Mitchell Roland

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News >  WA Government

Washington Democrats are on the verge of passing an income tax. Here’s what you should know

UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 28, 2026

OLYMPIA – Lawmakers in the state Capitol have spent nearly two months debating whether Washington should impose an income tax on individual earnings that exceed $1 million per year.

News >  WA Government

Lower standard for DUI in Washington sputters after committee declines to take action

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 25, 2026

OLYMPIA – Washington will not join Utah and impose a stricter standard for driving while intoxicated, at least not this year.

News >  Federal Government

Trump touts ‘winning’ in State of the Union address as Washington Democrats decry ‘costs, chaos and corruption’ of his administration

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 24, 2026

WASHINGTON – In his first official State of the Union address since returning to office a little more than a year ago, President Donald Trump touted his administration’s accomplishments on Tuesday while Washington state Democrats accused him of being responsible for chaos, rising costs and unprecedented corruption.

News >  WA Government

Washington bill to curb increasing lawsuit payouts ‘unlikely’ to move forward this year

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 24, 2026

OLYMPIA – Legislation aimed at reining in Washington’s growing tort liability appears to be dead, at least for this year.

News >  WA Government

State senator, former congressman among those who allege fraudulent opposition to Washington income tax bill

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 23, 2026

OLYMPIA – Supporters of the state’s proposed income tax on millionaires allege the record number of those who signed in against the legislation is inflated by thousands of fraudulent and duplicate entries.

News >  WA Government

Washington Democratic leaders unveil state budget plans amid escalating costs

UPDATED: Sun., Feb. 22, 2026

OLYMPIA – Democratic budget writers in the House and Senate introduced their spending plan Sunday afternoon as lawmakers seek to maintain state services while contending with federal funding cuts and increased costs.

News >  WA Government

‘Everyone was expecting this’: State officials react to tariff decision as questions linger

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 20, 2026

OLYMPIA – The Supreme Court’s decision this week to strike down a large swath of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration was not a surprise, Lt. Gov. Denny Heck said in an interview Friday.

News >  WA Government

Washington troopers’ DUI crackdown revealed a critical flaw in the system: those blood samples could take nearly two years to be tested

Thu., Feb. 19, 2026

OLYMPIA – Ahead of the Super Bowl last week, the Washington State Patrol announced that the agency would increase its patrols in search of intoxicated drivers.

News >  WA Government

Ferguson and Republicans want a sales tax exemption on diapers in Washington. Democrats in the Legislature aren’t yet sold.

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 18, 2026

OLYMPIA – As legislation to institute an income tax on millionaires makes its way through the Legislature, much of the discussion from Democratic lawmakers has centered on how to spend the estimated $3.5 billion a year the tax is expected to bring in when it takes effect in 2029.

News >  WA Government

Washington House approve bill to give Spokane’s energy-generating trash incinerator more time

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 17, 2026

OLYMPIA – The state House of Representatives has approved legislation that exempts Spokane’s Waste-to-Energy plant from compliance with emission reduction targets laid out in the Climate Commitment Act and gives the facility a longer runway to reduce pollution.

News >  WA Government

Gov. Ferguson says income tax proposal on millionaires a ‘good start,’ but wants more tax relief

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 17, 2026

OLYMPIA – Gov. Bob Ferguson said Tuesday that the current legislation to impose a state income tax on millionaires is a “good start,” but called on lawmakers to devote more of the revenue to direct tax breaks and relief for residents.

News >  WA Government

Washington senate approves income tax on millionaires; House vote is up next

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 16, 2026

OLYMPIA – The Washington Senate approved a 9.9% income tax on those who make more than $1 million per year on Monday, the latest step in a push by Democratic lawmakers to overhaul the state’s tax code through one of the most closely watched legislative proposals in years.

News >  WA Government

Projection shows more money coming to Washington than expected as lawmakers prepare budget proposals

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 16, 2026

OLYMPIA – State budget writers have a bit more money to work with than they initially anticipated.

News >  WA Government

Washington stocked up on abortion drugs when they faced legal uncertainty. Now, the state is aiming to sell the cache before it expires

Mon., Feb. 16, 2026

OLYMPIA – The Washington Senate has approved legislation that would give the Department of Corrections more flexibility in distributing the state’s stockpile of abortion medication.

News >  WA Government

Washington officials warn of impacts from EPA repeal of key greenhouse gas finding

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 13, 2026

OLYMPIA – State officials say a decision by the federal government to stop regulating greenhouse gas emissions is unlawful and will have a grave impact on Washington’s climate.

News >  WA Government

Washington Senate OKs betting on in-state collegiate sports teams amid fears of athlete harassment

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 12, 2026

OLYMPIA – Washington gamblers may soon be able to test their luck betting on the state’s collegiate sports.

Sports >  National sports

Estimated crowd of 1 million people pack Seattle streets for Super Bowl parade

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 12, 2026

SEATTLE – As the Seahawks paraded through the streets of Seattle to celebrate their Super Bowl victory, even the sky couldn’t help but shine a bright blue.

News >  WA Government

Cigarette tax in Washington may go up by $2 per pack. Here’s how it would compare with other states

Wed., Feb. 11, 2026

OLYMPIA – Smokers in Washington may soon face a sharp spike in the cost of cigarettes.

News >  WA Government

Washington Senate recognizes Seahawks for championship: ‘There’s no blue or red, there’s only blue and green’

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 10, 2026

OLYMPIA – Lt. Gov. Denny Heck did something Tuesday he said he hasn’t done in six years of presiding over the Washington Senate: He turned the mic over to a guest.

News >  WA Government

Washington lawmakers consider tax break for two data centers in Spokane County

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 9, 2026

OLYMPIA – Washington lawmakers are considering a special tax exemption for the equipment for two new data centers in Spokane County.

News >  Washington

‘We Are the Champions’: Seahawks fans take to downtown Seattle streets to celebrate

UPDATED: Sun., Feb. 8, 2026

SEATTLE – The celebration on Occidental Avenue South began well before the final whistle of the Super Bowl.

News >  WA Government

State superintendent unveils pitch to use potential millionaires tax money for free college tuition and more

UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 7, 2026

OLYMPIA – The state Superintendent of Public Instruction wants to use most of the revenue collected from a proposed income tax on Washington millionaires to fund education.

News >  WA Government

Proposed income tax on millionaires draws big crowd to first committee hearing

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 6, 2026

OLYMPIA – The line to enter Hearing Room 4 inside the John A. Cherberg building began to form more than an hour before the Senate Ways and Means Committee gaveled into session on Friday.

News >  WA Government

How a Spokane conservative and Tacoma liberal found common ground on restrictions for automated license plate readers

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 5, 2026

OLYMPIA – You’d be hard -pressed to find two lawmakers who approach their work from more different perspectives and life experiences.

News >  WA Government

Ferguson to meet with NBA commissioner amid speculation of potential league expansion

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 5, 2026

OLYMPIA – A Thursday morning meeting that appeared on Gov. Bob Ferguson’s schedule has sparked excitement that the Seattle Sonics could soon return nearly 20 years after the team moved to Oklahoma City.