Washington in Focus

(The Center Square) – The Washington State Bar Association formally concluded an investigation into state Attorney General Nick Brown and dismissed a separate complaint against Solicitor General Noah Purcell hours after The Center Square reached out to the senior disciplinary counsel tasked with overseeing both. The investigation against Brown was launched after a bar complaint was filed in respon...

(The Center Square) – The Washington State Bar Association formally concluded an investigation into state Attorney General Nick Brown and dismissed a separate complaint against Solicitor General Noah Purcell hours after The Center Square reached out to the senior disciplinary counsel tasked with overseeing both. The investigation against Brown was launched after a bar complaint was filed in respon...

(The Center Square) – After more community pushback, Kevin Coe, the notorious "South Hill Rapist" who terrorized Spokane, Wash., in the late 1970s and early 1980s, is being relocated back to Federal Way, the city where he was originally scheduled to live upon his release earlier this month. “We are disappointed to hear the news that Kevin Coe is moving to Federal Way and want to acknowledge commun...

(The Center Square) – Katie Wilson, the frontrunner in the 2025 Seattle mayoral race, is not shying away from comparisons to New York City’s leading mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist whose platform includes implementing progressive taxes, government-run grocery stores and alternatives to police enforcement.  Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/fr...

(The Center Square) – A Washington state Democratic lawmaker is expressing “regret and guilt” over legislation she supported that she believes has contributed to an explosion in juvenile crime and lives lost. Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, penned an op-ed in The Seattle Times last weekend detailing eight different policies that have “contributed to the juvenile crime wave.” Hosted by Simplecast,...

(The Center Square) – Last month, the Snohomish Police Department issued a statement telling people not to call 911 in response to initiative signature gatherers operating outside stores such as Fred Meyer and Safeway. Many of the 9-11 callers reported to the nonemergency line such activities as trespassing, but others expressed concerned about nature of the initiatives themselves.  Support this p...

(The Center Square) – A Washington state Democratic lawmaker is expressing “regret and guilt” over legislation she supported that she believes has contributed to an explosion in juvenile crime and lives lost. Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, penned an op-ed in The Seattle Times last weekend detailing eight different policies that have “contributed to the juvenile crime wave.”  Support this podcast:...

(The Center Square) – A Seattle-based nonprofit focused on “harnessing political power and leadership among young Washingtonians” is busing people to Spokane next Friday to campaign for progressives. The Washington Bus organization is a 501(c)(4) that endorses candidates and transports young adults around the state to canvass in other communities. The Washington Bus Education Fund, an affiliated 5...

(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has signed two executive orders in anticipation of President Donald Trump deploying the National Guard in the Emerald City. The first executive order accuses Trump of “unprecedented and unwarranted actions deploying the National Guard and federal military troops to American cities. The use of federal military forces in local communities without con...

(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has signed two executive orders in anticipation of President Donald Trump deploying the National Guard in the Emerald City. The first executive order accuses Trump of “unprecedented and unwarranted actions deploying the National Guard and federal military troops to American cities. The use of federal military forces in local communities without con...

(The Center Square) – Just hours after her police chief deemed the policy unenforceable, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown pledged Tuesday to revise her new camping ban so officers can cite for unlawful camping. Business leaders pleaded with the Spokane City Council last summer to reinstate another camping ban approved by nearly 75% of voters, but the progressive majority refused. They decided to pass Brow...

(The Center Square) – Washington state’s Substance Use Recovery Services Advisory Committee, or SURSAC, heard a presentation at Monday’s meeting that rattled some committee members. SURSAC was established through legislation in 2021 to provide recommendations to lawmakers on substance use policy and treatment options.  Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce0525...

(The Center Square) – A new slate of taxes goes into effect on Wednesday. The changes were passed as part of the 2025-27 biennial budget package, which lawmakers approved in May, and are projected to generate billions in revenue. The changes include an expansion of the retail sales tax to several new services and increased B&O tax rates for financial institutions and large service businesses. Host...

(The Center Square) – As the Washington State Attorney General’s Office Domestic Extremism and Mass Violence Task Force prepares a charter, debate continues over whether the task force can define what constitutes DVE or not, if it includes legally protected speech and activities. “I think the premise of trying to fix a domestic extremism problem in the state is problematic,” task force member Wall...

(The Center Square) – A new slate of taxes goes into effect on Wednesday. The changes were passed as part of the 2025-27 biennial budget package, which lawmakers approved in May, and are projected to generate billions in revenue. The changes include an expansion of the retail sales tax to several new services and increased B&O tax rates for financial institutions and large service businesses.  Sup...

(The Center Square) – As tensions rise, Spokane Regional Emergency Communications sent a letter to the Spokane City Council on Friday requesting time to clear up some confusion before the two split ways. The SREC Executive Board of Directors decided to remove the city from the regional dispatch network in June, following years of failed negotiations. The final split is scheduled for January after...

(The Center Square) – In June, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council’s revenue forecast anticipated that state coffers would run dry by 2027 despite record revenue levels and following the largest tax increase in state history. Now, ERFC’s updated revenue forecast anticipates the state will have almost $900 million less coming in than before over the next four years, which is...

(The Center Square) – Let’s Go Washington, the conservative political action committee behind two new initiative campaigns, says signature gatherers had petitions stolen and were intimidated and threatened in three separate incidents on Monday. “We've only been gathering for two days, and this all happened within the last day,” LGW Communications Manager Hallie Balch told The Center Square on Tues...

(The Center Square) – In June, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council’s revenue forecast anticipated that state coffers would run dry by 2027 despite record revenue levels and following the largest tax increase in state history. Now, ERFC’s updated revenue forecast anticipates the state will have almost $900 million less coming in than before over the next four years, which is...

(The Center Square) – Amid talks of increasing federal immigration enforcement in Seattle, Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2026 budget proposal would increase the city’s immigration office budget by more than 60%. Harrell’s proposed budget – which has yet to be fully revealed – would add $4 million to the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. According to Harrell’s office, this new funding would...

(The Center Square) – As Washington state is forecast to run out of money by 2027 despite a historic tax increase during this year’s legislative session, that fiscal crisis could be exacerbated several years later if new actuarial assumptions for the pension system don’t pan out. During session, state lawmakers enacted Senate Bill 5357, which altered the assumed rate of return for pension investme...

(The Center Square) – A day after President Donald Trump endorsed the prospect of designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh says he is convinced, like the president, that many Antifa protesters are “paid agitators.” “We've seen examples of that sort of behavior here in Washington,” Walsh texted The Center Square on Tuesday.  Support...

(The Center Square) – The Seattle Land Use Committee expedited a slew of bills related to zoning and construction codes to Tuesday's city council meeting amid upcoming budget deliberations. Council bills 121045 and 121047 would amend the city’s municipal code and existing building code in order to limit hurdles for housing construction, one of the top priorities of Seattle leaders.  Support this p...

(The Center Square) – A complaint against Solicitor General Noah Purcell with the Washington State Executive Ethics Board has been rejected for investigation despite allegations that the decision by Executive Director Kate Reynolds was made amid a conflict of interest. According to emails obtained by The Center Square, Reynolds has previously written that she reports to Purcell. Last month, Purcel...

(The Center Square) – A complaint against Solicitor General Noah Purcell with the Washington State Executive Ethics Board has been rejected for investigation despite allegations that the decision by Executive Director Kate Reynolds was made amid a conflict of interest. According to emails obtained by The Center Square, Reynolds has previously written that she reports to Purcell. Last month, Purcel...