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Chewelah City Council members appoint interim mayor

UPDATED: Fri., June 20, 2025

CHEWELAH, Wash. – City Council members in Chewelah appointed Dorothy Knauss as interim mayor Wednesday evening.

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WA education office cites state budget cuts as it lays off 37

UPDATED: Thu., June 19, 2025

Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is laying off 37 people at the start of July, part of a broader wave of state layoffs that could affect 1,000 jobs across state government.

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‘Ambivalence’ or ‘strategic ambiguity’? Washington congressmen have different takes on Trump’s approach to Israel-Iran war

UPDATED: Thu., June 19, 2025

WASHINGTON – As a candidate, President Donald Trump promised to end wars around the world – or at least end U.S. involvement in them – but the war between Israel and Iran that began last week has prompted a more complicated response from the American leader.

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Democrat Cantwell, Republican Blackburn voice opposition to 10-year moratorium on state AI regulations

UPDATED: Wed., June 18, 2025

A bipartisan group of federal and state lawmakers is voicing concern over a provision tucked into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that would restrict states from “limiting, restricting, or otherwise regulating” artificial intelligence for the next decade.

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Spokane County jurisdictions to receive nearly $5 million as part of latest opioid settlement

UPDATED: Wed., June 18, 2025

Jurisdictions in Spokane County will receive nearly $4.7 million as part of a multibillion-dollar settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, over their role in fueling the country’s opioid epidemic.

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Washington natural gas initiative may go to state Supreme Court

UPDATED: Mon., June 16, 2025

The journey is not over for a voter initiative that took aim at Washington's natural gas and energy policies.

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Washington legislators condemn political violence following Minnesota shooting

UPDATED: Sun., June 15, 2025

OLYMPIA – The Republican and Democratic leaders of the Washington House and Senate released a joint statement Sunday condemning political violence following the assassination and attempted assassination of two Minnesota legislators.

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‘This isn’t the answer to political problems’: Washington lawmakers react to Minnesota assassination

UPDATED: Sat., June 14, 2025

For lawmakers in Washington, the assassination of a Minnesota state representative hit close to home.

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Washington cuts funding for homeless encampment removal program

UPDATED: Fri., June 13, 2025

SEATTLE – Washington state is taking a step back from resolving homeless encampments despite protests from Seattle and King County officials.

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No foul, no fine for former Washington lawmaker Mark Mullet in mayoral bid

UPDATED: Fri., June 13, 2025

Former Washington state lawmaker Mark Mullet didn’t break any laws when he accepted contributions to his campaign for Issaquah mayor in December, a judge ruled Friday.

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‘If a system cannot protect children, it’s not worth defending’: Washington lawmakers call for review of AMBER alert protocols after Decker killings

UPDATED: Fri., June 13, 2025

A bipartisan group of Washington lawmakers has called on the state to reform its AMBER alert system and others after the killings of three young sisters near Leavenworth.

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Gov. Ferguson calls on protesters to remain peaceful ahead of widespread demonstrations

Fri., June 13, 2025

SEATTLE – With momentum building for big “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump this weekend, Gov. Bob Ferguson is urging people to remain peaceful.

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Trump withdraws from Biden-era agreement with Columbia Basin tribes, Washington and Oregon to restore salmon runs

UPDATED: Thu., June 12, 2025

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Thursday withdrew from a 2023 agreement between the federal government, Columbia Basin tribes, environmental groups and the states of Washington and Oregon that sought to restore salmon populations and invest in clean energy production.

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Washington could bear responsibility for natural disasters as Trump eyes changes to FEMA

UPDATED: Wed., June 11, 2025

Washington state could soon be responsible for a bigger share of disaster relief response, a possibility state officials have spent months preparing for.

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Washington Department of Commerce dissolves standalone equity team

UPDATED: Wed., June 11, 2025

Washington’s Department of Commerce is dissolving its standalone equity team, the state’s commerce director said Tuesday in an all-staff email.

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Washington governor wants agencies to look for deeper cuts

UPDATED: Wed., June 11, 2025

Just weeks after signing a budget that relied on spending cuts and new taxes to balance, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is telling state agencies to tighten their fiscal belts even more.

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Ex-Washington state worker claims she was fired over school board vote on trans athletes

UPDATED: Wed., June 11, 2025

A former director at Washington state’s schools agency alleges the state superintendent fired her after she voted as a local school board member in support of barring trans girls from competing in girls’ sports.

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Washington AG exploring potential challenge to new federal travel restrictions

UPDATED: Tue., June 10, 2025

Washington is “taking a careful look” at where it has standing to challenge President Donald Trump’s recent proclamation restricting travel from 12 countries, Attorney General Nick Brown said during a news conference Tuesday.

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Washington sues federal government to block distribution of forced reset triggers

UPDATED: Mon., June 9, 2025

Washington has joined 14 other states and the District of Columbia in challenging a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives plan to return seized “forced reset triggers,” a device the Washington attorney general’s office says allows novice shooters to “achieve the firepower of a military machine gun.”

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Ferguson names new WA top health official

UPDATED: Mon., June 9, 2025

Jun. 9—Washington state will get a new secretary of health in less than a month. Dennis Worsham is currently the director of the Snohomish County Health Department, and will bring more than 32 years of public health experience when he steps up to lead the state Department of Health. He begins July 7, and will become the state's third health secretary in six years. "I am honored to serve and ...

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WA education office cites state budget cuts as it lays off 37

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Chewelah City Council members appoint interim mayor

WA education office cites state budget cuts as it lays off 37

‘Ambivalence’ or ‘strategic ambiguity’? Washington congressmen have different takes on Trump’s approach to Israel-Iran war

Democrat Cantwell, Republican Blackburn voice opposition to 10-year moratorium on state AI regulations

Spokane County jurisdictions to receive nearly $5 million as part of latest opioid settlement

Washington natural gas initiative may go to state Supreme Court

Washington legislators condemn political violence following Minnesota shooting

‘This isn’t the answer to political problems’: Washington lawmakers react to Minnesota assassination

Washington cuts funding for homeless encampment removal program

No foul, no fine for former Washington lawmaker Mark Mullet in mayoral bid

‘If a system cannot protect children, it’s not worth defending’: Washington lawmakers call for review of AMBER alert protocols after Decker killings

Gov. Ferguson calls on protesters to remain peaceful ahead of widespread demonstrations

Trump withdraws from Biden-era agreement with Columbia Basin tribes, Washington and Oregon to restore salmon runs

Washington could bear responsibility for natural disasters as Trump eyes changes to FEMA

Washington Department of Commerce dissolves standalone equity team

Washington governor wants agencies to look for deeper cuts

Ex-Washington state worker claims she was fired over school board vote on trans athletes

Washington AG exploring potential challenge to new federal travel restrictions

Washington sues federal government to block distribution of forced reset triggers

Ferguson names new WA top health official