Unemployment claims roll in from laid-off feds in Washington state

[WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD]—More than 1,600 federal workers in Washington state have filed for unemployment benefits since the government shutdown began at the start of October.  Of the 1,625 claims the state Employment Security Department had received by Tuesday, 411 had been paid. The rest were pending.  The state’s goal is no more than 21 days […]

Washington denies federal request for personal data on recipients of food stamps

(WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD)—Washington state refused to comply with the federal government’s recent request for personal data on residents who receive or apply for food stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, early last month, told states it wanted records of all applicants and recipients for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, since 2020. The records include names, […]