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State agencies told to find almost $2 billion in savings, freeze hiring
Washington agencies will look for some $1.9 billion in budget cuts to accompany a freeze on hiring and equipment purchases ordered Wednesday by Gov. Jay Inslee.
Weathercatch: Anatomy of a 1-day cold front
Do you remember May 5, just nine days ago?
State ready to launch contact tracing initiative; testing plans in progress
The state’s COVID-19 response has launched a large contact tracing initiative, with increased testing plans in the works.
Valley Republican files to challenge McMorris Rodgers
A Spokane Valley Republican is challenging Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, contending she was wrong to allow the national debt to grow by supporting relief packages to help people and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump administration says Washington state overstepped with oil train law
The Trump administration on Monday moved to block a Washington state law that imposed safety restrictions on oil shipments by rail in response to numerous explosive accidents.
Three more counties, including Stevens County, cleared to go to Phase 2 of state reopening plan
The Washington Department of Health cleared three additional counties to move to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start reopening plan.
‘Clearly it wasn’t fast enough,’ a Port commissioner says of new, murky Sea-Tac coronavirus mask policy
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, the Port of Seattle still has no policy in place requiring people to wear masks at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Washington residents threatened after naming open businesses, as protesters gather at Capitol to assail coronavirus closures
Two Facebook pages during the past week posted names, emails and phone numbers of state residents who had complained to the state about businesses allegedly violating Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order. Some of the complainants say the Facebook posts have generated threats of violence and harassment against them.
‘People just want to get out’: Anglers take to area lakes as pandemic fishing restrictions lifted
When the fishing season opened on Tuesday, local anglers grabbed their fishing poles and tackle boxes and hit the local lakes hoping for a nibble on their lines.
Car washes reopen as a part of Inslee’s ‘Safe Start’ plan
Car washes in Washington were allowed to reopen Thursday under new guidance from Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Safe Start” plan to reopen the state following COVID-19 stay-home orders.
State, partners setting up drive-up Wi-Fi hotspots to expand broadband to rural areas
Residents in rural areas will be able to access free broadband internet through a Washington State Department of Commerce initiative to bring more than 300 new drive-in Wi-Fi hotspots in the state.
Pullman Islamic Center appears to have been vandalized
The Pullman Islamic Center appears to have been a victim of vandalism Tuesday.
State budget facing $7 billion hole from pandemic shutdown
The economic shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic could blow a $7 billion hole in the state’s budget over the next three years, forcing a special session sometime in 2020.
Island marble butterfly – once thought extinct and only known to exist in Washington – listed as endangered
For most of the 20th Century, the island marble butterfly was thought to be extinct. After being rediscovered about 20 years ago, it’s now endangered.
Seattle officer put on leave during shooting investigation
Law enforcement officials in Washington state have placed a Seattle police officer on administrative leave during an investigation of his decision to shoot a man suspected of taking his infant daughter from her mother at gunpoint.
State seeking volunteers to trap dangerous Asian giant hornets in Western Washington
It looks like a pest someone would invent for a horror movie. And, it’s got a sting to match. But no, the Asian giant hornet is not likely to ruin any backyard outings in the Spokane area anytime soon, a state official said.
Many Washington parks to re-open, but not beaches, gorge
More than 100 parks, trails and boating sites will re-open Tuesday in Washington state as some coronavirus restrictions are eased, but many popular sites remain closed indefinitely.
Police: Kennewick porch package thieves dressed as nurses
Authorities in the Tri-Cities are searching for two women suspected of dressing up as nurses and stealing packages that had been delivered to people’s front porches.
How Spokane and the Tri-Cities took different approaches to slowing virus’s spread in long-term care facilities
After the first case was reported in Kirkland in late February, care facilities elsewhere in Washington had a small window of time to prepare for the virus to reach their doors, tracking down testing kits and personal protective equipment and essentially going into lockdown mode. But that hasn’t stopped COVID-19 from spreading to 252 long-term care facilities in Washington.
In french fry heartland, spring turns bitter as coronavirus cuts into global demand
ELTOPIA, Washington – For farmer Mike Pink, spring is supposed to be a time of hope, when he can survey a green field of young potato plants and anticipate the bounty to be pulled from the sandy soils of the Columbia Basin. This year, this is a season when dreams die. Due to an epic potato glut that imploded his market, he has decided to do what was once unthinkable – destroy part of his crop rather than sink more dollars into cultivation.