Democrats quietly pushing rollback of estate tax increase
OLYMPIA [THE CENTER SQUARE]—As majority Democrats in Olympia push ahead with a controversial income tax bill, they are also moving to roll back another tax-the-rich policy passed during the 2025 session. Senate Bill 6347, authored by Sen. Claudia Kauffman, D-Kent, would change the rates approved a year ago for all eight brackets exactly to where […]
WA State Senate approves Millionaires’ Tax on personal income
OLYMPIA [JERRY CORNFIELD & BILL LUCIA]—Washington state moved one step closer Monday, February 16, to creating a personal income tax two years after the Legislature said it wouldn’t. Majority Democrats in the Senate advanced legislation on a 27-22 vote to tax households earning more than a million dollars. Passage of the bill followed a three-and-a-half hour debate on […]
Snohomish County Sports Tourism Generates $42 Million in Economic Impact for 2025
SNOHOMISH COUNTY—The Snohomish County Sports Commission had a stellar year in 2025, supporting more than 150 sports tournaments and welcoming over 230,000 visitors to the area. These events generated approximately $42 million with nearly 43,000 room nights booked, and there were a record number of 37 different sports played throughout 12 communities. This was also […]
Labor Dept unveils $145M incentive program to boost apprenticeship programs
The U.S. Department of Labor announced Friday a $145 million funding opportunity aimed at expanding Registered Apprenticeship programs through a performance-based incentive model, targeting key industries to boost workforce skills. The initiative, known as the Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program, will award up to five cooperative agreements over four years to organizations focused on growing new […]
Possible snow Tuesday night in Snohomish County
EVERETT—Snow is accumulating in Washington’s Cascade Mountains as a series of weather systems deliver much-needed precipitation this week, but experts warn the gains are insufficient to overcome a severe snow drought that has plagued the state throughout the winter. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the South Washington Cascades on […]
‘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 […]
WA lawmakers want to restrict ICE access to schools, health facilities
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street]—Legislation to force U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to get court approval before entering schools and health care facilities cleared the Washington state Senate on Thursday. Senate Bill 5906 covers “nonpublic areas” of preschools, K-12 schools, health facilities, adult family homes, higher education institutions and election offices. It also prohibits early learning providers and […]
WA Fish and Wildlife saga deepens with claims of collusion
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—Two members of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission are pushing back on newly surfaced allegations that they shunned government transparency laws and appeared to have colluded with the leader of a wildlife advocacy group on policy matters. A scathing 10-page memo says the behavior of commissioners Lorna Smith and Melanie Rowland posed “serious risks” […]
Seattle-area state House race draws crowded field of Democratic hopefuls
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street] – Four Democrats are on track to battle this year for an open Washington state House seat in a district stretching north from Seattle. Rep. Cindy Ryu’s decision to challenge Sen. Jesse Salomon, a fellow Democrat, is opening up her seat in the 32nd Legislative District. The safely blue district represents a slice of […]
Mukilteo police arrest 21-year-old for crimes against children
MUKILTEO—On February 10, 2026, Mukilteo Police Department detectives, in collaboration with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Violent Offenders Task Force, arrested a 21-year-old Everett man on suspicion of second-degree dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This arrest is the result of months […]
