The washington state standard
New effort underway to understand WA’s budget shortfalls
An 18-person panel set off Monday in search of how to write sustainable spending plans
Washington State Standard
Trial begins in WA suit against Albertsons over opioid epidemic liability
The state has brought in more than $1.3 billion to address the opioid crisis from drug manufacturers and distributors in other cases.
US Supreme Court will hear challenge to WA runaway youth law
Supporters say it is needed to help protect trans youth in crisis. A group of parents sued, arguing it is designed to keep them in the dark about their children’s gender identity.
Postal Service skips hearing with WA lawmakers on mail-in ballot rules
by Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard June 22, 2026 U.S. Postal Service officials were set to meet publicly with Washington state lawmakers Monday as the agency considers a sweeping rule change to add federal oversight to mail-in voting. But the Postal Service representatives canceled just hours before
Washington State Standard
Washington sued over assisted living spending cuts
by Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard June 15, 2026 Faced with a budget shortfall this year, Washington Democratic lawmakers relied on spending cuts and other maneuvers to make ends meet. For one, they trimmed tens of millions of dollars in state funding for assisted living facilities that care for
Washington State Standard
Environmental groups sue to stop 400 acres of logging in WA’s Elwha Watershed
The lawsuit argues that the state failed to study possible environmental harms of cutting the forests, which include trees that are 140 years old.
Washington State Standard
High-potency cannabis fuels state debates over psychosis and addiction risks
by Amanda Watford, Washington State Standard June 8, 2026 When her son was a teenager, Connecticut mom Amy Wadsworth said, he was the type of kid parents rarely worry about. He played sports, cared about his health and stayed away from drugs. In 2018, when he left West Hartford to
Washington State Standard
Where Affordable Care Act insurance coverage has dropped most in WA
by Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard June 1, 2026 Washington’s rural counties saw the largest drops in insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act after the Republican-controlled Congress failed to extend subsidies that helped consumers afford the plans. About 250,000 Washingtonians are enrolled this year through