Legal

WA Supreme Court bats down referendum attempt targeting income tax

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Tue, 05 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington’s Supreme Court on May 4 denied a conservative political committee’s request to pursue an attempt to repeal the state’s new income tax law with a referendum this fall.

WA sues Albertsons over ‘deceptive’ buy one, get one free deals

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington state has sued Albertsons over allegations it has been overcharging customers for years via buy one, get one free offers.

US Justice Department downgrades risk of state-licensed medicinal marijuana

jfischler@statesnewsroom.com — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

New construction contract help? Builders group broadens access to contracts package

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

If you’re a homebuilder and member of the Tri-Cities Home Builders Association, a resource to help protect your business is now free for you to use.

Businesses line up for $166B in tariff refunds

amurray@statesnewsroom.com — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection tariff refund system went live April 20, marking what small business advocates call a “complex” first step for entrepreneurs to recoup $166 billion in import taxes accrued under President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs, which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in February.

Ferguson appoints new Benton-Franklin Superior Court judge

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A career public servant who has spent his entire legal career in the region will be the newest member of the bench for Benton-Franklin Superior Court.

Federal funding for state energy projects to be restored

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The Trump administration has dropped its appeal to a federal court ruling that blocked its cap on federal reimbursement for state energy programs, threatening projects ranging from energy efficiency and grid resilience to wildfire mitigation.

Court battle ignites over Washington’s new income tax

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Opponents of Washington’s new income tax on high earners filed a lawsuit April 9, arguing the controversial law is unconstitutional and in conflict with nearly a century of state Supreme Court precedent.

Amazon to pay $20.5 million settlement over northeast Oregon nitrate pollution

abaumhardt@americanpublicmedia.org — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Tech giant Amazon will pay $20.5 million to settle with northeast Oregonians living with contaminated groundwater in exchange for no admission of guilt in the polluting.

Trump’s tariffs were ruled illegal. Where’s the refund of $166 billion — plus interest?

amurray@statesnewsroom.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

How the government will refund the roughly $166 billion in tariffs Trump triggered under a 1970s emergency economic powers statute is slowly coming to light in court documents.

Solgen assets worth $7M going on the auction block

ty@tcjournal.biz — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Everything from uninstalled solar panels and fleet vehicles to computers and office furniture will be up for the taking beginning March 25 as liquidators clear inventory and equipment of a former Pasco-based solar company that went bankrupt at the end of 2025.

Prosecutors allege exploitation of foreign workers brought to Mid-Columbia through fraud

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Three Tri-City residents are among four individuals indicted for allegedly obtaining temporary work visas under false pretenses and bringing 500 workers from Mexico to Eastern Washington between 2022-24.

WA sues feds for pulling funding for hydrogen hub, WSU

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

A lawsuit being co-led by the Washington State Attorney General argues that federal agencies illegally canceled funding for clean energy projects, including the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, to punish Democrat-led states.

As pennies disappear, Washington must address how retailers make change

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

When the federal government stopped making pennies, it left it up to states to decide how retailers deal with the change.

In Washington, lawmakers are trying to come up with a uniform approach for merchants that is easy to understand for consumers.

State continues studying potential impacts of Snake River dam removal

ty@tcjournal.biz — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

The federal government may have pulled out of an agreement that could have led to removal of the four Lower Snake River dams, but the state continues to evaluate how their removal in the future could impact transportation networks.

Lower drunk driving limit approved by WA Senate

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

If it makes it through the House and into law, Washington would join Utah with the toughest standard in the nation on July 1. Foes of the bill cite concerns with enforcing it and worries it will drive away customers from bars, wineries and other hospitality businesses.

State Supreme Court to hear challenge to natural gas initiative

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

The Washington State Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments this week in a case challenging the constitutionality of Initiative 2066, a voter-approved measure that protects natural gas as an energy option in the state.

Architect, contractor insurer push back in defective school lawsuit

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

The insurer for a Tri-City architect firm and construction contractor sued by Moses Lake School District over the new elementary school that suddenly closed in spring 2025 are denying responsibility. They argue that the school district knew about potential problems and took actions that limit the insurers’ liability.

Rising bankruptcies signal ongoing financial strain in Tri-Cities

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Bankruptcies have been on the rise in Benton and Franklin counties and across Eastern Washington since a low point in 2022, and the rate doesn’t look like it will come down just yet.

Delay pushes back decision on appeal for wind farm project

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

The wheels of progress on a proposed wind farm project that would stretch across dozens of miles southwest of the Tri-Cities are grinding slower after a judge recently delayed deadlines in lawsuits challenging the project.

New bill would shield WA immigrant workers from surprise raids

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

In response to increased immigration detentions across the state, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and other state lawmakers have introduced the Immigrant Worker Protection Act for the 2026 session.

This therapeutic court offers valuable program for veterans

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

With guidance, mentorship and education, we have seen lives altered, and many of these veterans’ pathways redirected.

USPS says mail-in ballots might not get postmark on same day they’re dropped off

jshorman@stateline.org — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

The U.S. Postal Service has adopted a new rule that could create doubt about whether some ballots mailed by voters by Election Day will receive postmarks in time to be counted.

These new laws and taxes take effect in Washington state on Jan. 1

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Toppenish ag company reaches $1 million settlement with WA AG

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

For the third time in 2025, a Mid-Columbia agricultural operation has agreed to a settlement with state justice officials for reportedly treating workers unfairly.

Ferguson backs income tax on WA residents earning over $1M

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Some legislative Democrats are eyeing a 9.9% “millionaires tax” on adjusted annual gross income over $1 million. Ferguson endorsed this version of the proposal. Less than 0.5% of Washingtonians would be subject to the tax, and it’s expected to raise $3 billion per year.

Workaround will keep Serrano in federal prosecutor job

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Pete Serrano will continue to lead the federal prosecutor’s office in Eastern Washington.
He’s got two new titles.

Legal Aid honors attorneys for championing access to justice

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Benton Franklin Legal Aid honored several attorneys at its annual attorney appreciation luncheon and celebrated some milestones.

Serrano out as federal prosecutor in eastern WA. But he could be back

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Pete Serrano’s time as a federal prosecutor in eastern Washington ended Tuesday. His tenure with the U.S. Department of Justice may not be over.

State issues cease and desist against cryptocurrency exchange company

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

State regulators have ordered a Seattle-based cryptocurrency exchange company that serves the Tri-Cities area to stop collecting any new funds and refund customers, alleging the firm wrongfully claimed millions of dollars of wired funds as its own income.