Jenelle Baumbach

Linda Hjelle, left, and Joe Wanagel

Longtime Snohomish County assessor faces landlord’s election challenge

Linda Hjelle wants to keep up her work for a final term. Joe Wanagel thinks current property taxes are a sign for the assessor to go.

Linda Hjelle, left, and Joe Wanagel
Megan Dunn, left, and Georgia Fisher

County Council candidates differ sharply on solutions to homelessness

Megan Dunn hopes to keep a progressive tilt to the council. Georgia Fisher advocates for a choice between drug treatment or jail time.

Megan Dunn, left, and Georgia Fisher
Harrison Wolff, center, instructs how to use kettle balls during a class at Remedy Athletics in Marysville, Washington on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Sobriety, then strength: Cost-free CrossFit in Marysville changes lives

Anyone recovering from addiction is welcome at the Remedy Recovery class. The only requirement is 24 hours of sobriety.

Harrison Wolff, center, instructs how to use kettle balls during a class at Remedy Athletics in Marysville, Washington on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Alvaro Guillen, executive director of Connect Casino Road, at the Snohomish County Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Despite a growing need, county doesn’t provide ballots in Spanish

Snohomish County doesn’t meet a threshold mandating Spanish-language ballots. Some think they should be standard anyway.

Alvaro Guillen, executive director of Connect Casino Road, at the Snohomish County Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Dennis Michelson pushes his ballot into the drop box outside of Lynnwood City Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

With ballots out, here’s what to watch in this year’s election

A record-breaking race for sheriff has the spotlight. Candidates for city, county and school board positions are also up for election.

Dennis Michelson pushes his ballot into the drop box outside of Lynnwood City Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Charles Mister (Snohomish County Elections)

Everett school board candidate runs on ‘quality leaming enviarments’

Charles Mister Jr. also ran for the board in 2021, claiming a resume that was part fiction.

Charles Mister (Snohomish County Elections)
The pathway at Matt Hirvela Bicentennial Park is completed Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Foot by foot, Mountlake Terrace park path built up by volunteers

Slowly but surely, a path grew over the past 13 years at Matt Hirvela Bicentennial Park. It’s done now.

The pathway at Matt Hirvela Bicentennial Park is completed Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at the Snohomish & Island County Labor Council champions dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

As Ferguson runs for governor, he touts labor bonafides in Everett

On Tuesday, the state attorney general emphasized his support for workers’ rights and commended unions fighting a “rigged system.”

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at the Snohomish & Island County Labor Council champions dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Gov. Jay Inslee and Evergreen Recovery Centers CEO Linda Grant cut the ceremonial ribbon during an event celebrating the Evergreen Manor Family Services Center on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

First-of-its-kind treatment center for mothers opening in Everett

The new Evergreen Recovery program will keep women and children together during treatment for substance use.

Gov. Jay Inslee and Evergreen Recovery Centers CEO Linda Grant cut the ceremonial ribbon during an event celebrating the Evergreen Manor Family Services Center on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Norma Joseph in the North Cascades July 2020. Norma a longtime leader of the Sauk-Suiattle tribe, died Monday Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by Shari Brewer)

Sauk-Suiattle tribal leader Norma Joseph dies at 76

She worked to revive the “critically endangered” Lushootseed language in her tribe and the region through education.

Norma Joseph in the North Cascades July 2020. Norma a longtime leader of the Sauk-Suiattle tribe, died Monday Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by Shari Brewer)
Kira Violette, a graphic designer for Everett Community College, on campus on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 in Everett, Washington. Violette has $35,000 in student loan debt and will have $400 a month payments when she has to start paying them back. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

800K Washingtonians must restart student loan payments this month

After a three-year pause, former students face a big budget adjustment, like Kira Violette, who works at Everett Community College.

Kira Violette, a graphic designer for Everett Community College, on campus on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 in Everett, Washington. Violette has $35,000 in student loan debt and will have $400 a month payments when she has to start paying them back. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Fancy, left, and Pimento, right, both look out of their separate cat pods at the Everett Animal Shelter on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Stray cats overcrowd Everett’s animal shelter

For the first 15 days of October, the Everett Animal Shelter is reducing adoption fees for dogs and cats.

Fancy, left, and Pimento, right, both look out of their separate cat pods at the Everett Animal Shelter on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Representative Rick Larsen speaks at the March For Our Lives rally on Saturday, June 11, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Larsen: ‘Fractured caucus’ of House Republicans is ‘unable to lead’

Following removal of the House speaker, a shutdown still looms. Congress has until Nov. 17 to devise a spending plan.

Representative Rick Larsen speaks at the March For Our Lives rally on Saturday, June 11, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynn Deeken, the Dean of Arts, Learning Resources & Pathways at EvCC, addresses a large gathering during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Cascade Learning Center on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

New EvCC learning resource center opens to students, public

Planners of the Everett Community College building hope it will encourage students to use on-campus tutoring resources.

Lynn Deeken, the Dean of Arts, Learning Resources & Pathways at EvCC, addresses a large gathering during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Cascade Learning Center on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Evening rush hour traffic moves along I-5 on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Cars clogging highways more, data shows; local lawmakers eye solutions

On highways in the central Puget Sound region, delays were up 35%, according to new data from the state Department of Transportation.

Evening rush hour traffic moves along I-5 on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A view of a 6 parcel, 4.4 acre piece of land in Edmonds, south of Edmonds-Woodway High School on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Housing authority seeks more property in Edmonds

The Housing Authority of Snohomish County doesn’t have specific plans for land near 80th Avenue West, if its offer is accepted.

A view of a 6 parcel, 4.4 acre piece of land in Edmonds, south of Edmonds-Woodway High School on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
June Robinson

Everett senator will head state Senate’s budget-writing committee

Come 2024, Sen. June Robinson will lead the Ways and Means Committee, giving her power in deciding the state budget.

June Robinson
Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin gives an address to the city council of her proposed 2024 budget at the Everett Police Department North Precinct in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Everett mayor presents balanced budget for 2024; future deficit looms

If approved by the City Council, the $438 million budget will fund more police staff, parks and infrastructure.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin gives an address to the city council of her proposed 2024 budget at the Everett Police Department North Precinct in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Cash is used for a purchase at Molly Moon's Ice Cream in Edmonds, Washington on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

County Council delays vote on requiring businesses to take cash

Concerns over information and enforcement postponed the council’s scheduled vote on the ordinance Wednesday in Snohomish County.

Cash is used for a purchase at Molly Moon's Ice Cream in Edmonds, Washington on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Donna Moulton, CEO of Housing Hope, speaks during the Everett Herald’s public forum on affordable housing at the Lynnwood Library on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

At Herald forum, experts discuss local affordable housing challenges

“In every step of trying to develop affordable housing, it feels like an uphill battle,” said Donna Moulton, CEO of Housing Hope.

Donna Moulton, CEO of Housing Hope, speaks during the Everett Herald’s public forum on affordable housing at the Lynnwood Library on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)