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 […]
Bill targets elected sheriffs for removal by appointed state board without a public vote
OLYMPIA—A divided Washington state Senate committee advanced a bill on February 9, 2026, that would empower a state oversight board to remove elected sheriffs from office if their peace officer certification was revoked, igniting a fierce debate over balancing accountability in law enforcement with the rights of local voters. Senate Bill 5974 cleared the Ways […]
First Amendment Battle Heats Up: Journalists sue WA State House over denied press credentials
OLYMPIA—The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, February 10, against the Washington State House of Representatives and the Washington State Capitol Correspondents Association (WSCCA) on behalf of three prominent journalists—Ari Hoffman, Brandi Kruse, and Jonathan Choe—after all three were denied legislative press credentials to cover proceedings at the Washington State Capitol. […]
ICE arrest of high school theater manager raises questions on immigration verification in school hiring
KIRKLAND—Fernando Rocha, theater manager at Juanita High School in Kirkland, was arrested by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as first reported by independent journalist, and senior fellow with Discovery Institute, Jonathan Choe on Sunday, July 20. Rocha’s arrest by ICE may signal a loophole in the Keep Washington Working Act that may […]
WA State Senate adopts new rule restricting press in chamber to ‘maintain decorum’
OLYMPIA—In a voice-only vote, the Washington State Senate on Wednesday, March 27, overwhelmingly adopted a rule within its last four weeks of the Legislative Session to restrict members of the press from “the wings” and adjacent areas of the of the Senate unless accompanied by a sitting senator or senator’s staff member. The members of […]
Waiting for justice: Teen trafficked by a man she met on Tinder
As online recruitment and exploitation of child sex trafficking victims rise, Washington may need to pass legislation for exploited minors seeking justice. It started as a way to get her mind off things. Hannah Power was 16 when she first saw Max—one face among a sea of adult men that she scanned on her phone […]
Three WA Attorney General candidates differ in policy and professional backgrounds
RICHLAND—On June 18, three hopefuls to replace current gubernatorial candidate Bob Ferguson (D) as the Washington State Attorney General (AG) discussed issues at a Richland debate hosted by the League of Women Voters of Washington. The forum gave further insight into each candidate’s respective values and political agendas. The Lynnwood Times breaks down how candidates […]
A look at Portugal’s drug experiment, what’s working and what’s not
PORTUGAL, August 10, 2023—In July 2001 Portugal made a paradigm shift in how it handled drug crimes. The Portuguese Drug Policy Model implemented that year, decriminalized the public and private use, acquisition, and possession of all legal drugs if the amount did not surpass a 10-day supply. The decision was intent on moving drug use, […]
Those convicted of a drug crime in Snohomish County urged to seek Blake relief
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., May 26, 2023—State v. Blake is a 2021 Washington State Supreme Court decision that held that the drug possession law was unconstitutional. If you were convicted of soliciting possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, or certain other drug related misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor offenses in Snohomish County District Court you […]
Mayors across Snohomish County support recriminalizing illegal drugs
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., May 6, 2023—Fifteen mayors represented by the Mayors and Business Leaders for Public Safety coalition, join forces in a letter urging the Snohomish County Council to pass proposed Ordinance 23-046 to recriminalize controlled and counterfeit substances. “Currently, cites in Snohomish County and across Washington state are looking to enact laws governing the possession […]
