WA child welfare deaths drop significantly after record year
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street]—Deaths and critical injuries among children in Washington’s child welfare system fell steeply in the first quarter of 2026, state officials reported Wednesday. Still, four children died and three more nearly died in the first three months of the year. The total of seven incidents is down from 22 in the same time period […]
Washington’s gas tax is going up, but state transportation revenue is falling short
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—Washington state’s gas tax, already among the highest in the nation, is going up next week. The state’s per-gallon fuel tax of 55.4 cents will climb 1.1 cents on July 1. The 2% bump is the first of the annual inflationary adjustments required by a 2025 law. With the increase, Washington’s gas tax will […]
Mail-in ballots at risk: Postmaster says USPS will not deliver ballots in states refusing to turn over voter lists
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Postmaster General David Steiner testified Wednesday that the U.S. Postal Service would not deliver mail-in ballots under a proposed regulation unless states first provide their voter lists to the federal government. According to the Washington Secretary of State official Ballot Drop Box Usage reports, roughly a third of returned ballots are mailed […]
America’s 250th Birthday Fireworks Guide: Where to celebrate, discharge your own safely, and banned
SNOHOMISH COUNTY—Get ready for a special Fourth of July in Snohomish County as the country celebrates its 250th Birthday! While personal fireworks are banned in cities like Everett and Lynnwood, you can catch professional displays at Mountlake Terrace’s Lake Ballinger, Everett’s Thunder on the Bay, Marysville’s Ebey Waterfront Park, and Arlington’s Quake Park Fireworks Display. The […]
Nate’s Corner: Pressing “pause” on County-wide data centers
Data centers have become a significant topic of public interest and concern. While these facilities play a role in supporting many digital services, their impacts on land use, infrastructure, energy and water demand, and neighboring communities weigh heavily on the minds of many Snohomish County residents. That is why I recently proposed a temporary moratorium […]
America’s 250th Anniversary: Where to Celebrate 250 Years of Independence
TACOMA—July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States of America. This historic milestone is an occasion to celebrate and recognize the significant contributions Washingtonians have made to local, state, and national history. “The 250th anniversary is an opportunity to come together to reflect on our […]
Eight Antifa Cell Members Sentenced to 450 Years for Texas ICE Detention Center Attack
FORT WORTH, Texas — Federal judges sentenced eight members of a North Texas Antifa cell to a combined 450 years in prison Tuesday, June 23, for their roles in a violent July 4, 2025, attack on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Alvarado. “The sentences handed down today make clear that Antifa […]
Take Transit with Confidence: How Free Travel Training Helps Anyone Get Started
Community Transit’s free service helps anyone learn how to use transit through personalized, one-on-one support. Vee Harris has been riding buses for more than half a century. She’s made lifelong friendships on the Metro buses as a teen, commuted across Seattle throughout her career, and she once fell asleep on a trip downtown — waking […]
First high school students graduate from Maritime Vessel Operations program
EVERETT — The first cohort of high school students in the Maritime Vessel Operations program graduated Wednesday, June 10. “Congratulations to the inaugural graduating class of this first-of-its-kind maritime workforce development program,” said Lisa Lefeber, CEO and executive director of the Port of Everett. “This achievement reflects years of collaboration and the Port’s commitment to […]
Sound Transit Sets All-Time Ridership Record of 280,000
SEATTLE—Sound Transit’s Link light rail delivered a record 280,000 riders on Friday, June 19, 2026 — shattering the previous single-day high of 220,000 set during the Seahawks Super Bowl victory parade earlier this year. “Friday was a momentous day for Sound Transit, with the highest ridership in our agency’s history,” said CEO Dow Constantine. “We […]
