Gov. Ferguson distances from Inslee in inaugural speech, draws GOP praise; Republican leaders ‘pleasantly surprised’ at Gov. Ferguson’s bipartisan inaugural speech

Gov. Ferguson distances from Inslee in inaugural speech, draws GOP praise

The Seattle Times — A majority of Democrats weren’t pleased when Ferguson said “I’m not here to defend government. I’m here to reform it” — a line that drew praise from Republicans. “Well, let me tell you, Gov. Ferguson — here’s your team,” Braun said at a news conference where Republicans appeared invigorated following the inaugural event. House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, serving his fifth term, said it seemed like for the first time since he’s been in the Legislature that the governor “seems to live on the same planet.” $

Republican leaders ‘pleasantly surprised’ at Gov. Ferguson’s bipartisan inaugural speech

The Spokesman-Review — “There’s part of me that wants to be a cynic and wants to be skeptical,” House Republican Leader Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, told reporters after Ferguson’s speech. “But on the other hand, we’re never going to get anywhere if nobody trusts anybody to be telling the truth when they’re talking.” During the speech and in a news conference immediately following, Republican leaders were “pleasantly surprised” to hear themselves name-dropped along with specific policy they’re championing, including ensuring farmers receive their promised cap-and-trade tax exemptions and limiting a governor’s emergency powers. $

AGRICULTURE

• Can Washington’s farms survive? Labor shortages and deportation fears threaten agriculture (The Wenatchee World) $

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Here come the labor bills… (The Washington Observer) $

CANNABIS

• From outlawed to mainstream: Washington cannabis workers push for union rights (MyNorthwest)

CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM

• EDITORIAL: Washington’s carbon limits won’t help climate (Capital Press) $

CONGRESS

• How about them apples? Washington congresswoman proposes legislation to block Trump trade war (KUOW Radio)

CORRECTIONS & JAILS

• Sen. John Braun introduces bills intended to address ongoing issues at Green Hill School (The Chronicle)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• Inslee gives clemency to man who killed wife and sister-in-law in 1982 Toppenish case (Yakima Herald-Republic) $
• Former Spokesman-Review editor gets 10 years in prison after apologizing and touting career (The Spokesman-Review) $

DRUG CRISIS

• Police find enough narcotics to kill 1.7M as notorious Seattle drug traffickers indicted (MyNorthwest)
• What’s behind the promising decline in Whatcom County drug overdoses, deaths in 2024? (The Bellingham Herald) $

EDUCATION

• Introducing the student bill of rights (The Washington Observer) $

EMERGENCY POWERS

• WA Republicans hope fifth time is the charm for emergency powers reform bill (The Center Square)

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES

• South County Fire, UW to lead behavioral health training for firefighters (The Everett Herald) $

ENVIRONMENT

• A look at the Washington Legislature’s 2025 environmental agenda (Cascade PBS)
• Solar panel recycling is not off to a good start in Washington (KPQ Radio)

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE

• Biden warns in farewell address that an ‘oligarchy’ of ultrarich in US threatens future of democracy (AP)
• Trump’s outsider Cabinet picks are rapidly gaining support for confirmation (AP)
• FDA bans red dye No. 3 from foods (AP)

GUN RIGHTS

• WA Democrats move to ban open, concealed carry of a firearm at 5,300+ locations (The Center Square)
• Gun owners could be charged with felonies if firearm gets stolen under new proposed bill (MyNorthwest)

HANFORD

• What Trump’s energy secretary nominee had to say on Hanford nuclear waste, national lab (Tri-City Herald) $
• Dept. of Energy opens Public Comment Period on Hanford waste permit modification (KEPR TV)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Rep. Jim Walsh visits Willapa Harbor Hospital, will seek support for aging facility in state Legislature (The Chronicle)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• UW enters federal agreement to improve response to discrimination claims (KUOW Radio)
• UW presidential search yields finalist (The Seattle Times) $
• Gonzaga University finds its next president (KIRO TV)
• EDITORIAL: Support Black colleges’ work equalizing playing field (The Seattle Times) $

HOUSING

• Washington SB 5082 proposes housing funding for foster children aging out of the system (Columbia Basin Herald) $

IMMIGRATION

• ICE records show Biden admin plans could give Trump a head start on deportations (Axios – Seattle)
• ‘We have their back’: Seattle readies to protect immigrants from incoming Trump admin (The Center Square)
• Over 14,000 Tacomans aren’t U.S. citizens. Who is vulnerable to deportation under Trump? (The News Tribune) $

INVASIVE SPECIES

• EDITORIAL: The Japanese beetle is gaining on us — step on it (Yakima Herald-Republic) $

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Keith Swank sworn in as Pierce County Sheriff, vows to ‘crack down’ on human trafficking (The News Tribune) $

LEGISLATURE

• Grandview freshman Rep. Gloria Mendoza delivers Republican Perspective to governor’s Inaugural Address (KLCK Radio/Gorge Country Media)
• New legislation would require bars, nightclubs to provide date rape drug testing kits (KIRO TV)
• Washington pushes to join Utah as second state to lower legal BAC limit to .05 (The Center Square)
• State legislators take up new committee roles (NCW Life Channel)
• Sen. Keith Goehner tackles housing crisis and transportation (KPQ Radio)
• State Sen. Jeff Wilson files 17 bills as he begins second term in Senate (The Chronicle)
• OPINION: Citizens may think bipartisanship is nothing but a pipe dream, but on the front lines in Olympia it’s standard operating procedure (Andy Billig, former Senate Majority Leader/The Inlander)

MENTAL HEALTH

• As youth mental health concerns continue to grow, some question Providence’s decision to shutter Sacred Heart’s inpatient youth psychiatric unit (Investigate West/The Inlander)

MILITARY & VETERANS

• An Army doctor who sexually abused JBLM soldiers is sentenced to more than 13 years in prison (AP)

OPEN GOVERNMENT

• Rep. Abbarno’s bill to enhance access to public records gets public hearing (The Chronicle)

OPERATING BUDGET

• Inslee tosses a budget barb on the way out (The Washington Observer) $

OTHER STATES

• EDITORIAL: OT reform would benefit workers as much as farmers (Capital Press) $

SCHOOL SAFETY

• Seattle Public Schools tutor to be arraigned following rape arrest (KIRO TV)

SOCIAL MEDIA

• TikTok ban update: Here’s what you need to know (FOX 13)
• TikTok ban poised to disrupt information ecosystem, livelihood of millions of users (States Newsroom/Washington State Standard)
• In boon for Bellevue, TikTok will reportedly keep US offices open if app is banned (Puget Sound Business Journal) $

STATE GOVERNMENT

• 7 takeaways from Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s inaugural address (Washington State Standard)
• Bob Ferguson takes office as Washington’s governor (KING TV)
• ‘The times call for action:’ Ferguson pledges reforms amid challenges from Trump, budget deficit (MyNorthwest)
• WA’s new governor takes office, promises big changes: ‘I’m not here to defend government’ (NW News Network)
• Bob Ferguson sworn in as Washington governor, delivers inaugural address (The Center Square)
• Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson takes office (Axios – Seattle)
• Former AG Bob Ferguson sworn in as Washington’s 24th governor (Cascade PBS)
• Bob Ferguson sworn in as Washington’s 24th governor, outlining goals and challenges (The Seattle Times) $
• Ferguson takes oath of office, calls for streamlined government and bipartisanship in inaugural address (The Spokesman-Review) $
• In inaugural address, WA’s new Gov. Bob Ferguson says he’s ‘here to reform’ government (The Olympian) $
• Gov. Ferguson signs executive orders on housing, reproductive rights and permitting reform (KOMO TV)
• The changing face of Washington: A 12-year review from Inslee to Ferguson (FOX 13)
• Washington’s newly elected statewide officials are sworn in (Washington State Standard)
• Washington’s new AG pushes back on Ferguson’s plan to drain $35M from agency (Washington State Standard)
• WA Attorney General Nick Brown opposes Gov. Bob Ferguson’s desired ‘sweep’ of AG funds (The Seattle Times) $
• Sequins and small bites: Governor’s inaugural ball gives Olympia a chance to dress up and celebrate (The Olympian) $
• Original Washington state Constitution document to be displayed at state Capitol (The Chronicle)
• COLUMN: Amid the verbal sunshine, Inslee also goes out with some shade (Danny Westneat/The Seattle Times)
• COLUMN: It’s time for a hardheaded approach to some of WA’s issues (Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft/The Seattle Times) $

TAXES

• Bills for Inslee’s revenue proposals (The Washington Observer) $

TECHNOLOGY

• Biden’s big semiconductor law will ramp up U.S. chip production — but at a high cost, report finds (AP)

TRANSPORTATION

• Washington roads among worst in US, a PNW state has the best (KPQ Radio)
• WSDOT to introduce statewide e-bike rebate program (KREM TV)
• WSF year in review: Soft pretzel boom and fewer canceled sailings (MyNorthwest)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• Toppenish cold weather shelter stays open as judge orders city and Yakama Nation to mediation (Yakima Herald-Republic) $

VAPING

• OPINION: Washington’s illegal vapes are a national security issue (Phil Kiver, Ph.D., is a Washington state native, defense and public safety analyst/The Spokesman-Review) $

WATER

• Update: Water now safe to drink for residents at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (The News Tribune) $

WEATHER & CLIMATE

• How does Washington’s snowpack compare to last year? (KING TV)
• COLUMN: Climate change alarmists could ban or restrict medical anesthesia under new bill (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)

WILDLIFE

• Ferry County woman named to Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission (The Spokesman-Review) $
• Inslee replaces rancher on Fish and Wildlife Commission (Capital Press) $

WOLVES

• Wolves killed by wildlife agents for attacking livestock near Walla Walla (KNDO/KNDU)