U.S. Sen. Patty Murray recently made several stops in the Tri-Cities using Congress’ August recess to rally support to halt federal budget cuts that will kick tens of thousands of area residents off Medicaid and slash more than 1,000 jobs from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
The Arts Center Task Force is regrouping following the defeat at the ballot box for a sales tax-funded arts center and is looking for fresh faces to serve on its board and committees.
Funding for more police officers, parking requirements for new housing and penalties for littering. These are just a few of the issues covered by 333 new Washington state laws that took effect July 27.
Washington state lawmakers made some significant changes to the state’s sales tax law and officials will host a series of online listening sessions to answer questions, address concerns and provide guidance to business owners.
The so-called “big, beautiful bill” is expected to blow a multibillion-dollar hole into the state’s budget, and kick hundreds of thousands of residents off their insurance if they don’t prove they meet new requirements.
The increase will push the state’s per-gallon tax rate on gas and other vehicle fuels from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents. Starting July 1, 2026, it will rise each year by 2% – about a penny annually – to account for inflation.
The decline in receipts will force the state to draw down savings, but Ferguson isn’t summoning the Legislature into a special session to respond. At least not yet.
The project will use $12 million in local taxes and economic development funds to double the seating capacity to 6,000 of the facility among other improvements.
