Politics Should cops be involved in all Washington human trafficking cases? Some advocates say that legislation requiring law enforcement endangers survivors at risk of retaliation. by Kelsey Turner InvestigateWest / January 22, 2024
Investigations WA homeless youth program closes after contractor ‘misspent’ $330K Officials ordered a lobbying firm to pay back money meant for a state-funded Lifeline pilot hotline that connects at-risk young people to services. by Elizabeth Whitman / April 16, 2024
Indigenous Affairs How the case of a missing Indigenous teen fell through the cracks No one was looking for Kit Nelson-Mora, despite warning signs, until a friend contacted police over a year after their disappearance in Omak. by Kelsey Turner InvestigateWest / February 14, 2024
News WA school districts aren’t following up on their truant students Laws on unexcused absences are meant to keep kids safe, but a lack of resources and fear of court have kept districts from completing necessary steps. by Kelsey Turner InvestigateWest / March 5, 2024
News WA courts are meant to fine convicted sex buyers. Most don’t Courts could have collected over $2.5 million in fees in the past decade, which would have gone to programs to alleviate trafficking. Why didn’t they? by Kelsey Turner InvestigateWest / March 25, 2024
News Tahoma superintendent resigns after child sex-abuse investigation Two board members have also stepped down after it was revealed the school district didn’t discipline an accused predator. by Kelsey Turner InvestigateWest / September 25, 2023
News Washington is failing to aid child sex-trafficking victims A 2020 law mandated the support of two new ‘Safe Harbor’ centers where kids could get treatment — but the state hasn’t made this happen. by Kelsey Turner InvestigateWest / October 2, 2023
Investigations WA’s $5M youth homelessness effort is ramping up. Is it working? Though the funds helped dozens of young people secure housing, delays and slow spending stalled some programs in their first year. by Elizabeth Whitman Youth Today / August 15, 2023
Politics WA lawmaker moves to fix system for child sex trafficking victims A 2020 law was supposed to create two trauma-informed treatment centers for exploited children. They still haven’t opened. by Kelsey Turner InvestigateWest / October 26, 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