Homeland Security’s ‘welfare’ check on Idaho migrant students raises school privacy questions
In other parts of the country, the welfare checks have resulted in children being taken out of their homes and put back into government custody
Pierce deputy drove 83 mph in wrong lane during deadly 2020 crash
Records show the county settled for $3.5M after deeming the collision highly preventable, demonstrating the vague legal standards for officer driving.
WA intercepts millions in child support for low-income families
In 2022, the state took over $40 million meant for impoverished children. A bipartisan bill could redirect a portion of future payments to families.
WA spent $500M to help small, minority businesses. Did it work?
An analysis of Working Washington grants found mixed results on equity initiatives and millions for large chains or franchises.
Federal aid is supercharging local WA police surveillance tech
Pandemic relief funds are bankrolling new – and often unregulated – law enforcement tools such as license-plate readers, drones and AI video software.
Washington public agencies win $121M to extend rural broadband
State administrators overruled or helped mediate telecom objections that have previously disqualified local governments from similar grant awards.
The WA 'strike force' chasing millions in COVID-19 relief fraud
From a Spokane T-shirt scheme to a Nigerian unemployment scam, federal prosecutors are grappling with how to prioritize cases amid limited resources.
All former WA prisoners can now vote. So far, few have
Of the 24,000 residents with felony records now able to vote, just 414 did so last fall. Advocates hope to increase registration and voter education.
New state rules could expand public broadband in rural WA
A proposal from Washington's Public Works Board would limit the power of private companies' objections to stall public broadband projects.
Housing vouchers sit unused at some rural Washington agencies
COVID stimulus gave public housing authorities new resources. While King County leads the nation in distribution, that's not the case across the state.
Yakima, Spokane counties forfeit nearly $2M in federal rental aid
The U.S. Treasury pulled funds from jurisdictions that didn't meet the deadline to distribute at least 20% of their most recent allocation.
Administrative delays cost Yakima County $1.1M in federal rent relief
Yakima was the only Washington county to have rent assistance funds forcibly reallocated under the federal 'use it or lose it' approach.
Flush with federal cash, WA cities steer resources to police
Justice reform advocates have been disappointed by choices to spend flexible federal recovery funds on items such as tasers and new police cruisers.