Equity Foster parents say ‘retaliation’ by caseworkers means fewer families to help kids in need Records portray a culture of fear, even as Washington state attempts to respond to a flood of new cases. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / January 15, 2020
Opinion Voting rights, representation and the future of democracy in the nation's fruit basket Yakima's population is nearly half Latinx, yet it took a tumultuous voting rights battle to open the door to more Latinx elected officials. Now the city council has just one. by Nikkita Oliver / January 7, 2020 / Updated at 11:43 Jan. 7, 2020
Opinion King County's new youth jail and the false promise of 'zero youth detention' The county named for Martin Luther King Jr. is investing vast amounts of money in a facility intended to incarcerate children. by Nikkita Oliver / February 11, 2020
Politics New WA state budget won’t solve problem of foster kids in crisis The state Legislature approved nearly $16 million in new funding last week, but the effort may come up short in fixing an overwhelmed system. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / March 19, 2020
Opinion I managed public emergencies for years. Trump is unfit to lead on COVID-19. From spreading misinformation to doubting experts, the President's actions put Americans at risk. by Eric Holdeman / March 11, 2020
News WA advocates call for freezing foster care ‘age-out’ during pandemic Young adults aging out of foster care face unique challenges in normal times, say advocates. Now, they face even greater risks. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / June 3, 2020
News Birth parents fight to visit kids in foster system during pandemic Seeing their children in person may put parents, as well as foster families and social workers, at risk, but can the state stop them? by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / April 22, 2020 / Updated on Friday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m.
Opinion The movement to defund Seattle police is not a personal attack Chief Carmen Best's resignation must not distract from the work of overhauling public safety and investing in Black communities. by Nikkita Oliver / August 20, 2020
News Pandemic pushes WA foster care group homes into lose-lose dilemmas With one group home losing a state contract after turning away infected youth, operators at other homes fear state retaliation. by Rachel Nielsen & Robert McClure InvestigateWest / August 14, 2020 / Updated at 5:53 p.m. Aug. 14
Opinion Empower King County youth to invoke their rights with police Young people too often waive their Miranda rights during encounters with law enforcement. We need to fix that. by Nikkita Oliver & Dominique Davis & Sean Goode / August 13, 2020