July 2025

July 28, 2025

Judge halts WA law on priest confessions — A federal judge blocked a new mandate requiring Catholic priests to report child abuse learned in confession, ruling it violates First Amendment religious freedoms.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has formally asked a federal judge to end the Seattle Police Department’s consent decree, the oversight agreement that has shaped local policing since 2012. City leaders say years of reforms have met all federal requirements, including improved use-of-force policies and...

July 7, 2025

Washington and 14 states sue Trump administration over Medicaid data sharing — Lawsuit seeks to block use of health records by ICE for immigration enforcement.

July 7, 2025

16 states including Washington sue Trump administration over $1B school mental health cuts — Lawsuit filed in Seattle challenges termination of diversity-linked grant programs.

June 2025

June 30, 2025

Seattle judge orders Trump administration to restore EV charger funding — The preliminary ruling revives $1 billion in blocked funds for 14 states, including $71 million earmarked for Washington.

June 30, 2025

King County sues Issaquah homeowners over illegal tree cutting for mountain views — Officials say more than 140 ecologically significant trees were felled in Grand Ridge Park, with $7 million in damages sought.

June 16, 2025

Judge blocks Trump order targeting mail ballots, proof of citizenship rules — Ruling protects Washington’s vote-by-mail system and halts executive effort to cut funding, reject late-arriving ballots, and mandate voter documentation nationwide.

June 9, 2025

Judge blocks restrictions on King County housing and transit funds — Court halts Trump administration’s ban on diversity, abortion, immigration and transgender program requirements.

June 2, 2025

Judge upholds Burien’s camping ban — King County court rules 24-hour public camping prohibition is constitutional under state law.

May 2025

May 27, 2025

Washington health groups sue Trump administration over deletion of federal health data — The lawsuit alleges the removal of thousands of CDC and other public health webpages has harmed clinical care, research, and disease response efforts.