Washington in Focus

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Whistleblower: WA’s Community Reinvestment Program riddled with self-dealing Oct 29, 2025

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(The Center Square) – A whistleblower has raised serious allegations against Washington state’s Community Reinvestment Program, which, among other things, aims to support homeownership for minorities by providing grants and funding to programs that assist low-income households. Independent journalist and “unDivided” podcast host Brandi Kruse on Monday published an article based on a months-long investigation into information obtained by real estate agent Corey Orvold, which points to the program becoming a fund for personal enrichment of those charged with distributing the funds.

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Spokane council sets aside ideological divide to replace unenforceable camping ban Oct 28, 2025

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(The Center Square) – With unanimous support, the Spokane City Council set aside ideological divides on Monday, just a week before the election, to replace Mayor Lisa Brown’s unenforceable camping ban. The historic vote follows community backlash after the council majority passed the mayor’s proposal in June. Much of the business community had argued it didn’t have enough teeth and would let habitable offenders get off scot-free, pleading with the council to reinstate another voter-approved camping ban.

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Weekend Edition | WSBA ends investigation into Washington AG Nick Brown hours after inquiry by The Center Square Oct 25, 2025

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(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 response to an exclusive story by The Center Square. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

WSBA ends investigation into Washington AG Nick Brown hours after inquiry by The Center Square Oct 23, 2025

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(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 response to an exclusive story by The Center Square.

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'South Hill Rapist' Kevin Coe moves to Federal Way home 200 feet from school Oct 22, 2025

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(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 community concerns regarding that move," Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell emailed The Center Square.

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‘Strong parallel': Katie Wilson embraces comparisons to NYC’s Zohran Mamdani Oct 21, 2025

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(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.

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Weekend Edition | Washington Democratic lawmaker shares 'regret and guilt' over soft-on-crime votes Oct 18, 2025

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(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, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

911 calls report WA initiative signature gatherers for ‘hate speech’ Oct 16, 2025

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(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.

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Washington Democratic lawmaker shares 'regret and guilt' over soft-on-crime votes Oct 15, 2025

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Seattle nonprofit will bus advocates to Spokane to campaign for local progressives Oct 14, 2025

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(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 501(c)(3), also runs a 10-week-long paid “boot camp” to drive “progressive change in sunny Seattle.”

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