Capitol Buzz: What we know about underlying labor issues that halted Washington’s ferry system; Washington superintendent calls for more school funding as math scores lag

What we know about underlying labor issues that halted Washington’s ferry system KUOW Radio — Commuters, passengers, and crew on Washington State Ferries hit some choppy waters this week...

Capitol Buzz: Advisory committee prepares recommendations as lawmaker worries abuse survivors being excluded; WA officials consider steep cut to developmental disability services

Advisory committee prepares recommendations as lawmaker worries abuse survivors being excluded The Spokesman-Review — An advisory committee is expected to finalize a report this week outlining ways the state...

Capitol Buzz: Closer to normal operations after ‘sick-out’ disrupts Washington State Ferries; Seattle drivers get bad news as new study ranks the city eighth-worst in America for car theft, gas and upkeep

Closer to normal operations after ‘sick-out’ disrupts Washington State Ferries KING TV — Most Washington State Ferries (WSF) routes were back to regular service Tuesday after a “sick-out” by...

Capitol Buzz: Report: Taxes in Seattle have grown 5 times faster than population; US Supreme Court orders another look at how WA political maps are drawn

Report: Taxes in Seattle have grown 5 times faster than population FOX 13 — Seattle’s tax collections have grown dramatically over the past decade, while an increasing share of...

Capitol Buzz: Judge permanently blocks WA sheriff standards law; WA pays record sums to pricey private lawyers amid lawsuit explosion

Judge permanently blocks WA sheriff standards law Washington State Standard — A judge on Friday threw out tough new job standards for county sheriffs approved by Washington lawmakers this...

Capitol Buzz: Feds provide guidance on new federal K-12 scholarship tax credit program; Economic prosperity is tied to housing affordability, WA Lt. Gov. says

Feds provide guidance on new federal K-12 scholarship tax credit program (Stateline/Washington State Standard) — The U.S. Department of the Treasury released new guidance Thursday for participating states, scholarship-granting...

Capitol Buzz: WA’s minimum wage to rise to $17.73 an hour in 2027; Seattle job losses mount, forcing leaders to address policies

WA’s minimum wage to rise to $17.73 an hour in 2027 The Seattle Times — Washington’s minimum wage will rise by 60 cents to $17.73 in 2027 — the...

Capitol Buzz: Puget Sound Energy customers pack hearing to voice concerns over proposed rate hikes; Washington’s EV efforts continue to face logistical challenges

Puget Sound Energy customers pack hearing to voice concerns over proposed rate hikes KING TV — More than 100 Puget Sound Energy customers packed a public hearing in Lacey...

Capitol Buzz: What does Washington get for its education spending?; WA state worker union OKs new contract with no pay hike

What does Washington get for its education spending? The Seattle Times — Billions of dollars have flowed to Washington public schools after a landmark state Supreme Court ruling in...

Capitol Buzz: With tax receipts flat, budget hurdles remain for WA leaders; Washington is fighting to limit its duty to protect vulnerable adults

With tax receipts flat, budget hurdles remain for WA leaders Washington State Standard — The latest forecast of state tax collections released Friday did nothing to brighten Washington’s budget...

Capitol Buzz: WA public lands commissioner scales back order protecting older forests; ‘Better than before’: WA reopens historic Capitol campus building

WA public lands commissioner scales back order protecting older forests The Seattle Times — Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove is scaling back an order to set aside 77,000 acres...

Capitol Buzz: WA to lose a quarter of long-term psychiatric beds for children; Union urges lawmakers to curb influencers amid daycare fraud coverage

WA to lose a quarter of long-term psychiatric beds for children The Seattle Times — Treating Washington kids with serious mental illness is a perennial problem: Long waitlists mean...

Capitol Buzz: New payment rules for WA child care subsidies after audits flags $37M in questioned costs; Eastern Washington housing more affordable, but most still priced out of market

New payment rules for WA child care subsidies after audits flags $37M in questioned costs KOMO TV — Seven months after a state audit flagged an estimated $37 million...

Capitol Buzz: Washington’s latest jobs report exposes a troubling divide between business and government; Washington’s medication collection program faces hurdles despite success

Washington’s latest jobs report exposes a troubling divide between business and government Seattle Red — Washington’s private sector shed 9,000 jobs in August while government payrolls grew by an...

Capitol Buzz: Is WA meeting its constitutional commitment to education?; The relentless drip of Seattle’s tech layoffs

Is WA meeting its constitutional commitment to education? The Seattle Times — By many measures outside the classroom, Washington looks like a state that has education figured out. It...

Capitol Buzz: WA high court tosses natural gas measure approved by voters; Patients deemed ready to leave WA state hospitals often wait for months

WA high court tosses natural gas measure approved by voters Washington State Standard — The state Supreme Court on Thursday delivered the final blow to a controversial 2024 ballot...

Capitol Buzz: Will a new federal education tax credit be available in Washington?; “I don’t know who is in charge,” ex-Seattle chief texted during Bite shooting

Will a new federal education tax credit be available in Washington? Washington State Standard — Gov. Bob Ferguson has yet to decide whether Washington will join 31 other states...

Capitol Buzz: WA lawmakers face another $1B decision on lawsuit payouts; Scoop: Equity director quits WA child welfare agency, alleging racial bias

WA lawmakers face another $1B decision on lawsuit payouts Washington State Standard — Washington needs to spend another $1.3 billion over the next two years to address skyrocketing lawsuit...

Capitol Buzz: Puget Sound business leaders warn Washington economy is slipping; Pasco weighs tighter restrictions on LRA housing amid statewide debate

Puget Sound business leaders warn Washington economy is slipping FOX 13 — Business and civic leaders across the Puget Sound region are warning that Washington state is losing its...

Capitol Buzz: Two WA public sector unions reach tentative deals on new contracts; Former Gov. Gregoire: Puget Sound lost nearly 7,000 jobs, losing competitive edge

Two WA public sector unions reach tentative deals on new contracts Washington State Standard — Washington’s largest union for state government workers reached a tentative agreement on a new...