@investigatewest.bsky.social
As a nonprofit, collaborative newsroom, InvestigateWest’s mission is to produce high-impact journalism that holds power accountable, exposes injustice and empowers underserved communities across the Pacific Northwest: https://www.investigatewest.org/
Washington’s governor has denied every clemency petition he has received, InvestigateWest reports:
Washington governor faces criticism for clemency denials
Gov. Bob Ferguson has rejected everyone the state board recommended for commutation
investigatewest.org
Because of Idaho's women's prison overcrowding, some women can’t access the programming required of them to make parole - and end up incarcerated longer, even when a state commission has decided they're otherwise fit for parole. @wbryen.bsky.social reports - www.investigatewest.org/prison-overc...
Idaho’s women’s prison overcrowding is fueling parole delays
State agencies don’t know how many inmates face more prison time because they couldn’t access programs prescribed by parole commissioners
investigatewest.org
How Rob Curley’s plan to make the Spokesman-Review ‘The People’s Paper’ ended in a newsroom revolt (Reported in collaboration with RANGE) www.investigatewest.org/rob-curley-s...
How Rob Curley lost the Spokesman-Review newsroom
Newsroom staffers tell InvestigateWest and RANGE that concerns about Curley’s leadership festered until his August suspension — weeks before the paper was set to transfer to his nonprofit
investigatewest.org
For years, the Spokesman-Review staff have raised concerns about editor Rob Curley's leadership, culminating in his suspension in August. @wilsonc.bsky.social and @bydaisy.bsky.social @rangemedia.co report on how Curley lost the faith of his newsroom: www.investigatewest.org/rob-curley-s...
How Rob Curley lost the Spokesman-Review newsroom
Newsroom staffers tell InvestigateWest and RANGE that concerns about Curley’s leadership festered until his August suspension — weeks before the paper was set to transfer to his nonprofit
investigatewest.org
How Rob Curley’s plan to make the Spokesman-Review ‘The People’s Paper’ ended in a newsroom revolt: Newsroom staffers tell @investigatewest.bsky.social and RANGE concerns about Curley’s leadership festered until his August suspension — weeks before the paper was set to transfer to his nonprofit.
How Rob Curley’s plan to make the Spokesman-Review ‘The People’s Paper’ ended in a newsroom revolt
Newsroom staffers tell InvestigateWest and RANGE that concerns about Curley’s leadership festered until his August suspension — weeks before the paper was set to transfer to his nonprofit
rangemedia.co
Under the banner of “Dig, Baby, Dig,” the Trump administration is supercharging an already powerful mining industry. What will happen to vulnerable plants and animals? www.investigatewest.org/the-trump-ad... via @insideclimatenews.org
The Trump Administration’s Critical Minerals Agenda Comes for America’s ‘Forgotten Wildlife Corridor’
Under the banner of “Dig, Baby, Dig,” the Trump administration is supercharging an already powerful mining industry. What will happen to vulnerable plants and animals?
investigatewest.org
Come join our team! InvestigateWest is hiring for two positions: a one-year reporting position with @opencampus.org to report on community colleges, and a full-time audience engagement manager. www.investigatewest.org/careersandin...
Work with Us
Job Openings: * Audience Engagement Manager * InvestigateWest/Open Campus Investigative Reporter Internships InvestigateWest typically hosts one or two interns each quarter. Prospective inte...
investigatewest.org
An Oregon Christian ranch has welcomed hundreds seeking relief from addiction, shelter from domestic violence or a fresh start after an arrest. While some say the ranch helped them heal, former residents want the place shut down: www.investigatewest.org/oregon-chris...
Former residents of Oregon Christian ranch call for closure
The board of 5Rock Ranch nearly shut it down more than a decade ago, but former residents say harmful practices continue
investigatewest.org
A Washington appellate court recently found that APS can't be sued for negligence over its response to reports that an elderly man was being financially exploited because state law doesn't actually require it to investigate abuse reports. www.investigatewest.org/washington-i...
Washington is fighting to limit its duty to protect vulnerable adults
At the same time, Adult Protective Services workers say they’re under growing pressure to close investigations quickly.
investigatewest.org
Since Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson took office in January 2025, a board he appointed has recommended early release for 15 of the 23 people who received commutation hearings. The governor hasn’t approved a single one. www.investigatewest.org/washington-g...
Washington governor faces criticism for clemency denials
Gov. Bob Ferguson has rejected everyone the state board recommended for commutation
investigatewest.org
Current and former investigators for Washington's Adult Protective Services worry that the agency’s focus on closing cases could leave more vulnerable adults without meaningful protection - www.investigatewest.org/washington-i...
Washington is fighting to limit its duty to protect vulnerable adults
At the same time, Adult Protective Services workers say they’re under growing pressure to close investigations quickly.
investigatewest.org
A court said WA Adult Protective Services isn't required to investigate reported abuse of vulnerable adults. If applied more broadly, the ruling could limit legal recourse against APS. It comes as investigators say they're pressured to quickly close cases: www.investigatewest.org/washington-i...
Washington is fighting to limit its duty to protect vulnerable adults
At the same time, Adult Protective Services workers say they’re under growing pressure to close investigations quickly.
investigatewest.org
Rural communities have had the highest rates of foster care placement in Oregon. Experts and advocates say there aren't enough mental health, financial aid and childcare services to help keep kids in their homes: https://www.investigatewest.org/oregons-rural-counties-kids-more-likely-foster-care/
Kids in rural Oregon are more likely to enter foster care
Advocates and experts say that reflects the challenges rural families have getting health and social safety net services
investigatewest.org
Records show how Canyon County probation officers have recently coordinated with ICE’s Boise office, including by compiling a list for ICE of foreign-born people on probation: https://www.investigatewest.org/idaho-countys-probation-office-compiles-foreign-born-list-for-ice/
Idaho probation office compiles ‘foreign born list’ for ICE
Emails show how Canyon County probation officers are helping immigration authorities — including making a list of foreign-born individuals
investigatewest.org
When her son overdosed, an Idaho mom brought his fentanyl pills to the hospital. In most states, this might have resulted in treatment. But Idaho treated him as as trafficker. https://www.investigatewest.org/she-brought-fentanyl-to-the-hospital-to-save-her-son-idaho-treated-him-as-a-trafficker/
How Idaho punished an overdose patient as a trafficker
After Isaac Berger overdosed, his mother gave hospital staff the pills she found in his room. She says it became the biggest regret of her life.
investigatewest.org
A federal judge dismissed an Idaho nonprofit’s lawsuit claiming that a state agency violated the First Amendment by revoking funding in retaliation for speaking to reporters. https://ow.ly/i4Lp50ZNtJn
Judge grants Idaho agency immunity in free speech lawsuit
An Idaho nonprofit sued the state claiming its funding was pulled for talking to InvestigateWest; a federal judge tossed the case
investigatewest.org
After Isaac Berger overdosed, his mother gave hospital staff the pills she found in his room. She says it became the biggest regret of her life. www.investigatewest.org/she-brought-... by @wbryen.bsky.social
How Idaho punished an overdose patient as a trafficker
After Isaac Berger overdosed, his mother gave hospital staff the pills she found in his room. She says it became the biggest regret of her life.
investigatewest.org
Kids in Oregon’s rural counties are more likely to spend at least one day in the foster care system than those living in urban areas. That, in part, reflects challenges that rural families have in getting services that help keep kids out of the system: www.investigatewest.org/oregons-rura...
Kids in rural Oregon are more likely to enter foster care
Advocates and experts say that reflects the challenges rural families have getting health and social safety net services
investigatewest.org
The Edmonds school board said they're limited in the action they can take against the principal, who critics say failed to act on years of complaints about a special education teacher's allegedly inappropriate behavior with kids. www.investigatewest.org/edmonds-scho...
Edmonds gives new contract to principal amid public concerns
The school board said state law limits the district from taking action against the former principal, despite community demands to fire him.
investigatewest.org
In 2021, Washington lawmakers passed a law aimed at keeping problem officers out of law enforcement. But we found police agencies have kept hiring cops accused of serious misconduct, who often manage to avoid a state investigation altogether. www.investigatewest.org/a-2021-law-e...
WA cops accused of misconduct evade decertification law
An InvestigateWest review shows how Washington police agencies keep hiring cops accused of serious misconduct
investigatewest.org
A federal judge dismissed an Idaho nonprofit’s lawsuit claiming that a state agency violated the First Amendment by revoking funding in retaliation for speaking to reporters. www.investigatewest.org/judge-dismis...
Judge grants Idaho agency immunity in free speech lawsuit
An Idaho nonprofit sued the state claiming its funding was pulled for talking to InvestigateWest; a federal judge tossed the case
investigatewest.org
Emails show how an Idaho county probation department is helping ICE - including by combing through its case files to create a "foreign born list" containing the names of 82 probationers. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-county...
Idaho probation office compiles ‘foreign born list’ for ICE
Emails show how Canyon County probation officers are helping immigration authorities — including making a list of foreign-born individuals
investigatewest.org
A federal judge dismissed an Idaho nonprofit’s lawsuit claiming that a state agency violated the First Amendment by revoking funding in retaliation for speaking to reporters - www.investigatewest.org/judge-dismis...
Judge grants Idaho agency immunity in free speech lawsuit
An Idaho nonprofit sued the state claiming its funding was pulled for talking to InvestigateWest; a federal judge tossed the case
investigatewest.org
Washington agencies have kept hiring cops accused of serious misconduct - and many manage to avoid a state investigation altogether. It raises questions about whether a 2021 law does enough to keep problem officers out of law enforcement: www.investigatewest.org/a-2021-law-e...
WA cops accused of misconduct evade decertification law
An InvestigateWest review shows how Washington police agencies keep hiring cops accused of serious misconduct
investigatewest.org
Washington’s K-12 education oversight agency is proposing a series of policy changes to improve the state’s handling of teacher misconduct allegations: www.investigatewest.org/washington-s...
WA schools chief eyes changes to sexual misconduct response
The changes, which would expand the state’s investigatory abilities, still need approval from the governor-appointed Professional Educator Standards Board
investigatewest.org
An Oregon woman got 10 years in prison for her baby's death. She opened up in court about alleged domestic violence by the baby's father: “There had been numerous times I thought he would kill me, and after a while, I gave up trying to leave.” www.investigatewest.org/oregon-woman...
Oregon woman sentenced to 10 years for baby's death
A judge said the alleged domestic violence Deborah Albin experienced did not meet Oregon law’s strict criteria to avoid a mandatory-minimum sentence
investigatewest.org
Tribal police departments make up a small fraction of Washington’s law enforcement workforce, but they are a disproportionately common landing place for officers who’ve been fired elsewhere. www.investigatewest.org/fired-office...
Washington tribal police hire fired officers at outsized rates
Tribal police in Washington hire officers fired elsewhere at a rate four times higher than their share of the workforce
investigatewest.org
States like New York and Oklahoma allow judges to reduce sentences based on how domestic violence played a role in a crime. But Oregon's efforts to pass such a law have hit political roadblocks: www.investigatewest.org/why-sentenci...
Why an Oregon reform to help DV survivors keeps failing
Advocates are pushing for a survivor justice law like those in other states, but a two-thirds legislative majority presents a major hurdle
investigatewest.org
On Aug. 20, we're hosting a free webinar for editors on editing the investigative story. Register here: www.investigatewest.org/free-trainin...
Free training: Editing the investigation
The webinar will give practical guidance for editors on how to manage and edit an investigative story
investigatewest.org
Advocates want Oregon courts to weigh how domestic violence pushes people into the criminal justice system. But a sentencing reform bill has hit roadblocks, year after year: www.investigatewest.org/why-sentenci...
Why an Oregon reform to help DV survivors keeps failing
Advocates are pushing for a survivor justice law like those in other states, but a two-thirds legislative majority presents a major hurdle
investigatewest.org