Washington News

Washington Farm to Pay More $2M Following COVID Deaths

The state of Washington has reached a settlement with Gebbers Farms Operations, LP to spend more than $2 million improving housing, quality of life, safety and access to health care for farm employees and their families. The Washington state Department …

Washington Governor Declares Wildfire State of Emergency, Burn Ban

Gov. Jay Inslee this week declared a state of emergency throughout Washington relating to the growing risk of wildfires, including a statewide prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning through Sept. 30. “We don’t want a repeat of recent years …

Most COVID-19 Restrictions Lifted in Washington

Most of the COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place and modified several times since last spring were lifted in Washington on Wednesday, meaning restaurants and bars and other businesses could resume full indoor occupancy levels and physical distancing requirements …

Seahawks Allowing Full Crowds at Lumen Field Next Season

The Seattle Seahawks intend to have full capacity crowds at Lumen Field for the upcoming season after the team received approval from the NFL and local and state health officials to completely reopen the stadium. Fans won’t be required to …

Former Washington Logger Charged in Nearly $300K Workers’ Comp Scam

A Cowlitz County, Wash., man stands accused of faking injuries to collect nearly $300,000 in workers’ compensation benefits. James Joseph Thomasson, 52, of Kalama, is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Thurston County Superior Court on one count of felony …

$6M Settlement for Men Abused at Washington Boys Home Being Paid by Insurers

Insurance companies are paying $6 million to settle a lawsuit brought against Kiwanis International and local Kiwanis clubs by seven men who were sexually abused at a Centralia group home for boys in Washington decades ago, attorneys for the men …

ShakeAlert Earthquake Warning System Goes Live in Washington

Washington residents will have new tool to help keep them safe when an earthquake strikes on Tuesday when the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System goes live. Once launched, ShakeAlert will be able to send residents an alert on their mobile …

Insurers Warn Washington Court Ruling Will Raise Rates for a Million Consumers

Insurer groups expressed disappointment over a judge’s ruling denying an industry request to halt an emergency rule that temporarily bans the use of insurance credit scoring in Washington. The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Washington, the Professional Insurance Agents …

Bill to Create Fund to Battle Washington Wildfires Moving Through Legislature

A bill to create a dedicated fund to prevent and fight wildfires in Washington easily passed the state House of Representatives and will be sent to the state Senate. The bill, promoted by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, passed …

Washington State Pushing Measure to Create Office of Cybersecurity

In response to a security breach that exposed personal information from around 1.6 million unemployment claims filed last year, the Washington Senate has unanimously passed a measure that creates a state Office of Cybersecurity. The measure, passed by the chamber …