Washington State Standard

2 days ago | washingtonstatestandard.com | Jake Goldstein-Street

In a few years, with the help of technology, prolific speeders in Washington won’t be able to drive as fast as they want. Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday signed House Bill 1596 into law, requiring a new speed-limiting device as a condition to getting a restricted driver’s license after getting it suspended for reckless driving or excessive speeding. Judges can also require the speed limiters as a condition of pre-trial release or post-conviction probation.

3 days ago | washingtonstatestandard.com | Elisha Brown

For two congresswomen sponsoring a package of bills seeking to improve maternal health in the United States, their motivation is personal. After first unveiling the initiatives five years ago, U.S. Reps. Alma Adams of North Carolina and Lauren Underwood of Illinois plan to reintroduce the measures with bipartisan support in May. Adams and Underwood, the Momnibus Act’s Democratic House sponsors, say relatives or friends have died after childbirth or had severe complications during pregnancy.

3 days ago | washingtonstatestandard.com | Randy Stapilus

The idea of Greater Idaho — splitting off most of eastern Oregon to join with the state of Idaho — isn’t going to fly. It won’t happen. So here’s another idea:The Autonomous Area of eastern Oregon. And Western too, for good measure. This concept was not invented in the deep recesses of a pundit’s mind. It comes from a recently introduced piece of legislation by a Republican lawmaker in the state of Washington. Washington has a regional dynamic similar to Oregon.

3 days ago | washingtonstatestandard.com | Jake Goldstein-Street

Problems with overcrowding have enveloped the Green Hill School juvenile detention center in Chehalis for nearly two years, leading to unsafe conditions for the minors incarcerated there and the staff tasked with overseeing them. But Washington state lawmakers left Olympia last month without making substantial changes to address the crisis. The lack of progress was frustrating for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

4 days ago | washingtonstatestandard.com | Moe Clark

An unexpected slash to a small corner of Washington’s state budget has civil legal aid organizations scrambling to plan for a future without financial support. Both the House and Senate biannual budgets put forth by state lawmakers this year included around $5 million to support the legal aid organizations that are critical in helping to vacate unconstitutional drug convictions across the state.