NEWS
(OLYMPIA)– The Washington Department of Ecology issued $2,377,824 in penalties of $1,000 or more from Jan. 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026. $1,382,556 of that total was issued in the first quarter and $995,268 in the second quarter, according to a news release from Ecology. A detailed list of the violations and resulting penalties is available on Ecology's website. Ecology works with thousands of businesses and individuals to help them comply with state laws. Penalties are issued in cases where non-compliance continues after Ecology has provided technical assistance or warnings, or for particularly serious violations. The money owed from penalties may be reduced from the issued amount due to (read more)
(OLYMPIA)— The Office of the Secretary of State and the Attorney General’s Office have released a new guide for county election officials which outlines state and federal roles in election administration. As the federal government continues to push falsehoods about the security of elections systems, the guide is intended to support county election officials with any potential interactions with federal officials in the lead up to the Nov. 3 General Election, according to a news release from the Office of the Secretary of State. “This year, it is clear that Washington election officials must be prepared to handle inquiries and (read more)
(SKAGIT COUNTY)- Due to increased moisture levels, recreational fires are now permitted within the unincorporated areas of Skagit County. Pursuant to the Governor’s Proclamation, the statewide ban on burning residential yard debris and land clearing remains in effect until September 30, 2026, according to a news release from the county. Recreational fires are those used for cooking and pleasure, consist only of charcoal or seasoned firewood, and meet the following requirements: - Fires are allowed only within enclosures AT LEAST 14 inches high, no wider than 3 feet, and constructed of cement blocks, stones, or #10-gauge steel. - Burning materials must be (read more)
(SEATTLE)– The final tsunami of summer travelers is heading for Washington State Ferries. Close to 400,000 people are expected on board between Thursday, Sept. 3, and Monday, Sept. 7. The Labor Day travel rush will cap WSF’s busiest summer since 2019. From Memorial Day through the final Sunday in August, ridership has totaled nearly 7 million. That’s an increase of nearly 100,000 over the same period in 2025, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. People boarding a vessel in a vehicle should use the Washington State Department of Transportation mobile app or visit the WSF website before heading to (read more)
(OLYMPIA)- Each year, hundreds of clean water projects across the state receive funding from the Washington Department of Ecology's water quality grants and loans programs. Because many of these projects take years to complete, Ecology creates an Outcomes Report for each biennium to highlight some of this work, according to a news release from the agency. The 2023-2025 biennium outcomes report is now available as an interactive story map, highlighting water quality improvements we funded between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2025. During the 2023-2025 biennium, Ecology invested more than $626 million in 340 clean water projects. These projects help Washington communities prevent pollution, (read more)