Laurel Demkovich

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News >  WA Government

Getting There: New legislative funds could accelerate North Spokane Corridor construction, but don’t get your hopes up

UPDATED: Mon., April 12, 2021

The current end date for the project is 2029, but Spokane legislators are hoping for an acceleration of that timeline, if new transportation funds pass in the state Legislature this year.

News >  WA Government

Juneteenth is one step closer to becoming a paid state holiday in Washington after state senate vote

UPDATED: Fri., April 9, 2021

The bill, which passed 47-1, would make June 19 a paid day-off for state employees, an effort to honor those who were slaves, celebrate the end of slavery and make a first step toward improving the knowledge of Black history in the state. 

News >  WA Government

Clean fuel standard, ‘cap-and-trade’ proposals pass state Senate late Thursday

UPDATED: Mon., April 12, 2021

The Washington State Senate passed Thursday two controversial climate proposals that look to reduce carbon emissions in the state: a "cap-and-trade" bill and a clean fuel standard. 

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Some counties could move to Phase 2 next week, but it’s unclear which ones - yet

Fri., April 9, 2021

The Department of Health will reevaluate counties' COVID-19 data metrics on Monday.

News >  Health

‘Hope in action’: Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff visits Central Washington communities hardest hit by COVID-19

UPDATED: Tue., April 6, 2021

In addition to visiting the federal mass vaccination site in Yakima, he met with the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and toured their cultural center.

Democrats want to drain the state’s Rainy Day Fund to help pay for COVID costs. Here’s what that might mean.

UPDATED: Mon., April 5, 2021

While lawmakers have dipped into the fund in the past, it's never had this much money in it, and it's never been drained this completely. 

News >  Higher education

New projects at Eastern Washington colleges would be funded in proposed state budgets

UPDATED: Sun., April 4, 2021

Current two-year capital budget proposals — which fund many construction projects across the state — set aside a large portion for higher education facilities, including Spokane Falls Community College, Washington State University and Eastern Washington University. 

News >  Health

All adults to be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in Washington starting April 15

UPDATED: Wed., March 31, 2021

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday all adults who want the vaccine will be eligible, if they want, just four months after the first vaccinations began in Washington. 

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State House passes open carry ban at capitol, demonstrations; bill heads back to Senate for final passage

Tue., March 30, 2021

The bill now heads back to the Senate for final consideration of added amendments before the governor's final signature.

News >  WA Government

Juneteenth gains support to be official Washington state holiday; many in Spokane say it’s important step to acknowledge slavery

UPDATED: Fri., April 2, 2021

With a bill to designate Juneteenth as a paid state legal holiday, the state Legislature is hoping to honor those who were slaves, celebrate the end of slavery and make a first step toward improving the knowledge of Black history in the state.

News >  WA Government

House Democrats release $58 billion two-year budget proposal they say ‘makes investments in people’

Sat., March 27, 2021

Additionally, it would spend $2.2 billion of the more than $4 billion in flexible federal money that came directly to the state government on business assistance, rental assistance, food assistance and unemployment insurance, among other areas.

News >  WA Government

Washington state Senate Democrats unveil $59.2 billion two-year budget they say ‘hits all four corners of the state’

UPDATED: Thu., March 25, 2021

The proposed budget released Thursday would spend $59.2 billion over the next two-years in addition to $7 billion in one-time federal stimulus funding.

News >  WA Government

Inslee: Schools can loosen social-distancing to 3 feet

UPDATED: Thu., March 25, 2021

To follow updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current state guidelines of 6 feet of separation can be cut to 3 feet in most settings, effective immediately, according to Inslee's office. Three feet is the minimum requirement, and schools can opt to remain at 6 feet.

News >  WA Government

Some Washington lawmakers wonder if federal stimulus will be enough for transportation projects

UPDATED: Thu., March 25, 2021

The House and Senate released separate transportation budget proposals this week, outlining their spending priorities for the next two-year cycle starting July 1. The House proposal, authored by House Transportation Committee Chair Jake Fey looks to spend $10.9 billion while the Senate proposal, authored by Senate Transportation Chair Steve Hobbs, would spend $11.7 billion. 

News >  WA Government

State and federal lawmakers push gun control bills in wake of Georgia, Colorado shootings

UPDATED: Wed., March 24, 2021

WASHINGTON – Democrats moved Tuesday to revive efforts in Congress to change gun laws after two high-profile mass shootings less than a week apart, but a stubborn partisan divide threatens to block even modest reforms.

News >  WA Government

Using credit scores to set insurance premiums has been temporarily banned in Washington

UPDATED: Tue., March 23, 2021

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued a temporary emergency rule Tuesday prohibiting insurers from using credit scoring to determine insurance rates, after an effort to ban the practice in state law failed in the Legislature.

News >  WA Government

Inslee: Anyone 60 and older, restaurant workers among new group eligible for vaccines on March 31

UPDATED: Thu., March 18, 2021

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday the next two tiers of residents will be eligible for a vaccine starting March 31, making two million more people eligible.

News >  WA Government

Inslee extends coronavirus eviction moratorium through June

UPDATED: Thu., March 18, 2021

The moratorium, which prohibits evictions of tenants struggling to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was set to expire at the end of this month. 

Washington to see $3 billion revenue boost following similar trends nationwide as states prepare for more federal funds

UPDATED: Thu., March 18, 2021

After a year of economic uncertainty and possible budget deficits, it looks like Washington's revenue is right back to where it was a year ago.

State lawmakers have long called for dedicated wildfire funding; this could be the year it happens

Tue., March 16, 2021

The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland, and Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, would set up a dedicated funding account, investing about $125 million every two years for wildfire response, forest health and community resilience — something Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, legislators and advocates have been pushing for years.

News >  WA Government

Legislation to address child care shortages statewide moves forward as funding questions remains

Mon., March 15, 2021

A broad legislative proposal that would address child care shortages and prices across the state passed its first major hurdles last week. The bill would expand child care access for families and improve support and subsidy rates for providers through a newly created funding account.

News >  Education

Inslee: Schools must reopen to some in-person learning by April

UPDATED: Fri., March 12, 2021

To get kids back into schools sooner, Inslee will issue an executive order next week that will prohibit districts from failing to offer all students some hybrid model of in-person learning

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Washington to receive billions of dollars from federal stimulus package for schools, child care, local governments

Fri., March 12, 2021

Washington state is set to receive billions of dollars as part of Congress' $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, with aid going to schools, child care, state and local governments, and more.

News >  WA Government

Inslee: All counties in Washington to move to Phase 3 starting March 22

UPDATED: Fri., March 12, 2021

All counties in Washington will move to Phase 3 starting March 22, opening restaurants to 50% capacity, allowing outdoor gatherings of 400 people and increasing capacity for fans at high school and professional sporting events.

News >  Washington

Pacific Northwest Congressional delegation signs letter urging for stop of National Archives sale

Thu., March 11, 2021

Washington Democrat Sen. Maria Cantwell and Alaskan Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski are leading the effort, joined by 23 other lawmakers.