State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

The Rimrock Retreat Fire burned through the Oak Creek drainage in Yakima County in 2024, but the damage was minimal due to tree thinning and prescribed burns the Department of Natural Resources completed in the area with House Bill 1168 funding before the fire. (Photo by Emily Fitzgerald/Washington State Standard)

Washington state lands commissioner wants $100M boost for wildfire funding

Washington’s public lands commissioner is asking the Legislature for roughly $100 million more to prevent and fight wildfires. Dave Upthegrove wants a $60 million boost for wildfire … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / The Washington State Standard | 9/26/25

The north facade of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Attorneys general file amicus brief supporting DEI policies

Illinois , California and Massachusetts are co-leading a coalition of Democratic attorneys general from 17 states filing an amicus brief to a lawsuit fighting federal orders targeting diversity, … more

By Dave Mason / The Center Square | 9/26/25

DNA testing confirms triple-murder suspect Travis Decker is dead

Triple-murder suspect Travis Decker is dead. Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison confirmed that remains found near Leavenworth are those of Decker, following DNA analysis. “We are … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 9/26/25

Rep. John Gillette, R-Kingman, in January 2025. (Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

Arizona lawmaker calls for Washington congresswoman to be executed for urging Trump protests

An Arizona Republican state lawmaker on Wednesday called for the execution of a Democratic congresswoman from Washington state because she urged people upset with President Donald Trump to protest in … more

By Jerod MacDonald-Evoy / States Newsroom | 9/25/25

A “no trespassing” sign outside of Northwest ICE Processing Center. (Photo by Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)

Democrats argue in court for unannounced visits to immigration detention facilities

WASHINGTON — Attorneys on behalf of a dozen U.S. House Democrats Thursday pushed for a federal judge to force the Trump administration to comply with an appropriations law that allows for … more

By Ariana Figueroa / States Newsroom | 9/25/25

Governor Bob Ferguson delivers his inaugural address in Olympia on Wed., Jan. 15, 2025. A recent Cascade PBS/Elway poll found Ferguson had the worst first approval rating of any Washington governor in more than 30 years.

The Curse of the Middle Guy: Gov. Bob Ferguson’s first eight months as governor

Nearly everyone had an expectation of who Bob Ferguson might be as Washington’s 24th governor. The “American Heartthrob” who gained national recognition during his many fights … more

By Laurel Demkovich / Cascade PBS | 9/25/25

Lance Benson at the office of his Olympia nonprofit Dry Tikes and Wet Wipes. In 2022 his property management company was investigated by the Thurston County Auditor’s Office, which found nearly $1 million in suspected fraudulent payments. (Photo via Facebook)

Olympia ‘Diaper Guy’ named in $940K rent aid fraud investigation

Newly uncovered audit findings allege a South Sound property manager fraudulently obtained nearly $1 million in pandemic rent assistance money, in a scheme that led Thurston County to shut down … more

By Brandon Block / Cascade PBS | 9/25/25

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) speaking about proposed legislation that would reverse cuts passed in the recent legislation and permanently extend the ACA premium tax credits at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Credit Image Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire/TNS)

Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Wyden presses U.S. Treasury secretary to release Epstein financial files

For several hours on Valentine’s Day in 2024, staff from Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s office and the Senate Finance Committee sat in a room in the U.S. Treasury Department reviewing, … more

By Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle | 9/25/25

Washington GOP lawmaker files lawsuit to stop use of highway funds for non-highway projects

Washington state Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, on Wednesday morning filed a lawsuit in Thurston County Superior Court challenging the constitutionality of House Bill 1774. The Citizen Action … more

By Brett Davis | The Center Square | 9/25/25

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Response Team (SRT) officer in full tactical gear stands alert during an enforcement operation in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025.

'Stay out of Seattle': City leaders blast ICE ad recruiting local officers

Amid Seattle Police Department hiring gains, a recent television advertisement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security actively recruiting Seattle law enforcement to Immigration and Customs … more

By Spencer Pauley / The Center Square | 9/25/25

Attorney General Nick Brown Waves to lawmakers during a joint legislative session in the House chambers at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Washington state AG ends three-year probe into gun rights group; finds no issues

The Second Amendment Foundation announced Wednesday that the Washington State Attorney General’s Office has agreed to end a three-year investigation into alleged wrongdoing by SAF and its … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 9/25/25

A white Toyota Prius C, a hybrid, is parked near an electric vehicle charging at a Tesla station.

Washington state car makers may not meet 2026 EV sales goals, yet still remain in compliance

Washington car manufacturers aren’t expected to necessarily meet their electric vehicle sales quotas for 2026, but state officials are still confident they can remain in compliance with state … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 9/25/25

Washington state drivers could see some relief at the gas pump this fall

Motorists in Washington state — home to some of the highest gas prices in the nation — could see some relief from spiking fuel prices this fall, due to various factors. According to … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 9/25/25

Trump threatens mass firings of federal employees in a government shutdown

WASHINGTON — The White House has sent guidance to departments and agencies, telling them that if a shutdown begins Wednesday, they’re expected to institute mass firings and layoffs. … more

By Jennifer Shutt / States Newsroom | 9/25/25

AI reviews rolling out for Medicare in Washington state for some procedures

Medicare enrollees in Washington may soon need to get additional approval before undergoing some medical procedures, under a controversial new program the federal government will test in a half-dozen … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 9/25/25

Mail theft suspect in Portland made daring 13th-floor balcony escape, later arrested

A 42-year-old man accused of mail theft tried to escape arrest by swinging off the 13th floor of his Pearl District apartment onto a stranger’s balcony a floor below, then escaping through that … more

Maxine Bernstein / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 9/25/25

Child, 9, critically injured in electric scooter crash with car, Portland police say

A 9-year-old boy riding an electric scooter suffered critical injuries Wednesday after crashing with a car, Portland police said. Police released few details about the crash at Southeast … more

Beth Slovic / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 9/25/25

Washington state company to pay $2.8M over allegations of Medicare and Medicaid fraud

An urgent care clinic with medical offices in Richland and Pasco has reached an agreement with the federal government to pay $2.8 million to resolve claims of fraud in its billing of Medicare and … more

Tri-City Herald staff / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 9/25/25

No alcohol monitoring ordered for WSP trooper accused of fatal DUI

A Washington State Patrol trooper accused of killing a motorcyclist while driving drunk pleaded innocent Wednesday and was ordered to stay away from alcohol pending her trial. But in an unusual … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.) (TNS) | 9/25/25

Guemes ferry crew pulls small-plane pilot from water

Ferry Capt. William “Guy” Mitchell and his crew were taking their lunch break on the upper level of the Anacortes ferry terminal Monday just as a small, yellow-and-white plane landed in … more

Nicholas Johnson / Skagit Valley Herald (TNS) | 9/25/25