Have a tip or story to
share with Lens?
Here’s how.
latest
washington energy spotlight
PSE announces small biz energy contest
With half of Washington’s workforce employed by small businesses, the survival of those employers at a time of high unemployment has become a heightened priority for different stakeholders. Earlier this year, the state Department of Commerce doubled funds available for its Working Washington Small Business emergency grant program. Now, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is hosting […]
guest opinion
Existing sales tax revenue sufficient for Metro bus service
If Seattle voters want to preserve bus service and believe a sales tax hike is needed to do that, they should take a moment to review King County Metro Transit’s financial forecasts and spending plans for the coming years. Metro’s projections show agency officials can provide service with their existing revenue, without imposing a sales […]
did you hear?
got scoop?
Energy & Environment
Wildfire season takes “fast and furious” turn
Washington state’s wildfire season dramatically intensified this past weekend with more than 20 times the number of acres burned in the past week than...
PSE signs agreement for new Oregon wind farm
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has signed a new agreement with Portland-based Avangrid Renewables to build a 28,000 acre wind farm in north central Oregon...
Education
Let’s do more for at-risk students before they fall behind
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a great deal of new obstacles for many of us. Unfortunately, schools and students have not been spared. Over...
What has new basic education spending achieved?
Although the latest update from the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) shows a 20 percent jump in revenue compared to the June...
Growth
Reassessing transit for Interstate Bridge replacement
Disagreement among Washington and Oregon stakeholders regarding the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) in 2013 put a long pause on – then the Washington state...
Housing as “critical infrastructure”
The state Growth Management Act (GMA) remains a primary focus for stakeholders who are trying to address Washington state’s housing shortage and lack of...
Healthcare
“Uphill” battle remains for single-payer healthcare work
For more than a year a state work group has explored the idea of a universal healthcare system in Washington state with forthcoming recommendations...
The free market is the way forward—on biopharmaceuticals and most everything else
What is America’s greatest strength in fighting COVID-19? Our biopharmaceutical industry, including the many important companies located here in Washington State.
Since the virus arrived...
Analyst says healthcare system “at crossroads”
Within the debate over healthcare reform in the U.S. are conflicting philosophies regarding how the system should operate and who ultimately should make health...
Business
I-976 struck down as panel mulls new transportation taxes
The release of the Washington State Supreme Court decision striking down Initiative 976 that was approved by voters last November seems appropriately timed –...
Unemployment tax hike will harm already struggling businesses
After a year of historic layoffs and unemployment claims that threatened to bankrupt the state Unemployment Trust Fund, businesses that managed to survive could...
Work group may favor “gradual” approach to single-payer health care
The state Universal Health Care Work Group is working on a new report update for the state legislature outlining end goals to pursue, ultimately...