Laurel Demkovich

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News >  Local Government

Bill to allow state to lease land along I-90 to Spokane passes Legislature

UPDATED: Wed., March 2, 2022

The bill, sponsored by Spokaen Democrat Sen. Andy Billig, would allow the community to use the land for affordable housing, new businesses or parks. 

News >  WA Government

Bill to ban guns at school boards, ballot counting centers passes state Senate

UPDATED: Wed., March 2, 2022

The state Senate passed a bill 28-20 on Tuesday which bans restricts open carry and concealed carry in a number of different settings. It will head back to the House of Representatives who will have to OK changes made in the Senate.

News >  Local Government

Export fuel tax out of transportation package after concerns from neighboring states

UPDATED: Wed., March 2, 2022

The tax, which would have put a 6-cent tax on all fuel produced in Washington but exported to another state, angered lawmakers in Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. It would have brought in $2 billion for the 16-year transportation package. 

News >  WA Government

New bill to allow legislative staff to unionize passes state House

UPDATED: Wed., March 2, 2022

A previous version of the bill had died earlier this session, but Spokane Democrat Rep. Marcus Riccelli revived the idea after more than 100 staffers called in sick to protest. That bill passed the House 56-41 on Tuesday. 

News >  WA Government

Douglas County judge rules against state in capital gains tax lawsuit

UPDATED: Tue., March 1, 2022

A Douglas County superior court judge on Monday struck down Washington's new capital gains tax — the first in a long court battle that could end up in the state Supreme Court. 

News >  Local Government

Vaccine requirement for House lawmakers removed; public now allowed in galleries

Tue., March 1, 2022

As COVID-19 cases decline, the House Executive Rules Committee unanimously voted on Saturday to rescind the vaccine requirement, expand the number of members on the floor and allow the public into the gallery during floor debates.

News >  Local Government

Inslee urges state agencies, businesses to stop work with Russia

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 28, 2022

At a news conference Monday, Inslee called the Russian invasion of Ukraine "vicious, malicious and totally unjustified."

News >  Local Government

State Rep. Bob McCaslin to retire from Legislature, run for county auditor

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 28, 2022

McCaslin, a retired teacher, was first elected to the Legislature, representing the 4th Legislative District, in 2014. He announced his retirement in a floor speech on Saturday.

News >  Local Government

Washington indoor mask mandate now set to end March 12

UPDATED: Tue., March 1, 2022

Washington's indoor mask mandate will lift on March 12 — sooner than previously announced by Gov. Jay Inslee, but not as soon as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week.

News >  WA Government

Export fuel tax likely on the way out as neighboring states criticize Washington proposal

Sun., Feb. 27, 2022

Democratic lawmakers in Olympia, however, are sticking to their plan, which would bring in about $2 billion for the state's transportation package.

News >  Education

Legislature looks to fix Washington’s nursing shortage with funding for education, training

Sun., Feb. 27, 2022

Those proposals include loan repayment for nurse educators, creating nursing programs at Eastern and Western Washington Universities, shortening some time for nursing applications and increasing the number of nursing slots and graduates in the state. 

News >  Education

Kettle Falls will fall back into compliance with Inslee’s mask mandate, Colville to reconsider masking policies today

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 24, 2022

Following a warning from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries after the board voted to make masks optional for students, Kettle Falls School District students and staff will comply, effective immediately, with Gov. Jay Inslee’s mask mandate.

News >  WA Government

With COVID-19 cases dropping, Washington Senate galleries to be opened to public on a limited basis

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 23, 2022

As COVID-19 cases decline across Washington, the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to allow up to 12 members of the public in galleries. 

News >  Local Government

Washington Democrats announce state budget plans to spend excess tax revenue

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 21, 2022

The Senate's more than $63 billion proposal focuses on making new investments in K-12 schools, reducing poverty and homelessness, and addressing the climate crisis. The House's $65 billion proposal focuses on education, long-term care programs and services, and public health.

News >  Local Government

Getting There: Proposals to ‘undo the historical damage’ in East Central by reconnecting neighborhood move through Legislature

Mon., Feb. 21, 2022

A bill making its way through the Legislature would require the department to lease that land back to the community, which can use it for affordable housing, new businesses or parks. Another proposal would build a pedestrian land bridge over I-90 near Liberty Park as a way to reconnect the neighborhood. 

News >  Health

Washington’s mask mandate will end March 21, Inslee says

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 18, 2022

Washington's indoor mask mandate will end March 21. 

News >  WA Government

Halfway through Washington’s legislative session, here’s a look at what bills are dead

Thu., Feb. 17, 2022

Though some legislative magic could revive bills that lawmakers deem important enough, most bills had to pass out of their chambers of origin by 5 p.m. Tuesday to continue on in the legislative process. 

News >  WA Government

State finds $1.45 billion windfall as legislature looks to pass supplemental budget

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 17, 2022

A new forecast on Wednesday showed the state revenue for the budget cycle ending in 2023 has increased by about $1.45 billion since the last forecast in November. Since lawmakers wrote their budgets last spring, projected revenue has increased by just over $5 billion. 

News >  WA Government

Washington Legislative staff call in sick to protest failure of bill to let them unionize

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 16, 2022

Democratic leaders said about 50 House staffers and more than 30 Senate staffers called in sick on Wednesday. Republican leaders said they had not heard of any of their staff members taking the day off. 

News >  WA Government

Part of $17 billion transportation bill approved in state Senate

Tue., Feb. 15, 2022

The package invests in the state's infrastructure by funding maintenance of existing roads, new transit projects and replacement of existing fish passages.

News >  WA Government

Safe staffing bill passes state House, but disagreement continues

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 15, 2022

The House passed a bill 55-43 to implement safe staffing standards in hospitals across the state, including nurse to patient ratios and fines for hospitals who fail to meet them. Another bill passed Sunday establishes a loan repayment program for nurse educators in Washington.

News >  WA Government

Washington lawmakers take another look at police reform – here’s where those proposals stand

UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 12, 2022

Republicans have made public safety their top priority this session and have pushed for fixes to what they call the "anti-police" bills passed last session. Democrats have acknowledged the need for clarity but how far they go in changing the laws remains to be seen.

News >  WA Government

Washington Senate passes bill limiting manufacture, sale of ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 10, 2022

The original bill prohibited the possession of firearms with a capacity of more than 10 rounds. An amendment that passed Wednesday removed the provision banning possession. 

News >  Health

Inslee plans to announce next week when Washington’s indoor mask mandate will end

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 9, 2022

As other Democratic-led states, such as California and Illinois, set end dates for their mandates, Inslee said Washington is not quite ready, but the conversations to end it are happening. A date for the end of the indoor mask mandate will likely come next week, he said.

News >  WA Government

State Democrats announce transportation package that includes funding for new bus ‘rapid transit line’ on Division

Wed., Feb. 9, 2022

The $16 billion package announced Tuesday will invest in the state's infrastructure, focusing on maintenance of existing roads, funding new transit projects across the state and fulfilling the state's obligation to replace existing fish passages.