Investigations WA homeless youth program closes after contractor ‘misspent’ $330K Officials ordered a lobbying firm to pay back money meant for a state-funded Lifeline pilot hotline that connects at-risk young people to services. by Elizabeth Whitman / April 16, 2024
Investigations WA’s $5M youth homelessness effort is ramping up. Is it working? Though the funds helped dozens of young people secure housing, delays and slow spending stalled some programs in their first year. by Elizabeth Whitman Youth Today / August 15, 2023
Investigations ‘Home was never a place’: One woman’s life in WA foster care Now 30, Janell Braxton says she continues to reckon with the separations and instability stemming from her time in the foster system. by Elizabeth Whitman & Sam Leeds Youth Today / November 21, 2023
Investigations Researchers team up with court staff to help WA homeless youth H-SYNC — Housing Stability for Youth in Courts — has piloted using evidence-based surveys to identify teenagers in need of support services. by Elizabeth Whitman & Sam Leeds Youth Today / November 14, 2023
Investigations Washington’s new youth homelessness ‘Lifeline’ service lags The $750,000 pilot program has struggled to meet promises after state officials chose a lobbying firm to build the hotline service from scratch. by Elizabeth Whitman & Sam Leeds Youth Today / October 25, 2023
Investigations Podcast | It’s a Youth Today News takeover The third episode of the investigative series co-produced with Crosscut focuses on one woman’s experience with foster care and homelessness in WA. by Elizabeth Whitman / January 3, 2024
Politics Washington schools don't have to teach sex education. That could soon change Advocates hope legislation requiring comprehensive K-12 sexual health education will be successful in 2020. by Liz Brazile / December 13, 2019 / Updated December 17, 2019 at 12:44 p.m.
Equity ‘It's like glorified day care’: Washington parents demand rigor in special education for young adults Preparing for adult life is critical for all high school students. But those with disabilities face a greater risk of missing postsecondary opportunities. by Liz Brazile / November 25, 2019
News WA is reopening but many essential workers aren’t vaccinated yet How the state chose who to inoculate first raises questions about equity — especially for restaurant, grocery and transit workers. by Nate Sanford / March 16, 2021
News Washington ax-throwing venues want to be able to serve alcohol While ax-throwing bars are showing up in urban areas across the country, they’re not permitted to serve alcohol everywhere. by Nate Sanford / February 4, 2021