Episodes

  • AGO Draws Criticism for Advising SOS on Ballot Issue Involving AG Ferguson

    AGO Draws Criticism for Advising SOS on Ballot Issue Involving AG Ferguson
    Jun 21 2024
    The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has drawn criticism for providing legal advice to the Secretary of State’s Office regarding a request by Attorney General Bob Ferguson through his campaign attorney to alter the order of candidates on the November election ballot. Last month, two men also named Robert Ferguson filed to run for governor. State election laws has the order of candidates listed on the ballot to be chosen at random. Both Robert Fergusons would have appeared above Attorney General Ferguson on the ballot.
    Show more Show less
    25 mins
  • Law Banning Child Marriages in Washington State Now in Effect

    Law Banning Child Marriages in Washington State Now in Effect
    Jun 14 2024
    Washington is now the 11th state in the country to ban child marriages via a new law that went into effect on June 6 that makes it illegal for anyone under 18 to get married. House Bill 1455, passed by the Legislature this session and signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee in March, took effect on June 6. Prior to the new law, Washington was one of five states with no age requirement to marry. In those other states, children of any age can be legally married with permission from a judge, and 17-year-olds only need parental permission.
    Show more Show less
    24 mins
  • Washingtonians Hope for Safer Streets on Eve of Police Pursuit Law Change

    Washingtonians Hope for Safer Streets on Eve of Police Pursuit Law Change
    Jun 7 2024

    Beginning Thursday, June 6, law enforcement officers in Washington can once again pursue someone if they have reasonable suspicion that person has violated any law. Lawmakers amended the stricter policy after a voter initiative was submitted to the legislature and was adopted into law earlier this year. The 2021 law that significantly restricted police came as part of a package of reforms which Republicans and law enforcement say gave criminals the upper hand and led to huge spikes in crime.

    Support this podcast:

    https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx

    Full stories:

    https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_279992a2-2364-11ef-80c1-07e8aec81eab.html

    https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_19955b46-229c-11ef-b8f9-6771a16e5e05.html

    https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_15580482-229e-11ef-bca5-3f85f7254ca5.html

    https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ead41ec4-21d7-11ef-ae01-3705cdd938b9.html
    Show more Show less
    24 mins
  • Seattle Police Chief Steps Down Amid Department Issues

    Seattle Police Chief Steps Down Amid Department Issues
    May 31 2024
    Police Chief Adrian Diaz is stepping down from his role as head of the Seattle Police Department amid an increasing number of issues within the department. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the move on Wednesday, stating that Diaz “will be stepping aside to work on special assignments.”
    Show more Show less
    24 mins
  • Internal Investigation: WSDOT Economist’s Claims He Was Forced Out Not Substantiated

    Internal Investigation: WSDOT Economist’s Claims He Was Forced Out Not Substantiated
    May 24 2024
    An investigation by a law firm on behalf of the Washington State Department of Transportation found no merit to most of a former employee’s claims he was pressured to lie about the impact of the Climate Commitment Act on gas prices – and forced out of his job because of it. Scott Smith, a former economist with WSDOT, claims he faced hostility and retaliation after refusing to keep quiet about his calculations last year showing Washington’s cap-and-trade program under the CCA, which went into effect last year, would increase gas prices by 45 to 50 cents per gallon.
    Show more Show less
    24 mins
  • Inslee Makes His Case for Voters to Preserve Climate Commitment Act

    Inslee Makes His Case for Voters to Preserve Climate Commitment Act
    May 17 2024

    Full Story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_9e06a308-1162-11ef-9c04-07a36db3699b.html
    Show more Show less
    24 mins
  • KCRHA Makes Its Case Amid Homelessness Crisis, Increased Spending

    KCRHA Makes Its Case Amid Homelessness Crisis, Increased Spending
    May 10 2024

    With hundreds of millions of tax dollars spent, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority is facing calls for accountability from city officials who look to the semi-governmental organization to get the area's chronic homelessness crisis under control. A senior KCRHA policy director says their efforts are working. KCRHA has served as the organization responsible for coordinating funding and services for unhoused people across all of King County since 2019.

    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support
    Show more Show less
    24 mins
  • Confusion Remains Over WA Cares Exemptions Based on Private Insurance Plans

    Confusion Remains Over WA Cares Exemptions Based on Private Insurance Plans
    May 3 2024

    There seems to be some confusion among certain state agencies about workers who received exemptions from WA Cares, Washington’s mandatory long-term care benefit program. The program is paid for by 58 cents out of every $100 earned deducted from workers' paychecks. WA Cares provided a one-time opportunity for people to opt out, if they could show they had private long-term care insurance in place before Nov. 1, 2021. This opt-out provision is no longer available to new applicants.


    Full Story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_1af6325a-0661-11ef-a5b6-2f675ac19705.html

    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support
    Show more Show less
    24 mins