After the Spokesman-Review included signature petitions for Initiative 1608 in its Sunday edition, the head of the state’s main open government group called for more papers to do so. I-1608 would open up collective bargaining negotiations, which currently take place in closed sessions, to the public and press. Toby Nixon from the Washington Coalition for Open Government thanked the Spokane paper for “not only supporting I-1608 editorially but doubling-down on their commitment by including copies of the initiative petition in the paper. If every paper in the state did the same thing, it would be a tremendous boost…” (Washington Policy Center)

Former state Attorney General Ken Eikenberry filed a formal complaint against state Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu over her recent involvement at a WEA political event. Yu is clearly a favorite of the WEA, as they helped finance her 2016 campaign. Two political action committees that had received huge sums of money from the WEA spent $107,266.67 in independent expenditures on her behalf. (NW Daily Marker)

Employers around Seattle are already changing plans due to Seattle’s jobs tax. Although Dick’s Drive-In doesn’t intend to leave Seattle, it also doesn’t plan to establish any new restaurants within Seattle as long as the head tax is in place. (My Northwest)

Claudia Thomas, the first African American woman in Washington to hold a mayor’s seat, passed away earlier this week. Friends remember the lifelong educator for her warmth and fierce advocacy for her community. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Many Washington farmers and manufacturers remain uneasy about the current climate around trade as the Trump administration continues pressing for a renegotiation of NAFTA. Said Chris Murphy, senior vice president of international policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “Companies need certainty they will have access to customers in Mexico and California to make long-term investments.” (The Spokesman-Review)

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