It’s where funding for public schools and universities, highways and public transit, prisons and local law enforcement is determined. Laws governing housing density, environmental protections, firearm access, gambling and mental health care all begin there.

It deserves your attention, and as the new state politics reporter at Cascade PBS, I want to help you make sense of it all.

Jumping into the world of statewide politicking can be overwhelming, to say the least. Luckily, this isn’t my first gig covering Washington’s Legislature, its nine statewide elected officials, its cabinet agencies and judicial system.

Next: Your Last Meal | The Leftovers with The Pasta Queen

I moved to Olympia from my home state of Indiana in the spring of 2020 (a totally normal time to move across the country). I joined the (Spokane) Spokesman-Review as a statehouse reporter funded in part by a national program called Report for America.

I spent the first year of my career covering some unprecedented events in our state’s history. I the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I watched protesters chant “Black Lives Matter” on the Capitol steps. I spent months talking to candidates ahead of the 2020 election and reported on the fallout afterward, including when more than 100 people broke onto the lawn of the governor’s mansion on Jan. 6, 2021. I covered my first legislative session remotely and saw how our state representatives and senators got used to lawmaking over Zoom.

Nearly three years later, I joined States Newsroom, a national nonprofit organization focused on covering state government and politics across the country. I helped launch a new outlet in Olympia: the Washington State Standard. I spent a year and a half there writing about housing, homelessness, child care, wildlife protections, agricultural issues and more.

I am excited to continue this work at Cascade PBS. It’s not an easy time to be a journalist, and it’s certainly not an easy time to be following politics. But I am committed to ensuring our readers understand the decisions made by their elected officials and holding those officials accountable as they make them.

My first task is to catch you up a bit.

Lawmakers are about halfway through a 105-day legislative session in which their top priority is writing a budget to fund government services.

That won’t be easy, given an estimated $15 billion budget hole they are facing over the next four years. Cuts are almost certain, and new taxes are on the table. Lawmakers also face headaches from a new federal administration that is threatening significant cuts to funding that many states rely on for things like health care and public schools.

But money isn’t the only thing on Washington legislators’ minds.

There’s a proposal to cap yearly rent increases that could have lasting effects on both renters and property owners. There’s a bill to overhaul the state’s recycling system. There’s an idea to require permits to purchase firearms.

Lawmakers are discussing changes to an initiative last year that gave parents a “bill of rights” for accessing their children’s information at public schools. There are conversations about how to ensure farmers receive exemptions from costs added to their fuel under the state’s climate policies. Increasing funding for local law enforcement is a top priority for many, and allowing striking workers to receive unemployment insurance may become a reality.

And there’s talk of finally making “The Evergreen State” the official state nickname.

My goal for the next 40-plus days is to help you understand what all of that might mean for your everyday life. On the other side of every public policy is someone whose life will be affected, and I’m determined to help readers – and those in power – remember that. It’s the reason why I got into this business in the first place.

If you have a story idea or a tip, if you have a question on a proposed bill, or if you feel I’ve missed something, you can find me at laurel.demkovich@cascadepbs.org.

A member of Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s executive leadership team abruptly resigned Friday.

The governor’s office confirmed that legislative director Joyce Bruce submitted her resignation after working with Ferguson for years, starting during his time as the state’s attorney general.

It’s unclear what prompted the move. The legislative session still has more than a month left before lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn for the year.

“After careful consideration, I have concluded that it is in my best professional and personal interest to step away at this time,” Bruce wrote in her resignation letter, provided by the governor’s office. She went on to say that it was not an easy decision and that she remains “deeply committed to the mission of the Ferguson administration.”

As legislative director, Bruce was the lead coordinator between Ferguson and state senators and representatives, and worked with lawmakers to advance the governor’s agenda.

In a statement, Ferguson praised Bruce’s work-record on a number of issues, saying he is “proud” of the accomplishments his office achieved during her tenure.

Bruce could not be reached for comment.

Her departure comes at a critical time for the governor. Budget negotiations with the Legislature are about to heat up as the state faces a massive budget deficit. Ferguson has been at odds with members of his own Democratic party, many of whom favor new taxes to boost state revenue. Ferguson, meanwhile, has said repeatedly that he wants to look at making cuts before considering new taxes, but he hasn't ruled them out.

A number of lawmakers in Olympia have recently voiced concerns about the culture within the governor's office -- particularly about how female staff are treated.

Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma) who worked with Bruce in Ferguson’s office back when he was attorney general, said she was “concerned” by Bruce’s departure.

“I think we should ask questions,” Trudeau told KUOW. “I’m hopeful that the governor should take this seriously and work to resolve any concerns moving forward.”

KUOW reached out to the governor’s office for comment on the concerns about workplace culture and received the following reply from communications director Brionna Aho: “We work hard to have an environment that respects everyone. If legislators have concerns, the governor encourages them to contact him.”

In a statement released earlier Friday, the governor wrote that Bruce was instrumental in the push to ban assault-style weapons in the state, adding that she also led efforts to create the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit and helped expand access to medical financial aid.

“I value Joyce and her dedication to the people of Washington,” Ferguson wrote in the statement. “I hope we have the opportunity to work together in my administration in the future.”

This post has been updated with new information throughout.

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3 dead in wrong-way crash on I-5 in Thurston County, WA

The Brief

THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. - A wrong-way crash on Interstate 5 south of Olympia left three people dead early Sunday morning, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper John Dattilo.

What we know:

The crash happened near the Scatter Creek Rest Area just north of Grand Mound, where a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction struck another car head-on.

All three fatalities were occupants of the vehicles involved in the initial collision, Dattilo said. A news release later in the day said that one of the victims was a man and two were women. Their ages and identities have not yet been released.

Following the initial impact, both vehicles blocked the roadway, leading to a third vehicle colliding with one of the obstructing cars. The driver of the third vehicle, a 21-yar-old woman, was not impaired and did not sustain any injuries, Dattilo said.

Troopers, along with personnel from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), responded to the scene. The northbound lanes of I-5 were closed for hours, with traffic being diverted through the Scatter Creek Rest Area.

Northbound I-5 reopened around 10:30 a.m.

What's next:

Authorities are urging drivers traveling northbound to proceed with caution through the rest area.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and further details have yet to be released.

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Black History Month museum and events at New Life Baptist Church: Black History Month will again be celebrated throughout February by the New Life Baptist Church in Lacey. Activities are planned for the entire month with the highlight being a Pop-Up Black History Museum that will be open every Saturday of the month from 1-4 p.m. for the public to tour, as well as on each Sunday following church service from noon to 1 p.m. Middle and high school students will have an opportunity to tour the Museum as part of field trips on select dates during the week in partnership with local school districts. A Genealogy Workshop is being held on Saturday, Feb. 8, in partnership with the Latter Day Saints of Olympia and the Family Research Center to help Black people learn how to trace their ancestry as part of personal family histories. Age-specific activities for youth will be provided following church service each Sunday. The month’s activities culminate with a Celebration Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 23, following church service. For more information, contact Dr. Thelma Jackson, New Life Baptist Church Community Engagement Ministry, at 360-259-7304 or thelmajackson@comcast.net. New Life Baptist Church is at 7838 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey.

International Guitar Night: This touring show is back in Olympia with three new guitarists making their US debuts plus Olympia favorite Lulo Reinhardt of Germany with his Latin swing music. The new guitarists are Alexandra Whittingham of Great Britain, a classical guitarist; Niwel Tsumbu of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who has a Congolese percussive style, and Soenke Meinen of Germany, a leading contemporary fingerstyle guitarist. The show starts at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $29 to $69, plus a service fee.

Friendly Flower Garden Club meeting: Gardeners are invited to join the club meeting at 9:30 am Monday at the Mountain Greens Mobile Home Clubhouse, 5280 55th Lane SE, Lacey, off of Yelm Highway for meet and greet, a brief meeting and a bring-your-own lunch with beverages and dessert provided. There will be two programs: Steve Smith, president of Pacific Northwest Peony Society, will cover the different types of peonies and share how to plant and care for them; and Sue White will lead a hands-on tile art workshop using alcohol inks to create designs on ceramic tiles. All supplies will be provided. Visitors are welcome; this is a free program. Call 360-438-0232 for more information.

National touring company presents Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen”: The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is presenting two performances of the groundbreaking musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, and Thursday, Feb. 6. The winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, “Dear Evan Hansen” is about a high schooler with social anxiety who creates an important role for himself in a tragedy. Tickets are $69-$149.

History Talk — Whatever Happened to Ambrose Asher? Tumwater’s Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Place SW, will host this free history talk at noon Thursday. Family stories indicate that young Ambrose Asher was captured by Indians in the 1860s, with his parents’ fate unknown. While the family story was not correct in detail, it provided enough information to discover the truth through genealogical and historical research of the Plains Indian Wars. The story provides a prelude to the Sand Creek Massacre in late 1864 and later events of the Plains Indian Wars. Speaker Dave Welch, a descendant of Ambrose Asher, is a long-time member and officer of the Oregon-California Trails Association. Doors open at 11:30 am; seating is first come, first seated until room capacity is reached.

Samba Olywa dance workshop: The dance troupe is presenting a second workshop for dancers from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, with guest instructor Donna DonnaMation Pongetti, who has choreographed for Samba Olywa many times in the past. The workshop will focus on a dance set to a Brazilian 6/8 rhythm. All are welcome at this workshop, and no pre-registration is necessary. Dancers should wear supportive shoes, and be ready to sweat. The workshop will be held at Eagles Grand Ballroom at Fourth and Plum streets in downtown Olympia. Tuition for the workshop is $5 to $15, on a sliding scale. Teaching begins promptly at 1 pm, so all participants should arrive early to check in. Live music will be provided by Samba Olywa drummers. This new dance will be used in Samba Olywa’s routine for Procession of the Species in April.

Superb Owls at the WET Science Center: It’s owl nesting season! Nesting in the winter means the owlets are hatched and ready to hunt when other baby animals are born in the spring. Come learn all about these spectacular birds through hands-on activities and crafts from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free and activities are for all ages.

Olympia Symphony Orchestra presents Beethover vs. Gulda: To celebrate the Super Bowl the next day, join the Olympia Symphony for a musical matchup: Beethoven vs. Gulda. Featuring cellist Nathan Chan, this concert pits the classic elegance of Beethoven against the dynamic flair of Gulda. The program includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica, and Friedrich Gulda’s Concerto for Cello and Wind Orchestra (1989) featuring Chan. There will be a Q&A session with conductor Alexandra Arrieche and Chan immediately following the concert, which begins at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $17.50 to $91 plus service fee.

Emerald City Music presents Spanish Journey concert: Emerald City Music presents this culturally immersive and musically colorful program titled Spanish Journey, featuring several artists from New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The program features Emerald City Music’s artistic director and violinist Kristin Lee, along with Grammy Award–winning guitarist Jason Vieaux, soprano Vanessa Becerra, cellist Clive Greensmith, and pianist Soyeon Kate Lee. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Minnaert Center for the Arts on South Puget Sound Community College’s Olympia campus, 2011 Mottman Road SW. Tickets are $14 to $55.

25th Anniversary Comedy Show with John Keister: Promoter Baurice Nelson is celebrating 25 years of producing comedy shows in South Sound with this show featuring the original comedians that started it all, including John Keister, a Seattle comedian, writer, rock critic, commentator and motivational speaker, best known as the host of the Seattle TV comedy program Almost Live! from 1988 to 1999. Other comedians included are Chris Alpine, Duane Goad, David Crowe and Teina Manu. Tickets are $25.50 and $35.50 for the show that starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Ricardo’s Kitchen + Bar, 676 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey. Ricardo’s will have a snack food and adult beverages available for purchase. If you would like to have dinner, make reservations with Ricardo’s for dining before the show at 5:30 pm or earlier; call 360-413-9995 and let them know you are attending comedy. Doors open at 6:30 pm; please arrive for seating no later than 6:45 pm. Show starts at 7:30 pm and will last about 75-90 minutes.

Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening calendar? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event. Please put What’s Happening in the subject line.

This story was originally published February 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM.