Politics

From left, Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia; Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville; Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn; and Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, confer on the Senate floor Friday at the Capitol in Olympia. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Governor sign $43.7 billion budget, avoids partial shutdown

With less than an hour to spare, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a new two-year, $43.7 billion… Continue reading

From left, Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia; Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville; Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn; and Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, confer on the Senate floor Friday at the Capitol in Olympia. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

New state mental health budget ‘doesn’t look promising’

The state’s latest budget plan falls far short of what’s needed to fix the state’s floundering mental… Continue reading

Details of state budget plan released: Property tax, online retail sales tax among provisions

Details of state budget plan released: Property tax, online retail sales tax among provisions

A bipartisan budget agreement that has taken months to reach and addresses a court mandate… Continue reading

Details of state budget plan released: Property tax, online retail sales tax among provisions
Gov. Jay Inslee talks to reporters about ongoing budget negotiations Tuesday in Olympia. (Rachel La Corte/The Associated Press)

Lawmakers reach budget agreement ‘in principle’; no details released

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday that state lawmakers have reached agreement “in principle” on a new… Continue reading

Gov. Jay Inslee talks to reporters about ongoing budget negotiations Tuesday in Olympia. (Rachel La Corte/The Associated Press)
State legislative leaders say they are closing in on budget deal

State legislative leaders say they are closing in on budget deal

With the deadline to avoid a potential government shutdown looming, legislative leaders said Tuesday afternoon they… Continue reading

State legislative leaders say they are closing in on budget deal
Port Angeles council hopefuls talk annexation, water, second-class-city vote

Port Angeles council hopefuls talk annexation, water, second-class-city vote

Candidates for Port Angeles City Council Position 1 tackled questions Tuesday about issues facing the city including annexation, the city’s fight with… Continue reading

Port Angeles council hopefuls talk annexation, water, second-class-city vote

Port Angeles City Council eliminates ethics code; city reverts to state rules

Port Angeles City Council members have gutted a 5-year-old ethics code that pro- and anti-fluoridation advocates wielded last year to target all… Continue reading

Another candidate drops out of Aug. 1 primary election

Another candidate has dropped out of an Aug. 1 primary race. Allen Hunt, a Port Angeles-area Clallam County Fire District 2 firefighter-paramedic,… Continue reading

Inslee calls lawmakers back for third special session

Inslee calls lawmakers back for third special session

Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday called lawmakers back for a third special session, saying that “the… Continue reading

Inslee calls lawmakers back for third special session

Lawmakers swamped with anti-tax emails, form letters

“My office has received more than 600 identical emails from constituents,” wrote Sen. Kevin Van de Wege, D-Sequim, via email this week. All… Continue reading

Washington lawmakers near end of second special session

Washington lawmakers are nearing the end of their second special session, and with no signs that… Continue reading

Kilmer talks federal budget, Paris accord in Olympic Peninsula News Group interview

Kilmer talks federal budget, Paris accord in Olympic Peninsula News Group interview

Democrats and Republicans in Congress should hash out their own budget rather than using President Donald Trump’s “unserious” budget as a starting point,… Continue reading

Kilmer talks federal budget, Paris accord in Olympic Peninsula News Group interview

Port Angeles City Council candidate says his account was hacked

A City Council candidate whose Facebook page included a March 2013 posting that joked about assassinating then-President Barack Obama said last week… Continue reading

Five file during extended Jefferson filing period, leaving some positions without candidates

Five candidates filed for election for two open offices during the extended filing period for Jefferson County, which leaves 14 positions without… Continue reading

Six register for Clallam election in extended filing period

West End-area fire district seats were all the rage during Clallam County’s special May 30-June 1 filing period last week. Six candidates… Continue reading

Eye on Olympia: Chapman sees end in sight

Rep. Mike Chapman thinks negotiators likely will reach agreement within two or three weeks of the second special session called by Gov. Jay… Continue reading

Chris Reykdal, state superintendent of public instruction, talks to reporters Wednesday in Olympia. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Superintendent of schools unveils six-year plan for schools

Superintendent of schools unveils six-year plan for schools

Chris Reykdal, state superintendent of public instruction, talks to reporters Wednesday in Olympia. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Clallam candidates drop out after filing

Filing week for the Nov. 7 general election ended Friday, but some candidates are still dropping out while others are needed. Just… Continue reading

Republican Sen. Joe Fain, far right, speaks in a mostly empty Senate chamber during adjournment of a 30-day special legislative session Tuesday in Olympia. (Rachel La Corte/The Associated Press)

State lawmakers start second special session

State lawmakers adjourned their first special session Tuesday but were immediately called back into overtime by… Continue reading

Republican Sen. Joe Fain, far right, speaks in a mostly empty Senate chamber during adjournment of a 30-day special legislative session Tuesday in Olympia. (Rachel La Corte/The Associated Press)

Extended candidate filing periods set for Peninsula counties

Both Jefferson and Clallam counties will have an extended filing period open next week to try and field candidates for the elected… Continue reading