Articles written by Jerry Cornfield
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New Washington budget boosts state spending by $2B
The Washington State Legislature passed a $69.8 billion operating budget last year. The added money approved this session will be spent through June 2025 when the state’s budget resets. About half of that money is for “maintenance level” costs for go...
New Washington law will allow traffic cameras on more city streets and county roads
Drivers in Washington state may soon face better odds of getting caught on camera if they run a red light, speed through a work zone on a city street or fail to stop at a crosswalk. A new law signed Tuesday makes it possible for cities and counties...
Five takeaways from the 2024 Washington legislative session
Thursday marks the end of this year’s legislative session. Lawmakers put the finishing touches on legislation, approved budget proposals, and prepared to bail out of Olympia. Barring an unexpected special session, they are not scheduled to return u...
Washington looks to put its famous volcano on a license plate
A nearly unanimous state Senate on Tuesday backed the creation of a specialty license plate showcasing Mount St. Helens. Under Senate Bill 5590, proceeds from plate sales would go to the Mount St. Hel...
State lawmakers may end open carry in parks, require a permit to buy a gun
Democrats want to pass new restrictions to reduce gun violence and the proliferation of firearms. Opponents say their efforts infringe on Second Amendment rights and will leave families less safe in public places. Democratic lawmakers in Washington a...
New penalties for harassment of election workers
Washington lawmakers renewed their push Thursday to increase criminal penalties for harassment of election workers. The state House of Representatives, on an 86-11 vote, approved House Bill 1241 to make it a class C felony for a person to threaten...
Parents' bill of rights may be on 2025 ballot in Washington
An alliance of conservative groups on Tuesday submitted nearly 425,000 signatures for an initiative to guarantee parents access to materials their children are taught in K-12 classrooms and information about medical services public schools provide....
Crime, taxes and artificial intelligence on tap as WA lawmakers prep for session
Rising costs of transportation projects. Using artificial intelligence in Washington classrooms. Preserving affordable housing. Spending proceeds from the state’s new capital gains tax and recent cap-and-trade auctions. Those are a few topics s...
Petitions filed for initiative to erase Washington's ambitious climate law
Washington’s controversial carbon pricing scheme drew fire and praise Tuesday as critics turned in signatures for an initiative to repeal the program, while its architects, including the governor, vowed to fight the measure should it reach the b...
Only you can put Smokey Bear on a license plate
Washington drivers could one day be carrying Smokey Bear's image and message on their license plates to help reduce the number of wildfires started by people. An effort launched Monday would create a...
Traffic deaths are down in Finland. WA leaders will travel there to find out how
As Finland saw traffic fatalities plummet last year, Washington tallied a record number of deaths on its roads. Next month, state lawmakers and transportation officials will travel to the Nordic...
Long-snubbed by Washington lawmakers, sunshine panel not ready to surrender
Those advising state lawmakers on ways to ensure Washington’s government operates transparently have grown pretty frustrated with the lack of interest in their advice. It reached the point earlier this year when the Public Records Exemptions Accounta...
Herrera Beutler adds heat to lands commissioner race
Former congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler entered the race for Washington's Commissioner of Public Lands on Tuesday, giving Republicans a top-flight candidate in what's shaping up as one of next year...
Cash flows into race for congress
U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat whose unexpected win in 2022 flipped a Republican-held seat in southwest Washington, has amassed $2.1 million for a re-election bid next year, according t...
