Lt. Gov. Denny Heck asked the citizen salary-setting commission in October 2024 to increase the pay of state lawmakers, saying their compensation was not commensurate with their responsibilities. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard)

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Washington governor, AG and state lawmakers get 7% pay hikes

Washington governor, AG and state lawmakers get 7% pay hikes

Smoke rises from the Mount Tom Creek fire in the Olympic National Park. (Photo courtesy of Bill Kintner)

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Wildfire near Hoh River in Olympic National Park still burning after rain

A wildfire sparked by lightning has been burning for nearly a week in the Olympic National Park.

Washington State Capitol – Jan. 30, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Legislative Support Services)

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Capital gains tax surge eases but doesn’t solve WA budget woes

A windfall of capital gains tax payments is providing temporary relief for Washington’s budget, but other collections are…

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With cracks showing in WA economy, Ferguson forms new council to look for fixes

Warning lights are flashing for Washington’s economy.

Photo by Bruce McCallum. An overhead shot shows the extent of the damage.

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700 pounds of fireworks at center of Whidbey Island fire investigation

Multiple reports indicate that a cigarette may have been a catalyst in the fire and explosion.

Hundreds of state workers entered the state Capitol in Olympia to protest potential furloughs amid a massive budget shortfall on April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

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WA state workers head into difficult wage talks

State worker unions expected tough salary conversations this year, even before Gov. Bob Ferguson warned of difficult spending…

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Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

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WA governor’s office warns agencies to prepare for ‘significant budget shortfalls’

State agency leaders received a dire warning from Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office on Friday that they’re headed toward…

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown. File photo

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AG Nick Brown wants Supreme Court involved in WA’s redistricting fight

State Attorney General Nick Brown wants the conservative U.S. Supreme Court to wade into Washington’s partisan-fueled tiff on…

A view of the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant on May 27, 2026, following the catastrophic failure of a tank that contained a corrosive chemical. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Ecology)

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Millworkers at site of Longview tank implosion will be paid until early Aug.

Following a chemical tank implosion that killed 11 people at a mill in Longview, Washington, the plant’s owner…

Gas prices have been on the rise this year. Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard

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Gov. rebuffs GOP lawmaker’s call to pause WA climate law

Gov. Bob Ferguson is rejecting a lead Republican’s proposal to temporarily suspend Washington’s cap-and-trade program to decrease prices…

Courtesy image

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What does it cost to attend the World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup may end up being one of the most expensive in history for fans…

A man places his ballot into the drop box outside Federal Way City Hall. Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing

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Homeland Security retreats on plan to get data on mail-in voters

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is walking back, for now, a plan to sweep up data on…

The burst white liquor tank is seen at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, Washington, on May 26, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Longview Fire Department)

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Final 2 victims recovered from site of southwest WA mill implosion

The two remaining victims who went missing after a chemical tank implosion in Longview, Washington earlier this week…