Washington State Government Misconduct Payouts Hit Record $537 Million High
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street] — Washington’s runaway payouts for government misconduct climbed to $537 million in the past year, as the ever-growing sum continues to strain the state’s finances. That tally from the fiscal year that ended June 30 is an all-time high, up from roughly $500 million the previous year and five times what Washington shelled out in […]
COMMENTRY: See How Snohomish County Legislators REALLY Voted in 2026
We at Future 42 are proud to release our 2026 Snohomish County Legislative Scorecard, an abbreviated version from the state scorecard focused on the votes cast by Snohomish County legislators this session in Olympia. Here, we shine a light on how our state senators and representatives stood on 12 key bills and amendments during the […]
Washington state 2026 mid-term elections are off! May the odds be ever in your favor
SNOHOMISH COUNTY—Elections in Snohomish County have officially kicked off. Below are the candidates who has filed to run for office that will be on your Snohomish County ballot for 2026: 📍Legislative District 1State Representative Pos. 1DEMOCRATIC: Davina Duerr (Incumbent)REPUBLICAN: Maggie Wang State Representative Pos. 2LIBERTARIAN: Jeff LyonDEMOCRATIC: Shelley Kloba (Incumbent)REPUBLICAN: Cliff MoonDEMOCRATIC: Jenne Alderks 📍Legislative […]
WA Democrats drop push for business tax to cover Medicaid costs
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street]—Washington state Democrats are likely abandoning plans for a new tax on employers like Walmart and Amazon, whose workers get health coverage through Medicaid. The proposal came amid recent federal cuts to the program, which provides insurance for low-income Americans. The Senate’s budget committee was set to vote on advancing the legislation last […]
Budget bills in WA Legislature would tap rainy day fund, spend heavily on legal payouts
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street and Bill Lucia] —Democrats in the Washington Legislature on Sunday proposed tapping the state’s rainy day savings account and slashing hundreds of millions of dollars for a child care program for low-income families to balance the state’s budget into next year. But under their plans, the state’s main operating account would have a more […]
Millionaires’ Tax Showdown in Olympia: Fears of Business Exodus vs Calls for Fairness
OLYMPIA—Washington lawmakers heard impassioned pleas from both sides during a packed Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing on Friday, February 6, 2026, over Senate Bill 6346, a proposal to impose a 9.9% tax on individuals earning more than $1 million annually. Supporters cast the measure as a vital step toward fixing what they call a […]
What’s on the agenda for Washington’s 2026 legislative session
With a looming $1.6 billion to $2.3 billion budget shortfall hanging over the Washington state legislature, House and Senate leaders and Governor Bob Ferguson presented differing proposals to address the issue. Three panels of House and Senate leaders discussed the state’s transportation budget and general fund, while Ferguson renewed his support for a “millionaire tax.” […]
Edmonds College Leads Snohomish County Education Innovation with Robotics, AI, and Free Training Programs
In 2025, Snohomish County schools and colleges navigated a dynamic year of expansion, adaptation, and advocacy. The following are the highlights of our education coverage in 2025. VIPs tour Snohomish County STEM’s ECHO Tour at Edmonds College On December 16, 2025, approximately 120 high school students from Edmonds Woodway, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, and Meadowdale High […]
WA state budget gets $105M boost, Ferguson warns of “Deep Financial Challenges” still ahead
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street]—Washington state budget writers got a mild dose of good news on Tuesday, but are still looking at a strained balance sheet. Revenue projections show collections up $105 million for the current two-year state budget compared to the last forecast in September. That amounts to a 0.1% increase, a change from previous reports […]
Scott Murphy endorsed by Sen. Robinson and County Councilmember Dunn
EVERETT – Everett Mayoral candidate Scott Murphy’s campaign received endorsements from Snohomish County Councilmember Megan Dunn and Washington State Senator June Robinson this week citing Murphy’s “track record,” collaborative leadership style, and vision for Everett’s future. “I’ve known Scott for years and know he has the experience, integrity, and commitment Everett needs at this moment” […]
