Washington in Focus

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is facing a recall challenge as questions continue to mount over public safety, the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting and the resignation of former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes. Two Seattle residents filed recall charges accusing Wilson of failing to fulfill her responsibilities on public safety. The mayor's office says the effort does not appear to have merit and that...

Seattle's public safety policies are facing renewed scrutiny as city leaders demand answers from Mayor Katie Wilson over the fallout from the Bite of Seattle shooting and the departure of former Police Chief Shon Barnes.   Seattle City Council members pressed the mayor's office over the roughly five-hour delay before the initial press conference following the deadly shooting and questioned the lac...

A new analysis is raising questions about the effectiveness of Seattle’s LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) program, a model that has been replicated across Washington, the country and beyond. Washington Policy Center’s Eric Zimmerman argues that some widely cited claims involving recidivism, arrests, employment and other outcomes may not be supported by the underlying research. We also tur...

Washington's income tax repeal initiative is now headed toward the Washington Supreme Court after a Thurston County judge upheld the ballot's Public Investment Impact Disclosure (PIID). Supporters of Initiative 645 argue the ballot language is politically biased and factually inaccurate as the appeal moves forward. Also in today's episode, Let's Go Washington officially launches its statewide camp...

A suspect has been arrested on a first-degree arson charge in connection with Spokane County’s devastating Old Trails Fire. Authorities say alert citizens, body-camera footage and fire investigators helped detectives identify the suspect and build the case. The arrest is also fueling political fallout over the causes of the Spokane wildfires, as a law firm challenges former Gov. Jay Inslee’s argum...

Washington faces another difficult day as devastating wildfires continue burning across the Spokane region, destroying hundreds of homes and prompting Governor Bob Ferguson to seek additional federal disaster assistance. We also examine the nearly $700,000 severance package awarded to former Seattle Police Chief Shawn Barnes, including new questions surrounding Seattle police leadership. Finally,...

Today's Washington in Focus Daily covers three major stories shaping politics and public policy across Washington. First, Let's Go Washington has officially appealed the ballot language that would accompany Initiative 645, arguing the Public Investment Impact Disclosure for the income tax repeal measure is inaccurate and should be revised before November's election. Next, controversy erupted durin...

Today's Washington in Focus Daily covers three major stories impacting public safety, elections and housing policy. First, pressure continues to build on Seattle leaders following the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting. New details have emerged as the Seattle police chief responds to questions about his absence during the incident and city officials continue to face scrutiny over their response. Next...

Today's Washington in Focus Daily covers three major developments affecting public safety, elections and state politics. First, we examine the deadly shooting at Seattle's Bite of Seattle festival that left three people dead and several others injured. The tragedy is prompting questions about the city's public safety response and the timing of official updates. Next, a new lawsuit challenges the b...

Washington's rent control law is facing one of its biggest legal tests yet as manufactured housing owners challenge the constitutionality of the state's rent cap in Spokane County Superior Court. Plaintiffs argue the law unfairly imposes a stricter 5% annual cap on manufactured housing communities than other rental properties, discouraging investment and worsening Washington's housing shortage. Su...

Washington state is moving forward with an $800,000 taxpayer-funded study examining how to replace the clean energy generated by the four Lower Snake River dams—even after President Donald Trump revoked the Biden administration's effort to remove them. The study, funded through Washington's Climate Commitment Act, will evaluate what it would cost to replace the dams' power production and transport...

Washington business leaders are warning that rising taxes, regulations and economic uncertainty are making it increasingly difficult to grow and invest in the state. At the Association of Washington Business Economic Future Solutions Summit, executives from multiple industries described rising costs, expansion into neighboring states and concerns over Washington's long-term business climate. Also...

Two former Democratic governors are raising serious concerns about Washington state spending, while business leaders, correctional officers and Seattle hotel operators report new challenges involving the state’s economy, public safety and World Cup results. Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke criticized Olympia’s budget process during the Association of Washington Business Economic Future Solutions...

Washington politics continues to heat up as the race for Congressional District 4 turns into a dispute over President Donald Trump's endorsement, with Republican candidates Amanda McKinney and Jerrod Sessler offering competing claims while Democrat John Zeller argues the Republican division could reshape the race ahead of Washington's August primary. This episode also covers the Association of Was...

A new statewide poll suggests Washington voters remain strongly opposed to the state's new income tax, while also expressing concerns about the direction of the state and Gov. Bob Ferguson's job performance. In this episode, we break down the latest polling showing opposition to the income tax, examine the messaging from both supporters and opponents ahead of the expected Initiative 645 ballot fig...

Washington's battle over the state's new income tax officially entered a new phase as Gov. Bob Ferguson launched the campaign urging voters to reject Initiative 645 , the measure that would repeal the recently enacted tax on high-income earners. In this episode, Ferguson outlines why supporters believe the tax is needed to fund education, child care, and public services, while opponents—including...

Seattle's plan to provide free school lunches to every public school student is facing new political opposition as City Council President Joy Hollingsworth proposes redirecting some of the funding toward food security programs serving Black children. This episode also examines Spokane's proposal to require landlords to provide air conditioning in rental units, a mandate critics warn could cost pro...

Washington's Supreme Court race continues to spotlight major questions about judicial decision-making, public defender caseload standards, county budgets, and the separation between interpreting the law and making public policy. The show also examines newly released records surrounding Washington's income tax legislation after the Attorney General's Office dismissed previous reporting as "no story...

Seattle's housing crisis takes another turn after a proposal to temporarily reduce mandatory housing affordability (MHA) fees for developers appears to collapse, raising concerns that thousands of planned housing units could be delayed or canceled. Meanwhile, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is advancing a proposal to ban so-called "junk fees" in rental agreements, drawing praise from tenant advocates w...

Washington businesses are raising new concerns about the state's economic direction as rising taxes, labor costs, and regulations continue to impact employers. A new National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) report finds Washington small business owners are significantly less optimistic than the national average, citing labor costs, taxes, and government regulations as major obstacles to...

Washington's income tax repeal campaign has reached a major milestone after Let's Go Washington delivered more than 500,000 petition signatures to the Secretary of State in an effort to place the new income tax before voters this November. The Center Square was on scene in Tumwater as supporters gathered to celebrate the signature submission. While state officials will spend the next several weeks...

Seattle welcomed the U.S. Men's National Team back to Lumen Field as fans from across the country and around the world gathered for a FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium. Visitors praised Seattle's waterfront, walkable downtown, public transit, restaurants, and overall fan experience, with many calling it one of the best host cities of the tournament. The Center Square also spent the...

A rare legislative ethics hearing involving Washington State Rep. Tarra Simmons continued Tuesday as witnesses testified about campaign donations, nonprofit funding, and allegations of conflicts of interest. The hearing could result in significant penalties if ethics violations are found. Meanwhile, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is moving away from the long-standing Housi...

Hundreds of Seattle residents marched along Aurora Avenue North over the weekend, demanding action on crime, prostitution, sex trafficking, and repeated shootings in the area. Residents say public safety conditions have deteriorated and are calling on city leaders to respond. The demonstrations come just days before Seattle hosts its first World Cup match, with some officials warning that internat...

Washington faces new economic challenges as another major manufacturer announces plans to expand outside the state. In today's Washington In Focus Daily, we examine Janicki Industries' decision to build an $800 million expansion project in Montana rather than Washington, citing rising costs, regulations, and energy prices. We also hear new warnings from Downtown Seattle Association President John...