Washington in Focus

(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, Purcell wrote a response to the Washington State Bar Association on behalf of Attorney General Nick Brown related to an ethics complaint filed against him. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_04086815-147d-4b7a-9933-1b3566bfcc15.html

(The Center Square) – Let's Go Washington, a political action committee founded by businessman Brian Heywood, launched two new initiatives to the state Legislature on Monday morning. One concerns parental rights, and the other concerns protecting girls in sports. “The first one will be a repeal of [House Bill] 1296 essentially; 1296 is the legislative gutting of [Initiative] 2081, which was the parents' bill of rights,” Heywood told The Center Square last week. “It focused on making sure that parents knew what was going on with their kids at school, and schools not having the authority or the ability to keep secrets from parents.” Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ef410724-df1b-47d4-a7ae-63240f713f68.html

(The Center Square) – King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci is calling for a quick response from the county to address major fiscal oversight issues within the Department of Community and Human Services. On Aug. 26, the King County Committee of the Whole was briefed on recent county audit findings revealing that DCHS made policy choices amid an increase in fiscal responsibility without installing a safety net to monitor whether the funds were being used appropriately. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_c63778fd-e70e-41fd-bae2-af040cd5cb86.html

(The Center Square) - One month from Labor Day, a slew of Washington businesses will be subject to new retail sales taxes, which will be passed onto consumers. The 2025 Washington State Legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5814, which added new business activities to the definition of retail sales. Those new taxes will be collected starting Oct. 1.

(The Center Square) - A Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council report found that the state's commercial real estate excise tax revenue has fallen to pre-2020 levels before the Legislature altered the REET rate. Through 2019, the state's REET imposed a flat rate of 1.28 % of the value of the transactions, though local governments could impose their own REET on top of that. During the 2019 legislative session, the Legislature enacted a bill that changed it to a graduated rate based on the value of the transaction with a 1.1% rate for properties below $500,000 and the highest rate at 3% for transactions of $3 million or more. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_7d0c6ff0-11f7-4174-a4cc-5ff25179f078.html

(The Center Square) - One month from Labor Day, a slew of Washington businesses will be subject to new retail sales taxes, which will be passed onto consumers. The 2025 Washington State Legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5814, which added new business activities to the definition of retail sales. Those new taxes will be collected starting Oct. 1.  Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_e6ed74cd-338a-45c5-8b62-ce5cddd02e7e.html

(The Center Square) – In less than a year, Seattle has conducted 34% of spot repairs to city sidewalks that were promised over the next eight years. In the first Seattle committee meeting in two weeks, the Seattle Department of Transportation briefed the city's transportation committee on the work being done to improve sidewalks: a major goal of the eight-year, $1.55 billion Transportation levy. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_a87e1188-d00a-4944-8cdd-8b0076ae7576.html

(The Center Square) – A group of Washington state Republican senators, including 31st Legislative District Sen. Phil Fortunato of Auburn, are calling for the repeal of a state law that limits law enforcement's cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. The Keep Washington Working Act, adopted in 2019, restricts local law enforcement from using local resources to help federal officials enforce immigration law and prevents local law enforcement from sharing nonpublic information with federal officials in most cases.

(The Center Square) – Washington Solicitor General Noah Purcell is the focus of a Washington State Bar Association complaint alleging misconduct for responding on Attorney General Nick Brown's behalf in a separate bar complaint, and directly communicating with private law firm Perkins Coie without its attorney's consent. The complaint comes right after news broke that Brown faces an inquiry by the bar association over an amicus brief filed in support of Perkins Coie, The Center Square reported this month. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_18d2bfb4-df4c-4673-ba96-fb702a5ba87c.html

(The Center Square) – A group of Washington state Republican senators, including 31st Legislative District Sen. Phil Fortunato of Auburn, are calling for the repeal of a state law that limits law enforcement's cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. The Keep Washington Working Act, adopted in 2019, restricts local law enforcement from using local resources to help federal officials enforce immigration law and prevents local law enforcement from sharing nonpublic information with federal officials in most cases. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_819e162f-dade-4e9f-9c09-f8d40021da26.html

(The Center Square) – Just over two months after the largest protest in Spokane since the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, the City Prosecutor's Office has dismissed all misdemeanor charges for failure to disperse against the June 11 and June 14 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters. The Spokane County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that it has also dropped all of those charges it filed.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ad4499a3-bb6f-46d2-8fe9-5de4598983b7.html

(The Center Square) – Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is defending the state's noncitizen workers' protections law despite U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's threats of criminal charges against him if the state does not comply with federal immigration law. On Aug. 13, Ferguson and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell received letters from Bondi identifying the state and city as jurisdictions that engage in sanctuary policies that thwart federal immigration enforcement.

(The Center Square) – Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown was threatened with an interim suspension of his license to practice law for failing to respond to allegations made in response to an exclusive story by The Center Square about the AGO's amicus brief filed in support of Perkins Coie. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_9509c048-6932-421f-a28b-ba2a698c11ad.html

(The Center Square) – Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is defending the state's noncitizen workers' protections law despite U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's threats of criminal charges against him if the state does not comply with federal immigration law. On Aug. 13, Ferguson and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell received letters from Bondi identifying the state and city as jurisdictions that engage in sanctuary policies that thwart federal immigration enforcement. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_87271929-0417-46eb-a3d6-7ca1688ee695.html

(The Center Square) – Building in Spokane County could become much more expensive soon, as local officials consider hiking several permitting fees for the first time in years, some by more than 1,500%. Spokane County Public Works charges a variety of fees to cover its costs, but many of those have sat stagnant for over a decade. While neglected for years, the Board of County Commissioners has a more than $20 million deficit to balance ahead of 2026, and adjusting these fees could help close that delta. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_e11e3b8c-a4ea-4ba6-8427-a4da5b735f96.html

(The Center Square) – A new WalletHub report ranked Washington as the 36th best state to live in this year, with Idaho landing second overall due to affordability and law enforcement staffing per capita. Much of the West Coast fell below the bottom half of the charts, with California at 32nd and Oregon at 39th on the list. WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo told The Center Square that rapid growth in Seattle and other cities a few decades ago outpaced the development of infrastructure, creating several issues.   The lack of infrastructure, paired with booming population growth, makes it challenging to manage crime, affordability and the availability of services. Washington boasts a strong economy, but the state also faces a ballooning budget and the lowest number of law enforcement officers per capita nationwide.

(The Center Square) – A new WalletHub report ranked Washington as the 36th best state to live in this year, with Idaho landing second overall due to affordability and law enforcement staffing per capita. Much of the West Coast fell below the bottom half of the charts, with California at 32nd and Oregon at 39th on the list. WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo told The Center Square that rapid growth in Seattle and other cities a few decades ago outpaced the development of infrastructure, creating several issues. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_8d1c5e32-4e27-4c20-a1bd-980b7a73a22d.html

(The Center Square) – For the first time in many years, the Pierce County Republican Party will not have a booth at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, Wash. – better known to locals as the Puyallup Fair. Signature-gathering efforts for citizen initiatives and GOP merchandise are the purported reasons for Washington State Fair officials telling Pierce County Republican Party Chair Dave McMullan that he would have to relocate the party's booth to a different area this year. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/issues/general/article_a25f5f1a-ed5f-49c9-b2b5-4cf10b54c735.html

(The Center Square) – Seattle is expected to see a 27% drop in international overnight visitors this year, with generated sales tax revenue remaining flat. The Seattle Office of Economic and Revenue Forecast anticipates sales tax revenue to total $344.7 million in 2025, a 1.26% increase year-over-year from $340.4 million in 2024. The small bump in revenue comes as the city is set to address a $143 million budget deficit. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_07b3cfa1-c23a-4bb4-b354-69874c7df993.html

(The Center Square) – Initial returns from Tuesday's primary election in Washington state show an extremely tight race in the 26th Legislative District, which includes Gig Harbor, Port Orchard and Bremerton. Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, who has served six terms in the state House of Representatives, is running for the state Senate seat against Sen. Deb Krishnadasan, D-Gig Harbor. Krishnadasan was appointed to the seat in late 2024 to fill the vacancy left by Emily Randall, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

(The Center Square) – Costs of renting office space for hundreds of employees in the Washington State Attorney General's Office has more than doubled in the last decade, according to an analysis of fiscal data by The Center Square.The largest recipient of AGO spending, according to fiscal.wa.gov, for the past several biennia has been BPP 800 Fifth REIT LLC, which operates 800 Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_3e771521-d159-441f-845a-8da00eb07e0e.html

(The Center Square) – Tuesday is primary election day in Washington state. Ballots must be postmarked or placed in a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. Tuesday to be counted. Washington has a top-two primary, which means that in candidate races, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_5d42212d-244c-4ef6-b3ef-0d4eaab2654a.html

(The Center Square) – A Spokane native now overseeing much of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development across the Northwest says the Housing First model is failing American taxpayers. President Donald Trump issued an executive order at the end of July, rebuking the approach as his team brought HUD Regional Administrator Chris Patterson back into the fold. Patterson, who oversaw Region 9 during Trump's first term, now leads Region 10, including Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_95c7c9c7-0b2f-4257-8015-2e0f91cbcb10.html

(The Center Square) – The end of a six-month suspension of a policy that for years allowed for the auto-deletion of Microsoft Teams or instant messages at Washington state agencies after one week is approaching. Microsoft Teams is a cloud-based team collaboration software that allows users to communicate, set up meetings, and share files within a workspace environment, typically via email.

(The Center Square) – Washington state is currently forecast to run out of money by 2027 and experience a fiscal deficit by 2028 despite the largest tax increase in state history this session, in addition to record revenue levels. While some elected and appointed state officials have highlighted the impacts of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act on Medicaid funding for the combined operating budget, one lawmaker says it's a distraction from how the state actually got to this point. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_d42c06e9-639a-4690-902a-9c9470cd86c2.html

(The Center Square) – The end of a six-month suspension of a policy that for years allowed for the auto-deletion of Microsoft Teams or instant messages at Washington state agencies after one week is approaching. Microsoft Teams is a cloud-based team collaboration software that allows users to communicate, set up meetings, and share files within a workspace environment, typically via email. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_83ba7c0c-c284-4b0e-8efd-0cea99b44715.html

(The Center Square) – Amid allegations of a quid pro quo, the Spokane Ethics Commission voted Wednesday to initiate an independent investigation into Mayor Lisa Brown and the city council. The allegations claim that Brown and five of the seven council members violated the ethics code on June 16 by reversing their vote on a proposed camping ban after much of the public had left. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_a39f5c3c-b3c0-40af-9fa6-10c717ab6bf7.html

(The Center Square) – Washington state faces deficit spending by 2028 as lawmakers just hit taxpayers with the state's largest combined tax increase – all driven by massive state spending increases over the past decade, an investigation of state budgets by The Center Square found. Washington state spent about $80 billion in the 2013-15 budget but is set to spend more than $173 billion in 2025-27, a more than 116% increase over that time. U.S. inflation since 2015 has risen just 35.63%.

(The Center Square) – The Olympia City Council on Tuesday night rejected a proposal to adopt a $20 minimum wage as part of a Workers' Bill of Rights initiative. The council voted 4-3 against passing the initiative outright. However, the council did vote unanimously to send the initiative to Olympia voters for a decision in the November election. Ahead of the vote, members of the council expressed varying opinions about the initiative. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_6fbbdcbd-0362-4a29-b085-6c592f32c147.html

(The Center Square) – The Washington State Department of Transportation's $203 million project to repair a major section of Interstate 5 is underway with northbound traffic limited to two lanes for the next four weeks. Revive I-5 is a multi-year project with significant work on the Ship Canal Bridge located in Seattle. The project began on July 18 with northbound I-5 completely shut down through downtown Seattle up until Monday at 5 a.m. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_2745b7a2-81ba-459c-83fa-caec2cfc2bad.html

(The Center Square) – The Washington state Department of Social and Health Services' spending since 2015 has nearly tripled from $9 billion to $25.4 billion, a 182.22% increase heavily driven by long-term care cost increases due in part to an aging population. Since the 2013-15 budget, long-term care spending grew from $3.8 to $12.9 billion, and now represents half of DSHS' biennial budget. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_bb21f8a4-c9c2-4bd0-8e4f-a1e76e308bc4.html

(The Center Square) – Washington state faces deficit spending by 2028 as lawmakers just hit taxpayers with the state's largest combined tax increase – all driven by massive state spending increases over the past decade, an investigation of state budgets by The Center Square found. Washington state spent about $80 billion in the 2013-15 budget but is set to spend more than $173 billion in 2025-27, a more than 116% increase over that time. U.S. inflation since 2015 has risen just 35.63%.

(The Center Square) – Six months after Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson took office with a moderate-sounding tone that encouraged many Republicans, state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, says Ferguson has instead proven to be in “lockstep” with majority party Democrats in the Legislature. “He put forward a very bipartisan, no-nonsense … I just want good government image during the session,” the Senate Minority Leader said in a Monday interview with The Center Square. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_670a3225-6906-434c-9ee5-5ee1bd151091.html

(The Center Square) – Despite recording the second consecutive decline in homelessness since 2016, the Spokane City Council's conservative minority questioned that data on Monday – one of the two members had participated in the Point-in-Time Count last January, calling the feedback “unreliable.” The 2025 Point-in-Time Count released Monday recorded 1,806 people experiencing homelessness in January, a 10.6% dip compared to 2024. City staff were supposed to lead a committee meeting on Monday with the data but fell behind on the agenda, citing last-minute changes they made that morning. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_7f60cc67-2ba5-4d26-9161-606f371417a1.html

(The Center Square) – Washington state faces deficit spending by 2028 as lawmakers just hit taxpayers with the state's largest combined tax increase – all driven by massive state spending increases over the past decade, an investigation of state budgets by The Center Square found. Washington state spent about $80 billion in the 2013-15 budget but is set to spend more than $173 billion in 2025-27, a more than 116% increase over that time. U.S. inflation since 2015 has risen just 35.63%. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_125d37f2-c487-4bfa-a2db-1bae50f7177f.html

(The Center Square) – Washington's Substance Use Recovery Services Advisory Committee, or SURSAC, is distancing itself from recent recommendations made by a subset work group that included having the state set up a “buyers club” to ensure a ”safer supply” of illegal drugs for addicts. SURSAC was created via legislation in 2021 to provide suggestions to lawmakers regarding substance use policy and treatment options. In 2023, SURSAC released the Substance Use and Recovery Services Plan, which included forming a statewide work group to explore a framework for safe supply, rather than the more dangerous illicit street market for hard drugs.

(The Center Square) – DoorDash is raising its service fees in Seattle – again – due to the city's laws for app-based workers. The on-demand delivery and pickup services company says the hikes are necessary to continue services in Seattle, where the company operated at a loss in 2024. However, the company also reported $3 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2025, with a 13.1% net revenue margin. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_bb06a7a3-bae7-44d9-94ca-2593797f40d2.html

(The Center Square) – Washington's Substance Use Recovery Services Advisory Committee, or SURSAC, is distancing itself from recent recommendations made by a subset work group that included having the state set up a “buyers club” to ensure a ”safer supply” of illegal drugs for addicts. SURSAC was created via legislation in 2021 to provide suggestions to lawmakers regarding substance use policy and treatment options. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_142f5cc5-3b40-4fe8-8a58-82f36983fe18.html

(The Center Square) – The Bellingham Public Works Department is considering utility rate increases with combined monthly costs for homeowners increasing $54 over the next three years in order to repair 100-year-old pipe infrastructure. The proposed combined-utility-wide bill increase is set at 12.7% in 2026, or approximately $152 per month for a single-family home. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_bc55a71e-53de-40ae-9fdb-152e19a037cf.html

(The Center Square) – After 35 years, the Pediatric Interim Care Center in Kent – the only specialized medical facility in western Washington caring for drug-exposed babies – stopped accepting new intakes on Monday. That's because the Department of Children, Youth & Families canceled its contract with the Pediatric Interim Care Center, or PICC, citing state budget cuts.

(The Center Square) – The Washington State Office of the Attorney General has launched a taxpayer-funded hotline in three counties that would allow residents, including foreign nationals and illegal immigrants, to report U.S. citizens for engaging in legally protected speech and activity, in addition to hate crimes. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_c87b3d79-7f41-4348-acb9-6f0babf7fd06.html

(The Center Square) – After 35 years, the Pediatric Interim Care Center in Kent – the only specialized medical facility in western Washington caring for drug-exposed babies – stopped accepting new intakes on Monday. That's because the Department of Children, Youth & Families canceled its contract with the Pediatric Interim Care Center, or PICC, citing state budget cuts. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_13e3550b-a955-4a27-a29a-5ba079f2282a.html

(The Center Square) – On the heels of an ethics complaint, the Spokane City Council passed a citywide camping ban on Monday, replacing another approved by nearly 75% of voters in 2023. The vote, split along ideological lines, follows over a year of proposals, community roundtables and allegations of quid pro quo between the progressive majority and Mayor Lisa Brown. They initially rejected the ban on June 16 but then reconsidered after much of the audience had left. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_4c6e0522-db25-49a4-937b-7ed75b8df4d5.html

(The Center Square) – Despite passing the largest tax increase in state history amid record revenue levels, Washington state's wallet may be empty by the end of the 2025-27 biennium, according to a new report by the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. While ERFC members noted during its Tuesday meeting that the news comes just as the state is entering the biennium, State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, a former legislator, pointed out that the state can also turn to its rainy day fund.

(The Center Square) – Seattle police detectives have identified the suspect and referred a felony assault charge to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office against the alleged attacker in a brutal assault on an independent journalist covering anti-ICE protests in Seattle. Cam Higby told The Center Square that Antifa members assaulted him as he attended the June 14 “No Kings Day” protests in Seattle at a Department of Homeland Security building. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_58e54f78-4188-4aa4-bd83-cf7bf40c5a23.html

(The Center Square) – Despite passing the largest tax increase in state history amid record revenue levels, Washington state's wallet may be empty by the end of the 2025-27 biennium, according to a new report by the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. While ERFC members noted during its Tuesday meeting that the news comes just as the state is entering the biennium, State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, a former legislator, pointed out that the state can also turn to its rainy day fund. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_6db70777-2e6a-46fb-ba76-cbc087d31f42.html

(The Center Square) – Seattle expects to have an upcoming city council vacancy filled by July 28 as council members prepare for more budget challenges this fall. Earlier this month, Seattle City Councilmember Cathy Moore announced that she was resigning from her position as the District 5 representative, citing health and personal reasons, which she considered “over the past several months.” Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_e225cdce-8234-4fb5-9b6c-be65b9308517.html https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_e38cbf7f-801d-4f73-a429-08f5676582bf.html

(The Center Square) – The Washington family of a man murdered by two teenagers in 2004 are speaking out against their potential early release by the state Intermediate Sentence Review Board, while a state House bill proposed this session could allow convicted killers to be released even earlier. In 2004, 14 year-old Jordan Castillo and 16 year-old Robert Suarez stabbed Bob Mars to death outside of Ki-Be Middle School, where he worked as a sixth-grade teacher, as part of a gang initiation. They were later found guilty of first-degree murder, with Suarez sentenced to 26 years and eight months, while Castillo was sentenced to 29 years and nine months.

(The Center Square) – The Washington family of a man murdered by two teenagers in 2004 are speaking out against their potential early release by the state Intermediate Sentence Review Board, while a state House bill proposed this session could allow convicted killers to be released even earlier. In 2004, 14 year-old Jordan Castillo and 16 year-old Robert Suarez stabbed Bob Mars to death outside of Ki-Be Middle School, where he worked as a sixth-grade teacher, as part of a gang initiation. They were later found guilty of first-degree murder, with Suarez sentenced to 26 years and eight months, while Castillo was sentenced to 29 years and nine months. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_d996e075-39a6-4eb5-86f7-b78ff2513010.html

(The Center Square) – In the first Tukwila City Council meeting since an escalated protest occurred on Saturday, Mayor Thomas McLeod said the city was blindsided by strange messages related to Department of Homeland Security operations over the past weekend. According to McLeod, the city received a “cryptic and confusing message” late Friday afternoon that told individuals with pending immigration hearings to report to DHS on Saturday and Sunday to check in, with failure to report to be considered a violation. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ef1ecc7e-c226-45d1-a7a0-55fe79003ba7.html

(The Center Square) – After seven hours of debate and testimony, only half of Mayor Lisa Brown's plan to overhaul Spokane's response to homelessness passed on Monday night. Despite initially rejecting Brown's plan to replace Proposition 1 – a camping ban that nearly 75% of voters approved in 2023 – the Spokane City Council amended a provision requiring at least a week's notice before clearing encampments to only three days, delaying the final vote to June 30. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_54481373-2a72-41bf-9bc5-e1c8d70e0f49.html