Heating and space heater safety reminder
OLYMPIA– During the coldest months of the year, home heating equipment kicks into high gear. Space heaters are most often responsible for home heating equipment fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In a 2022 NFPA report, an average of 45,800 home heating fires occurred each year between 2015 and 2019, resulting in […]
Deadline to apply for AG’s tuna and chicken settlement June 5
OLYMPIA—Back in June, 2020, Washington State Attorney General Bob Furguson filed a civil lawsuit against Star-Kist, one of the world’s largest canned tuna manufacturers and the former CEO of Bumble Bee Foods, another large tuna manufacturer, over a price-fixing conspiracy that drove up the cost of packaged tuna for more than a decade, costing Washingtonians […]
Swatting incidents surge as a means to threaten journalists and public officials
Swatting incidents, targeting public officials nationwide, are on the rise exhausting first responder resources and leaving their victims feeling threatened and harassed. Swatting is both a state and federal crime. Swatting is a criminal harassment act of deceiving an emergency service—usually law enforcement—into sending a police or emergency service response team to another person’s address with […]
Major US banks considering legal action against federal regulators
WASHINGTON, D.C.—First reported by Semafor on January 11, Bank Policy Institute (BPI), a nonpartisan public policy and advocacy group representing the nation’s leading banking institutions, is gearing up to sue U.S. regulators over proposed rules that would increase capital reserve requirements on banks with total consolidated assets of at least $100 billion. The changes would […]
Washington is one step closer to holding animal abusers accountable
OLYMPIA—Justice for animals against their abusers moves one step closer within Washington state with the near unanimous passage in House of Representatives on January 29 of HB- 1961, a bill that would strengthen penalties for the most egregious acts of animal cruelty. “Inconsistency in sentencing only benefits abusers. House Bill 1961 would establish a clear […]
Port of Everett presents expansion to County Council for ballot approval
EVERETT—Port of Everett CEO & Executive Director Lisa Lefeber gave a presentation on expanding its boundaries to the Snohomish County Council during their legislative session on January 24. The Council is expected to vote on moving the ballot measure forward in mid-February. The port’s decision is influenced by public outreach conducted in 2018 and 2019. […]
All six Let’s Go Washington initiatives certified for legislature by SOS
TUMWATER—All six Let’s Go Washington initiatives have been certified to the legislature after a careful review of the nearly three million signatures garnered. This marks the first instance in state history where six initiatives to the legislature have been certified in the same year. The signatures have been verified by the Office of the Secretary […]
Three US soldiers killed, dozens of injured in terrorist drone attack
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Pentagon releases the names of the three U.S. Army service members killed in Sunday’s drone attack of Tower 22 located in northeast Jordan, near the Syrian border. “Jill and I join the families and friends of our fallen—and Americans across the country—in grieving the loss of these warriors in this despicable and wholly […]
Governor Jay Inslee’s brother, Frank, Jr., unexpectedly passes away
OLYMPIA—Washington State Governor Jay Inslee unexpectedly lost his brother, Frank Inslee, Jr., the night of Tuesday, January 23. “We lost a great father, grandfather, teacher and a greater brother, Frank Inslee, unexpectantly last night. His former students tell me they loved him across the state. He loved Carla and his whole clan,” the Governor took […]
Washingtonians without working smoke alarms double their chances of death
OLYMPIA—Deputy State Fire Marshal Gregory Baruso encourages Washingtonians to invest in working smoke alarms—it can save a life, possible your own. In a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report on home smoke alarms, the risk of dying in home structure fires with working smoke alarms is reduced by 55 percent. In 2022, the Washington State […]
