government and politics Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

League of Women Voters urge Congress to restore stability, curb President Trump

By Mary Ellen Pitney February 27, 2025

The League of Women Voters is calling on Congress to take action against what it sees as President Trump’s overreach of power. In a letter signed by all 50 state chapters and the Washington, D.C. chapter, the organization urged lawmakers from both parties to use their authority as a check on the president and help restore stability to the country.Read More

Rural communities struggling to fill positions in local governments

By NWPB November 7, 2023

The longest-serving city councilmember in Lamont, Washington’s second smallest town, worries the town could face disincorporation if she retires.Read More

Rising gas prices in WA fuel debate over who pays to combat climate change

By Northwest News Network June 28, 2023

The 400-mile Olympic Pipeline carries gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from refineries in northern Washington state, such as BP Cherry Point shown here, to a distribution hub in Portland, Oregon

Washington faced unwelcome news this week that the state’s average price for a gallon of gas is the highest in the country.Read More

A California legal battle over gas stoves stirs uncertainty for energy policies across the West

By Northwest News Network June 22, 2023

A court case in California could hinder efforts to limit new natural gas hookups in states across the West, including Washington and Oregon

A court battle over gas stoves in California is sowing seeds of uncertainty for energy policies in the West, as cities in Washington and Oregon seek to limit the use of natural gas in new homes and buildings.Read More

Washington makes a major change to prison sentencing, but not for people already behind bars

By Northwest News Network June 14, 2023

Travis ComesLast, center right, is known as a community leader, working with other incarcerated Indigenous men to stay connected with their culture

When Travis ComesLast was 20 years old, he was on the run from juvenile detention. He and a friend were looking for ways to get some cash so they could skip town. But during what he describes as a drug deal gone bad, ComesLast shot and killed a man.Read More

Washington leaders call new drug law ‘imperfect’ solution to overdose crisis

By Northwest News Network May 18, 2023

Washington lawmakers passed a new drug possession and addiction treatment policy during a one-day special legislative session Tuesday

Washington is getting a new drug possession and addiction treatment law, after the state legislature approved a final deal during its one-day special session Tuesday. But many lawmakers call it a hard compromise that represents just one step toward tackling the state's drug crisis.Read More

Gov. Inslee signs new drug possession law after special legislative session

By Northwest News Network May 17, 2023

The legislature is meeting to finalize a state-level policy on drug possession and addiction treatment, to avoid a patchwork approach across the state

The Washington State Legislature is reconvening Tuesday, as lawmakers aim to finalize new drug possession penalties and addiction treatment resources in the state.Read More

Inslee announces special legislative session to pass new drug possession law

By Northwest News Network May 5, 2023

(Credit: WSDOT / tinyurl.com/yddspl8b) Read By Jeanie Lindsay The Washington Legislature will attempt to wrap up its unfinished business on drug possession this month. Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday he’s […]Read More

Washington’s regular legislative session is over. Here are some of the highlights

By Northwest News Network May 1, 2023

Washington's 2023 regular session adjourned "Sine Die" April 23

Washington's legislature adjourned its 2023 regular session with a new two-year state budget, alongside dozens of policy changes focused on housing, health care and public safety – and a surprising last-minute bill failure.Read More

Partisan Election Officials, or Non?

By Tom Banse October 12, 2022

Should the top elections official in Washington state officially be a nonpartisan? That’s one difference between the top two finalists running for Washington Secretary of State.Read More

A Torrent Of Support For Curbing Inslee’s Emergency Powers As Lawmakers Take Public Testimony

By Austin Jenkins January 29, 2022

Washington’s COVID-19 state of emergency is approaching its two-year anniversary. Under current law, the governor has broad emergency powers. But the Legislature is considering new restrictions on that authority.Read More

Washington State Lawmakers Propose Year-Round Standard Time To Get Around Congress

By Tom Banse January 13, 2022

Many people say they hate the twice-yearly time change. But is settling on permanent standard time or year-round daylight time the better solution?

Washington state senators are trying a new gambit to stop the twice-yearly ritual of changing our clocks from standard time to daylight time and back again. A previous effort to move the whole West Coast onto permanent daylight saving time failed to win requisite congressional support. So now, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers is pushing for Pacific Standard Time to be Read More

Washington State Senator Doug Ericksen Dead At 52; Follows COVID Diagnosis

By Austin Jenkins December 20, 2021

Longtime Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen, a Whatcom County Republican, has died following a COVID-19 diagnosis while traveling in El Salvador last month.Read More

A Grab-Bag Of Juicy Local Measures On Nov. 2 Ballot In Absence Of Statewide Initiatives

By Tom Banse October 28, 2021

People First Bellingham campaign volunteers Seth Mangold and Sage Jones sought voter support for their coalition's four initiatives at the Bellingham Farmers Market on Saturday.

There are no statewide initiative measures on the ballot this November in Oregon and Washington state. That’s a change from usual, but voters around the region are casting ballots on a variety of newsworthy local initiatives.Read More

Washington State Patrol’s Hiring Under Fire As Agency Failed To Diversify Over Decades

By Northwest News Network September 27, 2021

Thirty-one new Washington state troopers are sworn in Dec. 13, 2018. The WSP has long been under pressure to diversify its ranks.

The Washington State Patrol turned 100 this year. To this day it’s still a mostly white, male organization. Over the years it’s struggled to diversify. But now one part of the hiring process is getting fresh scrutiny: the psychological review.Read More