Laurel Demkovich

All Stories

News >  Education

Native American names or symbols can no longer be used as Washington public school mascots

UPDATED: Mon., April 26, 2021

Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law a bill that requires school districts to begin Jan. 1, 2022 phasing out the use of Native American names or symbols, unless the district consults with the appropriate tribe on its usage. 

News >  WA Government

After session marked by pandemic, Washington Legislature adjourns with final passage of $59 billion budget

UPDATED: Sun., April 25, 2021

After final passage of a $59.2 billion two-year budget on Sunday, lawmakers adjourned until January. 

News >  WA Government

Washington Democrats get major climate bills across legislative finish line before end of session

UPDATED: Sun., April 25, 2021

Gov. Jay Inslee and Democrats have long sought passage of the cap-and-trade and low carbon fuel standard proposals but could never get them through both chambers. 

News >  WA Government

Capital gains tax heads to Inslee’s desk after passage in Washington Legislature

UPDATED: Sun., April 25, 2021

OLYMPIA – A 7% tax on the sale of some investments passed the Legislature on Sunday, after a years-long push by Gov. Jay Inslee and Democrats.

News >  WA Government

North Spokane freeway funded in transportation budget, but lawmakers continue push for new revenue package

UPDATED: Sun., April 25, 2021

The Legislature on Saturday passed an almost $11.8 billion budget, a bare bones plan backed heavily by federal money that will fund continued projects throughout the state.

News >  WA Government

Legislature approves bill sending first-time drug offenders to treatment, not prison

UPDATED: Sun., April 25, 2021

The House of Representatives on Saturday passed a version of a bill that would make possession of a controlled substance a simple misdemeanor and create a system to support recovery from addiction.

News >  Higher education

Legislature passes $6.3 billion capital budget with funding for Eastern Washington universities, community projects

UPDATED: Sun., April 25, 2021

A $6.3 billion capital budget has passed the Legislature with money for projects at Eastern Washington colleges, Spokane's fish hatchery and a statewide expansion of broadband access and new housing projects.

News >  WA Government

Released one day before voting deadline, proposed $59 billion Washington budget would use federal and rainy day funds

UPDATED: Sat., April 24, 2021

The 1,100 page final plan was released to the public less than two days before lawmakers must vote on it. 

News >  WA Government

Police tactics bill headed to Inslee’s desk after passing Legislature

UPDATED: Sun., April 25, 2021

The bill is part of a broad legislative package proposed by Democrats this session to address police accountability following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May. 

News >  WA Government

With two days left in session, Washington House passes ‘cap and trade’

UPDATED: Fri., April 23, 2021

A "cap-and-trade" proposal passed the state House of Representatives on Friday, one of two climate bills Democrats hope to push through before the end of session Sunday. 

News >  WA Government

Child care proposal approved by Legislature, but capital gains tax to fund it still in negotiations

UPDATED: Thu., April 22, 2021

The bill creates a new funding account for child care and early learning. It also expands eligibility and decreases co-payments for the state's subsidy programs. It also increases rates, training and supports for providers. 

News >  WA Government

Legislature unanimously approves bill to increase wildfire fighting capabilities, forest health funding

UPDATED: Thu., April 22, 2021

The bill, which provides $125 million every two years for wildfire wildfire response, forest restoration and community resilience, unanimously passed both chambers. It now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee's desk for his final signature. 

News

COVID-19 hospitalizations increase in Spokane County and state

UPDATED: Thu., April 22, 2021

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Spokane County have reached levels not seen since mid-February.

News >  WA Government

Washington lawmakers reach deal that would restrict use of tear gas unless elected officials OK it

UPDATED: Thu., April 22, 2021

The compromise reached allows law enforcement to use tear gas for public riots only after getting approval from the highest elected official in the jurisdiction.

News >  WA Government

Washington House passes capital gains tax, the furthest such a proposal has ever gotten in the state

UPDATED: Wed., April 21, 2021

The bill passed 52-46 after a nearly five-hour debate late Tuesday and a two hour debate Wednesday on the bill. Five Democrats voted against it.

News >  WA Government

Bill to ban open carry at the capitol and demonstrations heads to Inslee’s desk

UPDATED: Tue., April 20, 2021

The state Senate concurred Tuesday on the bill, which would ban open carry within 250 feet of publicly permitted demonstrations and on the state capitol campus. People openly carrying a firearm on their private property are exempt, if a protest is occurring outside their home or business. Law enforcement officers are also exempt.

News >  WA Government

Washington bill requiring police officers to intervene when they see use of force heads to governor

UPDATED: Tue., April 20, 2021

The Senate concurred 31-18 on changes made in the House, sending the bill to Gov. Jay Inslee's desk for signature. 

News >  WA Government

‘America’s team’: State Senate honors Gonzaga basketball in resolution Tuesday

UPDATED: Tue., April 20, 2021

The Gonzaga Men's Basketball team received honors Tuesday with a state Senate resolution commemorating the nearly undefeated team for uniting the state during a year that many say needed it most.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Police halt drug possession arrests as they await major rewrite of Washington’s drug laws after Supreme Court ruling

Sun., April 18, 2021

The decision effectively decriminalized possession of a small amount of drugs in Washington. While lawmakers have been working on a way to address that decision, Spokane County and other jurisdictions have been left to navigate an uncertain playing field that has been shaped by decades of conversations around imprisonment and treatment. 

News >  ID Government

Fight over governors’ emergency powers continues in Idaho, Washington

UPDATED: Fri., April 16, 2021

Gov. Brad Little said Friday he would veto two bills that would limit executive powers during states of emergency, the latest attempt by Republican state lawmakers across the country to restrict governors during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

News >  Health

Inslee warns of potential fourth coronavirus wave as vaccines open to all Washington residents ages 16 and up

UPDATED: Thu., April 15, 2021

In his first in-person outdoor news conference since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Jay Inslee and health officials warned Washington residents of a “fourth wave,” with virus and hospitalization numbers on the rise again.

News >  WA Government

Each state honors two residents with statues in the U.S. Capitol. Washington will replace pioneer Marcus Whitman’s.

UPDATED: Thu., April 15, 2021

The statue of Marcus Whitman will officially leave the U.S. Capitol, soon replaced by Washington tribal treaty rights activist Billy Frank Jr.

News >  WA Government

Washington’s COVID-19 unemployment fraud is likely higher than first thought, a new report says

UPDATED: Tue., April 13, 2021

The loss is likely higher than the more than the $647 million the department identified last year and could be as high as $1.1 billion, according to the audit released Tuesday. The remaining amount is left in "questionable payments" that were flagged for review but haven't been investigated. 

News

Bill to restructure public health gets big changes in Legislature after passing state Senate

UPDATED: Mon., April 12, 2021

Spokane County’s local board of health may soon have to change if a bill sponsored by area Rep. Marcus Riccelli gets final approval from the Legislature.

News

Spokane County will stay in Phase 3 for now; Whitman County among those moving back

UPDATED: Mon., April 12, 2021

Three counties — Cowlitz, Pierce and Whitman — will be moving back to Phase 2 this Friday, according to a press release from Gov. Jay Inslee's office.