News
Secretary of State pushes for pre-paid postage for ballots
Kim Wyman is asking Gov. Jay Inslee for the authority to reimburse counties for postal costs.
Opinion
Taxes and car tabs will be rehashed by voters
One of the bigger surprises of the just-completed legislative session occurred in the final hours when a Democrat-sponsored…
Northwest
Olympia stunner: Compromise over police use of force
It was not always a civil process, but two diametrically opposed groups managed to find common ground.
Northwest
Bump stock ban becomes law; semiautomatics bill up next
It will be illegal in Washington to sell or own devices that make semiautomatic guns fire more rapidly.
Northwest
Lawmakers are now at odds over a Sound Transit car-tab fix
The Senate and House disagree over whether lost revenue from a lower fee should be offset right away.
Northwest
State Senate OKs new way to calculate Sound Transit car fees
It should result in reduction of the cost of vehicle licenses. The bill now goes to the state…
Northwest
Inslee vetoes public records bill; lawmakers get a do-over
Meantime, news organizations, including this one, have agreed to pause a lawsuit over access.
Northwest
As the legislative session ends, a look forward to November
What did they do, and what matters to you?
Opinion
Solving a dilemma of their creation | Cornfield
Funny how things change around here in the turn of a calendar year.
Northwest
State House speaker talks taxes, death penalty, and harassment
Democrat Frank Chopp has had the speaker title since 1999, and he says he’s not retiring this year.
Opinion
For opponents of a carbon tax, an initiative threat looms
If legislators don’t act on the governor’s legislation, a plan could land on the November ballot.
Opinion
Inslee: ‘It’s our state’s destiny … to fight climate change’
In his State-of-the-State address, the governor made the case for an ambitious carbon tax.
Opinion
Judge delivers crushing blow to Inslee’s Clean Air Rule
It was the centerpiece of the governor’s crusade against climate change. Now it’s gone.
Opinion
Putting together an education jigsaw puzzle | The Petri Dish
As eight lawmakers arrived at a conference room early Wednesday for another round of negotiations on public school…
Opinion
An idea that may suit everyone | The Petri Dish
After years of futility in targeting the wealthy, House Democrats may have divined an approach to achieve some…
Opinion
Law makers face an old problem in new session | The Petri Dish
Time is running out on the 2017 Legislature.
Opinion
State politics predictable in 2016 | The Petri Dish
This wasn’t a very good year for many of the nation’s venerable pollsters and pundits as they got…
Opinion
Coalition aims to set up debates in governor, Senate races | The Petri Dish
If you've never tried to pull off a debate, it's hard to appreciate the degree of difficulty involved…
Opinion
It’s a popular job: 8 aspire to be lieutenant governor | The Petri Dish
Why are so many people running to become Washington's next lieutenant governor?
Opinion
Verbal fisticuffs erupt over how to deal with climate change | The Petri Dish
A not-so-funny thing happened on the long march to save Washington from the damaging undulations of climate change.