AG Brown warned with up to one year in federal prison by DOJ if his office impedes citizen journalists
SEATTLE—Washington Attorney General Nick Brown’s statement on reports of Somali-run home-based daycare providers being harassed alleging that “showing up on someone’s porch, threatening, or harassing them isn’t an investigation” is being met with stern criticism by U.S. Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Harmeet K. Dhillon. Brown’s statement was posted on X approximately […]
WAGOP Chair accuse AG Brown and Sen Wellman of shielding fraudsters in childcare scandal
BELLEVUE—Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh criticized Democratic officials for their responses to an expanding federal investigation into alleged childcare fraud, accusing them of siding with potential wrongdoers over taxpayers amid claims the schemes have spread from Minnesota to states including Washington. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a nationwide probe into […]
HHS activates Defend the Spend system, evidence now required for ACF childcare payments to combat fraud
WASHINGTON, D.C.—In a press statement released today, HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill, alongside Assistant Secretary Alex Adams who oversees the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announced the immediate freeze of all federal child care payments to Minnesota and nationwide activation of the Defend the Spend system amid allegations of widespread fraud in child care […]
Federal judge allows sharing of immigrant Medicaid data with ICE
SAN FRANCISCO—A federal judge ruled Monday that states must share basic personal information, including citizenship status, about undocumented immigrants enrolled in Medicaid with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation efforts, but barred the exchange of sensitive health records. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, partially upholds a President Donald J Trump’s […]
Washington secures $181 million in federal funds for rural health
BALTIMORE—Washington state has secured $181.3 million in federal funding for 2026 as part of a sweeping $50 billion initiative to bolster rural health care nationwide, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Monday, December 29. The award marks the first installment for Washington under the Rural Health Transformation Program, which will distribute $10 billion […]
Construction delays close 57 parking spaces at Lynnwood City Center station during New Years
LYNNWOOD—The south parking lot of the Lynnwood Link City Center station will remain closed to general public parking closing 57 parking spaces (about 3% of total capacity) until January 9, 2026. Access during the closure is restricted to only five ADA (accessible) parking spaces, and DART and ZIP drop off/pickups. First announced on September 11 […]
December Flood Accelerates Seasonal Road Closure of Index-Galena Rd
EVERETT—Due to damage from recent flooding, Snohomish County Public Works has closed a portion of Index-Galena Rd for the winter season. The road is closed between the access gates near milepost 10 to the west and milepost 14 to the east. This section historically closes for the winter months due to the amount of snow […]
HHS declares Public Health Emergency in Washington amid historic flooding
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared a public health emergency for Washington state on Christmas Eve, aiming to ease health care access amid devastating storms, high winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides that have battered the region. The move follows President Donald J Trump’s approval of an emergency declaration earlier this […]
Seahawks youth flag football regional tournament coming to Everett
SNOHOMISH COUNTY—The 2026 Seahawks NFL FLAG Regional Tournament has been awarded to Everett, Washington. The regional tournament will be on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Kasch Park. Youth and high school flag football teams from across Western United States will have the opportunity to win their division and advance to the NFL FLAG Championships Presented […]
WA governor calls for tapping reserve fund and climate law cash to fill budget hole
OLYMPIA [JERRY CORNFIELD]—Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson made a splash Tuesday with his full-throated endorsement of taxing the earnings of millionaires. The surprise declaration from the first-term Democratic governor nearly drowned out his newly released plan to erase a multibillion-dollar shortfall in the current state budget. He made “super clear” that if Washington taxes millionaires, the […]
