State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

State militias now prevented from entering Washington without permission from governor

Militias from other states, districts or territories are now restricted from entering Washington state for duty in most instances without approval from either the governor or president. "State … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 4/23/25

Washington state lawmakers want PFAS testing for human waste fertilizer

Washington is one step closer to eliminating a major blind spot for potential contaminants in crops grown across the state using human waste as fertilizer. Lawmakers voted unanimously last week … more

Conrad Swanson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/23/25

Washington state K-12 savings bill moves ahead without amendment capping pay for superintendents

Legislation meant to implement K-12 savings and efficiencies is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday afternoon. House Bill 2050 , which adjusts the … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 4/22/25

In the dead of night, Washington state House passes trio of tax hike bills

The Washington State House of Representatives approved three tax bills after midnight on Tuesday morning as part of a revenue-generating package to deal with a projected $16 billion operating budget … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 4/22/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson signing Senate Bill 5480, a bill that would exempt medical debt from credit reports, on April 22, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Washington state bill to keep medical debt off credit reports signed into law

Washingtonians’ medical debt will not be included in their credit reports, under a bill signed into law on Tuesday. Having medical debt can create a spiraling effect and prevent … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 4/22/25

Six-cent gas tax hike central to new transportation deal in Washington state Legislature

Transportation budget writers in the Washington Legislature are settling on a revenue package that would hike the state’s gasoline tax 6 cents a gallon beginning July 1. The potential gas … more

Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard | 4/22/25

Local fuel prices continue to overshadow state, national costs

According to AAA, as of Monday, Grant County has an average price of $4.28 and Adams County has an average of $4.72. Both are higher than the state and national average price. Gas prices in … more

Nance Beston / Columbia Basin Herald (TNS) | 4/22/25

Northern Lights in Washington state in 2023.

Will summer 2025 bring Washington state as many chances to see northern lights as 2024?

After a few months of relative quiet, last week saw geomagnetic activity that made the northern lights visible farther south than usual. That comes after a summer filled with chances to see the … more

Daniel Schrager / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/22/25

How a Washington state woman’s complaint about Old Navy shaped state spam email law

The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that marketers cannot send emails to Washingtonians that contain any false or misleading information in their subject lines, a broader interpretation of state … more

Shea Johnson / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/22/25

Washington state gray wolf population down for the first time in 16 years. Is that bad?

For the first time in 16 years, Washington state’s overall gray wolf population decreased from the year before, based on information gathered by the state’s Department of Fish and … more

Karlee Van De Venter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/22/25

With under a week left in session, Washington state lawmakers butt heads on tax ideas

Washington state lawmakers have money on their minds — more specifically, taxes. Democrats are switching gears on a property-tax proposal, and other revenue bills are barreling ahead, with … more

Simone Carter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 4/22/25

Washington State Capitol Campus security estimates that a crowd of about 5,000 people were in attendance to protest recent moves by the Trump Administration during a Nation wide “Hands Off!” protest on the Capitol Campus in Olympia on Saturday, April 5.

Anti-Trump protests build momentum in Washington state: 'We're just getting louder'

Standing Saturday on Broadway in Everett, where crowds of people on either side waved signs opposed to President Donald Trump as nonstop car honking urged protesters on, it was possible to feel that … more

Nina Shapiro / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/22/25

Tumwater’s Annabelle Clapp runs the anchor leg of the winning 4x400 relay team at the WIAA 2A/3A/4A State Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma. (Joshua Hart/For The Chronicle)

High school transfer rule changes for Washington state athletes approved by WIAA

The Washington State Interscholastic Activities Association Representative Assembly approved a significant change to transfer eligibility rules. "After establishing initial eligibility at a high … more

Scott Hanson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/22/25

Several Tesla Model S vehicles get a charge at the Centralia Outlets, Tesla Supercharger stations.

Three Washington state men accused of taking trade secrets, metal from EV charging stations

An electric vehicle charging company has sued three King County residents and 50 co-conspirators for allegedly running schemes to steal and resell scrap metal stripped from the company's stations in … more

Catalina Gaitán / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/22/25

Washington state can now restrict outside National Guard from entering state

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill into law Monday that prohibits other states, territories or districts from sending their National Guard troops to Washington state without approval from the governor. … more

Shauna Sowersby / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/22/25

The Chehalis River Bridge in Aberdeen is seen from above.

Grays Harbor County cities vow to get levee projects finished despite loss of FEMA funding

On Friday, April 4, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) dropped a bombshell with the cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program, which … more

By Jerry Knaak / The Daily World | 4/21/25

Washington state Senate Dems advance several tax hike bills as session enters last week

Ahead of the last week of the legislative session, Democratic senators on Saturday passed several bills as part of a $12 billion tax package, including expanding the capital gains tax, hiking tax … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 4/21/25

Sen. Bill Ramos, D-Issaquah, speaking on the floor on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

‘A devastating loss’: Washington state Sen. Bill Ramos mourned after dying unexpectedly

Washington state Sen. Bill Ramos died suddenly Saturday while on a trail run near his home in Issaquah. He was 69. Colleagues remembered Ramos, a Democrat representing Washington’s 5th … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 4/21/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson in his first bill signing event on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Washington state bill to restrict outside National Guard from entering state is signed into law

During his inaugural address in January, Gov. Bob Ferguson highlighted his support for a bill that would grant the governor authority to limit other states’ National Guard troops from entering … more

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / The Washington State Standard | 4/21/25

Plan to raise cap on property tax collapses in Washington state Legislature

Democratic state lawmakers dropped their bid Monday to repeal a voter-approved limit on property tax growth in Washington, excising one of the most controversial revenue-raising ideas they’ve … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 4/21/25