Idaho leaders urged to address systemic failures following prison abuse reports
InvestigateWest reporters uncovered years of sexual abuse by women’s prison guards prompting calls for independent investigation
Government
Oregon House passes bill to fix law that forces state to refund child labor fines
State labor officials say bill would allow investigators to crack down on child labor violations
Plans for long-sought Tribal Early Learning Hub collapse three years after Oregon lawmakers mandated its creation
Tribal representatives bank on an early learning success plan to increase services
Bundy Ranch militant Eric Parker says he’s the driving force behind Idaho bill to narrow definition of 'terrorism'
Critics argue the legislation “essentially guts” Idaho’s Terrorist Control Act
WA lawmaker wants to make voting mandatory … sort of?
Sen. Sam Hunt reintroduced a bill to legally require people to vote — but there wouldn’t be any consequences if you don’t.
Oregon’s labor regulators ask for lawmakers’ help to tackle backlogs
The bottleneck of civil rights and wage claims has decreased, but workers still face long waits for service
WA lawmakers introduce bill requiring clergy to report child abuse, one year after similar bill died over Catholic opposition
Lawmakers hope a compromise will get Catholic lobbyists on board
The failed promise of independent election mapmaking in WA
In Washington and other states, independent redistricting commissions have fallen prey to partisanship, just like the legislative bodies they were meant to replace.
WA Democrats propose new tax on real estate sales over $3M to fund affordable housing
Supporters estimate the tax could raise nearly $300 million every two years. Republicans argue it could drive up costs for renters.
Cap-and-trade, climate change return to the 2024 WA Legislature
On the agenda starting Jan. 8: Spending Washington’s carbon tax, tweaking the cap-and-invest program and taking a stab at utility rebates.
Idaho Freedom Foundation President Wayne Hoffman replaced, controversy over his alt-right contractor lingers
Hoffman exits one month after InvestigateWest reported on think tank’s ties to alt-right propagandist
Almost 57,000 Idaho kids have lost Medicaid. Federal regulators are worried
Idaho, tied for the highest rate of children removed from Medicaid, says its following the law in how it re-evaluates program eligibility.
Biden’s Administration Is Still Denying Immigrants Citizenship for Working in Legal Cannabis
Federal officials consider immigrants “drug traffickers” even in states where cannabis has been legalized