Politics Cap-and-trade, climate change return to the 2024 WA Legislature On the agenda starting Jan. 8: Spending Washington’s carbon tax, tweaking the cap-and-invest program and taking a stab at utility rebates. by John Stang / January 3, 2024
News WSU medical school raises homegrown doctors east of the Cascades New residencies at the 11-year-old Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine hope to address health care disparities between urban and rural communities. by Megan Burbank / January 24, 2024 / Updated at 11:35 a.m. on Jan. 26
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.
News Podcast | A Seattle hotline supports sex trafficking survivors June Guzman and Audrey Baedke offer housing and emotional support through the nonprofit Real Escape from the Sex Trade (REST). by Sara Bernard / January 31, 2024
News Podcast | Why a WA mom's child support payments never arrived Reporter Brandon Block shares an example of how the state intercepts parental assistance to people who also receive TANF, or welfare. by Sara Bernard / February 7, 2024
News Podcast | Is the Washington Legislature ready to curb rent hikes? A Bellingham tenant and a housing advocate explain how steep rent increases are hurting state residents, and how HB 2114 could help. by Sara Bernard / February 13, 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
Equity More Washington companies offer doula services in health benefits Businesses like Microsoft and Walmart are covering costs for birth workers, which advocates say can help lower racial disparity in pregnancy outcomes. by Megan Burbank / February 15, 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