Maria Cantwell Cantspell 2018 – The Detailed Story of “Medicadegate”: U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) recently made a rare appearance on C-SPAN to speak about an issue she is clearly passionate about… so passionate, in fact, she couldn’t even be bothered to spell check her sign.

Lawmakers are in the longest-ever special session extension, as liberals in Olympia refuse to help Republican lawmakers fix the Hirst water-rights ruling.

Health insurance rates in Washington may rise, as reports filed with the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner show major insurance companies such as Premera Blue Cross sending in proposed increases of up to 28%. Final rates have yet to be approved.

Lacey City Council approved a permit for a $22 million mental health hospital, expected to open in 2018 with 115 beds. US HealthVest will renovate a former state office building to use for the facility.

Kitsap County is using technology to track drug overdoses via an app called ODMAP – Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program. The app tracks overdoses – including the substance and the location of the overdose.

Half of Bertha is still under Seattle as crews work to remove the 8,000-ton tunnel-digging machine while continuing to finish the roadway – which is set to be ready for use in 2019.

Two of the three challengers for the Spokane Valley City Council position, which Councilmember Pamela Haley currently holds, have been to jail. Ingemar Lloyd Woods was arrested for allegedly shooting at police and Robert J. Samson was allegedly in jail for financial crimes. Samson is still under court supervision.

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