Author: TJ Martinell | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Although Initiative 2117 repealing the state’s cap-and-trade program was rejected by Washington voters earlier this month, state planners are still grappling with logistical and practical challenges around transitioning the transportation sector toward electric vehicles, an effort heavily funded by cap-and-trade revenue. “EVs are going to be a story here and it’s going to be…

(The Center Square) – A Washington-based surgery center ranked by a nonprofit among the top in the state for minor gender reassignment surgeries was recently fined $5 million as part of a lawsuit in which the State Attorney General’s Office accused them of deceptive business practices.   Within Washington, Lynnwood-based Alderwood Surgical Center performed more than…

(The Center Square) – Washington state is among the 10 states in the nation where gender reassignment procedures performed on minors occur the most, according to data from Do No Harm, while Seattle’s Children’s Hospital was listed among the top hospitals in the nation. Do No Harm is a nonprofit group of physicians and other medical professionals that gets its name…

(The Center Square) – If you’re a Washington resident reluctant to buy or drive an electric vehicle due to the lack of charging infrastructure around the state or in cold weather conditions, you’re not alone. Some state agencies are reporting that their staff are hesitant to use EVs for that same reason, highlighting an ongoing challenge for…

(The Center Square) – A new report published by Greenline Insights, along with proponents of the Climate Commitment Act, claims that if Initiative 2117 is approved by voters and repeals the law, it would deprive the state of state revenue by $3.9 billion through 2029. If that happened, the study warned it would “eliminate investments into…

(The Center Square) – The Washington state highway system is in “early stages of failure” due to a lack of maintenance and preservation for not only the highway infrastructure itself, but also regarding the equipment and facilities that need to be replaced or upgraded, according to a recent presentation by the Washington State Department of Transportation. The warning comes…

(The Center Square) – A state law passed in 2021 envisioned a state police use of force database under the State Attorney General’s Office that would collect information about incidents from law enforcement agencies and make the information available for the public to view and download. However, concerns are now being raised by law enforcement groups and other…

(The Center Square) – An “insight report” published and partially funded by the Washington State Department of Health argues that the response to COVID-19 “illustrates pre-existing inequities” and led to a disproportionate impact on nonwhite and non-Asian people. Titled “Voices From The Frontlines: A Chorus of COVID,” the report was created by “thought partners” with DOH’s Community Collaborative…

(The Center Square) – The Washington State Department of Health has announced that $14 million of grant money from Climate Commitment Act revenue has been awarded to 41 different community organizations and tribes. The $14 million in grant money has been awarded under two separate programs: $750,000 from the Climate and Health Adaptation Initiative (CHAI)…

(The Center Square) – In January during the legislative session, House Committee on Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Chair Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, introduced House Bill 2178 to allow level two and level three sex offenders to petition to be discharged from lifetime community custody after a certain amount of time. The bill advanced from Goodman’s…