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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee arrives to sign the first bill to be signed into law during the 2021 legislative session, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. The measure increases the minimum weekly benefit for unemployed workers during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and prevents a dramatic increase in unemployment taxes paid by businesses. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Local News

Most counties cleared for Inslee’s Phase 2, joining Snohomish

The governor also announced another infusion of aid for struggling businesses, renters and landlords.

Northwest

4th Washington resident charged in U.S. Capitol breach

Taylor James Johnatakis of Kingston was charged in an eight-count indictment in Washington, D.C.

Northwest

Most of state will be in Phase 2 of reopening plan next week

Snohomish County, in the Puget Sound region, met the standard two weeks ago and is in Phase 2.

Snohomish County Health District. (Sue Misao / Herald file)

Northwest

Lawmakers examine restructuring public health in Washington

King, Snohomish and Pierce counties will likely be allowed to use their existing health departments.

Gray wolves historically roamed across the state but were eradicated in Washington by 1930s. In recent decades wolves have been migrating back to the state from Canada, Idaho and Oregon. John and Karen Hollingsworth/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Northwest

Pack to the future: Will more wolves come to King County?

The state has more than 20 known wolf packs, but only one has crossed the Cascades, east of…

Northwest

Shell pays $191K fine for Skagit County refinery incident

Operating procedure violations in 2015 resulted in the release of about 700 pounds of pollutants.

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo, the Legislative Building is shown partially shrouded in fog at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Washington state's richest residents, including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, would pay a wealth tax on certain financial assets worth more than $1 billion under a proposed bill whose sponsor says she is seeking a fair and equitable tax code. Under the bill, starting Jan. 1, 2022, for taxes due in 2023, a 1% tax would be levied not on income, but on "extraordinary" assets ranging from cash, publicly traded options, futures contracts, and stocks and bonds. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Northwest

Legislature approves $2.2 billion in coronavirus relief

Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign the bill next week, putting it into effect immediately.

Initiative promoter Tim Eyman listens during a session of Thurston County Superior Court, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Olympia, Wash. Eyman, who ran initiative campaigns across Washington for decades, will no longer be allowed to have any financial control over political committees, under a ruling from Superior Court Judge James Dixon Wednesday that blasted Eyman for using donor's contributions to line his own pocket. Eyman was also told to pay more than $2.5 million in penalties. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Local News

Judge fines Eyman $2.6 million for campaign law violations

The serial anti-tax initiative sponsor said he will abide the court’s order but denied he violated “any law.”

Jim Murray, 59 surveys his house that was destroyed by a wildfire on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Malden, Wash. "I bought this house about 5 years ago to retire here. My grandfather ran the town gas station, was the town cop at one time, and was the fire chief," said Murray. "My wife and I planned to retire here but I'm not sure I am going to rebuild. I have a feeling this is going to be a ghost town now." (AP Photo/Jed Conklin)

Northwest

FEMA rejects Malden fire request for individual assistance

The state has only received FEMA assistance once in the last decade, for the 2014 deadly Oso landslide.

Washington State Trooper Steve Houle. (Washington State Patrol)

Northwest

State patrol trooper killed in avalanche near Cle Elem

A second man was able to dig himself out and call for help.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signs the first bill to be signed into law during the 2021 legislative session, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. The measure increases the minimum weekly benefit for unemployed workers during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and prevents a dramatic increase in unemployment taxes paid by businesses. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Local News

New law averts big spike in unemployment taxes on businesses

Inslee signed a measure to spread out increases and boost weekly benefit checks for those who are unemployed.

In this Aug. 29, 2019 photo, the 3M corporate logo stands atop the headquarters of the Minnesota-based company in Maplewood, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Northwest

Washington hospitals find counterfeits in 3M mask supplies

It is unclear whether the counterfeit masks are less safe than those manufactured by 3M.

Local News

Here’s how the state will spend $2.2B in federal pandemic aid

Lawmakers plan to use the money to fight COVID, aid renters and reopen shuttered schools and businesses.

Friday, April 5, 2019. Aerial view of the Ice Harbor Dam, looking east up the Snake River. The Dam’s power units are now being renovated. (Steve Ringman/Seattle Times/TNS)

Northwest

GOP congressman pitches $34B plan to breach Snake River dams

Mike Simpson might have launched a concept that will forever alter life on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

Northwest

Bill seeks to ban Native American mascots at state’s schools

“The racism is not intentional, but really it does have to stop,” says a Spokane high school student.

Northwest

6th Seattle officer investigated over presence at Capitol siege

The officer self-reported being there, the police department said on its blog Friday.

Northwest

Washington man charged with entering Capitol during siege

Jeffrey Grace of Battle Ground faces up to one year in prison if convicted.

Hollie Jordan surveys her father's service station that was destroyed by wildfire, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Malden, Wash. "This was filled with work and life and memories and it's all gone," said Jordan. (AP Photo/Jed Conklin)

Northwest

Disaster-relief aid for wildfires approved for state counties

The Biden Administration approved the request for nine counties and two native tribes.

Alicia Ramos gets her first shot of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine from Pharmacy Director Jeremy Thompson at QFC on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Edmonds, Washington. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Local News

Inslee: We have vaccine capacity, we just need the doses

Despite continued frustration from those seeking a shot, the state is making progress, he said.

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2020, file photo, a Boeing 737 MAX jet, piloted by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Steve Dickson, prepares to land at Boeing Field following a test flight in Seattle. Boeing says the pandemic will reduce demand for new planes for the next decade, long after experts expect a vaccine for COVID-19. The company updated its forecast of the airplane market on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. It remains upbeat about long-term prospects driven by increasing air travel in Asia. Boeing, which along with Europe’s Airbus dominates the aircraft-building industry, has seen orders and deliveries of new planes crumble this year. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Local News

Boeing to outsource IT work to Dell, eliminate 600 jobs

Affected employees must find new work within the company, apply to work for Dell or be laid off.