The Center Square

(The Center Square) – It looks like Spokane County won't be getting as much federal aid as anticipated related to the recent area wildfires. “We’ve done some damage assessments for the public assistance program, which is anything to do with infrastructure,” said Assistant Director of Operations for the Washington State Emergency Management Division Stacey McClain at Tuesday morning's Spokane Count

(The Center Square) – Washington state’s public pension system is expected to be fully funded by 2027, according to the Office of the State Actuary. However, ongoing contributions will still be required for most of the 11 pension plans. Current...

(The Center Square) – A divided Washington Supreme Court ruled Thursday that sheriffs in the state's non-charter counties can order the deployment of tear gas to quell a riot without seeking authorization from the chair of a county’s board of commissioners. A recen...

(The Center Square) - The Spokane County Sheriff's office, in conjunction with the Spokane Police Department, have issued a warning to any Kia or Hyundai owner without a push-to-start button – your car may be so easy to steal, a teenager as young as 13 could do it. T...

(The Center Square) – After a dip in July, Washington state’s economy gained an estimated 2,900 non-farm jobs in August, the state's Employment Security Department reported Wednesday. Updated figures showed the state losing 6,300 jobs in July after a reported gain of 13,100 jobs in June. At the tim...

(The Center Square) - The Washington State Public Works Board recently approved more than $220 million in funding for local infrastructure projects statewide. This funding cycle saw 62 applicants who submitted 85 funding requests for a total of $312,224,348 funds to be used for infrastructure statewide...

(The Center Square) – Washington is the fifth-best state in the country for workers, according to a new report from Oxfam. That’s two spots down from last year, when Washington came in third place in British-founded Oxfam’s annual “Best States to Work Index,” which determines its rankings of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico by looking at wage policies, worker protections and

(The Center Square) — More assistance has been made available for families, property owners and businesses affected by recent wildfires in Washington state. On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee expanded an earlier emergency proclamation by directing the state Department of Social and Health Services to provide benefits from the agency’s Family Emergency Assistance Program through Sept. 29 to indi... Read

(The Center Square) – The Seattle Police Department is continuing investigations into an increase in robberies in the city’s South Precinct. According to the department, there have been 14 reported incidents of pattern robberies in the South Precinct from June through Aug. 25. The de...

(The Center Square) – Next month in Spokane Valley, the Washington State Building Code Council will consider modifying codes it adopted earlier this year requiring the use of electric heat pumps rather than natural gas in all new construction. T...