Investigations WA bridges still in poor condition, despite $630M in federal aid The state transportation agency has allocated about 13% of early funding for repairs, but more is needed to address the backlog of projects. by Lizz Giordano / December 27, 2023
Investigations Podcast | Mobile home tenants’ complaints spur state investigation Earlier this year, Crosscut reported on an Aberdeen park facing rising rents and cut services. Farah Eltohamy shares how the story has evolved. by Sara Bernard / December 27, 2023
Investigations What tenant protections will WA lawmakers consider in 2024? Officials plan to reintroduce mobile home and renter rights bills involving rent stabilization, tax breaks and civil penalties against landlords. by Farah Eltohamy / December 22, 2023
Investigations A review of 2023’s WA worker safety, COVID relief investigations Crosscut published more than 40 stories on job safety, housing instability, police and business aid. Read our top and most impactful reporting. by Jacob Jones / December 18, 2023
Investigations Q&A: WA’s broadband director on the $1.2B expansion challenge ahead As Mark Vasconi prepares to retire, he outlines how the state can invest historic federal aid in connecting rural communities left out of past efforts. by Brandon Block / December 14, 2023
Investigations Tumwater mobile home tenants lobby against rent hikes As manufactured home communities in Washington become less affordable, residents have increasingly organized to galvanize support and push policy. by Farah Eltohamy / December 1, 2023
Investigations A WA worker’s death reveals the limits of safety enforcement A fatal trench collapse in 2016 set precedent for holding employers criminally liable, but officials still struggle to head off repeat violations. by Lizz Giordano / November 29, 2023
Investigations Podcast | The workplace death that changed Washington precedent Reporter Lizz Giordano talks about the legal handling of Harold Felton’s death – and why his family thinks more could have been done. by Maleeha Syed / November 29, 2023
Investigations Why have Washington eviction cases doubled in the past six months? Billions in federal pandemic aid masked dysfunction in the rental market. But that money is gone — along with some legal protections. by Brandon Block / November 28, 2023
Investigations ‘Home was never a place’: One woman’s life in WA foster care Now 30, Janell Braxton says she continues to reckon with the separations and instability stemming from her time in the foster system. by Elizabeth Whitman & Sam Leeds Youth Today / November 21, 2023
Investigations Researchers team up with court staff to help WA homeless youth H-SYNC — Housing Stability for Youth in Courts — has piloted using evidence-based surveys to identify teenagers in need of support services. by Elizabeth Whitman & Sam Leeds Youth Today / November 14, 2023
Investigations Washington’s new youth homelessness ‘Lifeline’ service lags The $750,000 pilot program has struggled to meet promises after state officials chose a lobbying firm to build the hotline service from scratch. by Elizabeth Whitman & Sam Leeds Youth Today / October 25, 2023
Investigations Podcast | Following the COVID small-business money The Working Washington program aimed to get pandemic relief to small and “historically disadvantaged” business owners. Did it? by Maleeha Syed / October 25, 2023
Investigations WA spent $500M to help small, minority businesses. Did it work? A Crosscut analysis of Working Washington grants found mixed results on equity initiatives and millions for large chains or franchises. by Brandon Block / October 18, 2023 / Updated at 6 p.m. on Oct. 23, 2023
Investigations Washington AG calls for rent, fee rollbacks at Aberdeen mobile park After residents filed complaints, a state investigation alleges Port Orchard-based management company Hurst & Son violated tenant protection laws. by Farah Eltohamy / October 6, 2023 / Updated at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 16, 2023