State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Economic forecast projects Washington to see nearly a billion less revenue over four years

OLYMPIA — Strapped for cash and searching for ways to cut spending, the job for budget writers in Washington became that much more challenging Tuesday after an updated economic forecast shows … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/18/25

Female detainees are moved through the regional detention center for immigrants in Tacoma, recently renamed the Northwest ICE Processing Center, Tuesday Sept. 10.

Held by ICE in Washington state for weeks, tourist returns to UK

SEATTLE — A British tourist who had been in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Tacoma for nearly three weeks has reportedly been released and flown back to the United … more

Paige Cornwell / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/18/25

The outside of the state Capitol on the last day of the 2024 Legislature in Olympia on Thursday, March 7.

Washington’s latest budget outlook shows another $845M dent in state revenue

Washington lawmakers have been waiting on a new set of state revenue estimates as they put the final touches on budget proposals expected next week. Those figures arrived Tuesday and further … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street and Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 3/18/25

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez visits Skamania County EMS and Rescue last year.

MGP introduces bipartisan bill to tackle EMS staffing shortages and streamline veteran hiring

On Tuesday, U.S. Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, and Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota, introduced the bipartisan Preserve Access to Rapid Ambulance Emergency Medical Treatment (PARA-EMT) … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/18/25

Democratic lawmakers warn of 'all-out assault' on Medicaid, though Trump says the program is safe

OLYMPIA — Billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid would have a devastating impact on the more than 1.8 million Washingtonians who rely on the program, particularly in rural and Eastern … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/18/25

Starbucks Headquarters flies the Progress Pride flag, Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Seattle.

On the menu for Starbucks: DEI, layoffs, and its CEO’s corporate jet use

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is focused on bringing the company back to its roots. During his first shareholders meeting last week he repeated two of the concepts guiding his changes: a simpler … more

Alex Halverson / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/18/25

Former Thurston County teacher accused of molesting student avoids prison by accepting plea deal

A former Olympia School District teacher accused of child molestation avoided a prison sentence on Friday by agreeing to a plea deal. Jonathan J. Moore, 35, pleaded guilty to third-degree … more

Martín Bilbao / The Olympian (TNS) | 3/18/25

‘Lifelong’ skier, 74, dies on first run of the day at Washington state resort, cops say

A 74-year-old man died at a Washington ski resort after falling head-first into snow, deputies said. The man was with his brother and friend March 13 at Stevens Pass Ski Area, the King County … more

Helena Wegner / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/18/25

Reported 3.3-magnitude earthquake rattles area north of Tacoma near Vashon Island

A 3.3-magnitude earthquake reportedly struck near Vashon Island on Monday night. The earthquake hit at about 11:10 p.m., according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. It was … more

Puneet Bsanti / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/18/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson delivers his inaugural address in the House chambers at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Aide to Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson resigned amid toxic workplace complaints, lawmakers say

SEATTLE — Gov. Bob Ferguson's legislative director resigned amid concerns about a toxic workplace allegedly fostered by a top gubernatorial aide, according to two Democratic state lawmakers who … more

Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/18/25

Washington man dies in tree well on Oregon ski mountain

A 34-year-old man from Seattle died Monday on Mount Bachelor in Oregon after he was found buried headfirst in a tree well. Deschutes County 911 received an emergency text message at 3:04 p.m. … more

Kai Uyehara / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/18/25

Three high voltage transmission towers, located just south of Sauvie Island, span the Willamette River. The tower at left is owned by PGE, the other two by the Bonneville Power Administration.

Lawmakers keep pressure on Trump administration to rehire BPA workers

Oregon lawmakers are continuing to keep the pressure on the Trump administration over workforce reductions at the Bonneville Power Administration, saying the U.S. Department of Energy’s recent … more

Gosia Wozniacka / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/18/25

Woman drowns in Oregon amid heavy rain, weekend floods, authorities say

A woman drowned in a flooded creek this weekend as heavy rains pelted streets in parts of southern Oregon. Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call for a missing woman in the … more

Zaeem Shaikh / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/18/25

The North American Bigfoot Center opened in 2019 in Boring, Oregon.

‘Celebrate all things Sasquatch’: New three-day Bigfoot festival coming to Mount Hood

Clackamas County will “celebrate all things Sasquatch ” during the inaugural Mt. Hood Sasquatch Festival coming to Welches this spring. Mt. Hood Oregon Resort will host the event … more

Samantha Swindler / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/18/25

The Indian Health Service received $8.2 billion in funding this fiscal year, despite asking for nearly $60 billion. Tribal officials say that any loss of facilities or employees, through firings or buyouts, will make a bad situation even worse.

Clinic closures, firings, buyouts: Pacific Northwest tribes sound alarm about cuts to health care, education and other key services

A cascade of actions from the Trump administration represents a “grave threat” to health care, social, educational and other critical services in Indian Country, including for Native … more

By Melanie Henshaw / InvestigateWest | 3/18/25

Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown speaks at a press conference on Feb. 7, 2025 where he announced a lawsuit against President Trump’s executive order that seeks to curtail federal support for health care services provided to transgender youth. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

Trump not held in contempt in Washington state gender-affirming care case

A judge has denied the Washington attorney general’s attempt to hold the Trump administration in contempt over allegations it flouted a court order in a case involving hospital grant funding … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/17/25

protester holds up a signs and chant during a rally opposing state budget cuts on the steps of the Washington State Capitol Building in Olymipa on Monday, March 17.

State workers blast Gov. Bob Ferguson’s furlough plan, calling it a betrayal

Attorney General Bob Ferguson pledged to labor leaders in July 2023 that if elected governor, he’d have their back as he set about to change the culture of state government. … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/17/25

The Washington Capitol building is lit up against the night sky in Olympia on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Gender expansive students to be protected class under bill advancing in Washington state

A bill that would add several protected classes to nondiscrimination provisions that apply to public schools in Washington state, received a public hearing Monday in the House Education … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/17/25

Washington state Senate passes bill to speed up carbon emission data updates

The Washington Senate unanimously passed a bill earlier this month that would require the state Department of Ecology to release a report on statewide carbon emissions every year, rather than two … more

By TJ Martinell / The Center Square | 3/17/25

British Columbia introduces toll measure to counter tariffs

The government of British Columbia filed legislation Thursday that would permit the province to levy tolls on vehicles between the Lower 48 and Alaska. The bill, known formally as the Economic … more

By James Brooks / Alaska Beacon | 3/17/25