Jim Camden

All Stories

News >  WA Government

Unemployment claims in Washington more than doubled last week and it’s expected to get much worse

UPDATED: Fri., March 20, 2020

Washington unemployment claims more than doubled last week as the state began to restrict activities to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus.

News >  WA Government

New laws would cut greenhouse gases, further restrict asbestos in buildings

UPDATED: Thu., March 19, 2020

Washington will reduce greenhouse gases faster than previously planned and extend the ban on asbestos materials to non-residential buildings under laws signed Thursday.

News >  WA Government

Inslee restricts medical, dental procedures to save supplies

UPDATED: Thu., March 19, 2020

Many medical and dental procedures in Washington were banned today by Gov. Jay Inslee in an effort to keep protective equipment available for health care workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

News >  WA Government

Cyrus Habib retiring as Washington lieutenant governor to become a Jesuit

UPDATED: Thu., March 19, 2020

Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib, who presided over the Senate for the last three years as part of his duties as the state’s No. 2 elected official, will not seek re-election, his office announced this morning.

News >  Spokane

New laws include everything from students in tribal regalia to bicyclists

UPDATED: Wed., March 18, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee signs dozens of pieces of legislation on a wide range of topics.

News >  WA Government

Inslee announces new aid package to help financial fallout from virus outbreak

UPDATED: Wed., March 18, 2020

Washington will offer expanded financial aid to residents, businesses and workers to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic that is hitting the state.

News >  Washington

Inslee: State considering more restrictions to fight virus spread

UPDATED: Tue., March 17, 2020

Washington officials are considering more restrictions on residents to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, Gov. Jay Inslee said today.

News >  WA Government

Inslee, others urge Washington to ‘hunker down’

UPDATED: Mon., March 16, 2020

A new round of restrictions and closures will take effect just after Tuesday tonight as state and public health officials made strong appeals for Washington residents to “hunker down” and make major changes in their daily lives.

News >  Washington

Legislature tackled other issues along with COVID-19

Sun., March 15, 2020

Along with addressing the COVID-19 outbreak, the Legislature tackled climate change, gun control, data privacy and sex education – with mixed results.

News >  Washington

Legislature adjourns after adding $200 million for coronavirus fight

UPDATED: Thu., March 12, 2020

With the threat of a growing novel coronavirus outbreak hanging over Washington, the Legislature ended its 2020 session by pulling $175 million from its reserve account for state and local agencies to fight the disease and another $25 million for businesses hurt by the economic fallout.

News >  Education

Spokane schools preparing for closure order after schools in three West Side counties shuttered

UPDATED: Thu., March 12, 2020

Public and private schools in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties will be closed starting no later than next Tuesday and won’t reopen until after April 24.

News >  Washington

Transportation budget passes, could end ‘pause’ on major highway projects

UPDATED: Wed., March 11, 2020

A $10.3 billion budget designed to resume work on transportation projects on “pause” because of last year’s initiative to reduce fees and taxes for vehicle license tabs passed the Legislature Wednesday with overwhelming majorities by both chambers.

News >  Education

High school seniors could graduate in 2020 even if school shuts down for COVID-19

UPDATED: Wed., March 11, 2020

High school seniors who can’t complete core classes because their school is shut down due to the novel coronavirus would still be able to graduate this year under legislation expected to be approved Thursday.

News >  Washington

With a day left before session ends, Washington legislators cut nearly $1 billion from proposed spending plan to prepare for possible downturn

UPDATED: Wed., March 11, 2020

Facing uncertainty over a possible economic downturn from the novel coronavirus outbreak and the need to fight the outbreak that has claimed more than two dozen lives, lawmakers said they significantly rewrote the budget plan they expect to pass quickly by Thursday evening.

News >  Spokane

Candidates didn’t flock to Washington for presidential primary

UPDATED: Tue., March 10, 2020

When the Legislature last year moved Washington’s presidential primary to early March to give its voters more say in the selection of the parties’ nominees, some supporters predicted that would generate an influx of candidates coming to the state to campaign. That didn’t really happen.

News >  WA Government

Questions, answers about Tuesday’s presidential primary ballot

Sun., March 8, 2020

Presidential primary voters have three days left to mark and return ballots.

News >  WA Government

Comprehensive sex education bill passes, goes to governor for signature

UPDATED: Sat., March 7, 2020

A requirement that public schools provide courses in comprehensive sexual health education at various points between kindergarten through high school received final approval Saturday from the Washington state Senate.

News >  WA Government

Bill to remove sales tax on menstrual products passes Senate

UPDATED: Sat., March 7, 2020

The sales tax would be removed from the purchase of menstrual products starting July 1, under a bill that received unanimous support in the Senate Saturday.

News >  Washington

Plastic bag ban passes House

Sat., March 7, 2020

Plastic grocery bags would be banned in Washington to encourage reusable bags, and stores would be required to charge 8 cents for paper bags, under a bill that passed the House Saturday.

News >  WA Government

Senate approves sports gambling at tribal casinos

UPDATED: Fri., March 6, 2020

Washington moved closer to allowing residents to bet on professional sporting events at tribal casinos this week as the Senate passed the latest version of a bill to allow that change to state gambling laws.

News >  Washington

Pence offers praise, supplies, assurances to Inslee at ‘front lines’ of coronavirus fight

UPDATED: Thu., March 5, 2020

Vice President Mike Pence brought praise Thursday for the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, assurances of federal help and much needed supplies to aid in that effort.

News >  Spokane

Spokane Gonzaga-affiliated person tests negative for COVID-19, as statewide case count surges

UPDATED: Thu., March 5, 2020

A Gonzaga-affiliated Spokane County resident tested negative for COVID-19, the Spokane Regional Health District confirmed, as the number of confirmed cases surged statewide.

News >  Washington

Grant County resident tests positive for COVID-19; Washington waives testing charges as cases jump to 70

UPDATED: Thu., March 5, 2020

A Grant County resident hospitalized at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee has tested positive for COVID-19, the Grant County Health District announced Wednesday night.

News >  Spokane

10 deaths due to COVID-19 recorded in Washington, test guidelines broadened

UPDATED: Wed., March 4, 2020

Washington state health officials reported 10 deaths due to the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, as testing guidelines for the virus broadened.

News >  WA Government

Protections against hair style discrimination pass

Wed., March 4, 2020

Racially based hair styles would be protected under the state’s anti-discrimination law.