Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson appointed Colleen Melody to the state Supreme Court on Nov. 24, 2025. Melody, who leads civil rights division of the state Attorney General’s Office, will assume her seat following the retirement of Justice Mary Yu at the end of the year. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

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Gov. makes his pick for WA Supreme Court seat

Colleen Melody said she’s done interviews for two jobs in the past 12 years. Bob Ferguson conducted both.

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Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

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WA fines Regence Blue Shield over mental health coverage

Washington state is fining health insurance giant Regence Blue Shield over half a million dollars for disparities between…

A bust of George Washington lies tipped over on the third floor of the Washington state Capitol building in Olympia, after a vandal broke in and caused damage on Sunday night. (Photo courtesy of Department of Enterprise Services)

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Toll could be nearly $1M from vandalism in WA State Capitol

Damage at the Washington state Capitol from vandalism last month could cost nearly $1 million.

Washington’s pickleball license plate. Courtesy of Seattle Metro Pickleball Association

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Pickleball gets its own Washington license plate

Washington served up a new license plate Nov. 19, honoring the state sport of pickleball.

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Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

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Downbeat outlook persists in WA’s final budget forecast of the year

Washington state budget writers got a mild dose of good news on Nov. 18, but are still looking…

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Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

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What’s next with investing WA’s long-term care fund in stocks

Voters decided this month to allow payroll taxes collected for Washington’s new long-term care program to be invested…

Washington state Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, makes remarks during a Washington State Budget and Policy Center panel discussion on Nov. 12, 2025. Photo courtesy of Washington State Budget and Policy Center

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Legislature’s ‘Revenue Queen’ prepares for 2026 tax battles

Democratic state Sen. Noel Frame traces her interest in tax policy to her time as a teenager in…

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson speaks to Andi Smith of the Ballmer Group after the announcement of a major new philanthropic donation to fund early childhood education on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at the Denise Louie Education Center in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

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Philanthropy will donate millions for free preschool in WA

The Ballmer Group on Nov. 12 committed hundreds of millions of dollars for free preschool in Washington, a…

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Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

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Security company drops lawsuit over new WA tax

A security company has dropped its lawsuit over Washington’s new sales tax on services weeks after filing it.

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Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

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Fight over counting mail-in ballots after Election Day will go before Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday took up a Republican-backed challenge to counting mail-in ballots received after Election…

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Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

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WA’s budget crunch affects lawmakers’ wish lists

With the state strapped for cash, Democrats’ chief budget writer in the Washington Senate has told colleagues there’s…

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Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

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WA makes pitch to feds for $1B in rural health funding

Washington is making its bid for a billion dollars in new federal funding for rural health care.

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Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

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Expected slide in WA unemployment trust fund balance could trigger new tax

Washington businesses would need to shoulder roughly $700 million in additional taxes in a few years unless the…