WA Government

News > Nation/World

Bipartisan bill to help tribes and counties manage wildfire risk on federal land as ‘good neighbors’ gains momentum in Congress

Sun., May 28, 2023

WASHINGTON – Tribes and counties could keep revenue from timber projects on federal lands under a bill that’s gaining momentum in the House of Representatives, after several Washington Democrats backed legislation first introduced by two Idaho Republicans.

News > Washington

Spin Control: Fate of Sunshine Committee getting cloudy

Sat., May 27, 2023

While Western Washington is well-known for its lack of sunny days – a valid description for November through March, but generally a bad rap in the summer – the entire state could soon lose a key source of sunshine

News > Washington

Washington’s heat pump push hits a snag

UPDATED: Fri., May 26, 2023

A controversial requirement that new homes and apartments built in Washington be warmed using electric heat pump systems rather than natural gas won’t take effect July 1 as planned.

News > Washington

WA’s new capital gains tax brings in far more than expected

UPDATED: Fri., May 26, 2023

May 26—OLYMPIA — Early figures suggest Washington could bring in $849 million in its first year of collecting the state's new capital gains tax, potentially sending hundreds of millions more than expected to schools across the state. State lawmakers passed the 7% tax on the sale or exchange of stocks, bonds and certain other assets above $250,000 in 2021. It has faced legal challenges, but got ...

News > Crime/Public Safety

House passes bill backed by McMorris Rodgers, Biden to crack down on fentanyl

UPDATED: Thu., May 25, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation to permanently classify fentanyl and similar synthetic opioids among the most dangerous drugs, as Republicans and several Northwest Democrats approved a bill backed by President Joe Biden.

News > Military

VA secretary says Spokane VA’s budget won’t suffer as result of flawed records system

UPDATED: Wed., May 24, 2023

WASHINGTON – The secretary of veterans affairs on Wednesday pledged to look into reports that Spokane’s VA medical center could be forced to cut staff due to a budget deficit caused largely by a flawed computer system, but he stopped short of pledging not to reduce the hospital’s workforce.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Here’s how the new drug possession law in Washington is different that what was on the books

Sun., May 21, 2023

Changes to the state’s drug possession laws, prompted by a state Supreme Court ruling, tied the Legislature in knots during its regular session.

Opinion > Column

Spin Control: Opponents of ‘war on drugs’ didn’t let drug possession crisis go to waste

Sun., May 21, 2023

“Never let a crisis go to waste,” attributed at various times to Winston Churchill, Rahm Emannuel and Chris Gregoire.

News > Military

Veterans set off on cross-country bike tour from D.C. to Washington state

Sun., May 21, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A half-dozen veterans gathered with their supporters outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday before setting out on a cross-country bicycle trip that will take them through the Inland Northwest and end at the Pacific on the Olympic Peninsula.

News > Health

Spokane VA director warns budget trouble caused by computer system is forcing staff cuts

UPDATED: Sun., May 21, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A projected $35 million budget deficit at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center caused largely by the use of a flawed computer system is forcing the Spokane hospital to reduce its staff, according to an internal email, despite the ongoing effects of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ decision to test the system there.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Inslee signs drug possession bill that pairs treatment with punishment into law

UPDATED: Wed., May 17, 2023

OLYMPIA – A compromise on major changes to the state’s drug possession laws sailed through the Legislature in a matter of hours Tuesday after tying lawmakers in knots during their 105-day regular session.

News > Local government

Washington lawmakers strike tentative compromise on drug possession penalties ahead of special session

UPDATED: Mon., May 15, 2023

State lawmakers have come to a tentative agreement on drug possession and public use laws ahead of a special session that begins Tuesday.

News > Washington

Spin Control: As campaign season kicks off, new Washington laws put limits on ‘deepfakes’

Sat., May 13, 2023

Monday is the beginning of candidate filing week, which means current and would-be office holders are putting the final touches on their campaign plans.#collection:home-promos#collection:news-columnists#collection:news#collection:local-government#collection:washington-government

News > Auto

Backed by former auto shop owner, ‘right-to-repair’ bills pick up steam in Congress, statehouses

UPDATED: Sat., May 13, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan movement advocating Americans’ right to repair their own phones, cars and tractors is gaining momentum in state legislatures across the country – and now in Congress, too.

News > Nation/World

Bipartisan, Cantwell-backed rail safety bill informed by Spokane officials advances to Senate floor

UPDATED: Thu., May 11, 2023

WASHINGTON – The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Wednesday advanced a bipartisan rail safety bill that was informed by officials in Spokane and prompted by the February derailment that left a plume of toxic chemicals over East Palestine, Ohio.

News > Military

‘Not a functioning system’: Hearing examines pharmacy problems in VA computer system tested in Spokane

UPDATED: Tue., May 9, 2023

WASHINGTON – House lawmakers grilled Department of Veterans Affairs officials and Oracle executives during a hearing Tuesday regarding problems with the pharmacy features of a computer system that has been tested in Spokane and across the Inland Northwest.

News > Pacific NW

Inslee signs bill sponsored by Padden that removes sales taxes on wheelchair and similar medical equipment

Mon., May 8, 2023

The law removes the retail sales and use tax on mobility-enhancing equipment when used by patients to meet their medical, physical and functional needs for basic activities.

News > Nation/World

Patty Murray is no stranger to debt limit standoffs, but she says this one is different

UPDATED: Tue., May 9, 2023

"When you're under that duress," Murray said, referring to the looming June 1 deadline, "you can make some really bad decisions. Nobody in this country wants to be spending Memorial Day weekend wondering which crash we're going to go into here, so I really hope that there is an adult in the room from the Republican side that stands up."

News > Pacific NW

Ponderosa pines and other trees of Eastern Washington soon will be featured on Capitol grounds in Olympia

Mon., May 8, 2023

Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, sponsored the bill that will create a space on the Washington Capitol campus to recognize the trees, agriculture, forestry and history of Eastern Washington.

News > Business

Washington passes climate goals for crypto and data centers

UPDATED: Fri., May 5, 2023

Proposals in Oregon and Washington to regulate carbon emissions tied to crypto mining and data centers took opposite paths during the 2023 legislative session.

Featured Stories

Bipartisan bill to help tribes and counties manage wildfire risk on federal land as ‘good neighbors’ gains momentum in Congress

Latest Stories

Bipartisan bill to help tribes and counties manage wildfire risk on federal land as ‘good neighbors’ gains momentum in Congress

Spin Control: Fate of Sunshine Committee getting cloudy

Washington’s heat pump push hits a snag

WA’s new capital gains tax brings in far more than expected

House passes bill backed by McMorris Rodgers, Biden to crack down on fentanyl

VA secretary says Spokane VA’s budget won’t suffer as result of flawed records system

Here’s how the new drug possession law in Washington is different that what was on the books

Spin Control: Opponents of ‘war on drugs’ didn’t let drug possession crisis go to waste

Veterans set off on cross-country bike tour from D.C. to Washington state

Spokane VA director warns budget trouble caused by computer system is forcing staff cuts

Inslee signs drug possession bill that pairs treatment with punishment into law

Washington lawmakers strike tentative compromise on drug possession penalties ahead of special session

Spin Control: As campaign season kicks off, new Washington laws put limits on ‘deepfakes’

Backed by former auto shop owner, ‘right-to-repair’ bills pick up steam in Congress, statehouses

Bipartisan, Cantwell-backed rail safety bill informed by Spokane officials advances to Senate floor

‘Not a functioning system’: Hearing examines pharmacy problems in VA computer system tested in Spokane

Inslee signs bill sponsored by Padden that removes sales taxes on wheelchair and similar medical equipment

Patty Murray is no stranger to debt limit standoffs, but she says this one is different

Ponderosa pines and other trees of Eastern Washington soon will be featured on Capitol grounds in Olympia

Washington passes climate goals for crypto and data centers

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100 years ago in Spokane: Progress in prohibition fight against liquor in Eastern, WA

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