Equity State Patrol under pressure to examine bias in traffic stops following investigation Officials have not filed a report since 2009 that examines the race and ethnicity of drivers who troopers stop and search. by Jason Buch InvestigateWest / January 28, 2020
Equity Native American drivers are more likely to be searched by Washington State Patrol While the searches occur at five times the rate for white drivers, they are less likely to turn up drugs or other contraband. by Jason Buch & Joy Borkholder Investigate West / December 19, 2019
Politics $4K for kids' hearing aids? Many WA insurers won’t help and now parents want a fix A plan in the state Legislature would require private insurers to cover the devices, which must be replaced every few years. by Melissa Santos / December 16, 2019
News SATs no longer required for admission at some Washington colleges More colleges and universities in Washington state are ditching the SAT and ACT as requirements for admissions. It's part of a nationwide trend. by Melissa Santos / December 10, 2019
Politics Black women could triple their numbers in Washington Legislature A Black person hasn't served in the state Senate for a decade. That could change with this year's election. by Melissa Santos / July 17, 2020
Politics Chokeholds, tear gas, police reform top agenda for WA Legislature Recent protests against police brutality could spur new rules — and new ways to hold officers accountable. by Melissa Santos / July 3, 2020
Politics Racial bias study for WA State Patrol could resume after 13 years House budget has $50,000 to fund a collaboration between State Patrol and WSU to analyze traffic stops for evidence of bias. by Jason Buch InvestigateWest / March 6, 2020
Equity Black pot entrepreneurs fight for piece of Washington's very white marijuana industry “They were prosecuting us the most for cannabis...now, they’re on the street corners in our neighborhoods, selling that stuff to us." by Melissa Santos / February 13, 2020
Politics Black consultants accuse WA Democratic groups of racism Consultants of color say they’re systematically left off ‘the list’ of who gets hired for campaigns. They have ideas to fix that. by Melissa Santos / June 12, 2020 / Updated 4 p.m. June 12
Politics Black-owned pot shops are rare in WA. Can a task force fix that? A plan to bring social equity to the state's mostly white marijuana industry was delayed by COVID-19. Now, things are inching forward. by Melissa Santos / December 29, 2020