Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard
Stories
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Washington’s paid leave program heads toward a fiscal cliff
Washington’s innovative paid family and medical leave program could be hundreds of millions of dollars in the red within a few years, unless the Legislature acts.
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Washington’s minimum wage to top $17 in 2026
Washington state’s minimum wage will surpass $17 per hour in 2026.
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New sales tax on services in Washington takes effect Wednesday
A slate of other tax and fee hikes also kicks in Oct. 1, including on major financial institutions and to fund transportation.
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WA lawmakers faced with $570M decision on surging lawsuit payouts
A Washington agency that manages the state’s lawsuit payouts is seeking a one-time infusion of nearly $570 million to address skyrocketing liability costs.
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WA will replace Planned Parenthood’s lost Medicaid funding with state dollars
Washington state will backfill lost Medicaid dollars for Planned Parenthood after a court ruling last week.
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Former WA state worker sentenced for nearly $900,000 embezzlement
A former Washington state worker who admitted to embezzling nearly $900,000 in taxpayer funding to finance his gambling addiction was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in federal prison.
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New WA initiatives seek to undo rewrite of parental rights law, block trans girls in sports
The conservative political group that has been trying to bolster parental rights in Washington schools will try again.
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Washington state plans to destroy 30,000 expiring abortion pills
Washington state is preparing to destroy much of its abortion pill stockpile as 30,000 doses are set to expire at the end of January.
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Debate flares over WA child welfare law after rise in deaths and injuries
Lawmakers in Washington are divided on whether to dial back a state law critics blame for a sudden spike in deaths and serious injuries among children enmeshed in the state’s child welfare system.
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As gun tests in criminal investigations surge, WA struggles to keep up
Police in Washington are sometimes waiting over a year for the state to test firearms evidence, as the Washington State Patrol deals with a growing backlog.