Austin Jenkins
Stories
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Washington's Kim Wyman accepts election security job under Biden administration
Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman has accepted a leadership position under the Biden Administration to oversee election security at the federal level.
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Will the passes get plowed? Impact of vaccine mandate firings on state services not yet clear
Roughly nine in 10 employees of the state of Washington are now vaccinated against COVID-19. Gov. Jay Inslee considers that a huge success and a win for public health. But his vaccine mandate has also led to the departure of hundreds of state employees. Now there are questions about the implications for some state services.
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Unvaccinated Washington state employees face their last day on the job
Monday is the deadline for Washington state employees, healthcare and long-term care workers and those working in the education field to be fully vaccinated. Those who aren’t could be out of a job by day’s end. Some of the state employees who face termination got exemptions, but not a workplace accommodation so they could stay on the payroll.
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Inslee orders proof of vaccine or negative Covid-19 test at large events
Starting next month, if you’re 12 and older you’ll have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to attend large events in Washington. Governor Jay Inslee announced the requirement at a news conference Thursday.
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Hit hard by COVID's fifth wave, Washington veterans homes now brace for staffing shortages
It was a challenging summer at Washington’s state-run homes for veterans. Two of the four homes experienced widespread COVID-19 outbreaks. Four veterans died. Now the homes are bracing for another challenge: the potential for a staffing shortage as the governor’s vaccine mandate kicks in.
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Government
Jails in Washington and Oregon have higher suicide rate than national average
Over the past two decades, more than 200 people have died by suicide in Washington and Oregon jails. That puts the two Northwest states above the national average for jail suicides, according to a new report.
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Jails in Washington and Oregon have higher suicide rate than national average
Over the past two decades, more than 200 people have died by suicide in Washington and Oregon jails. That puts the two Northwest states above the national average for jail suicides, according to a new report.
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Tens of thousands of Washington homecare workers not covered by governor’s vaccine mandate
Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate covers more than 800-thousand workers in education, state government and healthcare. But there’s one group of hands-on caregivers it doesn’t apply to.
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COVID-19 deaths much higher in Washington’s Republican counties, analysis shows
COVID-19 related deaths are trending much higher in Republican counties than in Democratic ones in Washington. That’s according to a new legislative analysis.
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Washington State Patrol’s hiring under fire as agency failed to diversify over decades
The Washington State Patrol turned 100 this year. To this day it’s still a mostly white, male organization. Over the years it’s struggled to diversify. But now one part of the hiring process is getting fresh scrutiny: the psychological review.