Washington News & Current Events | Public News Service

States across the country are working to bring broadband to rural areas. (Pink Badger/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

State Grants Bring High Speed Internet to Rural Washingtonians

State grants could bring high-speed internet access to nearly 15,000 Washingtonians. The State Broadband Office is awarding $121 million to 19 …

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Social Media Growing Concern for Youth Mental Health

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are up among adolescents and young adults. Health experts warn social media is playing a role in declining mental …

Wetlands cover nearly 940,000 acres in Washington state. (George Cole/Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Hands Mining, Developers Win in 'Gutting' Wetlands Protections

Environmental groups are decrying a U.S. Supreme Court decision they say will have major impacts for how the Clean Water Act is implemented. The …

Gov. Jay Inslee signed a measure on May 15 to update procedures for automatic voter registration. (David Gales/Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers Make Registering to Vote in WA Easier

Washingtonians will soon find it even easier to register to vote. Passed this session, Senate Bill 5112 automatically makes people applying for …

At-home caregivers scored major victories in Olympia this year, including increased paid time off and retirement benefits. (SEIU 775)

WA Lawmakers Address Understaffed Caregiving Industry

Lawmakers guaranteed more than $760 million in their budget to boost wages and benefits for home care service providers. That means Washington …

A recent CDC survey found 13% of young girls attempted suicide in 2021. (Magryt/Adobe Stock)

Prioritizing Mental Health During Women's Health Week

To wrap up Women's Health Week, doctors are urging women to take stock of their mental health. Dr. Sharon Eloranta, medical director at the …

The lower Snake River dams are aging, reducing their usefulness especially in energy production. (Samir Arora/Adobe Stock)

Historic Step Forward for Snake River Dam Replacement in WA Budget

Funding in Washington state's budget is pushing efforts forward to remove four lower Snake River dams in order to save salmon. Lawmakers committed …

Evictions are traumatic experiences for families, and new project in King County, Washington, is providing support to prevent them. (Rick/Adobe Stock)

Eviction Prevention Program Moves Upstream to Help Families

An eviction prevention program is working to ensure evictions do not happen in the first place. The United Way of King County has provided $500,000 …

A case before the Washington state Supreme Court dates back to public-records requests of employees' information by 2019. (CLShebley/Adobe Stock)

WA High Court Examines Domestic Violence Survivors' Right to Shield Records

Washington state Supreme Court justices are hearing a case today that involves access to records for public employees who have survived domestic vio…

More Washington youths were in foster care on their 19th birthday in 2021 than in 2015. (Dind's_Project/Adobe Stock)

Report Examines Foster Youths' Transitions to Adulthood

The number of foster youths near adulthood has dropped slightly in Washington state, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation …

State lawmakers passed the original Washington Voting Rights Act in 2018. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

Washington Voting Rights Act '2.0' Strengthens State Law

Voting rights in Washington got an upgrade this legislative session. House Bill 1048 is designed to make the Washington Voting Rights Act a more …

Gov. Jay Inlsee has signed a slate of bills passed by lawmakers protecting access to abortions in Washington state. (CrackerClips/Adobe Stock)

After Legislative Session, WA Leads Nation in Protections for Abortion

Washington state lawmakers have passed some of the strongest protections for abortion access in the country. With another session in the books…

A new law in Washington state creates a single buffer zone around orcas of 1,000 yards for small vessels. (Scott Bufkin/Adobe Stock)

WA Lawmakers Pass Legislative Wins for Ocean, Marine Wildlife

Advocates for ocean wildlife are touting wins from Olympia this legislative session. Nora Nickum - senior ocean policy manager with the Seattle …

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill to reduce workplace injuries into law on April 20. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

WA Legislation Could Improve Workplace Safety

Legislation aimed at making the workplace safer got the go-ahead from Washington state lawmakers this session. Senate Bill 5217 will allow the …

The increasing cost of prescription drugs has forced some to skip medications. (Henrik Dolle/Adobe Stock)

In 2023 Session, WA Bills Tackling Health Costs Fall Short

A number of measures to make health care more affordable failed to cross the finish line in Olympia this session. Advocates say the cost of health …

Seattle Central College is among Washington's 34 community and technical colleges statewide. (Another Believer/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Students with Some College, No Credential Increases

A new report found the number of students with some college experience but no credential has increased recently. The National Student Clearinghouse …

Dental therapists are authorized to practice in at least a dozen states. (Friends Stock/Adobe Stock)

New WA Law Will Bring Dental Care to Underserved Communities

Legislation passed in Olympia this year will provide more dental-care access to underserved communities. House Bill 1678 authorizes dental …

Washington state implemented rules to prevent farmworkers from the hot summer weather. (Armstrong Photo/Adobe Stock)

WA Workers March Ahead of May Day

Workers in Washington state are holding a march this weekend ahead of May Day, which commemorates the workers' rights movement around the world…

Injury compensation cases can often be uphill battles for workers. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

New WA Law Strengthens Workers' Position in Injury Comp Cases

With the legislative session wrapped up, workers say Washington state lawmakers have handed them a victory when it comes to workers' compensation …

Gender affirming care can improve the mental health of young people. (AngelHerrezuelo/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Supports Trans Youth as Attacks Across US Increase

As legislation across the country targets transgender people, Washington state lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction. The Legislature …

Child care workers have been forced out of the profession in some cases because of the low pay. (lordn/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Supports State's Strained Child Care System

This session, lawmakers in Olympia passed legislation designed to provide aid to the state's child care system. Senate Bill 5225 opens up access to …

Washington state lawmakers sent a number of reforms for the Death with Dignity Act to Gov. Jay Inslee. (TVW)

WA Lawmakers Update State's Medical Aid-in-Dying Law

Recently passed legislation lowers barriers to access Washington state's Death with Dignity Act. The original law was passed by voters in 2008…

Debra Prinzing wrote two books about the benefits of finding locally grown flower bouquets. (Missy Palacol Photography)

Growers Tout Exotic Local Flowers

By Michaela Haas for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Net…

Seattle Central College's maritime program was nearly cut in 2022 because of a lack of funding. (Joe Mabel/Wikimedia Commons)

WA Community, Tech College Profs Call for Greater State Investment

Community and technical college staff are planning a day of action Tuesday to urge the Washington state Legislature to provide adequate funding to the…

The Growth Management Act was passed in 1990 so that Washington state could keep urban sprawl in check. (Daniel Schwen/Wikimedia Commons)

Under WA Bill, City Growth Plans Would Consider Climate Impacts

Climate resiliency could soon play a greater role in how cities in Washington plan for population growth. House Bill 1181 would update the state's …

Caregiving workers gathered at the Washington State Capitol to call for a more progressive tax system in the state. (SEIU 775)

Caregivers Rally in Olympia, Call for Tax on Wealthy

In-home caregivers and nursing-home workers rallied in Olympia yesterday to show support for lawmakers' budget and call for more revenue in the future…

Washington state lawmakers will begin crafting a budget before the session is scheduled to adjourn on April 23. (George Cole/Adobe Stock)

WA Raises $300 Million from Polluters for Climate Action

By Kate Yoder for Grist.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism-Public News Service Col…

Restoration Community Impact provides greens through its market that are inclusive of a variety of cultures. (Marlando and Stephanie Sparks)

Providing Inclusive Foods Integral Mission for WA Food Pantries

Food assistance is integral for families - but it's also important that the food available makes sense culturally. The American Heart Association …

Fear of death is a core human motivator, according to a theory developed by Ernest Becker. (Takver/Adobe Stock)

Ideas in 'The Denial of Death' Still Alive, 50 Years Later

An influential work of sociology turned 50 this year. "The Denial of Death" by Ernest Becker won the Pulitzer Prize and continues to have a lasting …

Army Col. Paris D. Davis received the Medal of Honor at the White House in March. (Bernardo Fuller/Wikimedia Commons)

Medal of Honor Recipients in DC as Museum, Monument Move Forward

This month marks 160 years since the first Medal of Honor was awarded by President Abraham Lincoln. More than a dozen of the 65 recipients alive …

Family caregivers provided 770 million hours of unpaid work in Washington state in 2021. (Svyatoslav Lypynskyy/Adobe Stock)

Report: WA's Unpaid Family Caregivers Provide $16.8 Billion Value

Family caregivers provide valuable work to Washington state - even if they don't get paid. A new report puts a value to the unpaid work they do…

Businesses would have to pay up to $1,000 if they delay releasing their employees' personnel files longer than four weeks. (JRB/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Gives Workers Access to Important Employment Info

A person's work personnel file can be important to review, but some Washingtonians are finding them hard to obtain. A bill in Olympia would ensure …

The European Union is the world's largest consumer of wood pellets for energy. (Rokas/Adobe Stock)

Energy Market for Wood Pellets Globally Threatens U.S. Forests

Overseas markets could be harming forests in the U.S. Demand for wood pellets for biomass energy has increased dramatically around the world…

Tacoma Art Museum workers have held multiple rallies calling for recognition of their union. (Washington Federation of State Employees)

Tacoma Art Museum Workers Persistent in Calls for Union Recognition

Tacoma Art Museum workers are rallying Thursday outside the museum while the Board of Trustees meets, to call for recognition of their union from the …

Washington state lawmakers will begin crafting their budgets as the session begins to wind down in April. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

Housing Assistance on Docket for Lawmakers in Olympia

Affordable housing is a major concern in Washington state and lawmakers in Olympia are considering a slate of measures to address it. One option is …

The National Credit Union Administration is a government-backed insurer of U.S. credit unions. (Timon/Adobe Stock)

Bank Collapses Highlight Credit Unions as Alternatives

The collapse of two banks has put the U.S. financial sector into focus this week. Some are considering the alternative structures of institutions …

As part of the ClimeTime program, teachers attend seminars on topics such as renewable energy. (maxdigi/Adobe Stock)

WA First in Nation to Bring Climate-Change Education to Classrooms

By Ashira Morris for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Net…

Yakima Valley College is a public college in Yakima, Wash. that was established in 1928. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Yakima Valley College Faculty, Staff Frustrated Over School's Policies

Faculty and staff members at Yakima Valley College say they're tired of the lack of transparency and clear policies from the school. Faculty…

Kelp beds in Puget Sound are important habitat for marine life. (knelson20/Adobe Stock)

WA DNR Seeks Input on Kelp, Eelgrass Conservation

Kelp and eelgrass are in trouble, and Washington state wants help from the public identifying where these marine plant species should be saved…

The Bonneville Power Administration is a key partner for building and modernizing Washington state's transmission lines. (Nadia/Adobe Stock)

In DC, Focus on Fish, NW Energy Grid

Northwest energy experts and conservation leaders are in Washington, D.C. to urge policymakers to invest in modernizing the region's grid. Updating …

About 20,000 people age of 50 are expected to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year. (Paul Maguire/Adobe Stock)

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Screening for Deadly Disease Critical

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and an increase in cancer rates among people younger than 55 is highlighting the importance of screenings…

The podcast Spark Hunter explores the story of an artificial intelligence robot that goes rogue. (ipopba/Adobe Stock)

Death Anxiety Inspires Podcast About AI

A podcast has incorporated the philosophical work of Ernest Becker and his theory on death. The cultural anthropologist Becker's work Denial of Death …

Leaders from Port Angeles, Washington, asked the state to stop logging in a forest near the Elwha River known as Aldwell. (forest2sea.com)

Post-Dam Elwha River Thriving, But Logging Threatens Gains

The Elwha River watershed on the Olympic peninsula has been transformed since dam removal a decade ago, but logging could harm the the habitat's …

AR-15-style rifles were responsible for five of the deadliest mass shootings in modern history. (JP Photography/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill: Decrease Mass Shootings through High-Powered Rifle Ban

Amid growing concerns about mass shootings, Washington state lawmakers are considering a measure to restrict high-powered guns. House Bill 1240 …

Critics of the GTN XPress pipeline say it would create an additional 3.47 million metric tons of annual carbon emissions. (Diane/Adobe Stock)

Critics Ask Govs to Speak Out Against NW Pipeline Expansion

Environmental groups want West Coast governors to speak out against the expansion of a gas pipeline in the region. The Canadian company TC Energy is …

Highways are hot spots for soot, fine particulate matter which has major effects on people's health. (Naris Dorndeelers/Adobe Stock)

Proposed EPA Air Quality Update Not Good Enough, Groups Say

A new air quality standard from the federal government does not go far enough to protect the public, advocates said. For the first time in a decade…

In the midst of a housing crisis, a program in the state Legislature would create a fund for low-income Washingtonians to buy a home. (Kirk Fisher/Adobe Stock)

WA Baby Bond Bill Could Help Address Racial Wealth Gap

In Olympia, lawmakers want to address the wealth gap early with a fund set aside for children of low-income households. The Washington future fund …

More than 10,000 simulation stations are in use across the U.S., according to RQI Partners. (RQI Partners)

Training Program Ups Critical CPR Skills for Health-Care Providers

CPR is a critical skill in hospitals, and health providers might not be spending enough time training for it, so a program is helping fill the gap…

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