Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced adjustments to his phased reopening plan that will allow two western Washington regions, comprising seven counties and nearly 60% of the state’s population, to move to Phase 2 beginning on Monday.Under Inslee’s revised plan, first announced January 6, restaurants, bars, gyms and other facilities can begin to reopen in regions that meet three of four metrics. Previously, a region had to meet all four.That means, starting Monday, the Puget Sound region — comprising Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties — and the West region— made up of Grays Harbor,...…Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced adjustments to his phased reopening plan that will allow two western Washington regions, comprising seven counties and nearly 60% of the state’s population, to move to Phase 2 beginning on Monday.Under Inslee’s revised plan, first announced January 6, restaurants, bars, gyms and other facilities can begin to reopen in regions that meet three of four metrics. Previously, a region had to meet all four.That means, starting Monday, the Puget Sound region — comprising Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties — and the West region— made up of Grays Harbor,...WW…

In The News“Give me three terms” might be the motto of Washington’s November election. Gov. Jay Inslee, Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Attorney General Bob Ferguson are all seeking a third, four-year term this year.Not to be outdone, State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is going for a sixth round.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Related: Yes, long-term incumbents hoping to go even longer is a definite theme this year.But the also features some newcomers, some higher office seekers and even a congressman who wants a one-way ticket back to the state Capitol.But before we get to the races and...…In The News“Give me three terms” might be the motto of Washington’s November election. Gov. Jay Inslee, Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Attorney General Bob Ferguson are all seeking a third, four-year term this year.Not to be outdone, State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is going for a sixth round.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Related: Yes, long-term incumbents hoping to go even longer is a definite theme this year.But the also features some newcomers, some higher office seekers and even a congressman who wants a one-way ticket back to the state Capitol.But before we get to the races and...WW…

© 2022 NW News NetworkRegional Public JournalismPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air StationsDispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Washington Legislature. Austin Jenkins is the Olympia correspondent for the Northwest News Network. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) weekly public affairs program "Inside Olympia."Last May, opponents of Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay home order staged a on the campus of the Washington Capitol. Guns outnumbered masks as speaker after speaker – mostly Republican officeholders and candidates – decried...…© 2022 NW News NetworkRegional Public JournalismPlay Live Radio0:000:00Available On Air StationsDispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Washington Legislature. Austin Jenkins is the Olympia correspondent for the Northwest News Network. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) weekly public affairs program "Inside Olympia."Last May, opponents of Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay home order staged a on the campus of the Washington Capitol. Guns outnumbered masks as speaker after speaker – mostly Republican officeholders and candidates – decried...WW…

In The NewsFormer U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton of Washington, a three-term Republican and 9/11 commissioner, died Wednesday at the age of 92. Gorton’s death was confirmed by J. Vanderstoep, a former campaign manager and chief of staff. Vanderstoep said Gorton suffered from a condition related to Parkinson’s disease.Thomas Slade Gorton III was born in Chicago in 1928. He was a descendant of the Gorton Seafood family of Massachusetts. But it was politics that attracted him from a young age.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:After college and law school in the east, Gorton came to Seattle in 1953. He practiced...…In The NewsFormer U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton of Washington, a three-term Republican and 9/11 commissioner, died Wednesday at the age of 92. Gorton’s death was confirmed by J. Vanderstoep, a former campaign manager and chief of staff. Vanderstoep said Gorton suffered from a condition related to Parkinson’s disease.Thomas Slade Gorton III was born in Chicago in 1928. He was a descendant of the Gorton Seafood family of Massachusetts. But it was politics that attracted him from a young age.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:After college and law school in the east, Gorton came to Seattle in 1953. He practiced...WW…

In The NewsOver the objections of a , Washington's Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has decided to stick with its plan to repost online the financial disclosure statements of elected officials, candidates and other government officials following a one-month "pause" to review security concerns.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Related: The F-1 statements, as they’re known,following an urgent email with the subject line “Stop online posting of F1 data” from Democratic state Sen. Sam Hunt, the chair of the State Government committee which oversees the PDC.In the wake of widespread unemployment insurance...…In The NewsOver the objections of a , Washington's Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has decided to stick with its plan to repost online the financial disclosure statements of elected officials, candidates and other government officials following a one-month "pause" to review security concerns.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Related: The F-1 statements, as they’re known,following an urgent email with the subject line “Stop online posting of F1 data” from Democratic state Sen. Sam Hunt, the chair of the State Government committee which oversees the PDC.In the wake of widespread unemployment insurance...WW…

Jun 24, 2020at9:02 pmByHours after Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee for people to wear masks in public, a Republican sheriff in southwest Washington appeared to urge open defiance of the order.“Don’t be a sheep,” Lewis County said to loud applause from a mostly maskless crowd gathered in a church parking lot.Snaza’s comments were captured by a photographer for The Daily Chronicle newspaper and .On Wednesday, Klickitat County , who has previously and was recently magazine, also blasted Inslee’s order in an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting. Songer called the governor an “idiot” and said...…Jun 24, 2020at9:02 pmByHours after Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee for people to wear masks in public, a Republican sheriff in southwest Washington appeared to urge open defiance of the order.“Don’t be a sheep,” Lewis County said to loud applause from a mostly maskless crowd gathered in a church parking lot.Snaza’s comments were captured by a photographer for The Daily Chronicle newspaper and .On Wednesday, Klickitat County , who has previously and was recently magazine, also blasted Inslee’s order in an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting. Songer called the governor an “idiot” and said...WW…

In The NewsFor only the second time in Washington history, a Black justice will serve on the Washington Supreme Court.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Pierce County Superior Court to an open position vacated by who recently retired. She was selected from an original list of 11 applicants.“Judge Whitener inspires lawyers and non-lawyers alike with her relentless work to raise awareness for matters of race, justice and equity,” Inslee said in a statement.Whitener, who is originally from Trinidad, is believed to be only the second Black justice to ever serve on the...…In The NewsFor only the second time in Washington history, a Black justice will serve on the Washington Supreme Court.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Pierce County Superior Court to an open position vacated by who recently retired. She was selected from an original list of 11 applicants.“Judge Whitener inspires lawyers and non-lawyers alike with her relentless work to raise awareness for matters of race, justice and equity,” Inslee said in a statement.Whitener, who is originally from Trinidad, is believed to be only the second Black justice to ever serve on the...WW…

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is facing increasing pressure from state lawmakers to move quickly to reopen certain sectors of the economy, perhaps even before his current “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order expires on May 4. On Friday, three of the four legislative caucuses that he consider allowing a specific set of businesses to reopen, provided they adhere to strict public health guidelines. The list included homebuilding, online auto sales, landscaping and in-home cleaning companies. Construction and auto sales are the state’s top two sources of excise tax revenue, according to a legislative...…Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is facing increasing pressure from state lawmakers to move quickly to reopen certain sectors of the economy, perhaps even before his current “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order expires on May 4. On Friday, three of the four legislative caucuses that he consider allowing a specific set of businesses to reopen, provided they adhere to strict public health guidelines. The list included homebuilding, online auto sales, landscaping and in-home cleaning companies. Construction and auto sales are the state’s top two sources of excise tax revenue, according to a legislative...WW…

In The NewsIn recent weeks, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has repeatedly thanked Washington residents for complying with his emergency orders to shutter their businesses, avoid crowds and stay home unless absolutely necessary to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. He often praises Washingtonians as heroes who are saving lives in the face of a global pandemic.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:But while most may be complying with his orders, not all are. In fact, there's evidence of growing restlessness with the shutdown of the economy, the and the infringement on normal, daily activities. And in some...…In The NewsIn recent weeks, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has repeatedly thanked Washington residents for complying with his emergency orders to shutter their businesses, avoid crowds and stay home unless absolutely necessary to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. He often praises Washingtonians as heroes who are saving lives in the face of a global pandemic.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:But while most may be complying with his orders, not all are. In fact, there's evidence of growing restlessness with the shutdown of the economy, the and the infringement on normal, daily activities. And in some...WW…

In The NewsYour browser does not support the audio element.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins was a first grader on a school camping trip near Mount St. Helens when the volcano erupted on May 18, 1980. Austin recently unearthed his scrapbook from that time and interviewed several others who were on that memorable trip. On this 40th anniversary of the eruption, Austin recounts their harrowing escape.[feedimage: left,940x730,5ebeeeb0c832650712247019,https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/sites/northwestnews/files/202005/PSPS-2.jpg]On May 18, 1980, I was 6 years old and about 20...…In The NewsYour browser does not support the audio element.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins was a first grader on a school camping trip near Mount St. Helens when the volcano erupted on May 18, 1980. Austin recently unearthed his scrapbook from that time and interviewed several others who were on that memorable trip. On this 40th anniversary of the eruption, Austin recounts their harrowing escape.[feedimage: left,940x730,5ebeeeb0c832650712247019,https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/sites/northwestnews/files/202005/PSPS-2.jpg]On May 18, 1980, I was 6 years old and about 20...WW…