Nate’s Corner: Stronger Public Notice Required Before Tax Increases
We often hear about the importance of transparency in government, but in practice it requires intentional effort by policymakers to ensure constituents are aware of proposals that may affect them. Earlier this month, my colleagues and I took a small but meaningful step forward to improve public awareness when the Council considered and then approved […]
SRFR honors Braven Metals for 11 years of commitment to public safety and training
LAKE STEVENS—South County Regional Fire and Rescue (SRFR) presented the rare Distinguished Public Service Award to Braven Auto and Metals Thursday, March 26, recognizing their continued support of public safety and partnership in training first responders. This is only one of a handful of times the SRFR has presented this award since its inception. Since […]
Snohomish County Litter Wranglers 2026 season set to begin
EVERETT– After a one-season hiatus due to budget and staffing difficulties, the Snohomish County Litter Wranglers will soon head out onto county roads to help rustle up garbage and other debris that’s been carelessly discarded by passersby. With a population of more than 870,000 residents and countless visitors, it takes a concerted effort to help ensure our county’s infrastructure is not decorated with trash. “We live in a beautiful part of […]
WA’s status solidifies as one of the most expensive places in US
[JERRY CORNFIELD]—In the past decade, Washington has become one of the most expensive states to live in. Drawing from an array of federal and state data, a new analysis shows the state’s cost of living rising faster than the national average over that time, with only California, New Jersey, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. considered more […]
Public Comment Welcome on Draft Housing and Community Development Plan
EVERETT—Snohomish County is seeking public comment on a draft affordable housing and community development plan. The plan is for the Snohomish County Urban County Consortium and proposes spending more than $5.5 million in federal grant funds to improve housing options and living environments for those in need. The activities will primarily benefit low and moderate-income people and neighborhoods in our community. The proposed projects will help […]
US Senate passes funding for DHS, no money for ICE and CBP
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate in a late night/early morning Friday vote, passed a modified version of HR-7147 to fund DHS without allocations for ICE and CBP. The bill now heads to House for concurrence. Friday morning’s vote comes just hours after President Donald J Trump threated to use his executive authority to pay TSA workers, […]
High-value WA home listings increase by 65% after passage of income tax
[The Center Square] — The number of high-priced homes listed for sale in Washington state that cost $2 million or more increased significantly the day after the state legislature passed an income tax on millionaires, according to data The Center Square obtained from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. While the numbers of homes overall were […]
Mayor Hurst touts a balanced budget, major infrastructure projects and community initiatives in State of the City address
LYNNWOOD — Lynnwood Mayor George Hurst struck an optimistic tone in his first State of the City address, highlighting the elimination of a $25 million budget deficit, progress on long-anticipated infrastructure projects and new initiatives aimed at public safety, housing and immigrant support. Speaking to a packed audience at the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center (approximately 200 […]
Governor signs Rep Low new bill to expand fatal crash reviews to save lives
Washington will take a more systematic approach to reviewing deadly crashes and preventing future fatalities under legislation sponsored by Rep. Sam Low and signed into law this week by Gov. Bob Ferguson. House Bill 2192 will expand the role of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission by directing it to examine the factors behind fatal and […]
Transwomen barred from Olympic female categories in historic IOC decision
LAUSANNE, Switzerland —The International Olympic Committee published a new policy Thursday that protects the female category in Olympic competition by limiting the female category to biological females only. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe and the first African woman to serve as president, announced the framework after she established a review […]
