From left to right: Rep. Travis Couture, Sen. Chris Gildon, Sen. June Robinson, and Rep. Timm Ormsby speak during the general fund budget panel at the 2026 legislative session preview Jan. 9. Photo by Cassie Diamond

Northwest

What’s on the agenda for Washington’s 2026 legislative session

With a looming $1.6 billion to $2.3 billion budget shortfall hanging over the Washington state legislature, House and…

Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia. File photo

Northwest

New laws and taxes take effect in WA on Jan. 1

Tax hikes on big business and rental cars. Unemployment benefits for workers on strike.

Cartoon by Roy Rand

Opinion

Wet Christmas | Cartoon by Roy Rand

Cartoon by Roy Rand

The Enumclaw transfer station is accepting flood debris on weekends though Jan. 11, 2026. File photo

News

King County accepting flood debris for free

Three stations will take your garbage and yard waste on weekends through Jan. 11.

Adele Strom | Obituary

Obituaries

Adele Strom | Obituary

Adele Comstock Strom

Floodwater from the Snohomish River partially covers a flood water sign on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Sound Publishing photo)

Northwest

Feds approve WA emergency declaration for record flooding

As rivers began to recede, the federal government on Dec. 12 approved Washington’s request for aid to respond…

Members of the Tolt Strings musical group perform under the direction of Myra Chaney (not pictured) during the Christmas in Carnation event on Dec. 6. Photo by Aaron Gustafson

Life

Photos: Holiday fun across the Snoqualmie Valley

Photos by Aaron Gustafson.

Photo courtesy of WSDOT

News

Update: I-90 reopens after debris closes portion in North Bend

UPDATE: As of 1:36 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, all lanes of eastbound I-90 have reopened at Winery Road…

Andrew Rivers on stage at the Snoqualmie Casino and Hotel Nov. 13 for "A Tribute To Bob Rivers." The proceeds from the show benefited the Summer Stars Foundation and the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank. Photo by James Gibowski

Life

Jokes keep flowing through Rivers

Mount Si grad Andrew Rivers hones his stand-up comedy craft.

Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson announced a state of emergency Dec. 10 over the flooding. Courtesy photo

News

Gov. Ferguson declares statewide emergency over major flooding

The flooding has affected SR 410 both near Greenwater and Sumner.

An AR-15 rifle and a loaded magazine that were recovered from a suspect in a shooting incident at the Kent Station parking garage in 2019. (Photo courtesy of King County Sheriff’s Office)

Northwest

WA’s ban on assault weapon sales survives another challenge

A judge last month once again upheld Washington’s 2023 law banning the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms classified…

Courtesy of Seattle Metro Pickleball Association
Washington’s pickleball license plate.

Northwest

Pickleball gets its own Washington license plate

Washington served up a new license plate Nov. 19, honoring the state sport of pickleball.

Courtesy photo

Life

Christmas in Washington Concert Series returns

This year features Geoffrey Castle’s Celtic Christmas.