State Superintendent Chris Reykdal is advising school districts to defy the new parents’ bill of rights that took effect last week. The law – first introduced by voter initiative – was picked up and approved by lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session. The popular measure aims to involve parents more in their child’s education, including access to medical and counseling records related to gender identity and sexual orientation.

As Jennifer Heine-Withee from the Family Policy Institute pointed out during the measure’s public hearing, parents across the state are parents feeling excluded from decisions about race, gender pronouns, and sexuality education in schools. Parents want to be involved – but far-left groups want them left out. The parents’ bill of rights now faces a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and LGBTQ groups. And Reykdal, well, he’s picked a side and – surprise, surprise – it’s not parents.

So, Reykdal is asking the state’s 295 school districts not to implement the law because – according to him – random adults working at schools know what’s best for kids better than their own parents. For Reykdal, these school adults should be trusted with a child’s medical and counseling records, but that child’s own parents should not.

Making matters more absurd, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction advised districts to await further legal or legislative clarification before making policy changes. But a legal decision has already been made. Recently, King County Superior Court denied a motion for a temporary restraining order against the parents’ bill of rights, which would have blocked the law from taking effect.

Washington Policy Center’s Liv Finne put it perfectly when she told Center Square:

“Superintendent Reykdal has crowned himself Supreme Ruler of Education Policy in Washington State. Above the people, the legislature and now the courts.”

Read more at Center Square.

Spokane has faced a 30% increase in city overdoses and an 83% increase in the county. That reality led Spokane’s City Council to ratify Mayor Lisa Brown’s executive order declaring a state of emergency over the opioid crisis. Brown to streamline funding to address the crisis without City Council approval. The move follows the City Council’s earlier request for a state emergency declaration, which Jay Inslee denied. Likely, Inslee did not want to admit just how bad the situation has become under his leadership.

Brown’s first action was reopening the Cannon Street Shelter for 30 people for two months, operated by Empire Health Foundation. The city partnered with Consistent Care for the High Utilizer Initiative, using opioid settlement funds. Other partnerships include Spokane Treatment and Recovery Services and enhanced medical intervention from the Fire Department.

The city also requested more Narcan and fentanyl test strips and is collaborating with law enforcement to combat the drug market. The state of emergency allows immediate contract signings for these services. The emergency order is set to continue through early September unless terminated sooner by Brown. Read more at the Center Square.

Washington taxpayers may be footing the bill for yet another costly lawsuit thanks to Jay Inslee. Earlier this year, Inslee attempted to force David Danner, the chair of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), to resign or reduced his salary after allegations of his use of racial slurs and mishandling workplace complaints. It turns out, Inslee cannot do that. So, Danner has filed a tort claim for defamation.

The embarrassing (for Inslee) saga began when our governor attempted to discipline Danner following a series of complaints. An investigation – commissioned by Inslee – then concluded that Danner had not sufficiently promoted equity and had failed to address workplace conflicts adequately. Of course, Danner disputed the findings – and the subsequent pay cut imposed by Inslee, which was later reversed with back pay, though Danner claims he is still owed interest.

Inslee then sent Danner a memorandum with expectations for remedial measures, which Danner rejected, asserting the governor’s staff lacked authority over the independent commission. According to the Washington State Standard, Danner fully intends on continuing his duties until his term ends on December 31, 2024. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

Bob Ferguson sounds rather desperate in his latest fundraising appeal – a very precise kind of desperation.

The reality is that Ferguson has millions in the bank thanks to his breaking of campaign finance laws for a decade. But he may not be able to lie to enough voters to win without another $38k.

How stupid does he think his donors are?

Check out his latest email here.

Jay Inslee just keeps costing taxpayers…

A reality worth repeating, again and again…

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