In the News

Washington state has charted a bipartisan course to overhaul its ferry procurement plans. Officials will now broaden their scope when seeking builders for the state's new ships. When the jumbo ferry M/V Walla Walla lost power and went aground at south Bainbridge Island over the weekend, it once again highlighted the need to upgrade Washington's aging ferry fleet.

A bill written to protect young people seeking reproductive health services or gender-affirming care that was widely misrepresented online passed the Democrat-controlled Washington legislature Wednesday. Viral posts falsely claimed the bill would result in children being legally taken from their parents if they did not consent to their child’s “gender transition.”

Senate Bill 5599 attracted more ire and myth-making than almost any other bill in Olympia this session. The bill, introduced by Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood), amends existing state law regarding child runaways and expands protections for those who end up in Washington youth shelters in pursuit of abortions, reproductive medicine, and gender-affirming care.

OLYMPIA — In a historic appearance in Olympia, Finland President Sauli Niinistö told state lawmakers Monday his nation would maximize its security and be a “strong contributor” for the defense of NATO members if its bid to join the alliance succeeds.

OLYMPIA, March 6, 2023 — Welcome to the Monday edition. Hope you had a nice weekend. We start this week with a historic event, then turn our attention to a critical deadline. This morning, Sauli Niinistö, president of the Republic of Finland, addressed a joint session of the House and Senate. He just might be the first foreign head of state to speak to the Legislature in this manner.

Across the country, lawmakers are debating legislation that will directly impact transgender youth. What is missing in these discussions is a sobering reality: Studies show that 1 in every 3 trans youth report attempting suicide. The risk of trans youth committing suicide or abusing substances goes up even more when they are rejected by their families.

As Washington’s experience with driver’s education demonstrates, the private sector is not always more efficient than government at delivering public services. Now, state lawmakers are considering changes that will help make driver’s ed more accessible for young drivers. With Washington roads becoming more dangerous and with the rate of traffic fatalities increasing, data support the need for changes.

OLYMPIA, Jan. 30, 2023 — Welcome to a new week. Traffic safety is on the minds of lawmakers in both parties and Gov. Jay Inslee. They want to reduce the number of people killed on the streets and highways. There were 745 traffic-related deaths last year, the highest since 1990, state figures show. Bipartisan ideas are getting pushed to change drivers’ behavior before they get in their car and when they are at the wheel.