Stories by Daisy Zavala for the Spokesman-Review

News > WA Government

Cost of insulin capped while state studies reason for inflation

UPDATED: Sat., April 4, 2020

Health insurance plans will have to limit a person’s out-of-pocket costs for a month’s supply of insulin to $100, under a bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday.

News > Washington

High demand for apples keeps production workers on the line with new safeguards

Fri., April 3, 2020

Production workers in apple industry face new safeguards to keep COVID-19 at bay while meeting high demand.

News > WA Government

New law protects victims of abuse with alerts

UPDATED: Thu., April 2, 2020

Victims of domestic violence or abuse can receive real-time alerts of when their abuser is near, under a bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday, three years after it was first introduced.

News > Washington

Fewer drivers means fewer accidents, almost no collisions since social distancing started

UPDATED: Thu., March 26, 2020

Traffic accidents have decreased sharply in March and collisions resulting in serious injury have almost disappeared as more people stay home to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

News > WA Government

Washington legislative leaders in both parties back Inslee’s ‘stay home’ order

UPDATED: Tue., March 24, 2020

Legislative leaders backed Gov. Jay Inslee’s “stay home” order Monday night, urging residents to increase efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 across Washington.

News > Spokane

Legislature moves to reduce homeless numbers

Sun., March 15, 2020

Lawmakers want to reduce the number of homeless people in Washington by spending some $160 million over a wide range of programs to expand shelters, support for homeless youth and boost affordable housing programs.

News > WA Government

Legislature offers protections to undocumented residents

Sun., March 15, 2020

Washington’s undocumented residents would have more protections under bills that passed the Legislature this year.

News > Washington

Inslee bans large gatherings in 3 West Side counties as coronavirus cases continue to rise

UPDATED: Wed., March 11, 2020

Gatherings of more than 250 people in the state’s three most populous counties will be canceled or postponed under an emergency order issued Wednesday morning by Gov. Jay Inslee.

News > Washington

Inslee announces strict visitation rules for nursing homes as COVID is found at nearly a dozen facilities

UPDATED: Tue., March 10, 2020

Washington has 267 confirmed COVID-19 cases in nine counties, including deaths tied to three long-term care facilities in the Seattle area.

News > WA Government

Lawmakers could give minorities assist on pot shop licenses

Tue., March 10, 2020

Minorities could have a better shot at getting a state-issued license for a marijuana store as a way to make up for the effects of the War on Drugs.

News > WA Government

Bill boosting accountability for facial recognition technology passes the House

Sat., March 7, 2020

Agencies using facial recognition technology would be required to test it for accuracy and bias to make sure it’s accountable, under a bill that passed Friday in the House.

News > Washington

Legislature approves law to create office focused on reducing gun violence

UPDATED: Fri., March 6, 2020

OLYMPIA – Washington likely will be the first state to create an office focused on reducing firearm violence through data analysis and a grant program to help communities and Indian tribes. “We don’t need to wait until shots have been fired,” said Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, in a statement. “We need to intervene to prevent violence before it happens.”

News > WA Government

Domestic violence victims could get warnings when abusers are near

UPDATED: Wed., March 4, 2020

Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking would get warnings if their abusers are near under a law that passed the Legislature unanimously Wednesday, some three years after it was first introduced.

News > WA Government

Gun control law for child care centers passes

UPDATED: Tue., March 3, 2020

A person bringing a gun or other weapon in or near a child care center could be charged with a gross misdemeanor under a bill passed Tuesday by the Legislature.

News > Washington

Bill passes that would prohibit discrimination against immigrants due to their citizenship status

UPDATED: Tue., March 3, 2020

Discriminating against immigrants in Washington because of their citizenship status would be illegal under a bill that received final passage Tuesday from the Legislature.

News > WA Government

Greenhouse gas rules criticized, praised in committee hearing

UPDATED: Mon., March 2, 2020

In an effort to fight climate change, corporations producing or transporting fuel would be required to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, under a bill being considered by a Senate committee.

News > Health

Washington lawmakers consider restrictions on insulin prices

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 25, 2020

Eight-year-old Levi Markland told lawmakers Tuesday he’s not supposed to worry about dying, but he does. Levi has Type 1 diabetes and his family spends up to $1,000 a month on insulin so he can be healthy.

News > WA Government

Bills aimed at addressing homelessness move forward in Legislature

Sun., Feb. 23, 2020

Lawmakers narrow ideas to fight homelessness, passing several bills to address the crisis by expanding existing programs, helping to build more shelters as well as increasing tenant protections and accessibility of affordable housing.

News > Education

Bill would expand free lunches to all students in Washington schools where 62.5% already qualify

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 19, 2020

Children in schools with a high percentage of low-income students would all get free breakfast and lunch while at school, under a bill moving through the Legislature.

News > WA Government

Bill would allow Washington to offer undocumented students college loans

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 19, 2020

The Undocumented Student Support Loan Program would offer students low-interest loans.

News > Spokane

Sanders promises a progressive political revolution to cheering Tacoma Dome crowd

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 17, 2020

With a packed crowd in the Tacoma Dome cheering him on, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders promised to lead a revolution in American politics that replaced the concerns of billionaires with those of working people, reform immigration laws, fight climate change and make health care a human right.

News > WA Government

Washington House passes bill to release college transcripts regardless of fees

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 19, 2020

College graduates could get their transcript even if there’s a hold on their account due to unpaid parking or library fees, under a bill that passed the House.

News > WA Government

Washington Senate bill would give consumers access to personal data stored by businesses

UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 15, 2020

Washington residents would have more control over their data and be able to delete it, make corrections or opt out of having their data used by companies for targeted advertising, under a bill passed by the state Senate on Friday.

News > Washington

Bills would permit Native students to wear tribal regalia for graduation

Fri., Feb. 7, 2020

Native American students would be able to wear tribal regalia and items of cultural significance at their graduation ceremonies this year, under two bills moving through the Legislature.

News > Washington

State could take sales tax off diapers

Fri., Jan. 31, 2020

Families across the state could save as much as $122 a year on diaper purchases if the state removes the sales tax, under a bill being considered by a House panel.

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