“I cannot enter a penalty that punishes the Auditor and Mr. Turnbull for the actual behavior as it relates to what they did in that election, which I’ve already indicated is — it’s terrible,” Judge Christine Schaller said in a July 24 PRA penalty hearing. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Records case exposes ‘interference’ in Grays Harbor County election, judge says

A Thurston County judge made clear she was not ruling that officials had violated state election laws, because the issue at hand was a public records lawsuit.

seattletimes.com

Statement from Gov. Ferguson’s office just now regarding the Seattle Center mass shooting.

Police and ambulances are responding to a shooting with "multiple victims" at Seattle Center, according to emergency dispatchers.

Mass shooting reported at Seattle Center

seattletimes.com

ICYMI: An administrative law judge for the WA DOL was suspended for sending messages that were “unprofessional, violent, biased and prejudiced.” Other records between law judges at the agency reveal a broad disregard for the state’s Public Records Act. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Internal DOL records raise questions about impartiality and transparency

A state administrative judge was suspended for sending internal messages deemed “unprofessional, violent, biased and prejudiced." Lawyers say the records reveal a broad disregard for the Public Record...

seattletimes.com

We love making fun of tourists/future transplants in this city, but admit it: It's been really nice to see thousands of people from across the world call total BS on the "Seattle Is Dying" narrative by enjoying the hell out of us for everyone to see. It's undeniable they're having great time here.

Brett Hamil@bretthamil.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Today's DOOM LOOP for @soseaemerald.bsky.social: "Seattle's World Cup Ambassadors" See the whole thing here: southseattleemerald.org/voices/2026/...

Boots, meet ground.

Steve Herman@newsguy.bsky.social · 5mo ago

(AP) — US is preparing to send about 1,000 troops from an Army airborne unit to the Middle East.

A federal judge denied a TRO sought by a conservative podcaster, radio host and fellow at a think tank to force the Washington House of Representatives to give them press credentials. The House said they were advocates in the political arena, not journalists. apnews.com/article/pres...

Judge denies restraining order for conservative media figures who sought press passes

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Washington state lawmakers were within their rights when they declined to issue press passes to three conservative media figures.

apnews.com

The Spokane Valley legislator said he chose the remark on purpose and repeatedly used it even after receiving condemnation from colleagues and advocates for his choice.

WA GOP senator uses slur on Senate floor, doubles down

seattletimes.com

WA House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon apologizes after showing up intoxicated to budget vote. Conservative talk show host Jason Rantz first reported. via @ssowersby.bsky.social www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

WA House majority leader admits to being intoxicated during budget vote

Video of a House committee meeting shows Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon leaving his seat repeatedly and at times, slumping in his seat.

seattletimes.com

About $52 billion, or 28% of Washington’s pension fund is invested in private equity — double the national average for state pension funds. This concerns WA Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti and others. New from me. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

WA's pension fund is an outlier — and the risks are growing

Washington state's pension fund has outperformed peers by investing heavily in private equity. Critics warn the strategy increases risk and future volatility.

seattletimes.com

Lawyers for the WA Legislature are continuing to argue for a broad "privilege" asserted by Democratic legislative leaders to hide records from the public. @ssowersby.bsky.social covers the latest court developments. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Public records fight over what WA lawmakers can withhold continues in court

The battle over whether Washington lawmakers are entitled to shield certain records from the public using “legislative privilege” continued Thursday as oral arguments in the case were delivered at the...

seattletimes.com

Nearly 24 hours after a notice went out about Gov. Bob Ferguson going out of state for two weeks, we finally got a (vague) explanation about his plans.

Shauna Sowersby@ssowersby.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Where is Gov. Bob Ferguson until Oct.9? Unclear yet because the press release sent out by his office at 6:41pm last night doesn’t say 🤔

Where is Gov. Bob Ferguson until Oct.9? Unclear yet because the press release sent out by his office at 6:41pm last night doesn’t say 🤔

“These are painful cuts to make,” said Cascade PBS CEO Rob Dunlop. Worth noting that Dunlop made over $550k last year, an almost $50k increase from his salary in 2023. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Cascade PBS slashes Seattle newsroom, citing federal cuts

Formed in 2015 by the merger of KCTS 9 TV and Crosscut, Cascade PBS will continue making video programs but will stop making "long-form written journalism."

seattletimes.com

Despite $31m in spending, the project has "has yet to roll out any new technology and is at least $240 million and nine years from completion." via @pauledroberts.bsky.social @ssowersby.bsky.social www.seattletimes.com/business/aft...

After 10 years and $31M, WA workers’ comp upgrade has little to show

An effort to modernize Washington's aging workers' compensation system that has produced few results is getting renewed scrutiny amid the state budget crisis.

seattletimes.com

New from @ssowersby.bsky.social and me - Escalating tensions around cuts for Washington’s budget and potential furloughs boiled over Wednesday afternoon as hundreds of workers stormed into the state Capitol building looking to pick a fight: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

WA union marches into state Capitol as budget bargaining boils over

"No cuts, no furloughs! Tax, tax the rich!" members of the Washington State Federation of State Employees chanted inside the Capitol building during a Wednesday protest.

seattletimes.com

King County Council will introduce legislation tomorrow morning to bring King County in line with Ferguson’s instant message public record policy, per email from the council’s director of communications.

New from me: WA governor suspends policy that allowed public records to be destroyed for years, despite warnings and concerns about the policy since it was implemented in 2021. Taxpayers will now pay out $225k for the destruction of records by DCYF. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Ferguson suspends auto-deletion of public records after $225K settlement

A policy at Washington state agencies allowed Microsoft Teams messages between staffers to be automatically deleted after seven days.

seattletimes.com

NEW: In a departure for WA governors, Bob Ferguson is avoiding regular news conferences. David Ammons, the retired longtime AP correspondent who covered 7 governors, called Ferguson's early stance "disappointing and counterproductive" (w. @ssowersby.bsky.social) www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Gov’t transparency continues to decline in Washington under Democratic rule. Not sure why Dems think hiding is good politics: In a departure for WA governors, Ferguson avoids news conferences www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Current and former WA state government employees: if you were ever instructed to put work-related information in Microsoft Teams chats specifically to subvert retention policies, please send me a DM here or text me on signal at 206-832-9372

Washington state collects approximately $700,000 every month in federal benefits intended for about 750 eligible foster children, to fund the agency overseeing their care. Is this the year WA changes this policy? New from me: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Push to end WA's seizure of foster youth benefits faces multibillion dollar hurdle

Washington's child welfare agency is on board with ending the practice of diverting federal benefits. But a multibillion dollar hurdle may stand in the way.

seattletimes.com

NEW: WA Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson comes out against the 'wealth tax' floated by outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee. Ferguson is calling for spending cuts in the face of a shortfall, but would boost K-12 & fund free school lunches (w. @ssowersby.bsky.social) www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Ferguson opposes wealth tax, calls for spending cuts, but boost for K-12

Governor-elect Bob Ferguson's budget proposal diverges from the spending increases proposed by outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee.

seattletimes.com

Started my first day at The Seattle Times today! Please send any questions, tips, compliments or complaints to me at ssowersby@seattletimes.com

Hello Bluesky! For my first post here I’m happy to announce that I will be moving to The Seattle Times as the new state government reporter. I’m sad to leave my position at Cascade PBS but I am excited for this new opportunity!