Meet the new faces of the 2025 legislative session
Washington State Standard — The upcoming legislative session will see high levels of turnover among Washington state lawmakers. Following the retirements of longtime legislators, a few redistricting switch-ups, and some departures for higher office, there will be new faces in 29 seats. Some are familiar, as many new senators are former House members. Some are returning after a term or two off. Others are completely new to the process. And there may be up to four more.
Tri-City lawmaker pens bills to expand tax breaks for disabled vets, access to fed funds $
Tri-City Herald — A Tri-Cities lawmaker has prefiled two bills in the Washington Legislature to expand property tax relief for disabled vets and help communities secure more federal funds. The bills come as legislators prepare to convene the 2025 legislative session on Monday, Jan. 13, in Olympia. The session will run 105 days.AGRICULTURE
BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR
- US unemployment claims fall to 211,000, the lowest level since March (AP)
- Boeing still needs a culture change to put safety above profits, according to the head of the FAA (AP)
- Spokane business groups call for public safety solutions to ring in the new year (The Center Square)
COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES
- Republican rep pre-files legislation to help communities secure federal grants (The Center Square)
- Pet food tainted with avian flu virus that was sold across WA, Northwest is recalled (Tri-City Herald) $
- Ellensburg among America’s most expensive small towns (Axios – Seattle)
CONGRESS
- Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to save his job as a new Congress convenes (AP)
- 11 fun facts about the 119th Congress (CQ-Roll Call/The Seattle Times) $
CORRECTIONS & JAILS
- Moses Lake man dies at Grant County Jail after being arrested only four days earlier (KAPP/KVEW)
- Yakima County to pay 30% more for inmate health care amid concerns over provider (KAPP/KVEW)
COURTS (STATE)
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
- Recent shooting highlights lingering gun violence issue in Seattle (The Center Square)
- Volunteer crime watch group conducts patrols, crisis outreach in Seattle after high-profile incidents (KING TV)
- Investigation continues into 4 Pierce County deaths: What we know (The Seattle Times) $
- Auto theft down across Pierce County, reports sheriff’s department (MyNorthwest)
EDUCATION
ENERGY & UTILITIES
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE
- Biden signs antihazing bill backed by WA parents (The Seattle Times) $
- Surgeon general calls for cancer warnings on alcohol (The New York Times/The Seattle Times) $
FISH
FOOD SAFETY & SECURITY
HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS
- Eyeing potential bird flu outbreak, Biden administration ups preparedness (The New York Times/The Seattle Times) $
- Prescription drug costs now capped at $2,000 a year for some Washington seniors on Medicare (KING TV)
- People with developmental disabilities end up staying in Clark County hospitals longer than needed (The Columbian) $
HOMELESSNESS
HOUSING
LAW ENFORCEMENT
- New Orleans police chief responding to attack was King County deputy sheriff (The Seattle Times) $
- EDITORIAL: New Seattle police chief will face problems, but there is reason for hope (The Seattle Times) $
LGBTQ+
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Snohomish County allocates more money for public safety (The Everett Herald) $
- Spokane Valley Councilman publicly admonished, stripped of seat representing city after violating council standards, state law (The Spokesman-Review) $
POLITICS
NATIONAL
SECURITY
STATE GOVERNMENT
TRANSPORTATION
- The Department of Ecology addresses concerns and grants for Clean Vehicles Program in Washington state (KAPP/KVEW)
- At Sea-Tac Airport, 2024 was a bullish year for international travel (Puget Sound Business Journal) $
WEATHER & CLIMATE
WILDLIFE
