Nurse practitioner: Medicaid cuts could 'devastate' WA patients, providers
Public News Service - February 24, 2025
Proposed Medicaid cuts could seriously affect Washington hospitals and health care workers.
President Donald Trump and House Republicans are proposing $800 billion in cuts. Critics said it could mean ending health care access for nearly 2 million people on Washington's Apple Health, and about 73 million Americans nationwide.
...(Read More)
Shore power bill would improve WA air quality, cut emissions
Public News Service - February 20, 2025
New legislation would transition more ocean-going container ships to run off electricity instead of diesel while they are docked at Washington ports. Proponents of the bill say implementing more shore power would improve air quality and cut emissions. Ships still need power when they are in port, and often leave engines idling. ...(Read More)
Affordable health insurance could ease WA caregiver shortage
Public News Service - February 18, 2025
Worker's rights advocates and nursing home providers say Washington has a long-term care workforce crisis, and that inadequate benefits in the nursing home industry are part of the problem.
Legislation moving through Olympia - known as the Essential Worker Healthcare Program - would provide affordable health insurance to nursing home workers.
Alicia Harris is a certified nursing assistant, or CNA, at a skilled nursing facility. ...(Read More)
WA: Proyecto ley de atención médica asequible aliviaría a largo plazo escasez de cuidadores
Public News Service - February 18, 2025
Los defensores de los derechos de los trabajadores dicen que Washington tiene una crisis de fuerza laboral de cuidados a largo plazo y que los beneficios inadecuados en la industria de hogares de ancianos son parte del problema.
La legislación que avanza en Olympia, conocida como Programa de atención médica para trabajadores esenciales, brindaría atención médica asequible a los trabajadores de hogares de ancianos.
Alicia Harris es asistente de enfermería certificada, o CNA, en un centro de enfermería especializada. ...(Read More)
Strategies for overcoming WA winter blues
Public News Service - February 17, 2025
It's mid-winter blues season, and research shows 40% of Americans report their mood declines during the winter.
Especially in Western Washington, which has as few as four sunny days each winter month, accessing mood-boosting light can be a challenge.
Gloomy feelings can lead to fatigue and depression, but experts have strategies to boost your mood year-round. ...(Read More)
Free school meals for all WA students on table this session
Public News Service - February 10, 2025
Legislation in Olympia would make school meals free for every student.
Senate Bill 5352 would ensure every student has access to free breakfast and lunch starting in the 2026 school year. Washington state has already made strides in this effort, with 70% of students having access to free meals.
...(Read More)
WA rent stabilization bills have huge public support
Public News Service - February 6, 2025
New legislation in Olympia aims to ease the burden of skyrocketing rental rates by limiting yearly rent increases to 7%. Chris Walker lives in a manufactured home community for seniors just outside of Sequim, Washington and has been organizing for rent stabilization for three years. After her monthly rates started rising sharply, she spoke with other communities and realized she wasn't alone. ...(Read More)
Proyectos de ley para estabilización de alquileres en WA con gran apoyo público
Public News Service - February 6, 2025
Una nueva legislación en Olympia tiene como objetivo aliviar la carga de los altos precios de los alquileres al limitar los aumentos anuales al 7%.
Chris Walker vive en una comunidad de casas prefabricadas para personas mayores en las afueras de Sequim, Washington, y lleva tres años organizando la estabilización de alquileres. Dice que, después de que sus tarifas mensuales comenzaran a aumentar drásticamente, habló con otras comunidades y se dio cuenta de que no estaba sola.
...(Read More)
UW study: Rural women have it harder with menopause
Public News Service - February 4, 2025
Women in rural areas struggle more with menopause than their urban counterparts, according to a study from the University of Washington.
Rural women reported more symptoms like joint pain and mood swings in one of the first studies to look at menopausal rural-urban discrepancies.
Dr. ...(Read More)
Bill would refund WA businesses for covering child care costs
Public News Service - January 29, 2025
New legislation in Olympia aims to ease the burden of child-care costs for Washington families by allowing businesses to help their employees pay for it.
Under House Bill 1564, businesses could reduce the amount they spend on business and occupation taxes by the amount they pay for child-care assistance to workers.
State Rep. ...(Read More)
Regulating insurance companies may help WA mental health care ‘crisis’
Public News Service - January 27, 2025
Washington state mental health care providers are rallying behind a new bill, aimed at addressing what they are calling the mental health care crisis.
Research shows nearly half of Washington counties lack a psychiatrist, and many mental health professionals in the state don't accept Medicaid or other public insurance.
Jake Swanton, vice president of state affairs for Inseparable, said insurance companies blame a lack of providers. ...(Read More)
WA bill would expand automatic voter registration
Public News Service - January 23, 2025
A bill in Olympia would further expand Washington state's automatic voter registration process.
Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, introduced Senate Bill 5077 to allow the governor to widen automatic voter registration to more government agencies. ...(Read More)
Study finds 'hidden cost' of WA lower Snake River dams
Public News Service - January 22, 2025
Dams on the lower Snake River in Washington state are losing water to evaporation at a rapid rate, according to a new study. The reservoirs created by the four lower Snake River dams lose more than 30,000 acre feet of water each year. That's enough water for the household needs of 240,000 people, the Stockholm Environment Institute estimates. ...(Read More)
WA falls behind in school-based mental health support
Public News Service - January 20, 2025
As young people struggle with mental health issues, schools often provide the best avenue for getting them help. However, Washington state has fallen behind in providing services to students.
Eric Bruns, professor of psychiatry at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said school is the most common venue for young people to receive mental health supports and so, from a public health standpoint, there is no better place to invest in resources.
...(Read More)
As deportation threat looms, WA groups underscore importance of immigrants
Public News Service - January 16, 2025
As threats of deportation of illegal immigrants increase with the incoming Trump administration, groups in Washington say immigrants are an integral part of the state.
Research from the Washington State Budget and Policy Center and Economic Policy Institute finds nearly one-fifth of workers in the state are immigrants and they generate 145 billion dollars in economic output.
Kaitie Dong, senior policy analyst with the Washington State Budget and Policy Center, said incoming President Donald Trump's plans for mass deportations are a threat to the state.
...(Read More)