Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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OLYMPIA — Legislation requested by the governor's office and supported by Democratic senators aims to ban flavored vaping products and impose sweeping regulations on the industry. If passed, Senate Bill 6254 would limit the nicotine concentration of vaping products, ban certain flavoring chemicals and require manufacturers, distributors and retailers to obtain licenses from the state Liquor and Cannabis Board. The bill would also give the board authority to inspect businesses and ensure compliance. The measure is proposed in...
OLYMPIA - Despite the governor's warning to avoid crowds in the wake of the coronavirus, hundreds of concerned parents and residents converged on the Capitol last Wednesday to protest the passage of a law requiring comprehensive sex education from kindergarten through 12th-grade. Among the provisions of the so-called "inclusive" law, were mandates to include age-appropriate and medically accurate information on heterosexual intercourse, gay, lesbian and transgender sexual...
OLYMPIA — People will be asked to use a lot less gasoline and to convert to alternative clean fuels in the next 15 years if a proposal before the Legislature becomes law. After lengthy debate, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1110 passed 54-44 in the House despite bipartisan opposition. Five Democratic lawmakers voted no. If it becomes law, the measure would direct the Department of Ecology to adopt a clean fuels program with the goal of limiting greenhouse gas emissions per unit of fuel to 20 percent of 2017 levels b...
OLYMPIA — Roughly 100 gun rights activists marched on the State Capitol on Friday and rallied in opposition to proposed gun-control bills. Matt Marshall, leader of the Washington Three Percent gun rights advocacy group, spoke to an excited crowd after announcing earlier this month he would run for the seat of House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, after criticizing Wilcox’s leadership regarding issues surrounding Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley. Ralliers wore tactical gear and carried assault rifles in front of the Cap...
Washington state lawmakers will consider a gradual transition from the state’s current gasoline tax to a system that would charge drivers fees based on how many miles they travel. This comes amid rising concerns over the amount of revenue available to fund transportation and the maintenance of roads and highways due to increasing fuel-efficiency among vehicles, as well as concerns that owners of older and less fuel-efficient vehicles are carrying a larger tax burden. The House Transportation Committee heard a report T...
Democrats in the state Legislature are backing bills aimed at reducing carbon emissions and pollutants put into the atmosphere by transportation fuels with the goal of achieving a 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by the year 2050. One of the co-sponsors, Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, said Senate bills 5412 and 6272 would allow the Department of Ecology to put rules into place that limit the use of dirty and carbon-emitting fuels and set new objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Nguyen...
OLYMPIA -- A proposal by Senate Democrats would require concealed pistol license applicants to complete a safety course. Senate Bill 6294 would require conceal-carry permit holders to complete a eight hours of training that would include safe handling and storage of firearms, state laws regarding the use of deadly force, conflict resolution, suicide prevention and live-fire shooting exercises. Presently, conceal-carry permits are valid for five years and require only a criminal background check by local law enforcement and...
OLYMPIA — Residents and visitors will get a break if lawmakers approve a proposal to do away with Discover Pass fees for using state parks. Senate Minority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville and Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, have co-sponsored SB 6174, which would no longer require park visitors to pay $10 for a one-time parking permit, or buy the $30 annual parking Discover Pass. Sen. Schoesler is critical of the tax proposals voted in last year’s legislative session. He said the results of the tax advisory votes on las...
Washington lawmakers have proposed groundbreaking legislation that aims to give consumers more control over their digitally-collected personal data and image. Senate Bill 6281, or the Washington Privacy Act, would allow consumers to access, correct, delete and easily transfer their personal data collected and controlled by companies. Specifically, the bill would apply to companies that process the personal data of 100,000 consumers or more, or derive over 50 percent of gross revenue from the sale of personal data and processe...