Environment Whatcom County farmers blame Canada for Nooksack River bacteria The pollution poses a threat to the Portage Bay shellfish beds of the Lummi Nation and raises health concerns for valley residents. by Laurel Demkovich Washington State Standard / June 23, 2023
News What WA leaders are watching for in the Manuel Ellis police trial Members of law enforcement, community organizers and more weigh in on the trial of three Tacoma officers charged in the 2020 death of Ellis. by Jerry Cornfield & Laurel Demkovich & Grace Deng & Bill Lucia Washington State Standard / October 4, 2023
Politics Housing, homelessness loom large in the minds of Washington voters Tacoma, Spokane and Bellingham each have ballot measures on these issues, and both voters and candidates have cited them as top priorities. by Laurel Demkovich Washington State Standard / October 31, 2023
News Is housing a form of health care? A Washington program says it is Apple Health and Homes has distributed $41M from Medicaid to shelter and support those with behavioral or other health issues. by Laurel Demkovich Washington State Standard / September 15, 2023
News ‘A partial solution’: A closer look at the new WA Cares Fund The long-term care tax program has already stoked controversy, with critics saying the $36,500 benefit is too small to be meaningful. by Laurel Demkovich Washington State Standard / November 23, 2023
Environment At the U.S.-Canada border, an "extinct" tribe hunts for recognition To prove that his Arrow Lakes Band exists, Rick Desautel defied Canadian law to shoot an elk across the border. His case will be heard by their Supreme Court. by Anna V. Smith High Country News / November 1, 2019
Environment Washington cities, counties now required to plan for climate change Starting in 2025, local governments will need to consider emissions and natural disasters in their long-term planning. Some already do. by Laurel Demkovich Washington State Standard / August 8, 2023
Environment Tribes can hunt on ancestral lands north of U.S. border, Canada says After 10 years of legal battles, the Sinixt tribe won recognition and hunting rights in their traditional homelands across the Canadian border. by Anna V. Smith High Country News / May 11, 2021
Environment The Chinook Indian Nation’s 120-year fight for sovereignty Federal recognition provides tribes with critical health care and education. But there are nations the U.S. refuses to recognize. by Anna V. Smith High Country News / April 7, 2021
Environment A tale of restored tribal lands turns bittersweet in the wake of an Oregon wildfire Tribes who've reclaimed federal lands are learning that the U.S. was a less-than-ideal steward — which puts them at risk for catastrophic wildfires. by Anna V. Smith High Country News / August 21, 2019