The state Employment Security Department was scheduled to release its regular monthly employment report for September 2025 on Oct. 15, but it will be delayed until the federal shutdown ends. 

Washington’s agriculture department is seeking more than $13 million to deal with a pair of invasive insects that can destroy and damage a variety of plants, crops and trees, including one with a growing presence in the Mid-Columbia. 

Washington shoppers will pay 4 cents more per plastic grocery bag starting in January. But the bags themselves won’t get any thicker for at least another two years as lawmakers fine-tune the state’s single-use plastic bag restrictions. 

During a panel discussion, both university leaders lamented the breakdown of partnerships between universities and the federal government, and emphasized the need for more investment in higher education, especially in research.

Northwest states, tribes and environmental groups will resume suing the federal government over its hydroelectric dam operations in the Columbia River Basin that have harmed endangered native fish species. 

PNNL's director told staff in a meeting that up to 1,000 people could be cut if the current budget passes, a number that’s been echoed by state leaders.

More than 100 local governments in Washington are now eligible to claim their share of $122.2 million in settlements with Purdue Pharma and eight generic opioid manufacturers, the Washington state attorney general’s office said July 28.

A 115-year-old canal in the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District that was severely damaged during a wildfire last year is now at imminent risk of failure. 

It’s now illegal in Washington to buy or sell English ivy, the fast-growing, climbing vine that can weaken and kill trees and overtake native plants.

Clean energy projects scheduled to begin construction by the end of the year can continue as planned. But many will likely be delayed or stopped as developers scramble to find other funding sources to overcome the loss of federal assistance.