Laurel Demkovich

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News >  Local Government

In a bid to heal Washington’s housing crisis, lawmakers consider allowing more duplexes and other types of ‘middle housing’

Sun., Feb. 6, 2022

The proposals would require cities to allow housing, such as duplexes, triplexes and courtyard apartments, to be built on land currently zoned for single family homes. 

News >  WA Government

Capital gains tax court battle begins with Douglas County hearing

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 4, 2022

Friday's hearing is likely the first in a long court battle still to come, ending with the state Supreme Court ultimately deciding whether the tax is considered an income tax, which is currently unconstitutional under state law.

News >  WA Government

Inslee, joined by Wilkerson, proposes special office to get people living in encampments into permanent housing

Fri., Feb. 4, 2022

Gov. Jay Inslee joined Spokane City Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson and other local Seattle and Tacoma leaders Thursday to talk about ways to fight the state's housing crisis.

News >  WA Government

State Senate passes changes to redistricting process as House approves final maps with changes

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 2, 2022

A proposal that passed the Senate on Wednesday would require the redistricting commission to make any maps publicly available at least three days before voting on it.

News >  Nation/World

Here’s what to know about the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Tue., Feb. 1, 2022

The conflict is one that has gone back decades as Russia, and experts say it's more complicated than just a land border.

News >  WA Government

Fight over hospital safe-staffing standard continues in Legislature

Mon., Jan. 31, 2022

A bill that would require hospitals to implement safe-staffing standards, including strict ratios, passed a House of Representatives panel Friday. It still needs to pass the full House before going to the Senate.

News >  Health

‘Making the same mistakes’: COVID-19 outbreaks spread across Corrections facilities

Sun., Jan. 30, 2022

Inmates at Airway Heights say the conditions they are experiencing now are just like those they experienced in winter of 2020.

News >  WA Government

Inslee’s bill to make lying about election results a crime gets first public hearing

Sat., Jan. 29, 2022

Inslee testified in support of his proposal that would make it a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail or a $5,000 fine, to "knowingly, recklessly or maliciously" for candidates or elected officials to make false statements about election results.

News >  Health

Western Washington may soon see declining COVID-19 cases, but not yet for Eastern Washington

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 28, 2022

Washington is not done with omicron , although early signs show that the West Side might be headed in the right direction.

News >  Health

Inslee signs bill delaying collection of long-term care tax for 18 months

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 27, 2022

Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday signed two bills dealing with the controversial tax. One delays the collection of the 0.58% payroll tax until July 2023. The other adds exemptions to the bill, including those who work in Washington but live in another state. 

News >  Health

Delay to long-term care tax awaits Inslee’s signature as Legislature agrees to ‘make this bill better’

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 27, 2022

Less than three weeks into the session, the Washington State Legislature has passed an 18-month delay to the controversial long-term care payroll tax.

News >  WA Government

Having fake COVID-19 vaccine card could become crime in Washington if bill passes Legislature

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 25, 2022

A bill being heard in the Legislature would make it a misdemeanor to knowingly display a fraudulent proof of vaccination, punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both. It would also make it a class C felony to knowingly sell fake COVID-19 vaccine cards, punishable by up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both. 

News >  WA Government

Legislative staff can’t unionize in Washington. A new bill would change that

Mon., Jan. 24, 2022

Currently, legislative staff are not covered by state civil service laws that grant state employees collective bargaining rights.

News >  Health

Washington residents can now order free at-home COVID-19 tests through state website

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 21, 2022

The site, www.sayyescovidhometest.org, went live Friday. Those who do not have access to the internet can call the COVID-19 hotline 1-800-525-0127 to order tests.

News >  WA Government

Inslee joins other governors in testifying to Congress on COVID-19 strategies

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 21, 2022

The hearing and governors' comments drew criticism from Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and other Republican members of the subcommittee, who claimed some governments have been too heavy-handed in their mandates and vaccine strategy.

News >  Health

Washington House sends bill to Senate that would delay controversial long-term care tax

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 19, 2022

The state House of Representatives voted 91-6 Wednesday to send a bill that would delay the implementation of the tax to July 2023 to the Senate. The House also voted 67-29 on a bill that would create more exemptions for the tax, including those that live out of state but work in Washington. 

News >  WA Government

Lawmakers to consider multiple gun control proposals this session

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 19, 2022

A Senate committee on Monday heard multiple proposals involving gun rights, including one that would ban the manufacture, possession and sale of any assault weapons, and one that would allow local governments to ban open carry at public meetings or at their facilities.

News >  Health

As staffing crisis worsens in hospitals, legislators look to implement safe staffing standard

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 18, 2022

The bill would follow a similar model in California that regulates hospital staffing ratios, meal and rest breaks and overtime provisions. 

News >  WA Government

House panel votes to delay Washington’s long-term care tax to 2023

Fri., Jan. 14, 2022

A House committee approved two bills Thursday that would delay the implementation of the tax and would create voluntary exemptions of the tax for veterans, spouses of military members, non-immigrant temporary workers and employees who work in Washington but live outside the state.

News >  Health

National Guard deployed to help Sacred Heart; Inslee pauses nonurgent procedures statewide

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 13, 2022

Hospitals across the state are at or nearing capacity, Inslee said. An ongoing staffing crisis and increase in COVID-19 cases because of the omicron variant has put hospitals to crisis.

News >  WA Government

Bill to increase penalty for harassing election officials passes Senate

Thu., Jan. 13, 2022

Harassing an election official may soon be punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. 

News >  WA Government

Legislature looks to solve utility tax fight between city, county with new bill

Thu., Jan. 13, 2022

The bill, which received its first public hearing Wednesday, would exempt county-owned sewer and water facilities revenue from taxes imposed by a city or town. 

News >  WA Government

‘Take action this day’: Inslee pushes Legislature to pass laws on climate, housing, education, transportation

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 11, 2022

In his annual State of the State address, Inslee again pushed the Legislature to take immediate action the next 60 days to address "a variety and dimension of demands greater than ever."

News >  WA Government

Legislature opens another mostly virtual session

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 10, 2022

The 2022 Washington Legislature convened Monday to open its 60-day session.

News >  WA Government

Inslee focus turns to testing, masks, away from restrictions, as omicron surges

Sun., Jan. 9, 2022

In a press conference Thursday, Inslee said the state would be focusing more on using "common sense" measures to fight the new wave of cases, including masking, vaccines and at-home testing.