Government

KUOW Newsroom

With evictions on pause until 2022, Seattle renters hope to access federal help

Kim Malcolm talks with Edmund Witter, managing attorney with the Housing Justice Project, which gives free legal help to renters facing eviction in King County.

KUOW Newsroom

Lt. Gov. Heck raises ethics concerns over predecessor’s legacy

It was supposed to be former Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib's legacy — a pair of programs to serve youth with disabilities and youth from marginalized or disadvantaged backgrounds. But Habib's successor cancelled a contract with the nonprofit that operates the programs after identifying what his office called "suspicious financial activity" during Habib's last year in office.

KUOW Newsroom

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan says City Council bill restricting crowd-control tactics 'doesn't change anything'

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan says she wants to improve policing in the city, but City Council members recently overstepped some legal boundaries to do so.

KUOW Newsroom

Mask mandate returns for large outdoor events in Washington state

Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced that people attending outdoor events with 500 people or more will have to wear a mask, whether vaccinated or not, starting Monday. The new, expanded mask mandate will apply to events such as fairs, concerts, and sporting events.

KUOW Newsroom

Report spotlights unsung mobility experts in WA: People with disabilities

Muddy paths instead of sidewalks, unreliable transit that takes hours with connecting buses, and curbs that force wheelchair users out into traffic. These are just some of the barriers to mobility cited in a new report by Disability Rights Washington.

KUOW Newsroom

Who supports who in Seattle's mayoral election?: This week in politics

And what does it really mean to be a "progressive" or a "moderate" in the Seattle mayoral race? Will Inslee face political ramifications for school vaccination mandate?

KUOW Newsroom

At WA Ferries, vaccine mandate looms amidst 'unprecedented' worker shortages

Governor Jay Inslee’s announcement of mandatory Covid vaccinations for state workers on Aug. 9 kicked off a turbulent week at Washington State Ferries. By the end of last week, the agency experienced a severe staffing shortage, and the state transportation secretary issued a reminder for employees to remain civil with one another.

Washington is 10% more diverse than it was 10 years ago. What does that mean?

There is a 56% chance that if you picked two people at random in the state of Washington, they would be from two different races or ethnicities. That's one takeaway from data released by the U.S. Census on Thursday.

KUOW Newsroom

'Cultural changes ahead' for police in Washington state

As of this past Sunday, a series of new laws took effect governing Washington State law enforcement, including their use of force (HB 1310) and tactics (HB 1054). Some law enforcement leaders are warning of new hindrances and unintended consequences as the laws take effect; supporters of the changes say police are engaging in scare tactics and overreacting.