Stories by Laurel Demkovich for the Spokesman-Review

News > WA Government

Inslee visits Nordic countries to talk energy, innovation, climate change

Thu., Sept. 22, 2022

Inslee and other representatives from Washington have spent the last week on a trade mission to Finland, Sweden and Norway focusing on energy, technology, sustainability and climate change. Representatives from the Department of Commerce, the Port of Seattle, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and employers in the state, such as Microsoft, joined the governor.

News > Nation/World

We the People: How can Congress regulate policies like abortion given the 10th Amendment?

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 20, 2022

The 10th Amendment says "the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

News > WA Government

Ted Cummings, Suzanne Schmidt face off in 4th Legislative District race

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 5, 2022

A Democrat with deep criticisms of the Republican party is hoping to win a seat representing the heavily-Republican 4th Legislative District but likely faces a difficult battle against a candidate with support among current and former Republican legislators.

News > Pacific NW

Remote work allowed more people to move into rural areas like the Methow Valley, but locals now worry about housing, staffing

Sun., Sept. 4, 2022

WINTHROP, Wash. – What Beverly Nieves misses the most about owning a home is having a kitchen.

News > WA Government

Fires, wildlife interactions, changed habitats: As more people move into wildland urban interface, the consequences grow

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 30, 2022

Heightened wildfire risk, wildlife interactions, and dwindling resources. Those are all some of the effects that could come from more people moving into areas that have previously never been developed.

News > Health

Health officials say it’s too early to tell if monkeypox cases are on the decline

Fri., Aug. 26, 2022

The risk to the general public remains low, and health officials want to keep it that way, Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah told reporters.

News > WA Government

AG Ferguson joins other western states in requesting to halt expansion of methane gas pipeline

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 22, 2022

Gas Transmission Northwest asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to expand its capacity to transport methane gas in a pipeline that runs through the Pacific Northwest, including near Spokane and North Idaho. Gas Transmission Northwest is a pipeline run by Canada-based TC Energy, which also is in charge of the Keystone pipeline system through the northern United States.

News > WA Government

The Tri-Cities are among the fastest growing parts of Washington, according to 2020 Census data. Here’s how they’re dealing with explosive growth

UPDATED: Sun., Aug. 21, 2022

It's no surprise that the area — known for its agriculture, manufacturing, vineyards and innovation — is developing so rapidly. According to 2020 U.S. Census data, the Tri-Cities has seen the most population growth in the last 10 years.

News > WA Government

State Supreme Court rules against Tim Eyman in ‘cap-and-trade’ case

Sat., Aug. 20, 2022

Eyman had filed a lawsuit in Thurston County Superior Court to allow the legislation, which will generate some money for the state beginning next year, to appear on the ballot as a tax advisory vote, a nonbinding measure that allows voters to weigh in on taxes passed in the Legislature.

News > Health

Inslee issues guidance on fighting monkeypox in Washington

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 12, 2022

As of Thursday, there have been 265 total monkeypox cases in twelve counties across Washington. There are three cases in Spokane county, according to the Department of Health.

News > Idaho

‘Doubly desperate’: Despite border reopening, North Idaho family struggles to prosper after business drops to 30% of what it was before pandemic

Fri., Aug. 12, 2022

The border has since reopened, but some restrictions are still in place, and many businesses have yet to recover.

News > WA Government

Republicans shut out of Secretary of State race as nonpartisan, Democrat move on

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 10, 2022

Before current Secretary Steve Hobbs was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to take over for Kim Wyman, a Republican had served in the office since 1964.

News > Health

Washington monkeypox cases on the rise as Biden declares public health emergency

Fri., Aug. 5, 2022

Washington has 166 confirmed cases of orthopoxvirus, which are considered likely monkeypox, Department of Health officials shared on Thursday.

News > Local Government

Some primary races still too close to call as of Thursday

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 4, 2022

A number of races from Tuesday’s primary election remained too close to call on Thursday.

News > WA Government

Democrat leading Herrera Beutler in 3rd Congressional District race

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 2, 2022

A Democrat was leading in the race for the 3rd Congressional District as of late Tuesday night while incumbent Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, trailed .

News > WA Government

Republican Schmidt to face Democrat Cummings in 4th Legislative District race

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 2, 2022

The candidate who McCaslin endorsed as his replacement, Republican MJ Bolt, was trailing behind with 24.6% of the vote.

News > WA Government

Steve Hobbs moves on in secretary of state race but opponent remains too close to call

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 2, 2022

Nonpartisan candidate Julie Anderson received the second most votes, with 12.9%, followed by Republican Bob Hagglund with 12.4%. Republican state Sen. Keith Wagoner trailed close behind with 12.2% of the vote.

News > WA Government

State task force releases first recommendations regarding missing and murdered Indigenous women and people

Tue., Aug. 2, 2022

At a Monday press conference with Attorney General Bob Ferguson, task force members Patsy Whitefoot, Abigail Echo-Hawk and state Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, shared their recommendations.

News > WA Government

‘Unsustainable’: Hospitals in Washington, nationwide struggle with finances despite ease in COVID-19 patients

Mon., Aug. 1, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic, a significant loss in permanent staff and an increase in expenses due to inflation have led to what hospital leaders are calling a "quite grave" situation.

News > Nation/World

Washington, Idaho Congressional members split on same-sex marriage vote

UPDATED: Thu., July 21, 2022

All Democrats from Washington voted in favor of the legislation. Rep. Dan Newhouse was the only Washington Republican to vote in favor. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Jaime Herrera Beutler voted against it. Idaho Republican Russ Fulcher voted against the legislation while Republican Michael Simpson voted in favor.

News > WA Government

Hospital leaders call on state to help with ‘unprecedented’ capacity crisis

UPDATED: Tue., July 19, 2022

Many hospitals statewide, including most on the west side, are over 100% capacity. Though hospitals in Eastern Washington have not reached the same levels yet, hospital leaders say they could soon, with many currently around 95% capacity.

News > WA Government

Incumbent Patty Murray, Republican Tiffany Smiley likely to emerge in 18-candidate race for U.S. Senate

UPDATED: Fri., July 15, 2022

Heading into the Aug. 2 primary, Murray faces 17 challengers, but early campaign contributions and party support point to Tiffany Smiley as her likely opponent in November.

News > WA Government

Spokesman-Review, League of Women Voters to host virtual secretary of state debate Thursday

Thu., July 14, 2022

Five of the eight candidates running for the office have confirmed their participation in the forum. Julie Anderson, Bob Hagglund, Steve Hobbs, Mark Miloscia and Marquez Tiggs will answer questions written by the League and The Spokesman-Review.

News > WA Government

Washington Supreme Court agrees to review capital gains lawsuit

Thu., July 14, 2022

A Douglas County Superior Court judge in March struck down the new tax, which opponents have called an income tax and therefore unconstitutional under state law. The state appealed the decision. The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case, Quinn v. State of Washington, and bypass the court of appeals.

News > WA Government

3 cold cases, including Pullman rapes, solved using state DNA program, AG says

Tue., July 12, 2022

The program has now helped solve three cold cases, all of which were unsolved for nearly two decades, according to Ferguson's office. They are the first cases solved using the forensic genealogy in Washington.

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