Washington News & Current Events | Public News Service

Medicare becomes available for most Americans at age 65. (airdone/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Medicare's open enrollment period opportunity to shop for best plan

The open enrollment period for people with Medicare health coverage can feel daunting, but it is also an opportunity get the plan to best meet a …

Washington state is holding elections on November 7. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Washingtonians Out of Prison Can Participate in Voter Registration Day

It is national voter registration day and one population in Washington state has only recently had their right to vote restored: people who were incar…

Research has found a small number of social media users are

Fighting Misinformation With a Combination of Strategies

By M. Mitchell Waldrop for the National Academy of Science.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Pulitzer …

Screen time before bed can be especially detrimental for teenagers and their developing brains. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

Screen Time Driver of Sleep Loss Among Young People

School is back and one way parents can set their kids up for success is ensuring screen time is not getting in the way of sleep. Dr. Maida Chen…

A decision from the Washington Supreme Court ensures people can bring childhood sexual abuse cases within three years of evidence discovery. (Cagkan/Adobe Stock)

WA Supreme Court Clears Roadblock for Hearing Some Childhood Sexual Abuse Cases

A recent ruling from the Washington state Supreme Court lowers the barriers for bringing some childhood sexual abuse cases to court. Justices …

Washington home care aides can get health coverage for their kids through age 26. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Relief as WA Home Care Aides' Kids Get Health Coverage Access

Home care aides in Washington state are seeing the benefits of health coverage for their kids. Members of the Service Employees International Union …

Washington state fared better than most states at preventing infant mortality. (Thanumporn/Adobe Stock)

Racial Disparities Add to Tragedy of Infant Mortality Rates

September brings attention to an unfortunate and painful issue: infant deaths in the United States. This month is Infant Mortality Awareness Month…

Scammers Pose as NW Credit Unions in Fraudulent Text Messages

Washington and Oregon credit unions are working together to tackle text-message scammers. Credit unions in the region say they're seeing a sharp …

Buildings are the fastest growing source of climate pollution in Washington. (Casa.da.Photo/Adobe Stock)

Delay of Seattle's Cleaner Buildings Plan Disappoints Climate Groups

The wait to curb emissions from Seattle buildings has gone on long enough, climate groups say. The Seattle City Council is considering Building …

Washington state food banks are expressing concern about the drop in volunteers since the height of the pandemic. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Lack of Volunteers Hurts WA Food Banks at Crucial Time

A shortage of volunteers is taking its toll on food banks in Washington state. Joe Gruber, executive director of the University District Food Bank …

A blind spot monitoring system can help a driver avoid a collision. (Roman/Adobe Stock)

Alongside Tech, Litigation Has Pushed Advance Toward Safer Cars

Technological upgrades are making cars safer, but action in the courtroom has also pushed companies to make vehicles less dangerous. James Rogers…

There are more than 13,000 people in Washington state prisons. (doc.wa.gov)

WA to Extend Medicaid to People Close to Release from Prisons, Jails

Washington will allow people nearing release from state prisons and jails to qualify for Medicaid health coverage. The expansion starts in July 2025…

About one in three adults age 85 or older may have some form of dementia, according to the National Institute on Aging. (pololia/Adobe Stock

Often Hidden, Research Casts Light on Kinless Adults with Dementia

Washington state researchers are spotlighting an often overlooked population: kinless adults with dementia. The population is often difficult to …

Postsecondary enrollment for high school students from the class of 2021 is at 66%. (EduLife Photos/Adobe Stock)

Credential Achievement After High School Dips in WA

Washington state saw a dip in the number of people who gained postsecondary credentials during the pandemic. A new report from the organization …

More than 2,500 unique book titles were targeted for censorship in 2022, according to the American Library Association. (MyJuly/Adobe Stock)

As Book Bans Rise, WA County Could Close Only Library

Attempts to ban books in libraries are increasing across the country, but a small group of residents in one Washington County are going even further…

Culverts under roadways need to be large enough for fish to pass through safely. (Daniel Sztork/Adobe Stock)

Biden Admin Provides Funds for Culvert Fixes in WA

Fish passage is set to improve in the Northwest with an investment from Congress's bipartisan infrastructure law. The Biden administration has …

Supporters say Washington's Fair Campaign Practices Act is needed more than ever in the era of online political ads. (tashatuvango/Adobe Stock)

Campaign Finance Watchdogs Support WA Disclosure Law in Meta Case

Campaign-finance watchdog groups are standing up in favor of Washington's disclosure law in court. Facebook parent company Meta has challenged the …

The bottom 90% of earners in the U.S. own about 30% of the wealth. (Dilok/Adobe Stock)

Financial Institutions Could Play Role in Shrinking Wealth Gap

The United States' wealth gap is a persistent and complex issue. Financial institutions could help chip away at it. The top 10% of income earners …

Nearly 200,000 children in Washington state are facing hunger, according to Feeding America. (FAMILY STOCK/Adobe Stock)

As School Year Nears, Child Hunger Major Struggle in WA

The new school year is around the corner and one issue in the spotlight in Washington state is child hunger. Even with free breakfast and lunch …

One in four people part of Gen Z reported feeling emotionally distressed in a recent report. (Stock Rocket/Adobe Stock)

Mental Health Crisis Among Gen Z Sparks Concern

Mental health is a major issue for young people of Generation Z, people who were born after 1996, and research has found they report feeling …

The second Community BBQ in Renton will provide events for children of color. (rentonhs.rentonschools.us)

Community BBQ Supports WA Youth of Color Programming

A barbecue in Seattle is bringing the community together and will support events for youth of color in the region. United Way of King County's …

A dozen countries are part of the Indo-Pacific Economic Partnership including the U.S., India, Japan and South Korea. (MAGNIFIER/Adobe Stock)

WA Town Hall Highlights Impacts of Big Tech's Trade Priorities

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash, is hosting a town hall at the University of Washington today to discuss the negative impacts of trade policies …

Beneficial State Bank supports affordable housing, calling it a human right. (Dennis M. Swanson/Adobe Stock)

Bank Helps Bring Affordable Housing to WA

A new program in Washington state will provide homes to people who are most in need in the region. The project, known as Madrona Highlands in south …

Farmworkers have organized in the Bellingham area every year since Honesto Silva Ibarra died in 2017. (Community to Community Development)

Walk Remembers Farmworker's Death, Hiroshima Bombing

An event is being held this weekend to honor a farmworker who died on the job in Bellingham. It also coincides with the anniversary of the dropping …

In Washington, 18% of Hispanics between ages 18 and 34 are enrolled in higher education. (abraham/Adobe Stock)

Report: Latino Students Lag in College Completion

The gap in college graduation rates between white and Latino students is increasing, a new report finds. An analysis of degree completion across …

U.S. officials are meeting with representatives from around the Pacific Rim at the Seattle Convention Center on Sunday.(dbvirago/Adobe Stock)

Critics Call for Transparency at Seattle Global Trade Meetings

Global trade negotiations are happening this weekend in Seattle and critics say the process should come out from behind closed doors. Meetings for …

The pipeline owned by TC Energy runs through the east and southeast part of Washington. (Photocreo Bednarek/Adobe Stock)

Critics: East Coast Explosion Reason to Deny NW Pipeline Expansion

People opposed to expanding a fracked gas pipeline in the Northwest are pointing to the explosion of a pipeline in Virginia as another reason to rejec…

Ilwaco, Wash., is a town in the state's southwest corner with a population of about 1,000. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Congress Holds Hearing on Challenges for Rural Small Businesses

Rural small business owners are testifying before Congress on Wednesday about the unique challenges they face. Josh Phillips, owner of Spawn Fly …

In 2023, Washington state lawmakers introduced four bills regarding parking mandates - the requirement that developers include certain amounts of parking for their structures. (Eric BVD/Adobe Stock)

More States Consider Ending Parking Mandates

Parking lots dominate the landscapes in many cities, but state lawmakers across the country are cutting back on reserving room for these often …

Salmon from the Columbia and Snake Rivers are a crucial food source for Southern Resident orcas. (RKP/Adobe Stock)

WA Orca Births Good Sign but Population Still Threatened

There's good news for orcas off Washington's coast: Two new calves have been spotted among the endangered population. However, the births also …

The Biden administration has announced student loan forgiveness totaling $39 billion. (darren415/Adobe Stock)

Student Debt Erased for More Than 16,000 Washingtonians

Student debt relief is coming for more than 16,000 Washington state residents. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to allow a greater pool …

Election workers with years of experience are leaving because of violent threats. (MyPhotoBuddy/Adobe Stock)

Election Officials Call for Safety Measures Ahead of 2024 Vote

Election workers across the country say they have faced unprecedented threats since 2020, and fear next year's election will be another battle…

Washington State Department of Corrections officers with the Washington Federation of State Employees supervise around 18,000 people. (doc.wa.gov)

WA Corrections Workers Say State Reneged on Pandemic Bonus Pay

Washington state corrections workers are calling on the state to keep their word and deliver on pandemic-related bonuses. More than 400 union …

The Fair Start for Kids Act increases the income threshold to receive subisidies for child care. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

With Industry in Crisis, WA Addresses Child Care Woes

Child care is one the costliest services for families across the country. Advocates for child well being say Washington state has positioned itself …

Black Americans are less likely than white Americans to seek treatment for mental health issues. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Overcoming Care Barriers During Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

July is national minority mental health awareness month, spotlighting the unique struggles in health care settings for communities for color in the …

Since July 2022, 2-1-1 has received more than 380,000 calls from residents in Washington state. (Gajus/Adobe Stock)

WA 211 Helpline Sees Jump in Calls

A helpline to help people connect with resources when they're in need has seen an uptick in calls to its service. However, funding remains a …

Food insecurity ranged from 32% to 73% across Washington state counties in a hunger survey. (Mikhailov Studio/Adobe Stock)

Hunger Remains Top Concern for Many WA Families

Three years on from the start of the pandemic, securing food is one of the biggest challenges facing households in Washington state. The Washington …

A University of Washington Center for Human Rights investigation detailed unsanitary conditions at the Northwest Detention Center dating back to 2018. (clpmag/Flickr)

Independence Day Has Different Meaning in NW Detention Center

Independence Day is this week but for people in the Northwest Detention Center, the day will mean something different. The Tacoma facility is run by …

The Duckabush River is cut off from nearby floodplains and wetlands by roads on the Olympic peninsula. (Washington Department of Ecology)

Orca Action Month: WA Estuary Restoration Project Helps Whale Recovery

It's Orca Action Month and a restoration project in Puget Sound will help provide more salmon to the aquatic mammals. Highway development has …

WA Cares Fund benefits can be used to pay for in-home wheelchair ramps. (toa555/Adobe Stock)

WA Long-Term Care Benefits Program Lifts Off in July

A fund to provide long-term care to Washingtonians starts this week. Workers will start paying into the Washington or WA Cares Fund starting this …

Preventable injuries are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. (whyframeshot/Adobe Stock)

Workplace Injuries in Spotlight During Safety Month

June is national safety month and workplace injuries are an important focus. What is considered a workplace injury is broader than many workers may …

The Supreme Court involved the validity of the Washington Voting Rights Act passed in 2018. (Rex Wholster/Adobe Stock)

WA Supreme Court Voting Decision Could Reverberate in Other States

A recent decision from the Washington State Supreme Court on voting rights could echo in other states in the future. Justices unanimously upheld the …

Controlled burns were part of the practices of the indigenous people to Washington state for maintaining the landscape. (heidi/Adobe Stock)

Prescribed Burns Bring Back Natural Way to Maintain WA Landscape

Wildfire season has arrived in Washington state, but prescribed burns during other parts of the year could help reduce the impact of the most …

A GTN Xpress proposal would increase flow in its pipeline by 150 million cubic feet per day. (Pax Ahimsa Gethen/Wikimedia Commons)

Opposition Grows for Expanded NW Pipeline as Decision Nears

CLARIFICATION: In an emailed statement, TC Energy says there is "strong demand" for natural gas and an expansion to their GTN pipeline in the region…

A new report on child well-being ranks Washington state 10th in its family and community category. (Aleksei Potov/Adobe Stock)

Access to Care Among WA Children's Biggest Challenges

Washington state fares well in a new report released on child well-being, but is facing important challenges in child care. The Annie E. Casey …

Family caregiving includes demanding duties that can it difficult for caregivers to find time for themselves. (Tierney/Adobe Stock)

AARP WA Provides Resources to Care for Family Caregivers

Family caregivers are providing crucial services, but they also need support. That's why AARP has compiled resources for the people taking care of …

States across the country are working to bring broadband to rural areas. (Pink Badger/Adobe Stock)

State Grants Bring High Speed Internet to Rural Washingtonians

State grants could bring high-speed internet access to nearly 15,000 Washingtonians. The State Broadband Office is awarding $121 million to 19 …

Social Media Growing Concern for Youth Mental Health

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are up among adolescents and young adults. Health experts warn social media is playing a role in declining mental …

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