Senator Shelly Short and Representatives Andrew Engell and Hunter Abell share updates on key issues impacting Washington’s Seventh Legislative District—from wildfire funding and rural hospital challenges to wildlife management, tax proposals, and the latest on citizen initiatives.

A statewide initiative aimed at clarifying who can compete in girls’ sports is now in the Legislature’s hands. Tracy Ellis reports

Lives lost on dangerous roads pushes a state Senator to act. Tracy Ellis reports.  

Senator Jeff Wilson joined KVI’s Ari Hoffman Show to sound the alarm on a proposal that would make Washington’s initiative process harder. The plan adds new hurdles like requiring 1,000 signatures before starting, extra verification steps, and restrictions on paid signature gatherers—moves Wilson says will silence voters and gut direct democracy. He calls fraud claims...

Senator Shelly Short speaks out against a bill that would make it harder for Washingtonians to file and run initiatives, calling it an attack on citizen voices. She also highlights her support for a new approach to wildlife management aimed at addressing declining deer populations and balancing predator-prey dynamics. Short emphasizes the need for accountability...

Senate Republican Leader John Braun raises concerns about a bill introduced by the Democratic majority that would make it harder for Washingtonians to propose initiatives and gather signatures. Braun argues that the measure undermines direct democracy guaranteed by the state constitution and reflects an effort to consolidate legislative power at the expense of citizen involvement.

Sen. Judy Warnick/R-Moses Lake/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Today the Washington State Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 8661, officially recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and reaffirming the Legislature’s dedication to justice, equity, and human dignity. The resolution honors the life and legacy of Dr. King, emphasizing his teaching that progress requires clarity of purpose,...

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate DRYDEN… Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, is pleased to celebrate with Cashmere’s Vale Elementary School for being named a 2025 National ESEA, (Elementary and Secondary Education Act), Distinguished School—one of only 63 schools nationwide to receive the honor. Vale Elementary has been recognized for outstanding student achievement and academic growth,...

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate DRYDEN… The top Republican member of the Washington State Senate Housing Committee today expressed serious concerns about the governor’s newly announced $244 million housing plan, warning that the proposal relies almost entirely on government subsidies and nonprofit development while failing to address the main barriers to large-scale housing construction....

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature OLYMPIA… Senator Matt Boehnke today issued a strong warning about the Pacific Northwest’s energy future, citing a new analysis that projects potential power shortfalls in the region during extreme conditions. The analysis, conducted by Energy + Environmental Economics for the region’s largest utilities, models thousands of years of...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature OLYMPIA… Although employment in Washington’s manufacturing sector is already forecast to increase over the next several years, Sen. Matt Boehnke thinks big growth is possible if lawmakers and government regulators would understand and focus on the needs of manufacturers. “Manufacturing is how Washington builds the middle class,” said...

Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, speaks with constituents in Carnation earlier in the day before the October 11 meeting with the governor/Credit: Eric LaFontaine OLYMPIA… State government can help make the future brighter for Washington agriculture by taking more of a practical, hands-off approach, says Sen. Keith Goehner, who took part in a roundtable discussion in...