In the News

Black Lives Matter Seattle King County (BLMSKC) continues to push the issue of equality under the law. But instead of the streets where protests are normally held, they are bringing their fight for equity under law and police accountability directly to the front door of state lawmakers. During a virtual townhall ...

Leaders from the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses — Speaker Laurie Jinkins, Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, House Majority Floor Leader Monica Stonier, and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Manka Dhingra — gathered Wednesday for a virtual press conference to discuss the 2021 legislative session. The leaders addressed a variety of topics, ...

Increased security is expected around the Capitol building in Olympia Jan. 11 for the start of the 2021 Legislative session. The decision to add security follows the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C, and incursions onto the property of the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia Wednesday, where protestors forced open ...

Washington’s Legislature convenes in Olympia Monday for a new session that will be unlike any other in state history. State lawmakers plan to conduct most of their 105-day session remotely, holding hearings on legislation and even voting via web conferencing. But first, they need to convene in person so they can adopt ...

Washington’s 2021 legislative session was already bound to be as challenging as any in state history. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers have arranged Zoom-powered proceedings, with a limited number of legislators allowed at any one time on the House and Senate floors, and the Capitol closed to the general public. Their task ...

Desperately needed COVID-19 relief is a top priority for this year’s state Legislature, and Republicans and Democrats generally agree it will be necessary to get that aid out as soon as possible. The parties are split, however, when it comes to increasing some taxes to erase a revenue shortfall. House Speaker Laurie ...

Amid the ongoing pandemic and threats by far-right protesters to "occupy" the Capitol, Washington lawmakers will convene Monday for what will ultimately be a mostly remote 2021 session with a focus on the ongoing response to COVID-19, police reform, addressing climate change and writing a two-year state budget. Democrats have solid ...

On December 24, Washington State Reps. Debra Entenman (D-47) and Jesse Johnson (D-20) filed legislation that would set statewide restrictions on law enforcement tactics, including bans on chokeholds, tear gas and the use of unleashed police dogs for arrests. Less than a week later, state senators Manka Dhingra (D-45) and ...

OLYMPIA, WA — Democratic legislators on Tuesday filed three bills related to police accountability ahead of lawmakers convening an unusual 105-day session next week. Due to ongoing coronavirus precautions, this year's 105-day legislative session will largely take place remotely, including most debates and votes in both chambers. The Seattle Times reports ...

Clark County Judge James Ladley couldn’t seem to believe what he was hearing. Before him was John Letellier, a 47-year-old Navy veteran accused of what a former federal prosecutor would later call a “chippy robbery” of a Subway store, netting $107 and a $5 gift card. Chippy or no, a conviction ...