‘Fight the good fight,’ the inspiring path to public service of new AG Nick Brown
SEATTLE — When Nick Brown was sworn in as Washington’s attorney general in January 2025, he not only etched his name in history as the state’s first Black attorney general — he brought a reservoir of experiences in public service, civil rights advocacy and a profound conviction that government can serve as a catalyst for […]
Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis will not seek reelection to the Washington Supreme Court
OLYMPIA—Washington State Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, 57, has announced on January 26 that she will not seek reelection for a second term, and will serve through the end of her term which ends on December 31, 2026. First elected to the Court in 2020 following an appointment by Governor Jay Inslee, she announced her […]
Seattle City Light leadership shakeup: Dennis McLerran named new CEO amid clean energy push
SEATTLE—Mayor Katie Wilson announced January 16 the appointment of Dennis McLerran as the new general manager and chief executive officer of Seattle City Light, replacing Dawn Lindell, who has led the utility since 2024. McLerran, a seasoned environmental attorney, will assume the role on March 4, pending potential City Council confirmation for a permanent position. […]
2025 Washington Politics: Elections, Scandals, Immigration, and Budget Deficits
In 2025, Washington state and Snohomish County politics were defined by high-stakes decisions, legal battles, fiscal pressures and budget deficits, and of course political scandals. Below are the highlights of our state, and local, politics coverage for 2025. Brandy’s Law brings some peace to victim of fatal dog attack in Lynnwood The Lynnwood City Council […]
Centralia Plant Saved by Gas Conversion – But Is It Enough to Prevent Regional Energy Crisis?
Many in our state are probably too busy dealing with the effects of the latest “atmospheric river” to think about how winter will soon bring its own weather challenges. State lawmakers need to be thinking about it, however. A stretch of sub-freezing temperatures could leave our region’s energy grid struggling to handle the soaring demand […]
Washington state’s new pickleball license plate just launched
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—Washington served up a new license plate Wednesday, honoring the state sport of pickleball. In the works for three years, it is the second of seven specialty plates to hit the market since getting approved by lawmakers earlier this year. “We’re thrilled to see our efforts become reality,” said Kate Van Gent, vice president of the nonprofit Seattle […]
Washington Saves, a new state-facilitated retirement program for all workers starting 2027
OLYMPIA—Washington Saves, starting in 2027, is a state-facilitated automatic Individual Retirement Account (IRA) program designed to bridge the retirement savings gap for workers in Washington who lack access to employer-sponsored plans. The program was created from Senate Bill 6069, passed by the Washington State Legislature in March 2024 and signed into law by Governor Jay […]
Gov Ferguson ‘skeptical’ of tax increases in 2026
LYNNWOOD [Bill Lucia]—Washington Governor Bob Ferguson on Wednesday indicated that he’s reluctant to support major new tax increases in the legislative session that begins in January. The first-term Democrat also said housing and road maintenance are two areas he plans to focus on. “We did raise billions of dollars in revenue earlier this year, and […]
Washington House adds to list of government transparency assaults, auto-deletion
Our state Legislature’s march toward secrecy is speeding up, despite lawsuits, massive public outcry and even a ruling that was largely against them from the state Supreme Court. In the latest move against government transparency, the public records officer of the Washington House of Representatives sent an internal email in July to House members outlining […]
Washington denies federal request for personal data on recipients of food stamps
(WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD)—Washington state refused to comply with the federal government’s recent request for personal data on residents who receive or apply for food stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, early last month, told states it wanted records of all applicants and recipients for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, since 2020. The records include names, […]
