Laurel Demkovich

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News >  Health

Washington lawmakers are trying to protect out-of-state abortion patients. Here’s what you need to know:

UPDATED: Mon., March 6, 2023

Supporters say the "shield law" is necessary as states try to find ways to prosecute for abortions that happen outside of their state while opponents say the bill is unnecessary "fear mongering" that could hurt Washington's relationships with other states.

News >  WA Government

Finnish president to address Washington Legislature on Monday

Fri., March 3, 2023

During a short visit, Niinisto will meet with Gov. Jay Inslee and give an address to the joint session of the state Legislature.

News >  Local Government

Washington program to reconnect communities damaged by transportation projects renamed in honor of Sandy Williams

UPDATED: Wed., March 1, 2023

Williams advocated for revitalizing the East Central neighborhood, which was split in half by Interstate 90 in the late 1950s, and for helping communities recover from damages done by transportation projects.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Washington Legislature looks to strengthen police accountability by barring qualified immunity

Tue., Feb. 28, 2023

The bill would allow any person injured by an officer to bring a cause of action against that officer and any other who had the power to prevent the injury. 

News >  WA Government

Washington may make it easier to build backyard cottages in a bid to ease the housing crisis

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 27, 2023

A bill that passed the state Senate 42-6 on Monday would require cities and counties to allow for ADU construction within urban growth areas and prohibits certain regulations on the units. The proposal is one of many making its way through the Legislature this year to address the state's housing crisis, a topic that legislative leaders on both sides have made a priority. 

News >  Health

Despite recent historic investments into child care, workforce is still struggling in Washington

Sun., Feb. 26, 2023

But even historic state investments into the system have not been enough to support the workforce, who often leave the profession for higher paying jobs with better benefits. 

News >  Education

Washington may require 30-minute recess at all schools

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 22, 2023

During the Legislature's annual Children's Day, lawmakers, their kids and grandkids took to the Senate floor to vote on a bill to require at least 30 minutes of recess for elementary schools each day. The bill passed 28-21. 

News >  WA Government

Washington Legislature looks to tackle growing nursing workforce shortages this year

Sun., Feb. 19, 2023

A survey from members of three healthcare unions in Washington found that almost half of healthcare workers say they are likely to leave the profession in the next few years and more almost 80% said they were burnt out by their jobs.

News >  WA Government

Police pursuit legislation making chases easier passes key House committee

Fri., Feb. 17, 2023

The bill would allow officers to pursue if there is reasonable suspicion that a person in the vehicle has committed a violent offense, a sex offense, a vehicular assault offense, a domestic violence offense, an escape or driving under the influence. 

News >  WA Government

Eastern Washington could get its own landscape feature on Capitol Campus

Thu., Feb. 16, 2023

A bill sponsored by Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, would create a space on the Olympia campus to commemorate Eastern Washington, specifically its trees. 

News >  WA Government

Is Lisa Brown running for mayor of Spokane? Longtime lawmaker leaving post as state commerce director

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 13, 2023

The Department of Commerce did not give a reason for why Brown was stepping down. Brown has been a top possible choice to run for mayor of Spokane this year, though she has not said officially yet whether she is running.

News >  WA Government

New Democratic presidential primary calendar keeps Washington’s primary in March

Sun., Feb. 12, 2023

The Democratic National Committee last week approved changes to the 2024 Democratic presidential primary calendar, switching up which states get the first few primary dates. Under the new plan, South Carolina will hold the first primary on Feb. 3, followed by New Hampshire and Nevada on Feb. 6. Georgia would hold theirs next on Feb. 13, followed by Michigan on Feb. 27. 

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Washington Senate panel approves bill to make drug possession gross misdemeanor

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 9, 2023

The bill, sponsored by Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, has 15 co-sponsors, including Law and Justice Chair Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, and Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane. It will now head to the Ways and Means Committee for further discussion. 

News >  WA Government

Tax incentives for sustainable jet fuel could soon be coming to Washington

Thu., Feb. 9, 2023

The bill would incentivize fuel producers to build alternative fuel production facilities in Washington by creating a preferential  business and operations tax rate of 0.275% for the manufacture and sale of sustainable aviation fuels.

News >  WA Government

Middle housing proposal passes House panel with changes

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 7, 2023

The bill, sponsored by Olympia Democrat Rep. Jessica Bateman would require cities to expand what types of housing can be built on residential lots. 

News >  WA Government

Washington lawmakers look to recruit, retain more law enforcement officers this session

Mon., Feb. 6, 2023

More training academies, using state funding for officers and giving out hiring and retention bonuses are all up for discussion this year.

News >  Local Government

Expired tab? Bill in Washington Legislature would prevent police from pulling you over

Thu., Feb. 2, 2023

A proposal sponsored by Rep. Chipalo Street, D-Seattle, would limit what law enforcement officers can pull someone over for. 

News >  WA Government

Inslee tests positive for COVID-19 for second time

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 1, 2023

He is experiencing minor symptoms, including a minor cough, according to his office. He will continue to work virtually. 

News >  WA Government

Legislature looks to clean Spokane River PCBs with new proposal to regulate the chemicals

Tue., Jan. 31, 2023

The bipartisan proposal would require the Department of Ecology to petition the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reassess its regulations on PCBs, with the hopes that the agency would eliminate PCBs in consumer products. It would also restrict PCB-containing paints and printing inks by June 1, 2025, making Washington the first state to do so.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Legislature has options for addressing drug possession law. Here’s a look at some of them:

UPDATED: Sun., Jan. 29, 2023

OLYMPIA – State lawmakers are wrestling with how severely to punish people caught with drugs.

News >  WA Government

State Supreme Court hears capital gains tax arguments in hearing

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 27, 2023

Attorneys for the state and plaintiffs in the case Chris Quinn v. State of Washington argued in front of the court's nine justices in what will be another ruling in the decades-long fight over the constitutionality of income taxes in Washington. 

News >  Health

State lawmakers hear slew of abortion protection bills following 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 24, 2023

On the heels of the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, abortion advocates and lawmakers gathered at Washington's Capitol to push for more abortion rights.

News >  WA Government

Getting There: Inslee, Spokane lawmakers remain committed to finding funding for North Spokane Corridor

Mon., Jan. 23, 2023

In a news conference on Thursday, Inslee said he's hopeful he and legislators can find a creative way to avoid the six-year delay he initially proposed in his transportation budget. Inslee's proposal would pause funding for the next four years, pushing completion back to 2035. 

News >  WA Government

Bill to ease Washington’s housing crisis would allow up to fourplex on all residential lots

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 20, 2023

The proposal is making its second appearance in the Legislature, this time with more cities covered and with bipartisan support. It comes at a time when the Legislature is looking to address the housing and homelessness crisis in a number of different ways, including zoning, renter protections, affordable housing availability, and others. 

News >  WA Government

Washington Legislature again looks to tackle safe staffing requirements in hospitals

Thu., Jan. 19, 2023

A bill making its way through the Legislature right now would attempt to alleviate some staffing issues by requiring hospitals to adopt safe staffing standards, including assigning certain staff members a set number of patients.