WA governor calls for tapping reserve fund and climate law cash to fill budget hole

OLYMPIA [JERRY CORNFIELD]—Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson made a splash Tuesday with his full-throated endorsement of taxing the earnings of millionaires. The surprise declaration from the first-term Democratic governor nearly drowned out his newly released plan to erase a multibillion-dollar shortfall in the current state budget. He made “super clear” that if Washington taxes millionaires, the […]

VOAWW Connect to launch Jan 2 to enhance local resource navigation

EVERETT—Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW) announced the launch of VOAWW Connect, a new locally operated resource navigation service dedicated to residents of Snohomish and Skagit counties, that is set to begin operations on January 2, 2026. The initiative builds on nearly two decades of community support previously provided under the North Sound 211 banner. […]

Lawmakers point fingers over government shutdown while blue-collar people suffer

WASHINGTON D.C.—At 35 days and counting, the current government shutdown now ties the record for the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Both Democrats and Republicans are placing the blame across the aisles claiming the opposite side is responsible for federal workers not being paid and millions of Americans left without food assistance, heat, and […]

DelBene: Trump, GOP holding emergency SNAP funds over politics

Earlier this year, Marysville resident Gail Nigro was experiencing health problems and needed some extra assistance to keep food on the table and pay her health care bills. She signed up for Washington’s Basic Food program, the name we give to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to help her buy groceries. Gail is […]