Washington in Focus

New questions are being raised about Washington's taxpayer-funded childcare system as reporters continue investigating Seattle-area home daycare providers receiving government subsidies.

Post Millennial reporter Katie Daviscourt recently visited Somali-run home daycares in South Seattle and Tukwila while examining how taxpayer childcare subsidies are being distributed. SEIU 925 subsequently contacted Washington lawmakers and early-learning officials, accusing Daviscourt of harassing immigrant childcare providers.

The dispute is now fueling a broader debate over investigative journalism, taxpayer accountability and whether Washington lawmakers could pursue new protections for childcare providers.

Republican lawmakers Jim Walsh and Travis Couture discuss their concerns about potential restrictions on reporters investigating taxpayer-funded programs. Walsh says he believes Washington could see an effort similar to a controversial California privacy law that opponents have nicknamed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.”

The Center Square has also obtained Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families records concerning investigations into childcare providers. Some records describe allegations involving providers and parents improperly reporting childcare attendance to obtain taxpayer subsidy payments. The records discussed in this episode contain allegations and do not establish wrongdoing by every provider questioned by reporters.

Also in today's Washington in Focus, Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle is responding to new questions surrounding the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, better known as LEAD.

The Washington Policy Center has challenged how LEAD's early crime-reduction research was described publicly, arguing that a finding involving lower odds of arrest compared with a control group was repeatedly presented as a 58% reduction in arrests.

Kettle, who chairs the Seattle City Council's Public Safety Committee, says Seattle will collect and examine its own LEAD data as the city evaluates the diversion program and considers where changes or improvements may be necessary.

And with the November 3 election approaching, Pierce County voters will decide whether their sheriff should continue to be elected by voters or instead be appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the County Council.

Pierce County Charter Amendment 53 would change the sheriff from an elected to an appointed position. Voters will also see several other charter amendments and local measures on their November ballot.

Today's Washington in Focus covers Washington childcare subsidy investigations, the debate over press freedom and government accountability, Seattle's LEAD diversion program and the major Pierce County sheriff ballot question.

Follow The Center Square and Washington in Focus for continuing coverage of Washington state government, taxpayer spending, public safety, Seattle politics, elections and government accountability.

#WashingtonState #Seattle #DaycareFraud #Childcare #TaxpayerMoney #LEAD #SeattleCrime #PierceCounty #PublicSafety #WashingtonPolitics #WashingtonNews #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus

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DocuSign co-founder Court Lorenzini is speaking out about Washington state's new 9.9% income tax and backing Initiative 645, the November ballot measure that would repeal the tax and prohibit state and local governments from imposing taxes on individual income.

Lorenzini tells The Center Square that he plans to remain in Washington, but says some friends have already left the state because of the new income tax. He also argues that Washington's tax policy could affect future decisions by entrepreneurs, investors and businesses considering where to locate, invest and create jobs.

Washington's new income tax takes effect January 1, 2028 and imposes a 9.9% tax on annual individual income above $1 million. Initiative 645 would repeal the tax and prohibit state and local governments from imposing taxes on individual income.

The debate over Washington's income tax comes as voters prepare to decide I-645 in the November 2026 election.

Also in today's Washington in Focus, President Donald Trump has nominated Pete Serrano to serve as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, setting up another confrontation with Washington Sen. Patty Murray.

Murray says she will use every tool available to block Serrano's nomination. Washington GOP Chair Jim Walsh discusses the nomination and his view that the move could force a larger Senate fight over the longstanding blue-slip process used in federal nominations.

And Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is scaling back her plans to expand homeless shelter capacity.

Wilson's earlier goal called for adding 1,000 shelter units annually. Her updated proposal starts with 960 new beds over two years as Seattle faces significant budget constraints.

The change comes as Pallet, the Everett-based company that manufactured the tiny-home shelters used at Seattle's new Bayside Enhanced Shelter in Interbay, has shut down only months after the shelter opened.

Today's episode covers three major developments in Washington state: the fight over Washington's income tax and Initiative 645, the battle over Pete Serrano's U.S. attorney nomination, and Seattle's changing approach to homelessness and shelter capacity.

Watch Washington in Focus for the latest Washington state news covering taxes, government accountability, Seattle politics, homelessness, the state economy and the decisions affecting Washington taxpayers.

2:02 Income Tax Story

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#WashingtonState #IncomeTax #I645 #DocuSign #WashingtonBusiness #Taxes #Seattle #KatieWilson #Homelessness #PeteSerrano #PattyMurray #WashingtonNews #WAPolitics #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus

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A new national firearms survey estimates Americans own approximately 461 million guns—including roughly 40 million AR-15-style rifles—as major Second Amendment litigation moves through the U.S. Supreme Court.

The 2026 National Firearms Survey from Georgetown University professor William English estimates approximately 88 million American adults own firearms, with the average gun owner possessing roughly 5.2 guns. The survey estimates Americans own approximately 208 million handguns, 154 million rifles and 99 million shotguns.

Among the most significant findings: approximately 25% of gun owners report owning an AR-15-type rifle, representing an estimated 40 million AR-15-style rifles nationwide. Another estimated 20 million similarly styled semiautomatic rifles are also privately owned.

Dave Workman, communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, discusses what the new gun ownership data could mean for the national Second Amendment debate and litigation challenging restrictions on semiautomatic rifles.

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering major litigation involving restrictions on semiautomatic firearms in Cook County, Illinois, and Connecticut. Gun-rights advocates argue the enormous number of AR-15-style rifles in private ownership supports their position that the firearms are in common use and protected by the Second Amendment. Supporters of restrictions dispute the constitutional arguments advanced by those challenging the laws.

Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility Chief of Staff Ryan Guzman also discusses the organization's priorities for Washington's 2027 legislative session, including stronger secure-storage policies and increased funding for community violence intervention and hospital-based intervention programs.

Also on Washington in Focus Daily, Washington's largest state employee union has reached a tentative agreement with the state on a new 2027–29 contract.

The Washington Federation of State Employees General Government bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with Gov. Bob Ferguson's administration and the Office of Financial Management. Approximately 42,000 general government workers are covered by the bargaining unit.

Details of the agreement were not immediately available as members prepare to vote on ratification. Washington GOP Chair Jim Walsh criticizes the state's collective bargaining process and argues taxpayers deserve greater transparency into negotiations over state employee compensation.

Finally, Spokane businesses are raising concerns about crime, homelessness, drug use and street disorder.

Independent journalist Kevin Dahlgren traveled to Spokane to investigate complaints from businesses near homelessness facilities. Business owners and other critics argue crime and disorder surrounding some facilities have contributed to businesses closing or relocating.

The segment also examines the ongoing debate over Housing First, Catholic Charities Eastern Washington and alternative approaches to homelessness emphasizing treatment, recovery and self-sufficiency.

Washington in Focus Daily breaks down the 2026 National Firearms Survey, 461 million guns in America, 40 million AR-15s, American gun ownership, Second Amendment cases, the U.S. Supreme Court, Washington gun laws, Washington state worker contracts, Gov. Bob Ferguson, WFSE, taxpayer transparency, Spokane crime, Spokane homelessness, Housing First, Catholic Charities Eastern Washington and the latest Washington state news.

#GunOwnership #SecondAmendment #AR15 #SCOTUS #WashingtonState #GunRights #GunLaws #Spokane #Homelessness #TaxpayerMoney #WashingtonNews #Seattle #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus

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On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, America remembers the victims of 9/11, the first responders who rushed toward danger and the thousands who have died in the years since from illnesses and injuries associated with the attacks and their aftermath.

The 2026 commemoration included a new moment of silence honoring those who died from 9/11-related illnesses and injuries, adding to the traditional moments marking when the World Trade Center towers were struck and collapsed, the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Also on Washington in Focus Daily, a Washington mother is speaking publicly about her family's experience amid a growing national legal fight over parental rights and gender identity.

Jodie Holman says she has not seen her daughter Eleanor since shortly after Thanksgiving 2025. Holman alleges that while the family lived in the Puyallup area, her daughter's school helped connect the teenager with outside organizations that eventually became involved as the family faced a dispute over gender identity, treatment and parental authority.

Holman says her daughter had struggled with serious mental health issues and that the family had already sought individual and family counseling. She says the disagreement eventually contributed to a legal battle over custody and the family's relationship with their daughter.

Jodie and David Holman are supporting parents in International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson, a major Washington parental rights case now before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has scheduled oral argument for December 7, 2026. The immediate legal question is whether the Washington parents challenging the state laws have Article III standing to bring their constitutional claims.

Finally, Seattle's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, known as LEAD, is facing renewed scrutiny over how claims about its success were presented to lawmakers.

The Washington Policy Center argues that inaccurate descriptions of early LEAD research were repeatedly used to promote the Seattle-born criminal justice diversion model to local, state and federal policymakers. WPC says LEAD eventually received nearly $100 million in specifically earmarked federal appropriations and is calling for greater congressional scrutiny of future funding.

One of the central disputes involves the widely cited claim that LEAD produced a 58% reduction in arrests or recidivism. LEAD co-founder Lisa Daugaard has acknowledged that the statistic should not be described as a 58% absolute reduction in arrests, explaining that the underlying research instead found a 58% reduction in the odds of arrest compared with a control group.

Washington Policy Center Director of Public Safety Solutions Eric Zimmerman is calling for organizations receiving federal LEAD funding to provide more public data on participant outcomes, including housing, employment and mortality.

Washington in Focus Daily breaks down the 25th anniversary of 9/11, September 11 first responders, 9/11-related illnesses, Washington parental rights, Jodie Holman, Puyallup, gender identity policy, International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson, the U.S. Supreme Court, SCOTUS, Seattle LEAD, criminal justice diversion, federal taxpayer funding, Eric Zimmerman, Lisa Daugaard and the latest Washington state news.

#September11 #NeverForget #911Anniversary #WashingtonState #ParentalRights #SCOTUS #Seattle #LEAD #PublicSafety #TaxpayerMoney #WashingtonNews #WashingtonPolitics #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus

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Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is facing new pressure over public safety, former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes' departure and the city's decision to keep surveillance cameras turned off around Pioneer Square and the Stadium District.

Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee Chair Bob Kettle is demanding greater transparency from Mayor Katie Wilson over Shon Barnes' exit as Seattle police chief. Kettle argues Barnes was effectively removed after Wilson asked him to resign and says the mayor should provide the City Council with her reasons. Wilson's office maintains Barnes resigned and says the City Charter requirement concerning reasons for dismissal does not apply.

The controversy comes as Seattle continues debating surveillance cameras, crime and public safety. The Seattle Police Officers Guild and Pioneer Square business leaders have called for cameras to be activated, arguing they could help police respond to crime and improve safety around downtown Seattle and the Stadium District. Mayor Wilson's administration says it is awaiting a review involving privacy and data concerns before making a final decision.

Also on Washington in Focus Daily: the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project connecting Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, is facing renewed taxpayer scrutiny as its projected price tag reaches as high as $15.2 billion.

Washington State Rep. John Ley is calling for a major reset of the Interstate Bridge Replacement project, arguing Washington and Oregon should scale the project to what the states can actually afford. The official I-5 bridge replacement estimate now ranges from $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, with $14.4 billion being used for financial planning. The debate involves billions in taxpayer funding, light rail, tolling, federal transportation funding and the long-term cost of replacing the aging Interstate 5 Columbia River crossing.

Finally, a major Washington parental rights case is heading to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Parents challenging Washington state law involving runaway minors and gender-related services are asking the Supreme Court to reverse a Ninth Circuit ruling that prevented their lawsuit from moving forward on standing grounds. Oral arguments in International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson are scheduled for December 7, 2026.

The case could determine whether the parents can proceed with their constitutional challenge to Washington's law and raises broader questions involving parental rights, runaway youth, gender identity, family authority and when parents have standing to challenge state policy in federal court.

Washington in Focus Daily covers Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, Shon Barnes, the Seattle Police Department, Seattle surveillance cameras, Pioneer Square public safety, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, Washington and Oregon transportation spending, the $15 billion I-5 bridge, Rep. John Ley, SCOTUS, Washington parental rights and the latest Washington state news and politics.

#Seattle #KatieWilson #SeattlePolice #WashingtonState #InterstateBridge #SCOTUS #ParentalRights #PublicSafety #SeattleNews #WashingtonPolitics #WashingtonNews #TaxpayerMoney #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus

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Seattle public safety is facing renewed scrutiny after three separate shootings in the Belltown neighborhood left three people dead and three others injured, with no arrests announced in connection with the killings at the time of this episode.

Seattle Police Officers Guild President Kent Lou is now calling for broader changes to Seattle's criminal justice system, arguing that adding police officers alone will not solve the city's crime problems without consequences for repeat offenders, functioning jails, prosecutors and judges working alongside law enforcement.

Lou says Seattle police officers repeatedly encounter difficulties booking suspects into jail and argues the city's revolving-door criminal justice system is making it harder for officers to address repeat crime. He is also calling for stronger action against illegal street takeovers, including vehicle seizures and expanded use of surveillance cameras.

The criticism comes as Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson responds to the deadly Belltown weekend. Wilson says Seattle Police Department data show shootings and homicides remain at their lowest levels in a decade and says her administration will soon unveil a comprehensive gun violence prevention strategy.

The mayor's office also responded to criticism over Seattle's surveillance camera policy. Wilson paused camera expansion pending a data security and privacy audit after cameras were temporarily used during the FIFA World Cup. The Seattle Police Officers Guild is questioning why those cameras aren't currently operating around Seattle's stadium district.

Also on Washington in Focus Daily: More than $100 million in federal funding has gone toward the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, or LEAD, model that originated in Seattle and King County and has since been replicated around the country.

Washington Policy Center researcher Eric Zimmerman is calling for Congress to pause additional LEAD funding and scrutinize claims about the program's effectiveness. Zimmerman has challenged statistics used to promote LEAD's success, including recidivism data, and argues policymakers need stronger evidence before committing additional taxpayer dollars.

LEAD co-founder Lisa Daugaard disputes attempts to connect the diversion program to Washington's broader homelessness and drug overdose problems, arguing LEAD has produced successful outcomes even as Seattle and Washington struggle with larger homelessness, addiction and public safety challenges.

Finally, Washington high school wrestler Kallie Keeler and her mother are taking their girls sports and Title IX case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Alliance Defending Freedom has filed an emergency motion seeking protections before the upcoming wrestling season. Keeler and her mother are asking for advance notice if she is scheduled to compete against a transgender opponent so that her family can decide whether she participates in the match.

Washington in Focus Daily breaks down Seattle's deadly Belltown shootings, Mayor Katie Wilson's public safety response, criticism from the Seattle Police Officers Guild, Seattle surveillance cameras, the $100 million LEAD diversion controversy, federal taxpayer funding, homelessness and drug policy, and the Washington girls wrestling case now before the Ninth Circuit.

#Seattle #SeattleCrime #SeattlePolice #KatieWilson #SeattleNews #PublicSafety #Belltown #LEAD #WashingtonState #WashingtonNews #GirlsSports #TitleIX #NinthCircuit #WashingtonPolitics #TheCenterSquare

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Three people are dead and three others injured after a violent holiday weekend in Seattle, raising new questions about public safety, street takeovers, gun violence and the Seattle Police Department's response to crime.

Three separate shootings occurred in Seattle's Belltown area over the weekend, including violence connected to another street takeover near the Seattle Center and Space Needle. At the time of this episode, Seattle police had announced no arrests in the weekend shootings.

Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sales is responding to the violence and questions about whether officers were overwhelmed. Sales says SPD is working with business owners, increasing patrols and bike patrols, coordinating with its Community Response Group and Gun Violence Reduction Unit, and targeting individuals known to police for violent activity. He also addressed Seattle's continuing problem with illegal street takeovers and promised the department would work with local, regional and federal partners to combat them.

Also on Washington in Focus Daily, September 11, 2026 marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. New research is examining the long-term health effects suffered by World Trade Center first responders, including a potential connection between toxic exposure, PTSD and accelerated brain aging.

The research examined brain scans from World Trade Center responders and found evidence suggesting that both psychological trauma and exposure to toxic chemicals could play a role in long-term cognitive and neurological effects. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people continue to live with physical and mental health conditions connected to the September 11 attacks.

Finally, Washington state employee unions are negotiating their next two-year collective bargaining agreements with Gov. Bob Ferguson's administration and the Office of Financial Management. State workers are seeking increased compensation and other contract changes as Washington faces continued budget pressure.

Critics are also questioning why Washington's public-sector collective bargaining negotiations take place behind closed doors. State Sen. Mark Schoesler argues taxpayers ultimately pay for the compensation agreements and says the bargaining process needs greater transparency.

Washington in Focus Daily breaks down Seattle's deadly weekend, the Seattle Police Department's response, new research into the long-term health effects of 9/11, and the growing fight over Washington state worker contracts, government spending and taxpayer transparency.

#Seattle #SeattleCrime #SeattlePolice #SeattleNews #WashingtonState #WashingtonNews #September11 #911Anniversary #FirstResponders #StateWorkers #BobFerguson #WashingtonPolitics #TheCenterSquare

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The Washington State Supreme Court has deadlocked in a major legal battle over Initiative 645, the November ballot measure seeking to repeal Washington state's new income tax. A 4-4 split by the Washington Supreme Court leaves the Public Investment Impact Disclosure, or PIID, written by Attorney General Nick Brown's office in place on the November 3 ballot. The disclosure warns voters that approving Initiative 645 would decrease funding for K-12 education, higher education and human services, including healthcare. Critics of the ballot disclosure argue that it is misleading because Washington's new income tax has not yet generated revenue. Government transparency advocate Arthur West challenged the PIID, while Let's Go Washington and Washington GOP Chairman Jim Walsh have also strongly criticized the language. Brian Heywood of Let's Go Washington is responding to the divided Supreme Court decision and what it could mean for the campaign to repeal Washington's income tax. Meanwhile, another major Washington election fight is moving forward in Pierce County. A judge rejected a challenge seeking to block Pierce County Charter Amendment 53 from reaching voters. The amendment would change the Pierce County sheriff from an elected position to an appointed position and could remove Sheriff Keith Swank from office. Pierce County voters will now have an opportunity to decide whether they want to continue directly electing their sheriff. Another Pierce County proposal, Amendment 54, would create a new Public Safety Ombuds office with oversight involving the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, raising additional questions about government accountability, costs and law enforcement oversight. Finally, Washington's 2018 ban on so-called conversion therapy is facing renewed legal scrutiny following a U.S. Supreme Court decision involving a similar Colorado law. Washington marriage and family therapist Brian Tingley is getting another opportunity to challenge the state's restrictions. Alliance Defending Freedom argues the law violates counselors' First Amendment free speech rights by restricting certain conversations with minor clients. Washington State Sen. Marko Liias, who sponsored the original legislation, is defending the law and arguing that it protects minors from practices he says are harmful and ineffective. Washington in Focus Daily breaks down the latest Washington Supreme Court ruling, Initiative 645 income tax repeal battle, Pierce County sheriff election fight, November 2026 ballot measures and renewed constitutional challenge to Washington's conversion therapy law. #WashingtonState #WashingtonPolitics #IncomeTax #Initiative645 #WASupremeCourt #Taxpayers #PierceCounty #PierceCountySheriff #KeithSwank #Election2026 #Seattle #SCOTUS #FirstAmendment #WashingtonNews #TheCenterSquare

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A major Washington media lawsuit has reached a settlement in a fight over press freedom and access to state lawmakers, while an iconic Seattle restaurant is closing after more than 50 years as its owner blames rising rent, labor costs, taxes, construction and other pressures facing small businesses. Plus, a Washington lawmaker is questioning why the Department of Natural Resources is trying to fill a six-figure position while the state faces serious budget challenges.

First, a major development in Washington’s press credential controversy. Citizen Action Defense Fund announced a settlement with the Capitol Correspondents Association in litigation involving journalists Ari Hoffman, Jonathan Choe and Brandi Kruse. The case raises a fundamental First Amendment question: Who gets to decide who qualifies as a journalist and receives press access to Washington lawmakers?

The controversy grew after reporters were denied access or credentials at the Washington State Capitol, and the litigation’s discovery process uncovered internal communications about journalists seeking access. The settlement ends the Capitol Correspondents Association’s role in the dispute, but the broader lawsuit involving the Washington State House continues.

Then, another longtime Seattle business is shutting its doors.

Luigi’s Italian Eatery in Pioneer Square will close September 19 after more than 50 years. Owner Angela Williams explains why rising rent, labor expenses, food costs, construction disruptions and Seattle’s broader business environment ultimately made continuing operations unsustainable.

Williams says the restaurant faced a roughly 40% rent increase and describes repeatedly trying to adjust the business before reaching the conclusion that it could no longer survive another winter. She also discusses the World Cup economic boost that many Pioneer Square businesses expected—and why Luigi’s did not experience the windfall it hoped for.

Finally, Washington state government spending is facing new scrutiny as the Department of Natural Resources seeks to fill a Director for Equity, Environmental Justice and Civil Rights position with a listed salary of roughly $131,000 to $153,000 per year.

Washington State Sen. Mark Schoesler is questioning whether the six-figure DNR position should be a priority while Gov. Bob Ferguson is asking state agencies to find efficiencies, Washington faces future budget pressures and DNR resources have been strained by a devastating wildfire season.

Washington in Focus Daily breaks down the latest Washington politics, Seattle business news, government spending, taxpayer issues, press freedom controversies and state budget developments affecting residents across Washington.

#WashingtonState #Seattle #WashingtonPolitics #SeattleNews #PressFreedom #Media #FirstAmendment #SeattleBusiness #SmallBusiness #PioneerSquare #WashingtonBudget #GovernmentSpending #DNR #Taxpayer #WashingtonInFocus

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Washington’s income tax repeal fight is escalating as Initiative 645 heads toward the November ballot and the Washington State Supreme Court considers a major challenge involving the ballot language voters will see.

Former Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler is urging Washington voters to support Initiative 645 and repeal the state's new 9.9% tax on household income above $1 million. Herrera Beutler argues the so-called “millionaires tax” could eventually expand to more Washington taxpayers, while supporters of the tax argue it is necessary to make Washington’s tax system less regressive.

The Washington Supreme Court is also weighing the legal fight over the Public Investment Impact Disclosure, or PIID, that will accompany Initiative 645 on the November ballot. A five-justice panel considered Arthur West’s challenge but continued the matter for additional consideration, potentially putting the issue before the full Washington Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Seattle Public Schools avoided a teacher strike at the last minute, allowing students to return to classrooms on schedule. But questions remain about what the district agreed to financially as Seattle Public Schools faces a major budget shortfall.

And Seattle is facing a potential constitutional fight over its P-Patch community gardening program. Pacific Legal Foundation is challenging the city's policy of prioritizing certain racial groups for highly sought-after community garden plots and is pressing Seattle officials to change the policy.

Washington in Focus Daily breaks down the latest Washington income tax news, Initiative 645, the Supreme Court ballot fight, Seattle Public Schools negotiations, Washington education spending, Seattle’s P-Patch garden controversy and the latest political and government accountability news from across Washington state.

#WashingtonState #WashingtonPolitics #IncomeTax #Initiative645 #WashingtonTaxes #Seattle #SeattleSchools #SeattleNews #WASupremeCourt #Taxpayer #WashingtonNews #Olympia #GovernmentAccountability #WashingtonInFocus

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