Olympia Democrats are outspending Republicans in this year’s legislative races. A review of the key spending committees used by Democrats and Republicans show the left has spent close to double what GOP committees have. House Democrats’ Harry Truman Fund has spent more this year than ever before — $2.83 million. Rep. Jim Walsh (R-Aberdeen), a favorite target of liberal attacks ads, says his campaign is staying focused on important district issues. “While my campaign tracks the hit pieces mailed and broadcast about me, we don’t whine about them,” Walsh wrote. “We just stay positive and focus on the tax policy, gun-rights and property-rights issues that are important to the voters of LD19.” (Seattle Times)

A state Dept. of Social and Health Services supervisor was able to rip off taxpayers through benefits fraud to the tune of over $30,000 because the process the department used to determine her eligibility was not “effectively performed.” When applying for the benefits, she claimed she was a single parent living with her mother and she was her family’s sole source of income. However, those were all lies. (Kitsap Sun)

According to the Washington State Patrol, the suspect in a series of bomb threats called in to state office buildings in Olympia is a former psychiatrist whose license was revoked in 2014. Authorities believe Said Farzad is tied to 18 threats, most recently the Washington State Health Care Authority offices in Olympia and Department of Health campus in Tumwater. “Because he’s overseas, there’s not much we can do as an agency because we don’t have jurisdiction overseas,” said John D. Shaffer with the State Patrol. (The Olympian)

The Daily News editorial board is endorsing Republican Jim Walsh over lefty Teresa Purcell. The paper wrote, “Walsh would better defend our interests, especially by opposing a state income tax and protecting our Second Amendment rights.” (Longview Daily News)

Long-time Olympian reporter and editorial writer Brad Shannon will be “moving on to new adventures” after 30-plus years at the paper. “Thanks for the memories. Thanks for reading. And thanks for supporting local journalists in Olympia. As we say on Twitter: #ReadLocal.” (The Olympian)

Yakama Nation Tribal Council Chairman JoDe Goudy was denied access to a U.S. Supreme Court hearing due to his traditional feathered headdress. Goudy was attending to hear oral arguments in a case about whether his tribe should be subject to the state fuel tax. Security officers told Goudy the court cannot be subject to outside influences and that his headdress would obstruct the view of others. (Yakima Herald-Republic)

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