Mitchell Roland

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News >  Government

Trump administration defunds Northwest hydrogen hub, Spokane grid project, WSU research in cuts targeting ‘the Left’s climate agenda’

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 15, 2025

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Energy is canceling more than $7.5 billion in grants nationwide, including funding for research at Washington State University, an electrical grid project in Spokane and a billion-dollar effort to turn the Northwest into a hub of the hydrogen energy industry.

News >  K-12 education

Cheney School Board race features two district moms

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 1, 2025

When voters in the Cheney School District submitted their ballots a year ago, they signed off on a bond proposal that will shape their district for decades to come. The $72 million plan calls for a new elementary school in Airway Heights, which will help reduce overcrowding at Sunset Elementary and fund other infrastructure upgrades throughout the district.

‘It’s been a little confusing’: WA businesses look to navigate new sales tax law

Sun., Sept. 28, 2025

Trevor Finchamp, co-owner of Karma Cultivate, was surprised when he received a notice from the Washington Department of Revenue this summer.

News >  Washington

Washington ballots mailed on Election Day or even days in advance could be thrown out due to postmark delays

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 27, 2025

Washington voters who mail their ballots on Election Day this November, or even days in advance, could have their ballots thrown out as a result of compounding cost-cutting measures by the United States Postal Service leading to postmarking delays, local and state election officials are warning.

New revenue forecast shows continued decline in Washington’s revenue projections

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 23, 2025

OLYMPIA – A slowing economy will force cuts to services, higher taxes or both next year as the Legislature eyes increasingly dire economic news.

Pain at the pump: Washington gas prices highest in the country

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 16, 2025

Washington state has the highest gasoline prices in the nation, with a gallon costing drivers $1.50 more than the national average on Tuesday, according to data from AAA.

Voters to again decide whether to invest WA Cares funds in the stock market

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 1, 2025

Washington voters bucked an attempt last year to let folks opt out of the state’s new program providing long-term care benefits to residents.

House minority leader pushes for extension of healthcare tax credit during visit to Washington

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 12, 2025

The top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives was in Washington on Friday to push for Congress to extend health care tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year.

Washington state constitution set to be displayed in Spokane for first time

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 12, 2025

Spokane residents have a rare opportunity Monday afternoon: the original Washington state Constitution will be on display for what is believed to be the first time east of the Cascades in the state’s 136-year history.

‘A quiet, Christian man who led by example’: Former state Rep. Don Cox dies

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 12, 2025

Former state Rep. Don Cox, a man described as a humble servant by his fellow lawmakers, died Sunday at his home in Colfax. He was 85.

Washington election officials raise concern over federal request for voter data

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 10, 2025

The Trump administration has requested 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 a probe into “ineligible voter entities.”

State board allows beer and wine sales at WSU’s Martin Stadium

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 10, 2025

Washington State University will sell beer and wine during Cougar football games at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium this season, following approval by the state Cannabis and Liquor Board on Wednesday.

State lawmakers call for legislature to restore funding for Abortion Access Project

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 9, 2025

Nearly 60 Democratic legislators have signed an open letter calling on Washington lawmakers to restore funding to a state program that helps clinics and patients pay for abortion services after lawmakers cut its funding by 55% during the 2025 legislative session.

Organizers to begin gathering signatures for two new initiatives

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 9, 2025

The group that successfully gathered enough signatures to present six initiatives to the Legislature during the 2024 session will soon collect signatures for two new initiatives.

News >  Federal Government

‘Strained past our breaking point’: Washington’s small-town hospitals fear closure as Medicaid cuts loom

Sun., Sept. 7, 2025

DAYTON – If the hospital in this historic southeast Washington town has to close, Acadia Murphey thinks the town will “probably die along with it.”

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘South Hill rapist’ Kevin Coe poised to be released after decades in custody

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 5, 2025

The infamous “South Hill rapist” who stoked fear throughout Spokane starting in the late 1970s is set to be released from his civil commitment at McNeil Island.

Washington Supreme Court to hear appeal of natural gas initiative

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 3, 2025

The Washington Supreme Court likely will decide the fate of a voter-approved initiative that bars state and local laws that restrict or discourage the usage of natural gas.

News >  Health

Federal government to restore removed public health information following lawsuit

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 2, 2025

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has agreed to restore webpages containing resources for health issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community and information on opioid use by women to settle a lawsuit brought by a collection of medical organizations and public health nonprofits.

News >  Higher education

‘We step in to fill those gaps in knowledge:’ $2.1 million donation funds program to help first-generation EWU students

Sat., Aug. 30, 2025

A first-generation college student from the small agricultural town of Benton City, Kasey Sigaran entered an unfamiliar world when she enrolled at Eastern Washington University.

Sen. Patty Murray moves to block Trump’s pick to be Eastern Washington’s U.S. attorney

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 28, 2025

The nomination of Pete Serrano to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington is in jeopardy after Sen. Patty Murray vowed to use “every legislative tool” available to her to block his confirmation.

Washington AG reaches agreement to restore frozen federal education funding

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 27, 2025

A collection of state attorneys general has reached an agreement to restore $7 billion in funding for education programs that were frozen by the Trump Administration.

Republican legislators call for state to repeal ‘sanctuary’ law

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 22, 2025

A collection of Republican Washington state Senators has called for the repeal of a state law that limits local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration officials – while the governor vows to defend the legislation against a potential federal challenge.

WA Ecology official testifies against repeal of ‘endangerment finding’ that allows for climate regulation

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 20, 2025

A federal effort to roll back vehicle pollution standards drew a sharp rebuke from a climate specialist in Washington who warned that it would undermine 16 years of regulations designed to protect human health from the effects of climate change.

Ferguson says he won’t be ‘bullied or intimidated’ by federal government over sanctuary laws

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 19, 2025

Gov. Bob Ferguson said he will defend a Washington law that restricts state and local policing agencies from cooperating and participating in the enforcement of federal immigration law.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office needs more deputies. Here’s why it won’t sign an agreement to help hire more

Sun., Aug. 17, 2025

The workload at the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office has reached a point where property crimes detectives are investigating sex crimes – and it’s no surprise, considering the office has the lowest number of officers per capita out of any county in the state.