News Calls, texts to helplines surge amid COVID-19 Over the course of the stay-at-home order, the federal Disaster Distress Hotline alone has seen calls from Washington state increase sevenfold. by Dean Russell & Jamie Smith Hopkins & Sally Deneen InvestigateWest / April 24, 2020
Politics Gov. Inslee's budget seeks to expand voting access in WA county jails The budget asks for more than half a million to go to helping remove barriers for people in jail who are otherwise eligible to vote. by Mari Kanagy / January 21, 2022
Politics WA prison officials push back on bill to limit solitary confinement Lawmakers and the Department of Corrections agree that the practice is harmful, but the latter balked at the proposed regulations by Mari Kanagy / February 24, 2022
Politics WA proposed budget funds stipends to attract low-income board members $50,000 is allocated for constituents to help shape boards and commissions with their lived experiences. by Mari Kanagy / February 18, 2022
Politics Bill aims to boost incentives for filming in Washington If 'Twilight' is set in Washington, it should have been shot in Washington, legislators say. by Mari Kanagy / February 7, 2022
Mental health support can't keep up with wildfires or hurricanes As climate change drives more and more disasters, mental health support is in greater need than ever. America is not ready. by Dean Russell & Jamie Smith Hopkins & Molly Taft & Sally Deneen Columbia Journalism Investigations, Center for Public Integrity and InvestigateWest / September 23, 2020
Politics Students close to getting voting power on WA education board A bill inspired by student outreach would give authority to two students. It passed out of both chambers of the Washington Legislature this session. by Mari Kanagy / March 10, 2022
Environment Can tribes sue the government over climate change? Tribal nations' efforts to force the U.S. to honor treaty rights could bolster environmental protections. by Anna V. Smith High Country News / May 21, 2019
Politics Trump could turn back clock on tribal land ownership Tessa Plainfeather and Emily Moccasin embrace in front of their grandmother’s home on the Crow Reservation in Montana. The reservation is one of the 20 tribes with a lot of land that will still be... by Anna V. Smith for High Country News / August 27, 2017
Politics Disorder in the Court: GOP wants to break up the 9th Circuit The interior of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco by Anna V. Smith for High Country News / March 21, 2017