My last story published last week, as @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social sunsets its investigative team desk -- ending coverage of a company with egregious safety violations developing a $44 million Port of Longview project. One that's already had an excavator fall into a pond.https://bit.ly/4hf2Ey7

bit.ly/4hf2Ey7 A Vancouver company won't face charges after a teen lost both legs operating equipment minors can not use. The prosecutor cited inability to prove "culpable mental state" despite safety violations, including $264K in fines from @lniwa.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Retired docs earn millions examining injured Washington workers 'This is a wonderful way to make six figures saying no,' said one attorney about Independent Medical Examiners' role in evaluating workers' comp claims.

Old docs, big bucks: Retired doctors are making millions examining injured workers for WA's workers' comp system. @lniwa bit.ly/461jJHJ @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Retired docs earn millions examining injured Washington workers 'This is a wonderful way to make six figures saying no,' said one attorney about Independent Medical Examiners' role in evaluating workers' comp claims.

Retired doctors are making millions examining injured workers for WA's workers' comp system. Are elderly examiners fit for the job? One doctor billed @lniwa.bsky.social $690K in a single year. bit.ly/461jJHJ @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

The controversial medical exams that help decide WA workers' comp Reports from doctors hired by Labor & Industries have the power to close a claim and determine settlements, but injured workers say they favor employers.

The controversial Independent Medical Exam — assessments done by a third-party doctor to evaluate an injured worker’s recovery — carry significant weight. They can pause treatment or wage-replacement, and also determine the size of a settlement.
@lniwa.bsky.social bit.ly/4mVbdQr

The controversial medical exams that help decide WA workers' comp Reports from doctors hired by Labor & Industries have the power to close a claim and determine settlements, but injured workers say they favor employers.

Independent medical exams — one of the most controversial parts of WA’s workers’ comp system — often favor employers, workers say. They’re designed to give injured workers a second opinion, but also can pause treatment or wage-replacement payments. bit.ly/4mVbdQr @cascadepbs.bsky.social

Sheriff declines to investigate WA teen worker’s amputation case The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has declined to criminally investigate a Vancouver-based company that, state officials concluded, had violated youth labor laws, resulting in the permanent disability...

A 16-year-old lost both legs while on the job for Rotschy operating machinery prohibited for minors. Clark County Sheriff declined criminal investigation, citing lack of victim cooperation. bit.ly/41tx2y1 @cascadepbs.bsky.social

Federal cuts put Washington workplace safety research at risk Three programs that train occupational health experts and study worker safety for the state’s most dangerous jobs face an uncertain future.

Federal cuts threaten 3 WA centers that protect workers in the most dangerous jobs and train safety experts. "If you have fewer trained professionals to protect workers...you're going to have more workers who are getting injured." bit.ly/3HbHJhP
@uwsph.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Federal cuts put Washington workplace safety research at risk Three programs that train occupational health experts and study worker safety for the state’s most dangerous jobs face an uncertain future.

Federal cuts to close 3 centers in WA that protect workers in the most dangerous jobs and train safety experts. "If you have fewer trained professionals to protect workers...you're going to have more workers who are getting injured." bit.ly/3HbHJhP @uwsph.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

El sistema de compensación para trabajadores de Washington enreda a algunos trabajadores lesionados en el trabajo. El “gran arreglo” de Labor e Industrias puede forzar a empleados lesionados a navegar múltiples apelaciones o iniciar un litigo costoso para recibir la atención que necesitan.

leer en español: bit.ly/3G0ymks

Cascade PBS found:
More than a third of L&I decisions are overturned on appeal
Many workers pay 15-30% in legal fees
Employers can access medical records & request second opinions

WA’s workers’ compensation system ensnarls some hurt on the job A “grand bargain” under L&I can force injured employees to navigate multiple appeals or turn to costly litigation to get the care they need.

"L&I is on the side of the employer:"When Leticia Maldonado Reyes’ workers’ compensation claim was challenged, she became homeless and eventually took her own life disillusioned with the system. Here’s her story and how a system designed to help injured workers—can fail them. bit.ly/4e7m1aF

Seafarer’s death in Columbia River reveals murky maritime oversight Advocates ask for additional investigation and accountability after AJ Meraña, a Filipino worker on a bulk cargo ship, drowned last September.

"This was truly a preventable death — the risks were very clear." Questions remain nearly nine months after a Filipino seafarer drowned in the Columbia River. bit.ly/3SnJTwU

Seafarer’s death in Columbia River reveals murky maritime oversight Advocates ask for additional investigation and accountability after AJ Meraña, a Filipino worker on a bulk cargo ship, drowned last September.

"This was truly a preventable death — the risks were very clear." Questions remain nearly nine months after a Filipino seafarer drowned in the Columbia River. bit.ly/3SnJTwU @BAYAN_USA @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social @cascadepbs.bsky.social

WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs Labor & Industries submitted an unprecedented referral against construction company Rotschy for allegedly allowing a minor to use dangerous equipment.

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbs.bsky.social

WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs Labor & Industries submitted an unprecedented referral against construction company Rotschy for allegedly allowing a minor to use dangerous equipment.

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs Labor & Industries submitted an unprecedented referral against construction company Rotschy for allegedly allowing a minor to use dangerous equipment.

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1

WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs Labor & Industries submitted an unprecedented referral against construction company Rotschy for allegedly allowing a minor to use dangerous equipment.

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

‘Beyond failure’: WA teen loses legs at school-based work program Thousands of students enroll in work-for-credit programs, but a 16-year-old’s case shows life-altering consequences of risky jobs and murky oversight.

Jokes aside, when child labor laws are ignored or weakly enforced, real harm is done to children. Youth employment has increased 46% in WA in the last 10 years and injuries and labor violations have also grown. This is the situation HB 1644 aims to correct. #waleg
www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

WA agency tightens workplace safety rules for student learners L&I can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks.

After WA teen's severe injury, L&I can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks. @CascadePBSNews bit.ly/44hJJy4

WA agency tightens workplace safety rules for student learners L&I can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks.

Labor & Industries can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks. @CascadePBSNews bit.ly/44hJJy4

Transparency or privacy? L&I says the law protects witnesses, while advocates contend it prevents scrutiny of serious incidents and investigations. WA keeps details of severe workplace injuries, deaths from public.

WA keeps details of severe workplace injuries, deaths from public Transparency or privacy? L&I says the law protects witnesses, while advocates contend it prevents scrutiny of serious incidents and investigations.

Transparency or privacy? L&I says the law protects witnesses, while advocates contend it prevents scrutiny of serious incidents and investigations. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

Washington legislature considers strengthening youth labor laws A state rep and labor unions push for tougher regulations after Cascade PBS reported on a teen who lost both legs in a school work program.

Rep Fosse’s bill to tighten youth labor laws made it past this week’s cut off. HB1644 would set minimum penalty amounts and bans companies with a history of serious safety violations from hiring minors. It now sits in the Senate’s Labor & Commerce Committee. bit.ly/41ajAj5 #waleg

WA raises workplace safety fines to catch up with national rates

WA ties workplace safety fines increases to inflation to catch up with national rates, but the boost will still keep amounts way behind the average. www.cascadepbs.org/briefs/2025/...

WA raises workplace safety fines to catch up with national rates

WA ties workplace safety fines increases to inflation to catch up with national rates, but likely will still lag behind. www.cascadepbs.org/briefs/2025/...

A Childhood Neighbor Terrorized My Family. It Prepared Me for Trump’s Takeover. It was psychological warfare.

Recommended reading for the weekend; A little peek into one journalist’s road to covering the alt-right. slate.com/news-and-pol...

Washington legislature considers strengthening youth labor laws A state rep and labor unions push for tougher regulations after Cascade PBS reported on a teen who lost both legs in a school work program.

The bill comes after a teen lost both legs on a worksite for a school work program in the summer of 2023. bit.ly/41ajAj5 HB1644 would set minimum penalty amounts and bans companies with a history of serious safety violations from hiring minors. #waleg @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Washington legislature considers strengthening youth labor laws A state rep and labor unions push for tougher regulations after Cascade PBS reported on a teen who lost both legs in a school work program.

The bill comes after a teen lost both legs on a worksite for a school work program in the summer of 2023. bit.ly/41ajAj5 HB1644 would set minimum penalty amounts and bans companies with a history of serious safety violations from hiring minors. #waleg @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

How a $22M judgment against Cle Elum pushed the city to bankruptcy The Central Washington city’s expensive dispute with a Seattle-based builder illustrates the challenges of crafting long-term development agreements.

Cle Elum goes for broke: The story of a small town and a large settlement that needs to be paid. @CascadePBSNews www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...