Washington courts rarely discipline guardians ad litem accused of misconduct in custody cases
Minimal oversight of court investigators makes it difficult for parents to challenge flawed reports without risking damage to their cases
Government
WA prisoners pay millions in fees to the state. Most of the money isn’t being used
Family members who have loved ones behind bars are supposed to provide input into how the Incarcerated Individual Betterment Fund gets spent, but they say the state isn’t listening.
Budget cuts for Idaho Child Care Program compounds financial troubles for parents, providers
With high employee turnover, Idaho’s financially struggling child care industry braces for subsidy program cuts
As teen employment rises in WA, so do youth labor violations
Between 2014 and 2022, complaints about working conditions for minors doubled — and one expert thinks this might be just the tip of the iceberg.
WA renters say unregulated ‘junk fees’ are being used to retaliate, discriminate
Washington lacks regulations that exist in other states to prevent excessive fees
‘Devolving into a democracy’: What’s behind the Washington GOP’s messy, inconsistent stand against American democracy
GOP resolution fuels concerns about threats to democracy; state party leader dismisses criticisms as “hair-on-fire rhetoric”
WA GOP chairman says party ‘lost a lot of talent’ to sanctions and infighting
Jim Walsh decries actions against lawmakers accused of “domestic terrorism,” sexual harassment and other misbehavior
Idaho ramped up investments in round-the-clock youth psychiatric care. But concerns over safety, accessibility loom
Parents of children who were turned away from Idaho Youth Ranch criticize its ‘unrealistic’ admissions standards
Washington prisons delayed nearly a third of all inmate release dates last year, costing taxpayers millions
Inmates say late releases derail their efforts to find housing
Following InvestigateWest report, Idaho approves funding for teen’s long-awaited care — but now there’s nowhere for him to go
Idaho lacks options for teens requiring highest level of psychiatric treatment
Broken Records: Citizens face growing obstacles to public records — and legislators are making them worse
We asked for government records from 15 Northwest cities, and Spokane was the slowest to provide them
Mayoral emails, collision reports, body-cam footage and firefighter thank-you’s: Public records tell a wide range of tales
A few of the other stories we stumbled across while testing the Pacific Northwest’s records’ systems
After Supreme Court ruling, some Oregon Democrats join Republicans in calling for changes to state camping laws
The issue could demand attention when lawmakers meet next year.