State & Regional | The Daily Chronicle

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

Washington state law firm drew Democrats' cash, and Trump's wrath

Seattle-based Perkins Coie isn't typically the underdog in a court fight. For more than a century, the Seattle law firm has zealously defended the biggest names in Seattle business, from Boeing … more

Paul Roberts / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/17/25

The outside of Green Hill School is pictured in Chehalis on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

State lawmakers aim to relieve strained Green Hill School and juvenile legal system

With overcrowding at one of Washington's two youth prisons hitting a crisis point, state lawmakers this legislative session have homed in on juvenile crime and incarceration, hoping to provide relief … more

Lauren Girgis / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/17/25

Measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico have led to nearly 300 cases and two deaths, raising public health concerns. Isolated cases have also been reported in a number of states, including Washington. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Washington state schools see declines statewide in measles vaccination rates

SEATTLE — Measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico have led to nearly 300 cases and two deaths, raising public health concerns. Isolated cases have also been reported in a number of states, … more

Gene Balk / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/17/25

Cat food sold in Washington recalled over bird flu threat

Savage Pet, a California-based company that markets raw and “prey-based cat food,” is recalling boxes of chicken that could contain bird flu, it announced Saturday through the U.S. Food … more

Sami Edge / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/17/25

Terminated federal workers in PNW in the ‘dark’ about whether they’ll be reinstated following court orders

Terminated federal probationary workers in Oregon say they are in the dark about what will happen following rulings by two federal judges who ordered the Trump administration last week to reinstate … more

Yesenia Amaro / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 3/17/25

Washington State Capitol (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

Barring a referendum, Washington state elected leaders will receive hefty pay hikes in July

Only one thing could delay, and possibly derail, pay raises for state elected officials this year: a referendum. A citizen commission approved a new salary schedule for members of the … more

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

Woman airlifted to area hospital after Saturday evening crash in Mason County, WSP says

A 52-year-old Elma woman wound up at a Tacoma hospital Saturday evening after she rolled her pick-up truck in south Mason County, according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers say she was … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 3/16/25

Tan sediment is seen running out of the mouth of the Cowlitz River into the Columbia in 2014.

Four decades after Mount St. Helens blast, sediment continues to cause problems downstream

Nearly 45 years after Mount St. Helens’ eruption sent almost 90 billion cubic feet of debris into the upper Toutle Valley, millions of tons of sediment still pour down into the Cowlitz River … more

Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 3/16/25

Amid mass NOAA firings, U.S. Sen. Murray delivers grim forecast: ‘Dark clouds coming’

Mark Baltzell had seen the writing on the wall, but that didn’t make losing his dream job easy. Baltzell knew that he might get swept up in the flurry of federal firings executed by the … more

Simone Carter / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/15/25

After crash kills Washington state middle school student, parents seek answers

Arsema Barekew was never afraid to speak up. If one of the 12-year-old's classmates was upset or crying, Arsema was usually first to rush forward and offer comfort. And if one of her Washington … more

Catalina Gaitán / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/15/25

The Washington state Capitol building is pictured in Olympia on Thursday, Jan. 2.

Push to legalize neighborhood cafes in Washington state cities runs aground again

Washington lawmakers have once again declined to legalize cafes and stores in residential neighborhoods across the state, allowing a key deadline to pass this week without advancing the proposal to … more

Daniel Beekman / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/15/25

Trump administration takes aim at bike lanes, other Washington state projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation has ordered state officials to scrutinize all projects that received federal grant spending over the past four years on bike lanes, electric vehicle charging … more

Nicholas Deshais / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 3/15/25

Washington lawmakers consider new permit for gun purchases as ammo tax fails to gain support

OLYMPIA — Washington lawmakers continue to consider adopting a permit-to-purchase system for firearms in the state and prohibiting firearms in public areas where children are known to gather, … more

Mitchell Roland / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 3/15/25

School bus transporting about 30 students involved in Mason County crash, troopers say

A school bus transporting about 30 Shelton students was involved in a three-vehicle wreck in Mason County Thursday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol. Two students, both 15, … more

Rolf Boone / The Olympian (TNS) | 3/15/25

Mount Rainier is pictured from Stevens Canyon Road in Mount Rainier National Park on Monday, July 8.

New study finds 20 different Native names for Mount Rainier

The first sight Zalmai “Zeke” Zahir would see most mornings growing up in Seattle and on the Muckleshoot reservation was the white-capped grooves of Mount Rainier. A linguist, Zahir … more

Becca Most / The News Tribune (TNS) | 3/15/25