Mitchell Roland

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News >  WA Government

State treasurer to again push for financial education requirement for high schoolers

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 4, 2025

OLYMPIA – While State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti has been in office, he has spoken to thousands of people across the state. Not one, Pellicciotti said Thursday, has told him they feel adequately versed in financial education or financial literacy.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Kevin Coe, known as ‘South Hill rapist,’ dies

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 3, 2025

The man known as the “South Hill rapist,” who stoked fear throughout Spokane starting in the late 1970s, has died, a spokesperson for the Federal Way mayor’s office confirmed Wednesday.

News >  WA Government

DOJ sues WA secretary of state to demand voter data

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 3, 2025

The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit against Secretary of State Steve Hobbs to compel the state to turn over information about Washington voters, including names, dates of birth, addresses and either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number as part of the White House’s crackdown on electoral systems around the country.

News >  WA Government

Attorneys general in Washington and Idaho object to latest attempt to ban state AI laws

Fri., Nov. 28, 2025

A bipartisan group of attorneys general – including Nick Brown of Washington and Raul Labrador of Idaho – is again pushing to stop a federal ban on states regulating artificial intelligence.

News >  WA Government

Washington AG sues over cuts and new conditions to permanent housing program

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 25, 2025

Recent changes to how grants are awarded through a federal housing program are illegal and will limit Washingtonians’ access to long-term housing and other services, state Attorney General Nick Brown alleged in a multistate lawsuit filed Tuesday.

News >  WA Government

Spokane native Colleen Melody selected for state Supreme Court

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 24, 2025

OLYMPIA – Colleen Melody, a Spokane native and graduate of Ferris High School, will fill an upcoming opening on the Washington Supreme Court, Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Monday.

News >  WA Government

Capitol break-in caused more than $600,000 in damage

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 21, 2025

A break-in at the state Capitol last month caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, according to an updated estimate released Thursday.

News >  Washington

Federal government looks to scale back environmental protections after North Idaho couple’s case

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 20, 2025

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a new rule that would drastically reduce the number of wetlands protected by federal environmental regulations.

News >  WA Government

Former Spokane City Council president under consideration for State Supreme Court

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 20, 2025

A former president of the Spokane City Council and current Spokane County Superior Court judge is among the candidates under consideration for appointment to Washington’s top court.

Economic outlook improves slightly as governor prepares first budget proposal

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 18, 2025

OLYMPIA – A new prediction gave Washington lawmakers a little good news on Tuesday.

News >  Transportation

Getting there: This year, state workers won’t have to use a Howitzer to control avalanches at Snoqualmie Pass avalanche control

Mon., Nov. 17, 2025

Washington transportation officials will no longer rely on a collection of artillery to shoot loose snow on Snoqualmie Pass to safely trigger controlled avalanches above Interstate 90.

Family files lawsuit against telehealth company they say contributed to WSU student’s suicide

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 13, 2025

The family of a Washington State University freshman who died by suicide nearly three years ago has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a telehealth company he used to receive a prescription for the anti-depressants they say contributed to his death.

Ballmer group to donate up to $170 million per year for free preschool program

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 12, 2025

Washington will nearly double the number of available slots for a state program that provides free prekindergarten child care and wrap-around services for primarily low-income families, following a potentially billion-dollar grant from the Ballmer Group Philanthropy.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Richard Guy, a Gonzaga graduate, dies

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 11, 2025

Former Washington state Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Guy, a Gonzaga Law School graduate who called his time on the state’s highest court “the greatest job I could possibly have,” died last month at his home in Seattle. He was 93.

News >  Higher education

WSU suspends controversial transgender continuing education courses

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 6, 2025

Washington State University has suspended continuing education courses offered by an organization designated as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group as it reviews whether the materials comply with accreditation standards.

Governor tours Western State Hospital as state looks to improve staff safety

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 7, 2025

Gov. Bob Ferguson worked from the campus of Western State Hospital in Lakewood this week and toured the construction site of the new 350-bed forensic hospital, which is slated to open in 2028.

Governor Ferguson to make weekend trip to Spokane

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 5, 2025

Gov. Bob Ferguson will make a trip to Spokane this weekend, marking at least his fourth visit to the area since taking office earlier this year.

Democrats find success in Legislative races

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 5, 2025

While Tuesday’s election was predominantly focused on city and county races, voters in six legislative districts in western Washington also decided who should represent them at the state Capitol.

Spokane progressives post strong showing on Election Night as voters signal they’re receptive to taxes

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 4, 2025

Spokane voters in early returns Tuesday mirrored national trends in their support for left-leaning politics and demonstrated an appetite for more taxes in spite of economic uncertainty.

Voters OK investment of WA Cares funds in stock market

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 4, 2025

A year after voters rejected making the state’s long-term care program optional, they backed an amendment that supporters say will better fund it.

Spokane voters return trio of municipal court judges to bench

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 4, 2025

Early results show that all three incumbents seeking to serve on the Spokane Municipal Court appear to have been elected to another term on the bench.

‘I think it’s a particularly tough cycle’: Creative ads aim to draw attention to Tuesday’s election

Tue., Nov. 4, 2025

The video opens on a close-up of people booty -bumping with copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence sticking out of their jean pockets, as an instantly recognizable drumbeat begins to loop in the background.

Federal government to issue partial SNAP benefits amid shutdown

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 3, 2025

Cindy Evenson and Jack Stevens typically drive their Toyota Sienna van approximately 40 minutes from their home in Springdale to north Spokane in search of a deal when they shop for groceries.

‘People wanted to ditch the switch’: Daylight saving time continues despite broad frustration

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 31, 2025

As you change your clocks this weekend to mark the end of daylight saving time, you might think: Didn’t we end this?

News >  Government

Judges order Trump administration to keep funding SNAP. When will food benefits reach Washington and Idaho families?

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 31, 2025

WASHINGTON – Two federal judges on Friday ordered the Trump administration to continue paying for food assistance that was set to end amid the government shutdown, but it was unclear when families in Washington state and Idaho would receive the benefits.