February 19, 2025 2:33 pm

The premier news source for Snohomish County

Pedersen elected new WA State Senate Majority Leader

pedersen

TUKWILA—Senator Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) will be the new Senate Majority Leader in the Washington State Senate, following a vote among Senate Democrats on Monday, November 11. Pedersen will take over immediately as Sen. Andy Billig (D-Spokane) prepares to retire after 14 years of service in the Legislature, including six years (2018-2024) as leader of the […]

Two Washington Democratic political power players announce retirements

washington

OLYMPIA—Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-Spokane) and Senate President Pro Tempore Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), two high ranking policy makers who have shaped Washington politics for at least a decade, announce they will be leaving the legislature this year. Appointed to fill an open seat in the Washington State House of Representatives in 1995, then-candidate […]

First three Let’s Go Washington initiatives pass the legislature and now law

three initiatives

OLYMPIA—Three of six Let’s Go Washington landmark initiatives to the legislature passed both chambers of the Washington State Senate and House on Monday, March 4, and will become law in 90 days after the Legislature adjourns on March 7—no signature by Governor Jay Inslee is needed. The three initiatives that did not receive public hearings […]

Legislature holds hearing on initiative concerning personal income tax

income tax

OLYMPIA—The Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Finance Committee held a joint public hearing to discuss a citizen initiative, I-2111, concerning personal income tax, in the John L. O’Brien building in Olympia Tuesday, February 27. The joint meeting was chaired by Representative April Berg (D-Mill Creek). There was a total of 181 testifiers […]

The People vs Washington State, hearing schedules released for initiatives

washington initiatives

OLYMPIA—Washington State House and Senate leaders agree to hold joint public hearings on initiatives I- 2113 (police pursuits), I-2111 (state income tax) and I-2081 (parental rights) for Tuesday, February 27 and Wednesday. February 28. Democratic leadership has confirmed that I-2117, a repeal of the Climate Commitment Act, I-2109, a repeal of the capital gains tax and I-2124, an opt-out of Washington’s long-term care retirement program will […]

After public backlash, Democrat lawmakers will hear 3 of 6 citizen initiatives

initiatives

OLYMPIA—Washington State House and Senate leaders agree to hold joint public hearings on initiatives I- 2113 (police pursuits), I-2111 (state income tax) and I-2081 (parental rights) on February 27 and 28. Exact times will be confirmed later this week and the hearings will be televised live on the TVW website. “The fact Democrats in the legislature have scheduled three hearings […]

A look at Portugal’s drug experiment, what’s working and what’s not

drugs

PORTUGAL, August 10, 2023—In July 2001 Portugal made a paradigm shift in how it handled drug crimes. The Portuguese Drug Policy Model implemented that year, decriminalized the public and private use, acquisition, and possession of all legal drugs if the amount did not surpass a 10-day supply. The decision was intent on moving drug use, […]

Those convicted of a drug crime in Snohomish County urged to seek Blake relief

Blake relief

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., May 26, 2023—State v. Blake is a 2021 Washington State Supreme Court decision that held that the drug possession law was unconstitutional. If you were convicted of soliciting possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, or certain other drug related misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor offenses in Snohomish County District Court you […]

Mayors across Snohomish County support recriminalizing illegal drugs

illegal drugs

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., May 6, 2023—Fifteen mayors represented by the Mayors and Business Leaders for Public Safety coalition, join forces in a letter urging the Snohomish County Council to pass proposed Ordinance 23-046 to recriminalize controlled and counterfeit substances. “Currently, cites in Snohomish County and across Washington state are looking to enact laws governing the possession […]

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