New flood wall saves Mount Vernon, Snohomish County roads face major repairs
MOUNT VERNON—On the Saturday following record-breaking Skagit River flooding, Mount Vernon Mayor Peter Donovan stood before the city’s 1.4-mile flood wall (a.k.a. The Wall) and declared it a game-changer, as U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Governor Bob Ferguson and local emergency officials gathered to assess response efforts and brace for more rain. “Downtown Mount Vernon stayed […]
Senator Murray condemns ‘horrific’ ICE Dog attack on Vancouver father
VANCOUVER—United States Senator Patty Murray on Friday, December 5, denounced the November 14 arrest of Vancouver resident Wilmer Toledo-Martinez as a “violent and unwarranted assault,” releasing graphic photos of deep gashes across the 28-year-old father’s body and demanding his immediate release from federal immigration detention. Toledo-Martinez is married to a U.S. citizen and has three […]
You be the judge: A dog whistle or defending democracy?
Six Democratic congressional members—Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO06.), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ11), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA06), and Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH02)—all of whom have military or intelligence backgrounds, released a video on Tuesday stating to U.S. service members that they have an obligation under the Uniform Code of […]
Senate passes critical funding package to end historic GOVT shutdown: What you need to know
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Senate passed HR 5371 tiled, “Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026,” on November 10 with a 60-40 vote, and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration on Wednesday, November 12. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history could end Wednesday if […]
Federal funding passes first hurdle, contains provision gutting hemp-derived products
WASHINGTON, D.C—The United States Senate voted 60-40, in a first step, to approve H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, which funds the government through early 2026. The resolution now heads to a floor vote on Monday. If the bill passes with no changes to the House’s Bill, then the bill moves to […]
DOE greenlights Hanford nuclear waste cleanup project
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Department of Energy (DOE) formally approved the continuation of the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste Program (DFLAW) at the Hanford vitrification plant in south-central Washington to clean up nuclear waste. News comes after weeks of alarming signals from the Trump administration indicating they might delay the scheduled October 15 start of DFLAW which […]
YMCA opens new Early Learning Center in Marysville addressing the County’s childcare needs
MARYSVILLE—YMCA of Snohomish County cut the ribbon on its brand-new Early Learning Center in Marysville Tuesday, August 5, which, when it opens this September, will serve up to 68 children (aged 1-5), with 40% of them being from families below the poverty line. “Quality, licensed, childcare providers aren’t just falling from trees. It turns out […]
US Senate confirms Joe Kent to lead a national intelligence agency
[Washington State Standard]—Joe Kent, a former Army Special Forces soldier and two-time Republican candidate for Congress in Washington state, was confirmed by the US Senate on Wednesday, July 30, as director of the National Counterterrorism Center. The 52-44 vote comes nearly six months after President Donald J Trump nominated Kent to lead the center. Kent has worked as […]
US Dept of Education releases $137 million in frozen funds to Washington State
OLYMPIA—The United States Department of Education announced Friday, July 25, that it will release the entirety of the $137 million in frozen funds to Washington state. “This is a welcome change in direction—school districts, educators, families, and students can take a deep breath knowing vital services won’t be abruptly ended or reduced in the upcoming […]
Washington joins 24-state lawsuit to dispense billions in education funding
SEATTLE—Attorney General Nick Brown announced that his office has joined 24-state lawsuit against the United States Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget for withholding $7 billion in non-competitive formula grants used for funding for various after-school, summer and English learner programs. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction estimates that […]
