Washington State Standard

Washington State Standard The Washington State Standard is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news outlet that provides original reporting, analysis and commentary on Washington state government.

Acknowledging a nationwide shortage of estrogen-based patches for menopause symptoms, the FDA said it's helping manufact...
09/20/2026

Acknowledging a nationwide shortage of estrogen-based patches for menopause symptoms, the FDA said it's helping manufacturers increase the supply:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration acknowledged a need for more estrogen-based hormanal patches as more women seek hormonal therapies for symptoms related to menopause.

The U.S. Senate took another step forward on a sweeping bipartisan bill to overhaul the college sports world. It would w...
09/19/2026

The U.S. Senate took another step forward on a sweeping bipartisan bill to overhaul the college sports world. It would would set national standards for college athletes’ compensation and bar professional athletes from college athletics, among other things.

A bill sponsored by Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell that would overhaul how colleges fund sports and pay athletes is nearing a Senate vote.

A federal judge told the Trump administration today a case against the Department of Justice’s $1.8 billion “anti-weapon...
09/18/2026

A federal judge told the Trump administration today a case against the Department of Justice’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund is “still alive and kicking.”

The administration sought to dismiss the case brought against President Donald Trump’s negotiated settlement terms to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service for a years-old grievance over leaked tax returns.

Krista Perez, a Democratic candidate for the Washington state House of Representatives, pleaded not guilty to driving un...
09/18/2026

Krista Perez, a Democratic candidate for the Washington state House of Representatives, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence today in her first court appearance since she was arrested last month.

Krista Perea, a Democratic candidate for the Washington state House of Representatives, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence Friday in her first court appearance after she was arrested last month.

The state Supreme Court delivered the final blow yesterday to a controversial 2024 ballot measure pushed by builders and...
09/18/2026

The state Supreme Court delivered the final blow yesterday to a controversial 2024 ballot measure pushed by builders and passed by voters that sought to halt Washington’s shift away from natural gas.

The state Supreme Court on Thursday founded a ballot measure approved by Washington voters to be 'unconstitutional in its entirety.'

Gov. Bob Ferguson has yet to decide whether Washington will join 31 other states that have opted into a new federal tax ...
09/18/2026

Gov. Bob Ferguson has yet to decide whether Washington will join 31 other states that have opted into a new federal tax program aimed at driving more private dollars into the education of K-12 students:

Advocates say the program would bring in millions of additional dollars for education. Critics say it would divert funding into private hands.

Professors, staff and lawmakers shared a dire outlook on the state of the University of Washington. They’re calling for ...
09/18/2026

Professors, staff and lawmakers shared a dire outlook on the state of the University of Washington. They’re calling for more staff and faculty involvement in decision-making.

In case you missed this one:

Professors, staff and lawmakers on the panel shared a dire outlook on the state of the University of Washington.

Civil rights groups and union orgs sued today to prevent ICE agents from being deployed to the polls during the midterms...
09/18/2026

Civil rights groups and union orgs sued today to prevent ICE agents from being deployed to the polls during the midterms in November.

Trump officials have said ICE can enter polling locations in some circumstances for immigration enforcement.

A coalition of civil rights groups and union organizations Friday sued the Trump administration to prevent the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling locations during November’s midterm elections.

Two of Washington’s hottest ballot battles will be the subject of prime-time televised debates next month.On Oct. 8, a f...
09/16/2026

Two of Washington’s hottest ballot battles will be the subject of prime-time televised debates next month.

On Oct. 8, a former congresswoman and the leader of a statewide labor organization will square off on Initiative 645, which, if passed, would repeal the income tax on households earning more than a million dollars a year.

Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Republican former state lawmaker who also served six terms in Congress, will represent initiative supporters. April Sims, president of the Washington State Labor Council, will make the case against the measure. The event will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. on KONG-TV in Seattle.

Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and state Senate Republican leader John Braun, who are dueling in southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, have agreed to televised matchups on Oct. 7 and Oct. 13.

Two of Washington’s hottest ballot battles will be the subject of prime-time televised debates next month.

Declining birth rates mean fewer students.And that means more districts grappling with whether to close or merge schools...
09/15/2026

Declining birth rates mean fewer students.

And that means more districts grappling with whether to close or merge schools.

“The big shrink” is how Marguerite Roza, director of Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab, described what is happening nationally.

“When there are fewer young people, obviously it’s going to change the shape of public education,” Roza said. “As more and more schools are existing that are half empty, some downsizing needs to take place for them to live in their current financial structure, and districts are really loath to do that.”

Driven largely by declining birth rates but worsened by several other factors, district and school board decisions to close and consolidate schools can draw anger and anxiety from parents and students. Many states are stopping short of forcing mergers, but taking a variety of steps to encourage them.

Declining birth rates mean fewer students. And that means more districts grappling with whether to close or merge schools.

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