Washington

Candidate filing week has come to a close, bringing with it a few surprise last-minute candidates jumping into crowded and highly competitive races.

For the last 12 years as Washington’s governor, Jay Inslee has led the state in the epic global battle to save the planet from the harms of climate change.

Megan Callow's family found a home at Sacajawea Elementary School in North Seattle. Her fourth grade son walks himself to and from school. All of the staff — not just his classroom teacher — know him well. The other families at the school have become close friends.

May 10—MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake school bus driver has found a way to encourage students to love the written word. Tony Lavalle, known to his young passengers as Mr. Tony, has begun distributing books to the students who ride his bus to and from Groff Elementary School. "This year, I started Read a Book Monday," Lavalle said. "The student comes on board and they read a book, and that usually ...

May 10—Tod Gunther has an Army-green jacket with a velcro patch that reads, "FMR. HOMELESS," on one side. Pins that read, "STIGMA SUX," and, "Street Strong," are attached to the other side. He said he often wears the jacket so others are aware that he knows what it is like to be unhoused. Gunther, 60, is the deputy mayor of Orting. He became part of the City Council about 10 years ago when a ...

SEATTLE – Seattle Public Schools is expected to take up a proposal Wednesday that could eventually close more than a quarter of the district’s nearly 70 elementary schools.

Members of a nonpartisan state agency made up of local school board officials from across Washington are warning that conservative groups opposed to teaching about race and gender in schools are wielding increased influence within the organization’s ranks.

With a looming ballot initiative threatening to upend the finances of Washington’s long-term care benefit, the state is looking at contingency plans.