shutdown

Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday extended restrictions on businesses and social gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic for another week. Inslee said the restrictions are now due to expire Jan. 11.

Washington bars and restaurants will remain closed for indoor service, and movie theaters and bowling alleys will continue to be completely closed, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday. He said the current closure order, which was set to expire Dec. 14, would be extended by three weeks, into the new year.

Earlier this year, Yakima County was among the worst-hit places for COVID-19 in Washington and the West Coast. It and the Tri-Cities region were among the last counties to open for indoor bar and restaurant service. Now, with another statewide closure, some restaurant operators are pushing back and refusing to close.

Washington Republicans say the Legislature should immediately meet in special session to address the economic fallout from Gov. Jay Inslee’s latest Covid-19 orders – and even consider tapping the state’s “rainy day” fund.

Washington is heading into the most severe surge of coronavirus yet. And time is running out to turn things around. That was the message Tuesday during a virtual briefing from a raft of high-ranking public health officials.

Congressional leaders unveiled new highlights for a fiscal year 2020 budget agreement. It boosts spending for census, federal workers and the military, election security, and border wall efforts.

As the clock ticks towards a Friday deadline to avert another partial government shutdown, a new stumbling block has emerged in talks between Congressional Democrats and the White House: Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention beds.

The deal would open the government through Feb. 15, a House Democratic source says. The potential breakthrough comes as federal workers missed a second paycheck and airports reported major delays.

Firefighters and forest managers are losing valuable time to prepare for the upcoming wildland fire season as the partial government shutdown continues.

Some Oregon State Parks workers are now tending to federal recreation lands as the partial U.S. government shutdown continues with no end in sight. People are still visiting trailheads, day-use parking lots and boat ramps on federal lands, but U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management rangers aren't on duty.