard against potential national bans on abortion access. SB 5768 allows […]
Bill targets elected sheriffs for removal by appointed state board without a public vote
OLYMPIA—A divided Washington state Senate committee advanced a bill on February 9, 2026, that would empower a state oversight board to remove elected sheriffs from office if their peace officer certification was revoked, igniting a fierce debate over balancing accountability in law enforcement with the rights of local voters. Senate Bill 5974 cleared the Ways […]
WA income tax on higher earners clears first legislative hurdle
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—Democrats advanced controversial income tax legislation out of a key Washington state Senate committee on Monday after pledging more proceeds to local public defender costs and increasing a tax break for small businesses. Senate Bill 6346 passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee on a voice vote. This marked the first legislative test of […]
