politics
Despite law, 20 WA counties don’t offer public-option health plans
Now, legislators think they have a fix to bring the public-option law they passed two years ago to every county.
Melissa Santos
Melissa Santos is formerly a Crosscut staff reporter who covered state politics and the Legislature. She came to Crosscut from The Seattle Times editorial board, where she wrote columns and opinion pi
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politics
New WA laws start to close public broadband gap — but it’s a small step
Legislators are spending $400 million to expand broadband, while opening up public internet options. But access for everyone is still a long way off.
politics
New suicide prevention hotline aims to divert callers from police
Starting in mid-2022, people will be able to dial 988 instead of 911 to access different types of services in a mental health crisis.
politics
That voting-rights bill Congress rejected? Most of it is WA law
With mail-in voting and same-day voter registration “we really are ahead of the curve,” one state lawmaker says.
politics
What it means for Juneteenth to be an official holiday
The U.S. and Washington state are now formally celebrating June 19 to mark the end of slavery.