Here’s why Washington home construction costs surged ahead of national average; Bill to merge three closed retirement systems, increase COLA passes WA Senate

Here’s why Washington home construction costs surged ahead of national average

MyNorthwest — A new study on the cost of building homes in Washington has revealed steep construction prices that far exceed national averages, with regulatory hurdles playing the leading role in driving costs even higher. For homeowners and prospective buyers in Western Washington, these rising costs present serious challenges to affordability and availability in an already strained housing market.

Bill to merge three closed retirement systems, increase COLA passes WA Senate

The Center Square — Democrats have largely settled on a projected operating budget shortfall of $12 billion over the next four years. Republicans point to information from non-partisan legislative staff members that the shortfall is expected to be $6.7 billion. Braun said a commitment to new spending is a bad idea with the state facing a shortfall. “I just think that’s fundamentally wrong,” he said. “This is not the time to add new spending.”

ABORTION

• Bill to expand abortion access on WA college campuses dies in committee (The Center Square)

AGRICULTURE

• Warnick’s bill extending livestock ID program passes Senate (Columbia Basin Herald) $
• Interest in backyard chicken keeping grows in Washington as egg prices increase (Yakima Herald-Republic) $
• Columbia Basin farmer new National Potato Council president (Capital Press) $

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• US tariffs on Canada and Mexico take effect, as China takes aim at US farm exports (AP)
• REI board blocks labor-backed candidates from ballot (Cascade PBS)

CHILD CARE

• Snohomish council members push to improve child care access (The Everett Herald) $

CONGRESS

• Baumgartner invites teacher to Trump’s address to Congress, while Cantwell’s guest highlights research cuts; Murray to skip speech (The Spokesman-Review) $
• Bill to ban trans athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams fails to advance in Senate (AP)
• We’re setting our clocks ahead for Daylight Saving Time this weekend. Is it the last time? (Tri-City Herald) $
• EDITORIAL: Cuts to Medicaid would hurt WA’s children, poor (The Seattle Times) $

COURTS (FEDERAL)

• Former Bellingham employees who sued city over vaccine mandate appeal judge’s dismissal (The Bellingham Herald) $

COURTS (STATE)

• Yakima County Superior Court fired court commissioner last fall over inappropriate behavior (KAPP/KVEW)

DRUG CRISIS

• ‘Fentanyl is a scourge’: Police, prosecutors adjust to changing drug laws, operations (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin) $

EDUCATION

• Senate fiscal committee advances big spending for K-12 priorities (The Washington Observer) $
• WA could reform high school graduation requirements (The Seattle Times) $
• Court places Mead School District in contempt over withholding documents in hazing lawsuit (The Spokesman-Review) $
• State finds La Center School District discriminates against students based on gender identity (The Columbian) $

ELECTIONS

• Walsh calls for federal review of Washington state’s Automatic Voter Registration Act implementation (The Chronicle)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• The obscure state agency that referees WA’s green energy battles (Cascade PBS)
• Yakima County leads effort to comply with Washington natural gas initiative (KAPP/KVEW)

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE

• In speech to Congress, Trump is expected to boast about DOGE cuts, Ukraine (The New York Times/The Seattle Times) $
• American Forest Resource Council praises Trump’s executive orders on U.S. timber and lumber production (The Chronicle)
• Trump administration plans to slash HUD programs in the Pacific Northwest, sources say (KING TV)

HANFORD

• Hanford contractor earns $14M+ incentive pay. It had its best scorecard in 2 decades (Tri-City Herald) $

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Western Washington University announces additional layoffs amidst $18 million budget deficit (KGMI Radio/My Bellingham Now)

HOMELESSNESS

• Homelessness is soaring among Seattle students. School support workers are on the front lines (KUOW Radio)
• Spokane prepares for overhaul after months of community debate over homelessness (The Center Square)
• Employer to leave Kirkland over homeless housing planned near its headquarters (Puget Sound Business Journal) $
• EDITORIAL: Homeless crisis requires thoughtful response (The Columbian) $

HOUSING

• Housing bills on the move (The Washington Observer) $
• Will rent control bill help or hurt housing costs in Washington State? (KOMO TV)
• Why a new Seattle housing plan is sparking backlash (Axios – Seattle)

IMMIGRATION

• Seattle joins lawsuit against Trump admin over illegal immigrant policies (The Center Square)

INSURANCE

• WA senate bill will study credit score, other impacts on insurance coverage (FOX 13)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• WSP trooper arrested for DUI vehicular homicide placed on administrative leave (KOMO TV)

LEGISLATURE

• Senate passes bill requiring clergy to report abuse, legislation heads to House (KING TV)
• Bill to designate clergy as mandatory reporters of abuse clears Washington Senate (The Spokesman-Review) $
• Bill recognizing 2 Islamic holidays clears WA Senate: ‘We stand by all our communities’ (The News Tribune) $
• Washington state Senate passes bill to expand childcare access for military families (KHQ TV)
• House passes bill to ease maternity care costs in Olympia (KNDO/KNDU)
• New bill in Olympia targets sodium nitrite sales to prevent suicides (KHQ TV)
• W.F. West student blends passion for leadership and creativity as state House page (The Chronicle)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• King County Council to vote on transit safety task force after violence on Metro buses (KOMO TV)
• Woman says she was eight months pregnant when Seattle Mayor Harrell pulled gun on her, leading to his 1996 arrest (KUOW Radio)
• Tacoma counters Trump orders with immigration, LGBTQ+ resolution (Cascade PBS)
• Clark County Council backs legislation supporting I-5 Bridge replacement funding (The Reflector)
• La Center City Council grills inclusion of light rail in I-5 bridge replacement presentation (The Reflector)

OTHER STATES

• Oregon bill to lower voting age to 16 for school board elections draws heated testimony (The Oregonian) $
• Oregon bill that would remove hurdles to medically assisted suicide runs into wall of opposition (The Oregonian) $
• Lawmakers consider ‘Freedom to Read’ bill as latest attempt to limit book bans in Oregon schools (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• Growing Idaho: Who’s moving to Idaho, where are they going, and why (KREM TV)

PARKS

• In focus: ‘Protect Our Parks’ protest rallies support for public lands, workers (The Chronicle)

SPORTS

• U.S. Department of Education opens investigation into Tumwater School District (KUOW Radio)

TRANSPORTATION

• Rep. John Ley introduces bill to audit Interstate Bridge Replacement spending and projections (The Reflector)

WATER

• EDITORIAL: Despite drastic spending cuts, Tieton canal project simply can’t wait (Yakima Herald-Republic) $

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

• Illegal controlled burn turns into 61 acres wildfire in Grant County (NCW Life Channel)

WILDLIFE

• Blue Mountain elk study raises more questions (The Lewiston Tribune) $

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