View some incredible videos of trains rolling into Redmond for daytime Link light rail testing — and get ready to travel light in 2024!
Category: Policy Topics
Posted inElections
Republican megadonor Brian Heywood opens his wallet to fund six-initiative signature drive
A wealthy donor to the Washington State Republican Party has begun funneling serious money into a signature drive that aims to qualify a slew of six right wing initiatives to the 2024 Washington State Legislature, reports filed this week with the Public Disclosure Commission by his political committee show.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Amidst a record fire season, British Columbia tries to get ready for future climate damage
Eby is acting in a fire season in which 8,687 square miles have already burned, with one fire in northeast B.C. larger in size than the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. The province, once nicknamed Canada’s “lotus land”, has been hit with a succession of climate calamities in recent years.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Taking Hilltop Link for a test spin: This is what it was like to ride up to St. Joseph in Tacoma
In advance of the grand opening on Saturday morning, Sound Transit kindly offered a preview ride for agency boardmembers and representatives of media organizations. CEO Julie Timm and senior agency staff were present to talk about the new streetcar vehicles and stations, and did a great job explaining the history of the project and the obstacles Sound Transit overcame to get it built.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Washington State Supreme Court rebuffs Wahkiakum School District’s school construction funding constitutional challenge
The highest court in the Evergreen State has unanimously ruled against a rural Washington school district that brought a constitutional challenge over the state’s longtime K‑12 facilities funding regime, finding that the state’s paramount duty does not extend to school capital construction costs.
Posted inPolicy Topics
A reprieve for the Arctic Refuge: President Biden acts to protect lives and land alike
The Arctic Refuge is the largest single unit of public lands in the nation, spanning more than 19 million acres. The 1.5 million acres of the Coastal Plain, left open to development by Congress, is its heart and soul, calving ground for more than 100,000 animals of the Porcupine Caribou Herd.
Posted inPublic Planning
A public bank could help Washington tackle the growing threat of climate damage
If Washington is going to deal seriously with the impacts of global warming, including making the necessary investments throughout the state, then it should embrace the promise and potential of public banking.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Try these three effective strategies for countering racism and hate in public spaces
In this essay, guest contributor Erin Jones discusses the three postures she uses for combating racism and hate in schools and other places where many people are together: Gratitude, brave spaces, and pause.
Posted inElections
Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward feigns ignorance after accepting Matt Shea’s blessing at a white Christian nationalist rally
Woodward was already facing a tough general election campaign to win a second term, as evidenced by her loss to Lisa Brown in the August Top Two election. Now her electoral prospects look even dimmer.
Posted inHolidays
Happy Labor Day 2023!
Labor Day, established in the late nineteenth century, was born out of the union movement. It’s a day to recognize the immense contributions and sacrifices of our workers.
Posted inElections
Right wing looking for a way to defeat Ohio reproductive rights constitutional amendment
The Buckeye State will vote November 7th on Issue 1, an amendment to the Ohio Constitution which proclaims: “Every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive rights.” The decisions include contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage and abortion.”
Posted inPolicy Topics
Sound Transit Board agrees to open Redmond to Bellevue segment of East Link in 2024
The East Link extension, approved as part of Sound Transit Phase II in 2008, will connect Bellevue and Redmond to Mercer Island and Seattle when complete. Defective construction on the cross-lake segment (which is necessitating a do-over of some work) prompted the agency to rethink the original opening plans.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Most of Washington’s counties are suing the state for refusing to provide necessary behavioral health treatment under state law
“In the face of DSHS’s continuing contempt for both legislative and judicial authority, Washington’s counties have joined in an unprecedented coalition to enforce DSHS’s legal obligations,” the counties declare in their legal action.
Posted inPolicy Topics
From pariahs to cultural icons: The Pacific Northwest has thankfully come to love orcas
Though they have been considered relatives by the region’s Coast Salish peoples since time immemorial, it wasn’t that long ago that orcas were viewed negatively by many non-indigenous Pacific Northwesterners. NPI contributor Joel Connelly recounts how much has changed in the last half century.