The ‘Housing Governor,’ Ferguson goes all in with a bold $244 million plan to tackle Washington’s housing crisis
SEATTLE—Governor Bob Ferguson unveiled a $244 million package of housing investments on Thursday and signed an executive order creating a task force to lay the groundwork for a new cabinet-level Department of Housing, to combat what he calls a housing crisis and to help victims of the fatal floods from last week’s atmospheric river. Speaking […]
Washington state’s coal-fired plant TransAlta ordered to remain open by Energy Secretary
[The Center Square]—The Trump administration on Wednesday issued an emergency order requiring a coal-fired power plant in Washington state to remain open this winter, citing a need to ensure grid reliability in the months ahead. Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed Canada-based power generation company TransAlta to keep Unit 2 of the Centralia Generating Station, located […]
Centralia Plant Saved by Gas Conversion – But Is It Enough to Prevent Regional Energy Crisis?
Many in our state are probably too busy dealing with the effects of the latest “atmospheric river” to think about how winter will soon bring its own weather challenges. State lawmakers need to be thinking about it, however. A stretch of sub-freezing temperatures could leave our region’s energy grid struggling to handle the soaring demand […]
Mukilteo heartbreak: Missing 15-Year-Old found deceased
MUKILTEO—Mukilteo Police have confirmed that 15-year-old Gabriel “Gabe” Ehrmin has been found deceased, on December 15, 2025. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified his body, recovered in Mukilteo. The Mukilteo Police Department is now leading a death investigation, it says. Ehrmin vanished from his residence off Mukilteo Speedway around 3:15 p.m. on December […]
Red Cup Rebellion marches on Starbucks headquarters in Seattle ahead of holidays
SEATTLE—Starbucks union workers brought their ‘Red Cup Rebellion’ picket line to the coffee giant’s SODO headquarters Thursday, December 18, demanding the company resolve hundreds of its ULPs, end its “historic union busting” and return to the bargaining table with new proposals to improve pay, staffing, and scheduling. The strike, which launched on November 13 of […]
Trump signs order to reschedule marijuana for medical use
WASHINGTON, D.C.—President Donald J Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing federal agencies to expedite the rescheduling of marijuana to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, a move aimed at removing longstanding barriers to research on its medical uses and providing better guidance for patients and doctors dealing with chronic pain and other conditions. […]
Hospitals performing gender-affirming care on children to lose Medicare and Medicaid funding
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced it will terminate Medicare and Medicaid to any hospital that performs sex-rejecting procedures on minors, taking action to remove gender dysphoria as a disability, and sending “warning letters” to breast binder manufacturers. HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced a series of […]
‘Our country is back,’ Trump declares in National Address
WASHINGTON, D.C.—President Donald J Trump on Wednesday evening declared that America has staged a dramatic comeback in just the first 11 months under his “America First” leadership, pulling the nation back from the brink of collapse and restoring prosperity, security, and global respect. Painting a picture of a country that was “dead” and failing a […]
Community Call-to-Action: Donate now at Stuff the Bus for Historic Flood Relief
SNOHOMISH—In the aftermath of historic flooding that shattered river records and displaced families across Snohomish County, Volunteers of America Western Washington is teaming up with Community Transit and Snohomish County to host a “Stuff the Bus” donation drive this Saturday. The event, set for December 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Snohomish Station […]
Snohomish County offers Solid Waste Voucher Program
EVERETT—Snohomish County residents impacted by recent flood conditions can now dispose of flood-damaged household items at no charge at county solid waste facilities through its flood voucher program that ends January 18, 2026. The voucher program is authorized under county code during a state of emergency when safe and rapid removal of garbage would help […]
