Washington in Focus

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Number of Seattle Police Lateral Candidates Surges in 2024 and Into 2025 Apr 01, 2025

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(The Center Square) – The Seattle Police Department saw the number of lateral officer candidates in 2024 nearly double from the previous year, as city leaders tout progress in addressing the department’s post-pandemic staffing shortage. A lateral officer is an experienced, sworn law enforcement officer who transfers from one police department to another rather than being a new recruit. According to data collected by The Center Square, 34 lateral Seattle Police Department candidates passed the public safety civil service exams and were referred to the department for pre-employment screening.

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Weekend Edition | WA Gas Tax Hike Looks Increasingly Likely as Part of Transportation Budget Mar 29, 2025

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(The Center Square) – With the Washington state legislative session scheduled to adjourn one month from Thursday, lawmakers are getting down to the nitty-gritty work on massive budget proposals that will impact taxpayers. This week, majority party Democrats in the House and Senate unveiled competing transportation budget proposals. Both budgets call for increased gas taxes tied to inflation, and new fees to pay for ongoing projects and new priorities. The Senate plan calls for a 6 cents per gallon hike at the pump. That hike would bring the total state tax to 55.4 cents per gallon, before being tied to inflation. Beginning the following year, the state tax would then rise by 2% annually to account for inflation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bill Would Put Gas Tax, Vehicle Fee Increases on Automatic Pilot in Washington Mar 28, 2025

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(The Center Square) – Washington state lawmakers are contemplating an increase in a variety of taxes and fees, including the gas tax and electric vehicle registration fee, to finance its proposed 2025-2027 transportation budget. While local government advocates spoke in support of it at a Tuesday public hearing in the House Transportation Committee, one person testifying pushed back against a provision that would cause taxes and fees to automatically increase without a legislative vote.

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Natural Gas Initiative Backers Plan to Take Their Case to WA Supreme Court Mar 27, 2025

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(The Center Square) – Backers of Initiative 2066, which protects natural gas as an energy choice in Washington state, say they will take their case to the Washington Supreme Court after a judge’s ruling last week that I-2066 is unconstitutional. On Friday, King County Superior Court Judge Sandra Widlan ruled the scope of I-2066, approved by voters in November, was too broad and violated the state Constitution’s single-subject requirement.

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From Rights to Resumes: Spokane Punts ‘Homeless Bill of Rights’ for ‘Ban the Address' Mar 26, 2025

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(The Center Square) – After months of gridlock and stalled proposals, the Spokane City Council made good on its word to propose new policies around homelessness on Monday. Picking up the “Ban The Address” ordinance, the council floated the idea after a similar “Homeless Bill of Rights” failed last year. Councilmember Paul Dillon proposed the measure more than six months after asking residents for feedback on how the city handles the issue.

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Weekend Edition | Spokane County Braces for $20M Deficit in 2026, Potential Hiring Freeze, Cutting Vacancies Mar 22, 2025

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(The Center Square) - Providing what he called a “reality check” on Monday, Jeff McMorris, senior director of Spokane County’s Finance and Administration Division, warned of a $20 million deficit heading into 2026. McMorris, the brother of former U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, told the Board of County Commissioners that this is a multiyear issue. He took over from Randy Bischoff, who held the positions until recently and helped balance a similar shortfall last summer into the fall.

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Let’s Go Washington Files Second Initiative to Uphold Parental Rights Mar 20, 2025

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(The Center Square) – Political action committee Let’s Go Washington introduced a second initiative on Monday to protect parents’ rights by repealing House Bill 1296. Earlier this month, the organization introduced an initiative to repeal Senate Bill 5181. HB 1296 and SB 5181 are both aimed at modifying LGW’s “parents’ bill of rights” Initiative 2081 passed by the Legislature last year.

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Budget Cuts Force King Co. Sheriff’s Office to Reduce Staffing at Two Precincts Mar 19, 2025

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(The Center Square) – The King County Sheriff's Office is reducing staff to minimal levels at two of its precincts due to budget constraints. Staffing at the Sheriff’s Office’s north and southeast precincts are being reduced, made effective on Monday, when the department announced the change in staffing. Impacted communities include parts of unincorporated King County, such as Redmond Ridge, Fairwood and Fall City.

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Spokane County Braces for $20M Deficit in 2026, Potential Hiring Freeze, Cutting Vacancies Mar 18, 2025

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Weekend Edition | Washington House Dems Pass Bill Requiring Permits for Gun Purchases Mar 15, 2025

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(The Center Square) – After a vigorous hours-long debate that began the night before, Washington State Democrats in the House of Representatives on Saturday morning voted to pass legislation that would require would-be gun owners to obtain a permit before purchase. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1163 passed along a 58-38 party-line vote – that is, with no Republican support. The bill would also have prospective gun owners complete a state-recognized firearm safety training course within the past five years to qualify for a permit. In addition, the bill requires enhanced background checks conducted via the Washington State Patrol’s firearms background check program, including state and federal databases Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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