State Rep. Matt Manweller (R-Ellensburg) announced he will not serve another term, though he will remain on this fall’s ballot. Previously beset by sexual harassment issues and fired from his job as a CWU professor, Manweller was urged to step down by GOP leaders after a story broke last week of a relationship Manweller had in the mid-‘90s with a 17 year old girl. He urged supporters to vote for him over his Democratic competition this November so that his seat can be filled by another Republican. (Seattle Times)

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan released her $5.9 billion budget proposal, which would increase city spending by $300 million next year. The plan would allocate $89.5 million in 2019 for housing and services meant to combat homelessness and increase transit funding by $130 million. “This is a budget that invests in building a more vibrant city of the future,” the mayor said. Durkan carried over an unused $1.3 million allocation from the 2018 budget for a drug-injection site. (Seattle Times)

The City of Sumner approved an ordinance creating the Family Wage Job Credit Program to help incentivize employment growth in the city. Employers that fill at least five new family-wage jobs in Sumner after January 1, 2019 can apply for a $275 credit per new job. (Washington State Wire)

The Seattle City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved lease and development agreements allowing the Oak View Group to demolish and replace KeyArena at Seattle Center. Demolition could begin as early as this year. “We’re starting a new day here in the city and a new partnership,” said Councilmember Debora Juarez. (Seattle Times)

State Sen. Michael Baumgartner is looking to serve the people of Spokane County a little closer to home. Baumgartner, a Republican, is running for Spokane County Treasurer against Democrat David Green. “If you look at what I’ve done in the state Senate working with both Democrats and Republicans on important issues…I think there’s a lot of demonstrated ability in what people want in an elected official – someone they trust that’s committed to fiscal responsibility that can work in a bipartisan fashion to deliver results,” Baumgartner said. (The Spokesman-Review)

Residents have mixed feelings about the Yakima City Council’s decision to overturn the city’s ban on pit bulls after almost 30 years. While many would-be pit bull owners rejoiced, Christina and Jason Fairchild remained wary, recalling last summer when their daughter was attacked by a pit bull. “Our fear is if it could happen to our 17-year-old daughter while she was just visiting friends, it could happen to anyone.” (Yakima Herald-Republic)

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