Cut to pre-K program leaves WA school officials frustrated • Washington State Standard Transition to Kindergarten will soon shrink by nearly 2,000 slots due to cuts state lawmakers approved earlier this year.

An early learning program designed to prepare children in Washington for kindergarten will soon shrink by nearly 2,000 slots due to cuts state lawmakers approved earlier this year. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/16/c...

DOJ moves to vacate Jan. 6 conviction for Proud Boys leader from WA • Washington State Standard The Department of Justice is seeking to erase the conviction of a prominent leader of the Proud Boys from Washington for his actions during the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol.

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to erase the conviction of a prominent leader of the Proud Boys from Washington state for his actions during the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/15/d...

OpenTable’s new rules have a Seattle business leader calling foul • Washington State Standard A business leader says an online restaurant reservation service is making changes that may violate Washington’s consumer protection laws.

A Seattle business leader contends that restaurant reservation service OpenTable is making changes this week that may violate Washington’s consumer protection laws and he wants the attorney general to get involved. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/15/o...

Trump backs Braun to unseat WA’s Gluesenkamp Perez in US House race • Washington State Standard Republican John Braun on Tuesday snagged President Donald Trump’s backing in his bid to unseat Washington U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

Republican John Braun on Tuesday snagged President Donald Trump’s endorsement in his bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in southwest Washington, a race that could help decide which party controls the U.S. House. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/14/t...

Immigration enforcement to be funded for 3 years under US Senate GOP plan • Washington State Standard WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday he plans to use the complex reconciliation process to fund immigration enforcement for the next three years, though it wasn’t immediate...

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday he plans to use the complex reconciliation process to fund immigration enforcement for the next three years, though it wasn’t immediately clear if House Republicans were on the exact same page. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/14/r...

Seattle battery manufacturer fined over $200K for exposing workers to lead • Washington State Standard Last July, state regulators inspected the company and found more than a dozen safety violations, many involving lead hazards.

Washington state is penalizing a Seattle-based vehicle battery manufacturer for exposing workers to lead levels more than four times the safety limit. washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/seatt...

Road repairs to restore access to Mount St. Helens observatory • Washington State Standard For three years, a key connection for visitors to Mount St. Helens has been closed due to a landslide. That is expected to soon change.

Starting Wednesday, crews will start work to permanently replace the Spirit Lake Outlet Bridge on State Route 504, restoring access to the Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens. washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/road-...

Work underway to create new WA housing agency • Washington State Standard Officials, state agency staff, tribal members and developers are tasked with devising ideas for Washington to set up a housing department.

Washington is moving ahead with plans to create a new state Department of Housing. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/13/w...

New Amtrak trains coming soon to PNW, but not in time for World Cup • Washington State Standard Summer capacity in the Pacific Northwest will remain limited due to a railcar shortage. New trainsets are still expected later in the year.

The strained Amtrak Cascades rail service is on track to have limited capacity to carry the crowds expected to descend on the Pacific Northwest for the upcoming men’s World Cup. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/10/n...

New WA sheriff standards law faces another lawsuit • Washington State Standard Washington’s new law seeking to hold sheriffs to higher standards and paving the way for their removal is the target of a second lawsuit.

Washington’s new law that seeks to hold sheriffs to higher standards and paves the way for their removal from office is the target of a second lawsuit. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/10/n...

Millions of women could face new challenges to voting under President Donald Trump’s SAVE America Act, which would require voters to prove their citizenship before casting a ballot. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/09/r...

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Opponents of Washington’s new income tax on high earners filed a lawsuit Thursday, arguing the controversial law is unconstitutional and in conflict with nearly a century of state Supreme Court precedent. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/08/c...

A week after Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a nearly $80 billion budget, questions remain as to why he vetoed two grants that amounted to a molecule of the spending plan. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/09/f...

Court battle set to begin over WA’s new income tax • Washington State Standard Opponents of Washington’s new income tax law plan to launch their legal challenge to the constitutionality of the controversial statute.

Opponents of Washington’s new income tax on millionaire earners plan to formally launch a legal challenge on Thursday to the constitutionality of the tax. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/08/c...

‘Our new normal’: WA confronts another year of drought • Washington State Standard The emergency declaration follows an above average wet winter where precipitation levels were 104% of what is considered normal.

Washington’s Department of Ecology announced a statewide drought emergency Wednesday, marking the fourth consecutive year that part or all of the state has been in a drought. washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/our-n...

Despite court ruling, WA still blocked from inspecting immigrant detention center • Washington State Standard Washington health inspectors have been trying for months to enter the Tacoma immigrant detention center amid concerns about the conditions.

Washington state health inspectors have been trying for months to enter the Tacoma immigrant detention center amid longstanding concerns about the conditions there. They've made nine unsuccessful attempts to inspect the site. washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/despi...

Months later, DOJ lawsuit to obtain WA voter rolls can move forward • Washington State Standard It took the Trump administration months to properly serve attorneys in its lawsuit to force Washington to turn over voter data.

It took the federal government months to properly serve attorneys for Washington in the Trump administration’s litigation to force the state to turn over its voter rolls. But now the lawsuit filed in December can finally move forward. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/07/m...

Ferguson’s failure to fill seats on WA campaign watchdog panel incites recall bid • Washington State Standard A recall effort is underway against Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson for not filling vacancies on a key state commission.

A recall effort is quietly underway against Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson for failing to fill vacancies on the commission that enforces state campaign finance laws. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/07/f...

Latest ICE data shows surge in immigration arrests in WA • Washington State Standard Federal immigration authorities arrested over 2,100 people in Washington between October and early March, according to newly released data.

Federal immigration authorities arrested over 2,100 people in Washington between October and early March, according to newly released data. Thewashingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/06/latest-ice-da...

Rural Washington schools struggle with drop in logging dollars • Washington State Standard There's rising tension around how the state is managing its public forests at a time when Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove has limited logging of some older tracts of trees. In the backdrop is a deb...

Rural schools in Washington are confronting a drop in revenue from timber sales, with some blaming management decisions by the state's lands commissioner. The state's top education official questions whether it makes sense for logging to fund schools. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/06/r...

Lawsuit aims to block new eligibility requirements for WA sheriffs • Washington State Standard Four eastern Washington sheriffs filed suit Friday seeking to block a new law that provides a path to remove sheriffs from office.

Four eastern Washington sheriffs filed a lawsuit Friday seeking to block a law that sets new eligibility requirements for sheriffs and provides a path to remove them from office. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/03/l...

Heywood asks WA Supreme Court to allow referendum effort on income tax • Washington State Standard Opponents of Washington’s new income tax asked the state Supreme Court on Friday to allow them to pursue a referendum.

Opponents of Washington’s new income tax asked the state Supreme Court on Friday to allow them to pursue a referendum in hopes of giving voters a shot at repealing the controversial new law this November. washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/heywo...

WA Fish and Wildlife commissioner accuses agency director of retaliation • Washington State Standard A Washington Fish and Wildlife commissioner filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing the agency director of retaliation because she criticized him.

A federal lawsuit filed Thursday accuses the leaders of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife of attempting to silence a member of the citizen panel that oversees the agency in retaliation for her ongoing criticism of their administration. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/03/w...

A Biden student loan plan has ended. Here’s what borrowers need to know. • Washington State Standard WASHINGTON — A federal court order last month to effectively axe a Biden-era student loan repayment plan capped years of chaos for more than 7 million student borrowers enrolled in the program.

A federal court order last month to effectively axe a Biden-era student loan repayment plan capped years of chaos for more than 7 million student borrowers enrolled in the program. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/02/r...

Ferguson signs controversial law tightening standards for WA sheriffs • Washington State Standard Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Wednesday signed into law new standards for sheriffs that make it easier to remove them from office.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Wednesday signed into law new standards for sheriffs that make it easier to remove them from office. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/01/f...

With more state financial stress on horizon, Ferguson signs WA budget • Washington State Standard Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an $80 billion spending plan Wednesday that uses reserves and cuts to balance, as a deficit looms next year.

With more state financial stress on the horizon, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Washington's latest budget on Wednesday, with a total of $79.4 billion in spending. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/01/w...

US Supreme Court justices skeptical of Trump attempt to end birthright citizenship • Washington State Standard The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday seemed poised to reject the Trump administration's attempt to redefine the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, and instead uphold the country’s long unders...

The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday seemed poised to reject the Trump administration’s attempt to redefine the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, and instead uphold the country’s long understanding of citizenship by birth on American soil. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/01/r...

Chair of WA House’s powerful budget-writing committee won’t seek reelection • Washington State Standard Spokane state Rep. Timm Ormsby, the lead budget writer for Washington House Democrats, won’t seek reelection this year.

Spokane state Rep. Timm Ormsby, the lead budget writer for Washington House Democrats who has served in the Legislature more than two decades, won’t seek reelection this year. washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/chair...

Trump signs order seeking to curb vote-by-mail in bid to control state election laws • Washington State Standard President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday that attempts to restrict mail-in voting, a White House priority certain to face significant legal challenges.

President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday that attempts to restrict mail-in voting, a White House priority certain to face significant legal challenges. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/03/31/r...