Coverage of state-level political affairs, legislation, and executive actions
Proposed legislation in Olympia aims to limit student cell phone use during class time, citing concerns over distraction and academic performance, while some students raise safety objections.
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Washington’s proposed SB 6176 would allow cars with expired tabs to be impounded and could criminalize residents registering out-of-state to avoid fees, with significant potential impact for border communities like Longview and Kelso.
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Roger Rogoff, the inaugural director of Washington’s Office of Independent Investigations, has announced his resignation. Chief of Staff Jane Nesbitt will serve as interim director while the governor searches for a permanent replacement.
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Washington State Senate approves bill banning opaque face masks for state, local and federal law enforcement. What this means for Cowlitz County communities.
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The Washington State Senate voted 26–23 to lower the legal DUI limit to 0.05%, with Longview Sen. Jeff Wilson breaking ranks to support the measure.
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Washington lawmakers have advanced a bill to explicitly define traveling 30 mph over the speed limit as reckless driving—a move that could bring jail time, fines, and license suspensions for extreme speeders, and strengthen enforcement tools for communities like Longview and Kelso.
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Southwest Washington advocates are urging the state to let an outside agency open and run the unused $42 million Brockmann Mental Health Campus near Mount Vista, arguing that its vacancy worsens regional treatment shortages affecting counties like Cowlitz.
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Senate Bill 5312, which would reduce penalties for those convicted in online child predator sting operations, remains alive in the Washington Legislature, stirring debate over proportional punishment and public safety.
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A new ECONorthwest analysis finds that Oregon’s short school year and rising absenteeism are hurting student achievement, prompting fresh calls in Salem for statewide reforms.
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Oregon Rep. Maxine Dexter has launched her re-election bid for Congress, facing fellow Democrats Susheela Jayapal and Eddy Morales in what could become one of Oregon’s most competitive primaries.
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