Washington in Focus

The Seattle Office of Police Accountability is investigating footage of a police officer who made light of a pedestrian who was struck and killed by a Seattle police vehicle in January. The Seattle Police Department released footage showing Seattle Police Officers Guild Vice President Daniel Auderer on a phone call, reportedly with Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Solan, on Jan. 23. That night, Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, was hit and killed by a marked Seattle police vehicle going 74 mph in an intersection.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Legislation passed this session and signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee was intended to boost the number of electricians in Washington state. Some small electrical contractors, however, argue the new law is hurting their businesses. Senate Bill 5320 requires applicants for a journey level electrician certificate to have completed an approved apprenticeship program to take the required examination to be a journey level electrician. As part of the apprenticeship, an applicant must have worked in the electrical construction trade for at least 8,000 hours, 4,000 of which must be in electrical installations in industrial or commercial facilities under supervision.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Washington state’s third quarterly auction of emissions allowances under the cap-and-trade program established by the Climate Commitment Act brought in more than $541 million, according to a Wednesday summary report put out by the Department of Ecology. That dollar figure is derived by multiplying the $63.03 allowance price at the Aug. 30 auction by the 8.585 million allowances that were sold.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Since 2019, the Seattle Police Department has had 669 officers resign, according to data obtained by the SPD. The total number of deployable officers has now shrunk down to less than 900, according to the Seattle Police Officers Guild, a staffing crisis they say is primarily driven by a hostile ideological and political climate within the city.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Seattle Police Department is continuing investigations into an increase in robberies in the city’s South Precinct. According to the department, there have been 14 reported incidents of pattern robberies in the South Precinct from June through Aug. 25. The department suspects more robberies have gone unreported.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Spokane Superior Court Judge Tony Hazel has cleared the way for a ballot initiative that would ban camping within 1,000 feet of places like schools, playgrounds and child care facilities to appear on the November ballot. Local attorney Brian Hansen, the man behind the initiative, argues it will – if passed – protect children.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Earlier this month, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission approved a request by Puget Sound Energy to increase its natural gas rates to cover the costs of the state’s cap-and-trade program under the Climate Commitment Act. However, the approval also carried with it a stipulation that the utility provider could not show on customers' bills the reason for the rate increase, a decision that was recommended by the Washington Attorney General’s Office.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A coalition of 22 Washington state counties and the Washington State Association of Counties are suing the Washington Department of Social and Health Services over the department's administration of behavioral health services. According to the lawsuit, filed in Pierce County Superior Court, the department failed a fundamental obligation by refusing to provide mental health services to conversion patients. Despite court orders and state laws requiring DSHS to provide such treatment, the department asserted that it is no longer obligated to evaluate or treat patients whose criminal charges are dismissed, citing a federal judge’s orders in a separate case.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When most of the county comes together during times of public crisis like the wildfires currently ravaging the countryside, the Spokane County Sheriff’s department wants residents to be aware that not everyone is there to help. Two individuals have been arrested for residential burglary in a region of Medical Lake that is part of the Gray Fire evacuation zone, according to a Tuesday news release from the sheriff's department and the Spokane Police Department.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The state of Washington might create a “cash for clunkers” program to subsidize the purchase of electric vehicles and encourage a transition away from high emission gas vehicles. It’s one of several potential recommendations under consideration by the state Electric Vehicle Advisory Committee to include in an impending Transportation Electrification Strategy update.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.