State & Regional News | The Daily Chronicle

Jen Chong Jewell, the mother of a child with developmental disabilities, speaks at a press conference on proposed cuts to Medicaid alongside Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

What Medicaid cuts passed by U.S. House could mean for Washington state

Washington leaders are warning that at least 194,000 people in the state stand to lose Medicaid coverage under a Republican-backed budget bill that passed the U.S. House early Thursday. Only … more

Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard | 5/23/25

Union hit with fine for failing to report $430K in Washington state campaign contributions on time

A powerful statewide labor union was fined $6,000 on Thursday for failing to report more than $430,000 in contributions to candidates and political committees days ahead of the 2024 election. … more

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard | 5/23/25

One boater rescued, 3 still missing as search called off in Washington, Coast Guard says

A search for three people missing after a recreational boat capsized off the Washington coast has been suspended, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Someone reported the 20-foot vessel capsized and … more

Don Sweeney / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 5/23/25

Gov. Bob Ferguson delivers his inaugural address in the House chambers at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Ferguson warns ‘cruel’ Medicaid cuts would rip health care from 200K Washington state residents

Gov. Bob Ferguson on Thursday warned that the U.S. Congress’ proposed Medicaid cuts would jeopardize health-care access for nearly 2 million Washington residents. Medicaid is the … more

Simone Carter / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 5/23/25

Man gets two-year sentence for bomb hoax that forced airliner to divert to Washington state airport

A 40-year-old man whose bomb threat aboard a Seattle-bound flight forced the plane to land at the Spokane International Airport was sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison, according to the … more

Garrett Cabeza / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 5/23/25

Washington state governor calls on Reps. Newhouse, Baumgartner to explain ‘dire’ cuts to Medicaid

Gov. Bob Ferguson called on the state’s Republican congressional coalition to “explain their votes” on a massive federal spending bill that could result in 200,000 Washingtonians … more

Eric Rosane / The News Tribune (TNS) | 5/23/25

Fishermen prepare to go out on their boat during a fishing derby at Mineral Lake on Saturday, April 26.

Free fishing 1 weekend in June anywhere in Washington state. Here’s what to know

Fishing will be free in Washington state — no license required for most types of fish — for one weekend in June. Washington state Fish and Wildlife has two days of free fishing each … more

Tri-City Herald staff (TNS) | 5/23/25

Traveling for Memorial Day weekend? WSDOT says leave early or stay late

If you’re driving anywhere in Washington state this weekend, you might want to take a look at the state’s predicted travel times for some of the more popular roads. Washington State … more

Genevieve Belmaker / The Bellingham Herald (TNS) | 5/23/25

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks at True North Classical Academy on March 18, 2025.

Judge orders Trump to stop dismantling Department of Education after lawsuit by states, including Washington

A federal judge Thursday ordered an indefinite stop to the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The court order reinstated 1,300 fired workers, … more

By Dave Mason / The Center Square | 5/22/25

President Donald Trump speaks at a cabinet meeting on April 30.

Washington state congressional delegation asks Trump to reconsider $34M disaster relief request

Facing $34 million in damages, the Washington state Congressional delegation sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, pleading for disaster relief. Severe winds and heavy rainfall … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 5/22/25

U.S. Senate vote to nix California tailpipe emissions standard blocks 17 other states, including Washington

The U.S. Senate voted early Thursday to prevent California from enforcing regulations on tailpipe emission from new cars and trucks, upending state regulations for the nearly 40% of Americans whose … more

By Jacob Fischler / States Newsroom | 5/22/25

What Medicaid cuts passed by U.S. House could mean for Washington state

Washington leaders are warning that at least 194,000 people in the state stand to lose Medicaid coverage under a Republican-backed budget bill that passed the U.S. House early Thursday. Only … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 5/22/25

Critics of newly signed $78 billion Washington state operating budget predict dire fallout

The day after Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law a two-year, $78 billion operating budget that amounts to the largest tax increase in state history, critics expressed disappointment and … more

Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 5/22/25

Friday, March 18, 2022. Some of the 7,000 containers at Seattle's Northwest Seaport Alliance's Terminal 46 where containers sit ready to be picked up and filled or filled and waiting to be loaded onto ships.

Stop Trump’s tariffs, Washington state leaders beg court

The past couple months have been a rollercoaster ride at the Port of Seattle. In response to President Donald Trump’s tariff whipsaw, international cargo imports spiked in March and April … more

Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard | 5/22/25

Columbia River salmon restoration hit hard by $1.5B cut to Army Corps of Engineers

The Trump administration has cut tens of millions of dollars from a key Columbia Basin salmon-restoration program run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a move experts say puts the treasured … more

Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 5/22/25

A cellphone ban by Los Angeles Unified in the nation's second largest school district will take effect in mid-February, about a month later than originally announced, and will also apply to smart watches and any other device that can be used to send messages, receive calls or scroll the internet. Phones will not be allowed during lunch or breaks, and each campus will decide how the devices will be stored or locked up. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Gov. Tina Kotek says she may sign executive order banning cellphones in Oregon schools

If Oregon is to become the 22nd state in the country to have a statewide policy banning the use of cellphones in schools, it could be up to Gov. Tina Kotek to make it happen. Lawmakers in the … more

Julia Silverman / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/22/25

OHSU researchers develop tiny particle aimed at supercharging cancer treatment

A team of scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have taken a big step toward developing a safer, more powerful way to treat cancer — with something incredibly small. It … more

Kristine de Leon / oregonlive.com (TNS) | 5/22/25

Pilot sees car in canal, leading to discovery of woman’s body, Washington state cops say

A pilot discovered a vehicle crashed in a Washington canal, leading to the discovery of a woman’s body, deputies said. Erika Martinez Chavez last contacted family the night of Sunday, May … more

Helena Wegner / The Olympian (TNS) | 5/22/25

Washington state nonprofit buys $1M office to focus on mission to end sex trafficking

Mirror Ministries, the Christian nonprofit focused on ending the sex trafficking of minors in the Tri-Cities, has a new home. Tricia MacFarlan, executive director, confirmed the ministry … more

Wendy Culverwell / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 5/22/25

Washington state governor signs hunting, fishing fee increases into law; Discover Pass price also rising

Washington hunters and anglers will pay more money for their licenses starting this summer. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday signed a new law that raises fees for nearly all hunting and … more

Michael Wright / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 5/22/25