Latest Washington Headlines

All the headlines from our Washington Topic Page, ordered by recency.

$1M Settlement Reached in Washington Dairy Worker Overtime Suit

Jun 23 2021 // Yakima County Superior Court has approved a $1 million settlement that provides retroactive overtime pay for workers at a Lower Yakima Valley dairy.The settlement wraps up a class-action lawsuit filed in 2016 by Jose...

Newspaper Carrier Confronted by Washington Sheriff Seeks $5M in Damages

Jun 21 2021 // A Black newspaper carrier confronted by Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer in Washingotn has filed a legal claim seeking at least $5 million in damages.Attorneys representing Sedrick Altheimer submitted the tort claim against...

$3.25M in Medical Malpractice Death of Washington Prisoner

Jun 21 2021 // The Washington Department of Corrections has agreed to pay $3.25 million to the family of a man who died at Monroe Correctional Complex after not receiving adequate medical care.A lawsuit filed by Julia Kleutsch said her...

Washington City Paying $333K to Family of Man Shot in 2016

Jun 15 2021 // The City of Forks has paid $333,000 to settle a civil-rights lawsuit filed by relatives of a man who was shot and killed by police in 2016 after an officer allegedly escalated a welfare check into a deadly...

Washington Officials Allow Cannabis Dispensaries to Offer Joints for Jabs

Jun 9 2021 // Licensed marijuana stores in Washington state can offer free joints to promote on-site COVID-19 vaccine clinics, officials said this week.The state Liquor and Cannabis Board is calling the effort the “Joints for...

Washington, California Urge Insurers to Adopt Task Force Climate Reporting Guidelines

Jun 8 2021 // Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler and California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara are askikng all insurers that are currently required to report to them annually on climate change to start reporting their...

$3.25M in Medical Malpractice Death of Washington Prisoner

Jun 8 2021 // The Washington state Department of Corrections has agreed to pay $3.25 million to the family of a man who died at Monroe Correctional Complex after not receiving adequate medical care.A lawsuit filed by Julia Kleutsch said...

Washington Debates What to Do About Ransomware Payments, Cyber Reporting

Jun 7 2021 // More transparency is needed into what kind of cash payments are made after ransomware attacks, a top Democrat said, following a recent spate of cyber-attacks aimed at U.S. companies.Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate...

Former Washington Logger Charged in Nearly $300K Workers’ Comp Scam

Jun 7 2021 // A Cowlitz County, Wash., man stands accused of faking injuries to collect nearly $300,000 in workers’ compensation benefits.James Joseph Thomasson, 52, of Kalama, was arraigned in Thurston County Superior Court on...

15 Military Families in Washington Sue Private Company Over Housing Conditions

Jun 7 2021 // Fifteen military families have filed a lawsuit against a private company that manages housing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington over living conditions they say caused property damage and health problems.The 51...

Washington Organization Investigating Sexual Misconduct Complaints

Jun 4 2021 // Board members at Casa Latina, a decades-old organization founded to empower immigrant workers and provide job and educational opportunities, has announced it will investigate the handling of sexual harassment and assault...

Lawsuit Accuses Washington Pizza Chain of Underpaying Delivery Drivers

May 28 2021 // A proposed class-action lawsuit claims popular Western Washington chain restaurant Zeeks Pizza withheld wages, tips and other money owed to delivery drivers.Seattle attorney Toby Marshall filed the suit on behalf of Zeeks...

Ag Groups Upset with Washington Governor for Farm Worker Rules

May 27 2021 // Some top agriculture groups are upset with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee because farm workers were not covered in last week’s announcement that fully vaccinated employees do not have to wear a mask or socially distance...

Former Washington Logger Charged in Nearly $300K Workers’ Comp Scam

May 25 2021 // A Cowlitz County, Wash., man stands accused of faking injuries to collect nearly $300,000 in workers’ compensation benefits.James Joseph Thomasson, 52, of Kalama, is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Thurston...

15 Military Families in Washington Sue Private Company Over Housing Conditions

May 24 2021 // Fifteen military families have filed a lawsuit against a private company that manages housing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington over living conditions they say caused property damage and health problems.The 51...

Washington Issues New Workplace Masking Guidelines

May 21 2021 // The Washington Department of Labor & Industries has updated state COVID-19 workplace safety and health guidance to help employers adapt masking policies to meet new CDC guidelines adopted by Gov. Jay Inslee.The updated...

Washington Creates New Farmworker Safety Team

May 21 2021 // The Washington state Department of Labor and Industries is creating a new team aimed at improving farmworker safety.When fully staffed, the agriculture compliance unit will create 16 new positions, the Yakima Herald...

$6M Settlement for Men Abused at Washington Boys Home Being Paid by Insurers

May 17 2021 // Insurance companies are paying $6 million to settle a lawsuit brought against Kiwanis International and local Kiwanis clubs by seven men who were sexually abused at a Centralia group home for boys in Washington decades...

50-Plus Insurers Met Deadline to Comply With Washington’s Credit Rule

May 17 2021 // Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler announced that more than 50 insurance companies met the May 6 deadline to file rating plans that comply with his emergency rule to temporarily prohibit the use of...

Washington Commissioner’s Captive Insurer Bill Signed into Law

May 13 2021 // A bill to provide a framework to captive insurers doing business in Washington became law after Gov. Jay Inslee signed the legislation on Wednesday.Second Substitute SB 5315, which was requested by Insurance Commissioner...