All articles tagged with #washington state
Washington lawmakers are advancing SB 5855 to ban face coverings by local, state and federal police, aiming to protect immigrant communities and build public trust; exemptions exist for undercover work and SWAT, but opponents warn of constitutional issues, with committee votes looming and a potential June rollout if enacted.
Gov. Ferguson used his first State of the State to urge bold, bipartisan action in the 2026 session on infrastructure, tax reform (including a millionaires’ tax), and housing, touting past bipartisanship, flood-resilience, and proposals to streamline permitting and FAFSA while promising to return revenue to residents.
Washington state officials admitted to overstating the climate benefits of their carbon permit auctions, with revised estimates showing the projects will only reduce about 300,000 metric tons of pollution, far less than initially claimed, due to data errors and misreporting. The correction highlights concerns over the credibility of the state's climate initiatives and the potential diversion of funds to non-climate priorities.
A Washington state report claiming significant CO2 reductions from $1.5 billion in climate investments is largely inaccurate, with about 86% of the claimed reductions likely false due to data errors and overly optimistic estimates, raising concerns about the credibility of the state's climate spending and reporting.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson supports exploring a new income tax, specifically a 9.9% tax on those earning over $1 million, aiming to overhaul the state's regressive tax system and fund public services, despite historical rejection and legal challenges.
Starting January 1, Washington state implements new laws including extended unemployment benefits for striking workers, increased taxes on large businesses and technology companies, higher transportation fees, a nicotine tax, and measures to reduce plastic waste, along with new options for including blood type on IDs and requirements for movie captioning.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claims that Jeff Bezos's move from Washington to Florida significantly impacted Washington's budget by removing its biggest taxpayer, highlighting the advantage of states without income tax like Florida amid discussions of new taxes in Washington.
A 14-year-old girl who went missing in Bellingham was found safe after an AMBER Alert was issued by the Washington State Patrol. She was last seen early Saturday morning and is described as being around five feet five inches tall with dark brown hair and eyes.
Starting January 1, 2026, Washington state will implement new laws including a minimum wage increase to $17.13, updates to paid family leave, expanded child support guidelines, strengthened victims' rights, and changes in tax and property laws, reflecting legislative efforts to modernize and improve economic and social protections.
Washington state faces ongoing flood damage amid delays in federal funding for flood mitigation projects, including levees and property buyouts, due to political disputes and policy changes under the Trump administration, highlighting the need for proactive disaster prevention as climate change increases storm severity.
A levee failure in south Seattle suburbs following a week of heavy rain has led to immediate evacuations in parts of Kent, Auburn, and Tukwila, as the region faces ongoing flood risks and a forecast of continued heavy rainfall and potential landslides.
A study from Washington State indicates that living near licensed marijuana stores may increase the likelihood of developing cannabis use disorder and related mental health issues, especially among youth, raising concerns about the public health impact of the growing number of dispensaries.
Remains identified as Mary Johnson-Davis, an Indigenous woman missing since 2020 in Washington state, were found in June, prompting a $60,000 reward for information leading to her killer's arrest as her family seeks closure amid ongoing investigations.
Virginia narrowly defeated Washington State 22-20, showcasing resilience and capitalizing on opponent mistakes, despite being out-coached and out-physicaled early. Key players like Kam Robinson and Jahmal Edrine stepped up, while defensive coverage issues remain a concern. The Cavaliers are now bowl eligible with a 6-1 record, heading into a challenging game against North Carolina.
Amazon announced plans to support the development of small, modular advanced nuclear reactors in Washington State, including the new Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, which aims to generate 960 MW of power and create jobs, with construction expected to start in the late 2020s.