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Tom Oliver, center, receives the 2022 Washington Andrus Award for Community Service. (Bruce Carlson/AARP Washington)

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Washingtonian Helping People with Dementia Receives Volunteer Award

A Bellingham man who supports people with dementia has received one of the most prestigious awards for volunteerism in Washington state. The …

Child poverty dropped to 5.2% during the pandemic because of the expanded Child Tax Credit and other relief efforts. (ktay21/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

No Corporate Tax Cuts without Family Tax Relief, Dems Say

CORRECTION: Monthly amounts of the expanded Child Tax Credits were $250 (ages 0 to 5) to $300 (ages 6 to 17). An earlier version of this story had …

The United Way of King County's free tax-preparation program has entered its 20th year. (Rick/Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 28, 2022

WA Tax Program Puts Out Call for Volunteers as Year Ends

It may seem early, but programs across the country are preparing to help people with their 2022 income tax returns. In Washington state, United Way …

Consumer advocates advise people not to click on suspicious looking links in email messages, advice which is especially important during the holidays. (zephyr_p/Adobe Stock)

No Pressure: Don't Let Scammers Ruin Charitable Giving

The season of giving is upon us, but consumer advocates are urging people to stay vigilant, so it doesn't become the "season of taking." The number …

Surveys show that most Americans recognize our deep political divisions are not good for the nation. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

Group Urges Divided Nation to Choose 'Better Angels' During Holidays

The holidays can be stressful, and our deeply divided political times can make it harder to see family. But efforts across the country are happening …

Boating and fishing added nearly $890 million to Washington state's economy in 2021. (AshleyBelle/Adobe Stock)

'Wow' Factor: Outdoor Rec Adds Loads of Dollars to WA Economy

Outdoor recreation continues to contribute to Washington state's economy in a big way. That's according to new data from the Bureau of Economic …

Every year, about 53,000 Washingtonians are diagnosed with diabetes. (Photographee.eu/Adobe Stock)

Diabetes Month: Disease A Challenge for Millions in US

November is national diabetes month, spotlighting a disease that affects millions of Americans. In Washington state, more than 580,000 people have …

Homero Jose speaks to a crowd gathered at Bellingham City Hall in support of a center that would serve the community's immigrant populations. (Brenda Bentley)

Rally Decries Council 'No' Vote on Bellingham's Immigrant Center

People rallied outside of Bellingham City Hall on Thursday to show support for a city-funded immigrant resource center. It's a response to a City …

As of this fall, more than 5,000 students are enrolled in applied baccalaureate degrees in Washington state. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Less Traditional College Degrees Jump in WA During Pandemic

Enrollment in Washington state's community and technical colleges has suffered during the pandemic, but there has been one bright spot. Programs …

Carina can match caregivers to families with kids all the way into their pre-teen years. (dglimages/Adobe Stock)

Online Tool Started in WA Matches Care Workers with People in Need

An online tool that started in Washington state is connecting caregivers and the people who need their services, and it's getting some national …

A public-health state of emergency had been in place in Washington state since February 2020. (fabrus/Adobe Stock)

Fallout Reverberates from End of WA Pandemic Emergency Declaration

Washington state has ended its COVID-19 state of emergency, and that's having effects on the public benefits people were relying on to get through …

The expanded Child Tax Credit went out to parents of 60 million children when it started in July 2021. (Aleksei Potov/Adobe Stock)

Campaign to Reinstate Child Tax Credit Program for WA Families

The expanded Child Tax Credit lifted 3.7 million kids out of poverty in the United States, including many in Washington. The tax credit expired last …

A study found less than a tenth of plastic waste has been recycled. (Richard Carey/Adobe Stock)

Effort Aims to Move WA Away from Plastics Pollution

Plastic waste is a growing problem across the globe, and it is not just an issue for landfills. Policymakers in Washington state are aiming to find …

The Tacoma Art Museum opened at its current location in 2003, after outgrowing its original location in a former bank built in 1920. (tacomaartmuseum.org)

Weekend Rally Aims to Support Unionization at Tacoma Art Museum

Employees of the Tacoma Art Museum have collected more than 400 signatures on a community letter, as they seek to unionize the institution founded in …

In this time of speeches and campaign ads, fear and anxiety can compel us to make political decisions at the level of the gut, according to one theory. (wellphoto/Adobe Stock)

How Death Anxiety Plays a Role in Politics

CLARIFICATION: Ernest Becker did not create the Terror Management Theory, although it was based on his ideas and research. (2:00 a.m. MDT, Oct. 28…

Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States was started in 1985. (Siam/Adobe Stock)

Breast-Cancer Awareness: Screenings Down Compared to Pre-Pandemic

October is breast cancer awareness month and health professionals are urging people to get screened for the disease. Screenings have gone down …

Washington state's Climate Commitment Act will set aside $20 million every year to improve air quality. (asayenka/Adobe Stock)

WA Climate Law Aims to Improve Frontline Communities' Air

Washington state is crafting its ambitious cap-and-invest law to reduce the state's emissions by 95% by 2050 and is seeking comments from the public…

Teletherapy has become a popular option for providing mental health services, and it's now covered by many insurance plans. (kalinichenkod/Adobe Stock)

Chance Approaches for Washingtonians to Make Health-Plan Changes

The new year is still a few months off, but it's nearly time for people to consider their health plans for 2023. The Affordable Care Act's health …

Solar panels on big-box stores and malls could generate enough energy to power nearly eight million homes. (Tracy King/Adobe Stock)

Rooftops on Big Stores, Warehouses Offer Huge Solar-Power Opportunity

By Emily Pontecorvo for Grist.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Grist-Public News Service Collaboratio…

Washington and five other states accounted for half of the H-2A jobs certified in 2021. (F Armstrong Photo/Adobe Stock)

Farmworkers Tour WA to Demand Better Labor Conditions

Farmworkers are touring Washington state to call for better conditions in agriculture. The union Familias Unidas por la Justicia, based in northwest …

About one in four people say they have more emergency savings than they did a year ago, according to a recent survey. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

WA Credit Union Offers Bilingual Financial Education

Between rising inflation and the ups and downs of the stock market, it isn't surprising that folks are concerned about their own financial situation…

Businesses in Bellingham have displayed some of the origami butterflies that are part of a campaign called

WA Community Urges Creation of Immigrant Resource Center

Community members in northwest Washington are gathering support for an immigrant resource center. In September, Democrats in Whatcom County …

A temporary intellectual property waiver gave countries around the world better access to COVID-19 vaccines, but did not extend to treatments and tests. (tsuguliev/Adobe Stock)

WA Students Call on U.S. to Increase Access to COVID Treatments Globally

As the World Trade Organization meets this week, students across the country are pushing the Biden administration to support more access to COVID-19 …

At the beginning of 2023, lawmakers will head to Olympia for their long, 105-day session. (SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Stock)

College Staffers Lay Out Priorities for WA Legislative Session

Community and technical college faculty members are preparing for the legislative session in Olympia, and among the top priorities for the American …

Electric ranges have been shown to emit fewer toxic chemicals than gas stoves. (Di Studio/Adobe Stock)

Proposal Would Lower WA Residential Buildings' Carbon Footprint

Washington state is considering a cleaner future for its buildings. The Washington State Building Code Council is holding public hearings, including …

Nearly 640,000 people were considered food insecure in Washington state in 2020, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. (timonko/Adobe Stock)

White House Convenes First Hunger Conference in 50+ Years

It's been more than 50 years since the White House held a gathering about the effects of hunger across the nation. In 1969, the White House held its …

The Lummi Nation totem pole traveled through the islands of Puget Sound before making its way to the East Coast. (Freddie Lane)

WA Totem Pole Travels U.S. for 'Just' Clean Energy Transition

A totem pole from the Lummi Nation in northwest Washington is traveling across the country as part of a bid to call for clean energy and environmental…

Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15, which marks the date of Mexico's independence from Spain. (MarekPhotoDesign.com/Adobe Stock)

Hispanic Heritage Month: WA Credit Union Finds Ways to Serve Community

Hispanic Heritage Month began in mid-September and runs through Oct. 15, and a financial institution in Washington state is finding unique ways to …

The Hanford Nuclear Site was home to the world's first plutonium production reactor. (U.S. Department of Energy)

Interactive Hanford Story Teaches about Nuclear Site's Threat to Columbia River

The Hanford Nuclear Site on the Columbia River in central Washington has left a complex legacy for the region. An interactive story map imagines …

Kids have been heavily impacted by the pandemic. Advocates are in Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the issues. (Sergey Novikov/Adobe Stock)

Child Advocates Meet with Leaders in DC, Call for Investments in Kids

Advocates for child well-being are in the nation's capital today, calling on lawmakers to invest in children. The Save the Children advocacy summit …

Wildfires near farms in Whatcom and Skagit counties have made work in the fields hazardous for workers. (Alfredo Juarez)

Amid Wildfires, Heat, WA Farmworkers Call for Greater Protections

Washington state farmworkers are facing harsh conditions in the midst of wildfires and late-summer heat. They're calling for greater protections from …

Nearly 20 million Americans may have received inaccurate diagnostic test results, according to a Pew poll. (totojang1977/Adobe Stock)

WA Senator Sponsors Bill to Provide More Oversight for Medical Lab Tests

Accurate lab tests are crucial for medical treatment, and Congress is considering a measure to provide more oversight. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.…

A recent report finds 30 Washington state legislators were in far-right groups which frequently spread disinformation on Facebook. (cirquedesprit/Adobe Stock)

WA Candidates Tied to Far-Right On Ballot in November

Washington state's primary results have diminished fears of a far-right insurgency in the state's elections. But there are still concerns that 2020 …

The Nez Perce Tribe finds spring chinook salmon on the Snake River are unlikely to recover without substantial intervention. (Hanjo/Adobe Stock)

WA Leaders: Breaching Snake River Dams Necessary, Not Yet Possible

An announcement from Washington state leaders on the future of the lower Snake River dams contained both good and bad news for groups defending native…

An internet database says at least 580 people have died in mass shootings this year. (OlegD/Adobe Stock)

Panel Explores Relationship Between Guns, Death Anxiety

Gun violence is a major issue across the country, and now, the work of a 20th-century anthropologist could help people dive deeper into their own …

Eye exams before kids enter school will determine if they need glasses or have other vision issues. (NDABCREATIVITY/Adobe Stock)

Health Pros: Add Check-ups to Back-to-School Checklist

Kids are heading back to school and health professionals say this is a good time for them to get a full health check-up. Before families' schedules …

The timber industry has nearly disappeared in Washington state in the past three decades, creating challenges for communities. (Leslie C Saber/Adobe Stock)

$1 Billion Pilot Program from Congress Aims to Help Distressed Communities

A program approved by Congress aims to give rural Washington communities a boost when applying for federal dollars. The CHIPS Act, passed last …

A waiver to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has significantly widened the pool of qualified workers. (wutzkoh/Adobe Stock)

Calls to Extend Waiver Simplifying Public-Worker Student-Loan Forgiveness

A streamlined process for erasing public-sector employees' student debt is expiring soon. State officials, including in Washington, are calling for …

Adding fruits to water is a natural way to add flavor without adding gobs of sugar to the drink. (Mary's/Adobe Stock)

Health Pros: Consider Alternatives to Sugary Drinks as School Returns

It's almost time for kids in Washington state to head back to school, and some might gravitate toward soda and other drinks with lots of sugar…

The vast majority of monkeypox cases in Washington are in the western part of the state. (Hit Stop Media/Adobe Stock)

Preventing Infection Possible as Monkeypox Cases Spread in WA

A relatively new virus known as monkeypox has made its way to the state of Washington. About 280 cases have been reported, with 240 occurring in King …

Ductless heat pumps are an energy-efficiency option that also provide air conditioning. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

WA Push Heats Up to Make Homes Greener, Healthier

Washington state wants to make homes for its most vulnerable residents greener and healthier. It started with a needs assessment from the Department …

The rate of Washington state kids with health insurance has increased over the past decade to one of the highest rates in the nation. (Iriana Shiyan/Adobe Stock)

Report: Many WA Kids Suffering from Anxiety, Depression

The mental health of Washington state children is a major area of concern, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual Kids …

People can wait up to three years to get into affordable housing in Spokane, Wash. (Zach/Adobe Stock)

Innovative 'Land Bank' Could Bring More Affordable Housing to WA

Washingtonians are feeling the squeeze from high housing prices, but a novel concept launching in Spokane could speed up the creation of affordable …

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, people enrolled in Medicare would pay a maximum of $2,000 a year on prescription drugs. (Stock Footage, Inc./Adobe Stock)

Senate Passage Brings Hope Bill Could Rein In Prescription Costs

The U.S. Senate has passed a bill which could dramatically reduce prescription drug prices for older Americans. The Inflation Reduction Act includes …

Residents of Bellingham, Wash., studied other cities' immigrant resource centers and have proposed one for Whatcom County. (CascadeCreatives/Adobe Stock)

Call for Immigrant Resource Center on Anniversary of WA Farmworker Death

People in northwest Washington are holding a vigil at Bellingham City Hall for an immigrant farmworker who died five years ago, and calling for a …

A version of last year's Build Back Better proposal included $400 billion for child care and preschool. (oksix/Adobe Stock)

So Far, Child-Care Industry Left Out of Senate Reconciliation Package

Child care advocates say there is a big hole in the reconciliation package being considered by the U.S. Senate. Support for the child care industry …

In the fall of 2020, about three in five faculty members at universities in Washington state were contingency staff. (as-artmedia/Adobe Stock)

Report: University Faculty See Biggest Pay Decrease in 50 Years

College faculty across the country saw the biggest decrease in their wages in nearly a half century, according to an annual report. The American …

Washington state is the country's leading producer of apples. (Bernt Rostad/Flickr)

Groups Fill Food-Access Gaps in WA School District

When school districts are not able to provide summer-school classes, it can have a big effect on how children get meals. Case in point: the Mount …

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