Washington state Archives | Northwest Public Broadcasting

Washington On The Cusp Of Marking 5,000 COVID-19 Deaths 1 Year After 1st Known U.S. Death

By NWPB News March 2, 2021

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 state is expected this week to surpass 5,000 deaths from the coronavirus this week, almost exactly a year after the first known virus death was recorded in the U.S. The state reported 475 new confirmed cases and 13 more deaths Monday, which brought Washington’s totals to 339,773 total known infections and 4,969 deaths from the virus. Read More

Washington State Dems Push For Capital Gains In A Year When ‘Tax’ Doesn’t Seem Like A Bad Word

By Austin Jenkins March 1, 2021

The Washington Senate chamber sits empty before the start of the legislative session on January 11, 2021. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

Even as the state of Washington’s revenue picture improves, majority Democrats in the Legislature appear committed to a course that will, one way or another, involve raising taxes this year. Not necessarily to balance a recession-era budget, but instead to reform a tax code they view as regressive and to address gaps and inequities exposed by the global pandemic. Read More

How $1 Billion In Legal Marijuana Sales Gets Spent In Washington State

By NWPB News February 25, 2021

In this March 28, 2019 photo pot products line a display case at a marijuana shop in Seattle. A proposed constitutional amendment that would prevent the legalization of marijuana in Idaho has moved forward as lawmakers in the state try to halt the increasing acceptance of the drug nationwide. CREDIT: Elaine Thompson/AP

This year marks a milestone for the state’s legal pot industry. For the first time since voters approved recreational pot use nine years ago, the state of Washington is expected to collect more than $1 billion in marijuana sales taxes and fees over the course of its next two-year budget cycle. Read More

States Are Preparing To Distribute A Coming COVID Vaccine. Here’s How Washington Is Preparing

By NWPB News November 29, 2020

Many people might not be aware of what types of vaccines they need as they get older. Here, an adult gets a flu shot in Jacksonville, Fla. CREDIT: RICK WILSON/AP IMAGES

Washington’s plan, devised by the state Department of Health, will be implemented by a 25-person Vaccine Planning and Coordination Team consisting of employees from within the department, sourcing from the Offices of Immunization and Child Profile, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Health Promotion and Education and others. Read More

ICYMI: Watch Night Three Of The Benton Franklin Counties Debate

By NWPB Vote 2020 October 9, 2020

Stream night 3 of the Benton County debates

ICYMI: Stream the night three of our four debates for races that impact the Benton Franklin Counties. #NWPBVote2020 Continue Reading ICYMI: Watch Night Three Of The Benton Franklin Counties DebateRead More

ICYMI: Watch Night Two Of The Benton Franklin Counties Debate

By NWPB Vote 2020 October 1, 2020

ICYMI: Stream the night two of our four debates for races that impact the Benton Franklin Counties. #NWPBVote2020 Continue Reading ICYMI: Watch Night Two Of The Benton Franklin Counties DebateRead More

ICYMI: Watch Night One Of The Benton Franklin Counties Debate

By NWPB Vote 2020 September 30, 2020

Stream Benton Franklin Counties debate night 1

ICYMI: Stream the first of four debates for races that impact the Benton Franklin Counties. #NWPBVote2020 Continue Reading ICYMI: Watch Night One Of The Benton Franklin Counties DebateRead More

ICYMI: Watch The Whitman County Commissioner Debate Between Dean Kinzer And Tom Handy

By NWPB Vote 2020 September 24, 2020

ICYMI: Stream the debate for Whitman County Commissioner between incumbent Dean Kinzer and challenger Tom Handy. Join the election-year social conversation using #NWPBVote2020 Continue Reading ICYMI: Watch The Whitman County Commissioner Debate Between Dean Kinzer And Read More

How We Ended Up Here: Episode 4 – Voter Turnout Higher?

By Matt Loveless September 23, 2020

As the final few ballots are counted following this month’s primary, it has become clear that this election was of major interest to voters in Washington. State primaries typically sees about 35% of registered voters cast their ballots. In 2020, that number has not topped 54%, the biggest number since the 1964 presidential primary. With more than 2.5M ballots counted, “How Read More

How We Ended Up Here: Episode 3 – What’s A Top-Two Primary?

By Matt Loveless September 23, 2020

Listen to episode 3 of How We Ended Up Here

On or by August 4, Washington voters will cast their votes in the 2020 primary - one of three states to hold a “top-two” primary. What is that? In 2004, Initiative 872 approved a change to Washington’s primary voting system, selecting the two candidates for each position who have the most votes to go against each other in the November general election, regardless of party Read More

NWPB Vote 2020 Debate Series: How To Watch And Listen

By NWPB Vote 2020 September 23, 2020

NWPB is proud to present this year's Vote 2020 Debate Series. We'll hear from candidates vying for a spot for state offices along with those running for positions in our cities. Join us to learn more about the candidates. Continue Reading NWPB Vote 2020 Debate Series: How To Read More

ICYMI: Washington State Treasurer’s Debate

By NWPB Vote 2020 September 17, 2020

ICYMI: Stream the Washington state Treasurer's debate. Join the conversation using #NWPBVote2020 Continue Reading ICYMI: Washington State Treasurer’s DebateRead More

Episode 3 – What’s A Top-Two Primary?

By Matt Loveless July 27, 2020

On or by August 4, Washington voters will cast their votes in the 2020 primary - one of three states to hold a “top-two” primary. Continue Reading Episode 3 – What’s A Top-Two Primary?Read More

30K Coronavirus Tests A Day Could Be The Ticket To Washington’s Freedom

By Northwest News Network May 7, 2020

A Washington Army National Guard soldier consults instructions while assembling a Covid-19 test kit at a state warehouse in Tumwater. The National Guard is currently helping to assemble 30,000 kits for distribution to local public health agencies.

More testing will allow Washington state to relax some social distancing measures, because we'll be able to identify sick people early and keep them isolated. Here's how we can get there. Continue Reading 30K Coronavirus Tests A Day Could Read More

Mobile Clinic Addresses Needs In rural Communities

By Murrow News - Lauren Ellenbecker February 18, 2020

A Spokane-based mobile health clinic began its trial run in eastern Washington to reduce health disparities in rural areas where healthcare is not available. Continue Reading Mobile Clinic Addresses Needs In rural CommunitiesRead More

Federal Judge Plans To Dismiss Case On Wages Of Detainees At Tacoma ICE Facility

By NWPB News September 24, 2019

File photo. The Northwest Detention Center, run by the private GEO Group, is located in Tacoma. CREDIT: KOMO via AP

A federal judge who previously ruled that Washington state could pursue its claim that immigration detainees must be paid minimum wage for work at a privately run, for-profit immigration jail said Tuesday he intends to reverse himself at the urging of the Trump administration. Read More

‘Done Being Silent’: Former Seattle Official Accuses Washington State Sen. Joe Fain Of Rape

By NWPB News September 28, 2018

Candace Faber, pictured here in the office of the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, the weekend she says she was raped by Sen. Joe Fain. CREDIT: CANDACE FABER

Washington state Sen. Joe Fain denied Faber’s written allegations to The Seattle Times. “Any allegation of this serious nature deserves to be heard and investigated for all parties involved,” Fain told the Times. Continue Read More

Washington And Oregon Solar Projects Face Legal Hurdles From Farmland Projection Groups

By Tom Banse June 3, 2018

CREDIT - SARAH SWENTY - USFWS - TINYURL.COM/YBSAL64J

1:00 Two projects that would convert cropland in Oregon and Washington into large solar farms are hitting new bumps. Last week the Oregon Court of Appeals issued a ruling that blocks a planned 80-acre solar project on farmland outside Medford in southern Oregon. Read More

Gas-Guzzling Cities, State Blow Past Deadline For Electric Vehicles In Washington

By John Ryan June 3, 2018

A parking spot is designated for electric vehicles at the charging station outside of the Ballard Market on Monday, December 11, 2017, in Seattle. CREDIT MEGAN FARMER - KUOW

Washington state’s electric vehicle law is being widely ignored, according to a new report. June 1 was the deadline set by a decade-old law that requires vehicles in government fleets to run on electricity or biofuel. But just two percent of the state's motor pool is electric now, and many cities and counties have no electric vehicles at all. Read More

Washington’s Electric Car Sales Tax Break Drives Away May 31

By Tom Banse May 16, 2018

File photo of an electric vehicle charging up outside of the Oregon Capitol. CREDIT: CHRIS LEHMAN

Washington drivers who are thinking about buying an electric car would be wise to get down to a dealership in the next two weeks. That's because a valuable tax break disappears at month's end. Continue Reading Washington’s Electric Car Sales Read More

Big Changes Coming To Voting Rights And Access In Washington

By Austin Jenkins March 16, 2018

washnigton state capitol CREDIT: BRIANHE / WIKIMEDIA - TINYURL.COM/ZMPZ86K

Youth age 16 and 17 will soon be able to pre-register to vote in Washington. That’s just one of several voting-related bills the governor is scheduled to sign into law soon. Continue Reading Big Changes Coming To Voting Rights And Access In Read More