Politics Washington Legislature aims to regulate AI — but treads cautiously ‘You don’t want to stop innovation. You don’t want to stop commerce. But you don’t want to stop people’s civil rights.’ by John Stang / January 12, 2024 / Updated 12:30 p.m.
Investigations Battered by destructive floods, Grays Harbor bets on a $182M levee A 'once-in-a-generation' project could help Washington coastal cities Hoquiam and Aberdeen hold off economically devastating climate disasters. by Hannah Weinberger / January 17, 2023
News Facing shortages, WA expands police trainings and fronts the bill While the Legislature will fund law enforcement instruction, in recent sessions it failed to allow cities to reroute tax revenue to hire new cops. by John Stang / April 17, 2024
Politics Will WA ever end supermajority law for school construction bonds? Bonds raise taxes for building and maintenance. While the proposal faces hurdles, there is a precedent — school levies needed 60% approval until 2007. by John Stang / February 9, 2024 / Updated: Feb 12, 2024
Environment Gas prices too high? WA residents may get $200 back for utilities The Legislature considers offering rebates to middle- and low-income households to offset fuel costs blamed on the new cap-and-invest program. by John Stang / February 22, 2024
Environment WA’s carbon pricing system may fund $200M for new electric ferries But if voters repeal the cap-and-trade program in a November referendum, the plan to convert three diesel vessels to hybrid may need other funding sources. by John Stang / March 4, 2024
Politics WA legislators are pushing new gun bills. Here’s what could pass A batch of regulations are likely headed to Gov. Inslee’s desk – including one that would require reporting lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours. by John Stang / March 4, 2024
Politics WA Legislature revs up plan to electrify 10,000 school buses A bill to switch from diesel vehicles — plus $50M from cap-and-trade revenue — passed out of the Legislature, but did not offer a timeline. by John Stang / March 8, 2024
Environment Could selling sewage save the Salish Sea? Waste flushed into Puget Sound harms fish and marine life. A nutrient pricing system — like WA’s cap-and-trade program — may curb pollution. by John Stang / September 21, 2023
Investigations The effort to save SeaTac’s biggest forest amid airport expansion Community pressure and federal legislation could help protect a hard-won South King County park from long-term development. by Hannah Weinberger / September 28, 2023