Austin Jenkins, Author at Northwest Public Broadcasting

‘Hogwash’: Jay Inslee Responds To President Trump On Pressure To Reopen Schools For Fall Term

By Austin Jenkins July 9, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks at a news conference at Columbia Basin College in Pasco June 30, 2020. Hecklers yelling at him, some with signs and flags for Trump 2020 and Republican gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp, caused the event to be moved inside. CREDIT: Courtney Flatt/NWPB

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is responding to President Donald Trump’s threat to penalize states that don’t reopen schools this fall. At a news conference Thursday, Inslee pushed back hard on the president and said the state won’t be bullied. Read More

A Presidential Year Without A Statewide Ballot Initiative: A First Since 1928 In Washington

By Austin Jenkins July 3, 2020

Professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman, right, holds a photo from his first successful $30 car tabs initiative in 1999. Eyman says he has collected almost enough signatures to qualify a 2019 car tabs rollback initiative to the 2019 Legislature. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS/N3

A review of Washington’s initiative history reveals that not since 1928 has the November ballot been bereft of an initiative to the people in a year when voters were electing a president. Continue Reading A Read More

Washington Financial Disclosure Forms Will Go Back Online, Despite Opposition From Lawmakers

By Austin Jenkins June 26, 2020

The Washington Public Disclosure Commission website is where candidates file and the general public can see campaign expenditure reports.

The F-1 statements, as they’re known, were taken offline last month following an urgent email with the subject line “Stop online posting of F1 data” from Democratic state Sen. Sam Hunt, the chair of the State Government committee which oversees the PDC. Read More

Lewis County Sheriff’s Response To Washington Governor’s Mask Directive: ‘Don’t Be A Sheep’

By Austin Jenkins June 25, 2020

In this screenshot from a YouTube video, Lewis County Sheriff Robert Snaza tells a crowd "Don't be a sheep" when it comes to following Gov. Jay Inslee's face covering order.

Hours after Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee announced a statewide mandate for people to wear masks in public, a Republican sheriff in southwest Washington appeared to urge open defiance of the order. “Don’t be a sheep,” Lewis County Sheriff Robert Snaza said to loud applause from a mostly mask-less crowd gathered in a church parking lot. Read More

She Lost Her Sister To COVID-19. It Highlights Risk To People With Developmental Disabilities

By Austin Jenkins June 19, 2020

A montage of photos captures special moments in the life of Sharon Gowdey who had Down syndrome and died of COVID-19 in April. People with developmental disabilites appear to have a much higher risk of death from the virus. Courtesy of Kathleen Hesseltine

Early data show a 13.5 percent death rate among people with developmental disabilities who live in state-supported, community-based settings and have tested positive. That’s nearly triple Washington’s current statewide death rate of 4.6 percent. It’s a similar story in other states, including Oregon. Read More

Governor Orders Furloughs, Cancels Some Pay Raises As Washington Shows $9B Drop In Revenues

By Austin Jenkins June 17, 2020

This chart shows Washington state revenues dropping by seven percent in fiscal year 2021, but increasing in subsequent years. CREDIT: Economic and Revenue Forecast Council

In a move not seen since the Great Recession, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday canceled pay raises for some state employees and ordered furloughs for many more through at least this fall. The move came the same day a new state revenue forecast projected an $8.8 billion drop in tax collections over the next three years. Read More

President Trump Ramps Up Criticism Of Jay Inslee And Jenny Durkan Over Seattle Protest Zone

By Austin Jenkins June 15, 2020

In this screenshot from C-SPAN, President Trump answers questions from reporters at a White House roundtable event on June 15, 2020. He used the occasion to criticize Washington state officials over the ongoing protest on Seattle's Capitol Hill.

Stepping up an attack he began on Twitter last week, President Trump on Monday spent more than four minutes at a White House meeting inveighing against Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and the six-block protest area now known as CHOP, for Capitol Hill Organized Protest. Read More

It’s An Election Year. But That’s Not Scaring Washington Democrats From Talking Taxes

By Austin Jenkins June 11, 2020

In this 2012 file photo, then Gov. Chris Gregoire talks about the state budget. During the Great Recession, Democrats largely addressed plummeting revenues through budget cuts instead of tax hikes. The response to the COVID-19 recession may be different. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

Unlike during the Great Recession, when the budget was largely balanced through spending cuts, this time around majority Democrats and their allies, like labor unions, are already signaling that tax increases are almost certain to be part of any solution. Read More

Nearly 100-Year-Old Historic Marker Stolen From Washington Capitol Campus

By Austin Jenkins May 29, 2020

This bronze plaque commemorating the location of the home of Washington's first territorial and state governors was stolen from the Capitol Campus earlier this month. Now the Washington State Patrol is seeking tips from the public.

A nearly 100-year-old historical marker has been mysteriously stolen from Washington's Capitol Campus and, with no leads on who took it, the state patrol is now asking the public for help solving the crime. Continue Reading Nearly Read More

After Unemployment Fraud, Washington’s Campaign Finance Watchdog Blocks Some Online Access

By Austin Jenkins May 26, 2020

At the request of a powerful Democratic state senator who warned of “foreign intrusion,” Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) on Sunday temporarily suspended public, online access to the personal financial statements of elected officials, candidates and other public officials. Read More

Washington Republicans Want To Block Pay Raises And Cut Spending In June Special Session

By Austin Jenkins May 22, 2020

Minority Republicans in the Washington Legislature are proposing a June special session to address the COVID-19 crisis.

Saying that it’s time for the legislative branch to “intervene” in the state’s COVID-19 response, Republican leaders in the Washington Legislature on Thursday called for a special session of the Legislature to begin in June. Read More

Might There Be A Special Session Of The Washington Legislature? Don’t Bet On It, Or Against It

By Austin Jenkins May 20, 2020

The Washington Capitol building in Olympia with flowers in front

As Washington Gov. Jay Inslee exerts his emergency powers to battle COVID-19, behind the scenes legislative leaders are exploring the idea of a special session of the Legislature, perhaps as early as next month. Continue Read More

At Age 6, He And Classmates Fled Mount St. Helens. 40 Years Later, This Reporter Recalls That Day

By Austin Jenkins May 18, 2020

Reporter Austin Jenkins, in green circle, was part of a Puget Sound Primary School trip to Camp Cispus in May 1980. Austin and his classmates were evacuated from the camp after Mount St. Helens erupted.

Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins was a first grader on a school camping trip near Mount St. Helens when the volcano erupted on May 18, 1980. Austin recently unearthed his scrapbook from that time and interviewed several others who were on that memorable trip. On this 40th anniversary of the eruption, Austin recounts their harrowing escape. Read More

Washington Plans To Test All Nursing Home Residents And Staff, Says State Doctor

By Austin Jenkins May 12, 2020

Tim Killian, a spokesman for Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., prepares to give a daily briefing to reporters on Wednesday. CREDIT: Ted S. Warren/AP

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has instructed the state Department of Health (DOH) to prepare to test all nursing home residents and staff for COVID-19 in the coming weeks, according to the physician leading the state’s testing strategy. Read More

After Brief Moment Of Unity, Republicans Crank Up Criticism Of Jay Inslee Ahead Of Campaign Season

By Austin Jenkins May 12, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee was the focus of ire at a 'Hazardous Liberty' rally at the Washington Capitol on Saturday. In recent weeks, Inslee has faced growing criticism from Republicans for his response to the COVID-19 crisis.

In recent weeks, legislative Republicans have been fiercely critical of Inslee for not moving more aggressively to reopen the economy. They’ve criticized him on social media, joined protests at the Capitol and even filed a lawsuit challenging his emergency powers. Read More

‘Let My People Go’: Opponents Of Coronavirus Measures Again Freely Gather To Protest In Olympia

By Austin Jenkins May 9, 2020

Participants at the Saturday rally prayed as the event got underway. Government overreach and tyranny were common themes. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

For the second time in a month, opponents of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s extended “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order – many of them openly carrying firearms – rallied at the state Capitol Saturday in an event that brought together sign-waving citizens, conservative state legislators, Republican and Libertarian candidates for public office and members of far-right groups. Read More

Washington GOP Lawmakers Sue Jay Inslee Over Coronavirus Measures. He Fires Back

By Austin Jenkins May 5, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday that all Washington K-12 schools would remain closed for the rest of the current school year. CREDIT: TVW/Screenshot

The four Republican lawmakers who are suing are state Reps. Drew MacEwen, Andrew Barkis, Chris Corry and Brandon Vick. Four Washington residents are also part of the lawsuit. Continue Reading Washington GOP Lawmakers Sue Jay Read More

Lessons From COVID-19 Front Lines: Olympia ER Doc Volunteers To Help At Hard-Hit NYC Hospital

By Austin Jenkins May 4, 2020

Elmhurst Hospital in Queens has been described as the "epicenter of the epicenter" of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York. CREDIT: Dr. Luke Hansen

It was physically and emotionally demanding work made all the more challenging because families weren’t allowed to visit their loved ones. Dr. Luke Hansen said seeing people die in a chaotic emergency room without their families at their side was one of the hardest parts of his time in New York. Read More

‘We Will Have Major Social Distancing Beyond May 4,’ Jay Inslee Says In Interview With Public Media

By Austin Jenkins April 28, 2020

In an interview Tuesday, WA Gov. Jay Inslee said Washington residents should prepare for current social distancing restrictions to continue past May 4.

With his current stay home order set to expire in less than a week, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday strongly suggested that, even though the COVID-19 peak appears to have passed, he intends to leave in place most of the current restrictions for the foreseeable future. Read More

The Coronavirus Crisis Struck, And Washington Jails Emptied Out

By Austin Jenkins April 26, 2020

File photo. Washington jails. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

In a dramatic example of COVID-19’s impact on the criminal justice system, the number of people in Washington jails has plummeted in recent weeks, ending virtually overnight an overcrowding problem that plagued many facilities for years. Today, a few of the state’s smallest jails are reporting inmate populations in the single digits. Read More

Jay Inslee Introduces Road To Recovery Plan, As Some In Washington Push Back Against Closures

By Austin Jenkins April 21, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee spoke Tuesday, April 21 to update on the state's coronavirus measures and recovery plan. CREDIT: TVW

While most people and public officials may be complying with Washington's "stay home, stay healthy" orders, not all are. In fact, there’s evidence of growing restlessness with the shutdown of the economy, the skyrocketing job losses and the infringement on normal, daily activities. And in some places there are examples of outright opposition. Read More

Jay Inslee Faces Increasing Pressure To Allow Homebuilding And Other Sectors To Reopen

By Austin Jenkins April 18, 2020

In this file photo, the cherry blossoms are in bloom at the Washington state Capitol. On Friday, state lawmakers asked Gov. Jay Inslee to consider reopening some non-essential businesses that were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Friday, three of the four legislative caucuses sent the governor a request that he consider allowing a specific set of businesses to reopen, provided they adhere to strict public health guidelines. Continue Reading Jay Read More

In Washington And Beyond, When Will It Start To Get Back To Normal? Experts Weigh In

By Austin Jenkins April 16, 2020

This chart from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington shows a sharp decline in COVID-19 related deaths by early May if social distancing practices continue. CREDIT: Office of Gov. Jay Inslee

After weeks of extraordinary efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed, Washington state officials are beginning to talk more openly about easing social distancing restrictions and a sequential unlocking of the economy. Read More

Washington Has A New State Supreme Court Justice: Judge Helen Whitener

By Austin Jenkins April 13, 2020

Pierce County Superior Court Judge Helen Whitener has been appointed to an open seat on the Washington Supreme Court.

Helen Whitener, who is originally from Trinidad, is believed to be only the second Black justice -- and the first Black woman -- to ever serve on the state’s high court, according to a spokesperson for the Supreme Court. Continue Reading Read More

Jay Inslee Takes Heat From Fellow Democrat Over In-Person Voter Registration During Pandemic

By Austin Jenkins April 9, 2020

If Washington voters don't mail in ballots, they can return them in person to drop boxes like this one at the Yakima County Elections Office. CREDIT: ESMY JIMENEZ/NWPB

But because of COVID-19, Paddy McGuire said Mason County has closed his building and he doesn’t think in-person registration is a safe idea. So, he asked the governor’s office to use its emergency powers to waive the requirement for this election. The answer back, he said, was “no.” Read More

Large Disturbance Erupts At Washington Prison Complex During Coronavirus Tensions

By Austin Jenkins April 9, 2020

Nightfall at the Monroe Correctional Complex on Wednesday, November 29, 2018. Two units at the prison are currently on "precautionary quarantine." CREDIT: Megan Farmer/KUOW

A large disturbance Wednesday evening at the Monroe Correctional Complex was likely triggered by rising tensions over COVID-19, according to the Washington Department of Corrections. So far, six inmates at the facility have tested positive for the virus. Read More

Concern High At Western State Hospital As Number Of COVID-19 Cases Grows

By Austin Jenkins April 8, 2020

Western State Hospital is Washington state's largest psychiatric facility. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

To date, 22 Western State Hospital (WSH) staff have tested positive for the virus. That number has more than quadrupled in two weeks. In addition, six patients have tested positive and one elderly patient has died. Claudio said with each additional positive case, her fear rises. Read More

First Washington Prison Inmate Tests Positive For COVID-19

By Austin Jenkins April 6, 2020

Columbia Legal Services has filed a lawsuit against the state of Washington seeking the early release of some inmates to reduce the risk of a coronavirus outbreak. CREDIT: Thomas Hawk / Flickr -TINYURL.COM/HA5H3WP

A prisoner at the Monroe Correctional Complex has tested positive for COVID-19, making him the first incarcerated individual in a Washington prison known to have contracted the virus. Continue Reading First Washington Prison Inmate Tests Positive For Read More

A Washington Inmate Fears Coronavirus Could Sweep Through His Prison Like A Fire

By Austin Jenkins April 5, 2020

The risk that COVID-19 could get into a prison is high, as is the potential for it to spread quickly because of tight spaces, shared quarters and dense populations. Adding to the danger is the fact Washington prisons – with nearly 17,000 inmates -- are at 100 percent of capacity. Read More

Jay Inslee Vetoes $235M In Washington Spending As Coronavirus-Caused Fiscal Cliff Looms

By Austin Jenkins April 3, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee signs Washington's supplemental operating budget into law on April 3, 2020. Before doing so, he vetoed more than $200 million in new spending in anticipation of the fiscal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. CREDIT: Office of the Governor

In anticipation of state revenues cratering because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday vetoed more than $200 million of new spending from the supplemental budget passed by state lawmakers last month. Read More

As Supplies Dwindle, One Washington Doctor Gets Creative To Hustle Masks

By Austin Jenkins March 28, 2020

Dr. Jessica Van Fleet-Green posted this selfie to Instagram after she received a new N95 mask after three weeks of using her old one.

Over the previous weekend, Dr. Jessica Van Fleet-Green rounded-up 200 masks for her team – a mix of the more protective N95s and standard surgical masks. The donations came from a dental office that’s now closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, two construction contractors and even her father who found two at home. Read More

Petition Seeks Early Release Of Some Washington Prison Inmates To Reduce Coronavirus Risk

By Austin Jenkins March 26, 2020

The petition for a writ of mandamus by Columbia Legal Services, a civil legal aid law firm, asks the Washington Supreme Court to intervene on behalf of older inmates, those with underlying health conditions and those who are within 18 months of their release date. Read More

‘Everybody’s In This Really Strange Place Right Now,’ Says Washington’s Top Infectious Disease Doctor

By Austin Jenkins March 22, 2020

Laurie Kuypers, a registered nurse, reaches into a car to take a swab from a patient at a drive-through COVID-19 coronavirus testing station for University of Washington Medicine. The federal government is trying to get more protective equipment to states for medical workers who will be on the front lines of the growing coronavirus pandemic. CREDIT: Elaine Thompson/AP

These days Dr. Scott Lindquist is operating more like a military logistics officer. His phone is blowing up with calls from local public health officials on the frontlines of the battle against coronavirus. They’re asking for help in procuring the personal protective equipment that healthcare workers need to test and treat patients. Read More

It’s Not Just Nursing Homes: Threat Of Coronavirus Spread Looms In Other Communal Settings

By Austin Jenkins March 19, 2020

At Western State Hospital, entrances have been blocked off and locks changed to prevent employees from entering without being screened first for coronavirus symptoms.

The best available science suggests that people should maintain at least six feet of distance from others to avoid contracting COVID-19 – which is believed to be spread through droplets. But practicing safe distancing is often a challenge in congregate living settings. Read More

Outside Coronavirus Epicenter, Northwest Health System Workers Brace For What’s Coming

By Austin Jenkins March 18, 2020

Jess White, a registered nurse at UW Northwest, demonstrates to another nurse how to properly remove a mask on Thursday, March 12, 2020, at UW Medicine's drive-through testing clinic in Seattle. CREDIT: Megan Farmer/KUOW

While the greater Seattle area has so far borne the brunt of the outbreak in Washington, health care workers outside the epicenter are bracing for what’s to come. Continue Reading Outside Coronavirus Epicenter, Northwest Read More

Coronavirus Prompts New Mandatory Work Measures At Washington State Agencies

By Austin Jenkins March 16, 2020

Visitors to Western State Hospital and other state facililties are being screened for coronavirus before they are allowed to enter. CREDIT: PHIL THOMAS / ASYLUMPROJECTS.ORG - TINYURL.COM/J28OGDB

Even as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee uses his emergency powers to restrict gatherings of more than 50 people and orders the closure of bars, restaurants and other gathering spaces for at least the next two weeks, state agencies are scrambling to implement emergency measures to protect their employees and those they serve from the rapid spread of coronavirus. Read More

What Passed, What Didn’t In 2020 Washington Legislature (Hint: Coronavirus Changed Plans)

By Austin Jenkins March 13, 2020

As the Legislature adjourned Thursday, 60 days felt like a lifetime ago. A surreal “new normal” had taken hold as Washington finds itself in the grips of a global coronavirus pandemic -- which poses a threat not just to the public, but also to the economy and to state revenues. Read More

Jay Inslee Orders Nursing Homes To Limit Visitors, Signals Social-Distancing Measures Are Next

By Austin Jenkins March 10, 2020

Warning that the number of coronavirus cases in Washington could double weekly, Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday indicated that mandatory social-distancing measures could be announced this week and, in the meantime, imposed new restrictions on nursing homes. Read More

Grant County Case First COVID-19 Death In Eastern Washington; Inslee Hints At Crowd Restrictions

By Austin Jenkins March 8, 2020

On CBS' 'Face the Nation' Gov. Jay Inslee hinted that he may soon order mandatory social distancing measures to stem the spread of coronavirus.

"We are contemplating some next steps, particularly to protect our vulnerable populations and our nursing homes and [the] like and we are looking to determine whether mandatory measures are required," Inslee said in an interview Sunday morning with CBS's "Face the Nation." Read More

Vice President Pence Visits Washington State As Coronavirus Outbreak Grows

By Austin Jenkins March 6, 2020

Vice President Mike Pence, at podium, speaks as Gov. Jay Inslee, left, and other officials look on during a news conference, March 5, 2020, at Camp Murray in Washington state. Pence was in the state to discuss the state's efforts to fight the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. CREDIT Ted S. Warren/AP

As the death toll climbs and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Washington tops 70, Vice President Mike Pence traveled to the state Thursday to tour the Military Department’s Emergency Operations Center, meet with Gov. Jay Inslee and other elected leaders and announce the arrival of a shipment of supplies for healthcare workers from the Strategic National Stockpile Read More

Washington Heath Department Requests Legislators Allocate $100M For Coronavirus Response

By Austin Jenkins March 2, 2020

Washington Sec. of Health John Wiesman testifies before the Senate Ways and Means Committee about the coronavirus outbreak and associated costs.

“We know we’ve got the coronavirus in our community, we know that we’re having some community spread, we know that the risk is increasing,” Sec. of Health John Wiesman told the Senate Ways and Means Committee Monday morning. Read More

Judge: Tim Eyman Concealed More Than $750K In Campaign Contributions For Ballot Measures

By Austin Jenkins February 21, 2020

In November, anti-tax activist Tim Eyman announced he's running for governor. On Friday, Feb. 21, a Thurston County Judge found that Eyman has repeatedly concealed contributions related to his initiative campaigns. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

A judge has found that anti-tax activist and Republican candidate for governor Tim Eyman concealed more than $700,000 in campaign contributions related to his initiative work over a six-year period. The finding comes as Eyman mounts a first-ever run for public office and faces trial this summer over an alleged campaign finance kick-back scheme. Read More

Felon Voting Rights Bill Dies On Washington Senate Floor In The Middle Of Debate

By Austin Jenkins February 19, 2020

File photo - Washington prison - Courtesy of Washington Department of Corrections

Legislation to automatically restore the voting rights of convicted felons when they are released from prison has died unexpectedly in the Washington Senate. Majority Democrats abruptly ended debate on the controversial bill Wednesday evening when they realized they lacked the 25 votes needed to pass the measure. Read More

Lobbying Pays Off: Washington Health Insurers Benefit From Change To Consumer-Focused Bill

By Austin Jenkins February 18, 2020

Kaiser Permanente’s Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington is among the largest insurance plans in the state, along with Regence BlueShield and Premera Blue Cross. Together they’ve amassed nearly $4.5 billion in surpluses. At the same time, consumers have faced double-digit premium increases.

Strong opposition and intense lobbying by Washington’s health insurance industry has resulted in a key change to a consumer-oriented measure designed to address rising premium costs. Continue Reading Lobbying Pays Off: Read More

Where Will They Go? Washington Nursing Home For Brain Injured Patients To Close

By Austin Jenkins February 12, 2020

Washington nursing home for brain injured patients will close after nearly half a century. Continue Reading Where Will They Go? Washington Nursing Home For Brain Injured Patients To CloseRead More

Washington Lawmaker Wants To End ‘Better-Than-Boeing’ Tax Break For Prescription Drug Warehouses

By Austin Jenkins February 11, 2020

File photo. Distributors of opioids and other prescription drugs in Washington kept their better-than-Boeing tax break this year, despite a lawsuit against the industry's three largest players. CREDIT: Kevin Mooney/N3

Democratic state Rep. Lauren Davis says Washington’s current approach to helping people with substance use disorders is like a stool that’s missing two legs. While Medicaid pays for treatment, it doesn’t fund pre-treatment services which Davis calls the first leg of the stool. Read More

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