Eric Zimmerman Questions Data Used to Justify LEAD Program

Eric Zimmerman Questions Data Used to Justify LEAD Program

1 views · September 11th, 2026

Eric Zimmerman Questions Data Used to Justify LEAD Program

The Data Center Fight Takes Center Stage In Washington

4 views · September 11th, 2026

West Richland City Councilmember John Smart syas he'll vote against Data Centers.

Mayor Wilson Faces Backlash From Seattle Democrats Over Public Safety

0 views · September 11th, 2026

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is facing new questions over the departure of former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes as Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee Chair Bob Kettle demands greater transparency about what led to Barnes' resignation. Kettle argues Barnes was effectively removed as Seattle police chief after Mayor Katie Wilson asked him to resign. He is calling on Wilson to provide the Seattle City Council with a written explanation of her reasons, citing a provision of the Seattle City Charter concerning the mayor's removal of a police chief. Wilson's administration maintains that Shon Barnes resigned as Seattle police chief and that the City Charter requirement to provide reasons for a dismissal does not apply to a resignation. The disagreement comes after Barnes left the Seattle Police Department following the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting in July. Barnes had also faced questions about his time outside Seattle and drew attention for a tense exchange with a reporter shortly before his departure. Now Kettle is asking what happened behind the scenes leading up to the negotiated separation and whether Barnes' departure should be treated as a resignation or a removal. The controversy comes amid a broader Seattle public safety debate over surveillance cameras in Pioneer Square and the Stadium District. The Seattle Police Officers Guild and supporters of the camera system have pushed for the cameras to be activated, arguing they can help police respond to crime and improve public safety. Pioneer Square business representatives have also advocated for greater use of public safety technology in the neighborhood. Mayor Katie Wilson temporarily activated Stadium District surveillance cameras during the FIFA World Cup after officials identified credible security threats. The cameras were subsequently turned off, while Wilson's administration continues reviewing Seattle's surveillance program and questions involving privacy, civil liberties and data protections. The debate leaves Seattle confronting two major public safety questions: what led to Shon Barnes' departure as police chief, and what role should surveillance cameras play in the city's approach to crime and public safety? Washington in Focus Daily breaks down Katie Wilson, Shon Barnes, Bob Kettle, the Seattle Police Department, Seattle public safety, the Bite of Seattle shooting, the Seattle Police Officers Guild, Pioneer Square, Stadium District surveillance cameras, Seattle crime, government transparency and the ongoing debate over policing in Washington's largest city. #Seattle #SeattlePolice #KatieWilson #ShonBarnes #BobKettle #SeattleCrime #PublicSafety #SPD #SeattleNews #PioneerSquare #GovernmentTransparency #WashingtonNews #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus

$15 BILLION Bridge? WA Lawmaker Calls for Major Project Reset

0 views · September 11th, 2026

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Project connecting Washington and Oregon could cost as much as $15.2 billion, and one Washington lawmaker is calling for a major reset of the massive I-5 Columbia River bridge project. Washington State Rep. John Ley of Vancouver is raising concerns about the cost, scope and funding of the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, arguing Washington and Oregon should focus on building a simpler replacement bridge that taxpayers can actually afford. The official 2026 Interstate Bridge Replacement cost estimate now ranges from $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, with the IBR program using $14.4 billion for financial planning. That's a dramatic increase from the project's 2020 conceptual estimate, which had a high end of $4.8 billion. The IBR program says the higher estimate reflects inflation, rising construction costs, schedule delays, project risks and changes to the scope and design of the five-mile Interstate 5 corridor between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. But Ley argues lawmakers need to reconsider how much of the massive project Washington and Oregon can actually afford to build. The full Interstate Bridge Replacement plan includes new Columbia River bridges, I-5 connections and interchange improvements, tolling infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and an extension of light rail from Portland into Vancouver. The IBR program currently reports approximately $5.7 billion in committed funding and says it can move forward with an initial funded phase while seeking additional money for other components of the project. Ley is calling for lawmakers from Washington and Oregon to reconsider the project's priorities and focus first on replacing the aging Interstate Bridge and connecting the new crossing to Interstate 5. He also raises questions about consulting costs, the project's construction timeline and whether the states can secure enough money to complete the broader plan. The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program says the full project is designed to create a modern, earthquake-resilient Columbia River crossing, improve safety and mobility, replace aging infrastructure and support transportation and economic activity between Washington and Oregon. The debate now centers on a major taxpayer question: How much bridge can Washington and Oregon afford? Washington in Focus Daily breaks down the $15 billion Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, I-5 bridge replacement, Columbia River crossing, Washington transportation spending, Oregon transportation spending, federal infrastructure funding, tolling, light rail, Rep. John Ley, Vancouver Washington, Portland Oregon and the growing debate over the cost of replacing the Interstate Bridge. #WashingtonState #Oregon #InterstateBridge #I5 #VancouverWA #Portland #TaxpayerMoney #Infrastructure #GovernmentSpending #Transportation #WashingtonNews #WashingtonPolitics #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus

Gender, Runaway Minors and Parental Rights: WA Case Heads to SCOTUS

0 views · September 11th, 2026

A major Washington state parental rights case is heading to the U.S. Supreme Court, with oral arguments scheduled for December 7, 2026. In International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson, a group of Washington parents is challenging state laws involving runaway minors, parental notification and access to gender-related services. The parents argue Washington's policies interfere with their ability to make decisions concerning the care, custody and upbringing of their children. But before the underlying constitutional challenge can proceed, the Supreme Court will consider a critical legal question: Do these parents have standing to challenge the Washington laws in federal court? The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit concluded that the parents lacked Article III standing. The parents are now asking the Supreme Court to reverse that decision and allow their lawsuit against Washington state officials to move forward. Ryan Gardner, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute, argues that parents should not have to wait until their children experience the harms they fear before they can challenge a law they believe threatens their parental rights. First Liberty Institute and Schaerr Jaffe are representing the parents before the Supreme Court. The case centers on Washington laws that the plaintiffs argue can allow runaway minors seeking gender-related services to remain away from their parents without the normal parental notification requirements under certain circumstances. The parents contend those policies interfere with their constitutional rights to direct their children's upbringing and medical care. Washington officials have defended the challenged laws, while the parents are asking the Supreme Court to recognize their ability to bring the constitutional challenge in federal court. The Supreme Court granted the case in June and has scheduled oral arguments for December 7. Washington in Focus Daily breaks down International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson, Washington parental rights, the Ninth Circuit, the U.S. Supreme Court, Article III standing, runaway minors, parental notification, gender identity policies, gender transition, Washington state law and the growing national legal debate over the rights of parents and the authority of state government. #SCOTUS #SupremeCourt #ParentalRights #WashingtonState #ParentsRights #GenderPolicy #NinthCircuit #WashingtonNews #WashingtonPolitics #USSupremeCourt #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus

Georgia Child Welfare Agency Spent $219K on Legally Questionable Phone-Tracking Tech

0 views · September 11th, 2026

Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on surveillance technology capable of tracking cell phone locations and web activity, according to a Center Square investigation. Investigative reporter Johnny Edwards details four specific tools the agency purchased — Shadow Dragon, Anomaly 6, Cellebrite, and Traffic Jam — including a reported $219,000 spent on Shadow Dragon and a separate $219,000 on Anomaly 6. Edwards notes these are law enforcement-grade tools that can aggregate web activity, track phone locations in near real time, and extract data from a phone's contents even without a password. The agency, known as DFACS, is not classified as a law enforcement organization under state law, raising Fourth Amendment questions given its authority to remove children from parental custody and refer cases for criminal prosecution. Edwards explains that unlike law enforcement records, which typically become public once a case concludes, DFACS records are sealed under state and federal privacy law and are rarely released even when a child dies in state custody. DFACS Commissioner Candice Broce declined to comment directly, but Edwards says her public statements indicate the agency uses the technology to locate runaway foster children considered at risk of sex trafficking. Emory University law professor Melissa Carter and Georgia state Rep. Beth Camp are both raising questions about consent, warrant requirements, and how long the collected data is retained, particularly given the technology's ability to capture information on people who are not the direct subject of an investigation. A legal opinion obtained by Democratic state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver found no statutory basis for DFACS to use phone-tracking or web-surveillance tools, concluding that the agency's role is limited to cooperating with law enforcement rather than conducting law enforcement activity itself. Camp says she plans to introduce legislation addressing transparency and oversight of the agency's use of these tools when the legislature reconvenes in January.

Trump Promises $5,000 Dividend to Every American if GOP Holds Congress — Price Tag: $1.3 Trillion

1 views · September 11th, 2026

President Trump proposed a $5,000 payment to American adults, funded partly by tariff revenue, during the first-ever midterm Republican National Convention in Dallas this week. Trump asked voters to treat the midterms as a referendum on him, framing the choice as between "common sense Republicans" and "crazy Democrats," and pointed to policy positions from the Democratic Socialists of America, including abolishing the U.S. Senate, ICE, and the Supreme Court, to make his case. Several Republican officials and candidates also took the stage. Wisconsin Rep. Derek Van Orden touted $50 billion in federal funding for rural hospitals, citing Black River Falls Memorial Hospital in his district. North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley criticized Democratic policies on crime, pointing to former Gov. Roy Cooper's release of 4,200 inmates in North Carolina and noting that more than half were later rearrested. Georgia Rep. Mike Collins discussed his push to pass the Laken Riley Act, which requires the mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants arrested or charged with certain crimes, including theft and assault. Both of Pennsylvania's senators appeared at the convention, including Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who introduced himself to the crowd as "a common sense Democrat" and praised Republican Sen. Dave McCormick. Fetterman has grown increasingly distant from the Democratic Party since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and has sided with Republicans on issues including data centers, the Iran war, housing policy, government shutdowns, and immigration. Attendees also pressed Senate Republicans, including John Barrasso, to pass the Save America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote and restrict mail-in voting. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential contender, held a competing event with Texas Democrats the same day, calling the GOP "clinically deranged" and questioning Trump's mental fitness. Pritzker also launched a new political action committee, Ready for the Fight, and says he plans to spend at least $20 million supporting Democratic candidates ahead of the November election.

US Solicitor General Joins 25+ States Opposing Cook County's AR-15 Ban

0 views · September 11th, 2026

Ahead of December 2 oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court, Michael O'Neill of the Landmark Legal Foundation discusses an amicus brief his organization filed challenging Cook County, Illinois's ban on the sale and possession of AR-15 rifles. O'Neill notes that groups filed 33 amicus briefs in the case, including roughly two dozen states and the U.S. Solicitor General, and argues that recent Supreme Court decisions on Second Amendment protections for commonly held firearms suggest the justices are unlikely to uphold the ban. O'Neill explains the legal standard at the center of the case: whether a firearm regulation has a historical analog from the era the Second Amendment was ratified. He argues that the AR-15 compares to the musket, the commonly owned firearm of the founding era, and that no historical tradition supports banning an entire category of widely owned rifles. He also pushes back on the distinction opponents draw between AR-15s and military weapons like the M16, arguing that AR-15s are semi-automatic only and don't meet the legal or technical definition of an assault rifle, despite gun-control groups framing the weapons as a driver of mass shootings. O'Neill lays out what happens if the Court strikes down the Cook County ban, explaining that such a ruling would apply specifically to that law rather than invalidate every state and local gun restriction nationwide, though it could discourage other jurisdictions from pursuing similar bans. The Court will hear the case, Barnett v. Cook County, alongside a related Connecticut gun ban case.

Seattle Police Guild Blasts Mayor Katie Wilson + Wrestler Takes Girls Sports Case to Federal Court

750 views · September 9th, 2026

Seattle public safety is facing renewed scrutiny after three separate shootings in the Belltown neighborhood left three people dead and three others injured, with no arrests announced in connection with the killings at the time of this episode. Seattle Police Officers Guild President Kent Lou is now calling for broader changes to Seattle's criminal justice system, arguing that adding police officers alone will not solve the city's crime problems without consequences for repeat offenders, functioning jails, prosecutors and judges working alongside law enforcement. Lou says Seattle police officers repeatedly encounter difficulties booking suspects into jail and argues the city's revolving-door criminal justice system is making it harder for officers to address repeat crime. He is also calling for stronger action against illegal street takeovers, including vehicle seizures and expanded use of surveillance cameras. The criticism comes as Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson responds to the deadly Belltown weekend. Wilson says Seattle Police Department data show shootings and homicides remain at their lowest levels in a decade and says her administration will soon unveil a comprehensive gun violence prevention strategy. The mayor's office also responded to criticism over Seattle's surveillance camera policy. Wilson paused camera expansion pending a data security and privacy audit after cameras were temporarily used during the FIFA World Cup. The Seattle Police Officers Guild is questioning why those cameras aren't currently operating around Seattle's stadium district. Also on Washington in Focus Daily: More than $100 million in federal funding has gone toward the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, or LEAD, model that originated in Seattle and King County and has since been replicated around the country. Washington Policy Center researcher Eric Zimmerman is calling for Congress to pause additional LEAD funding and scrutinize claims about the program's effectiveness. Zimmerman has challenged statistics used to promote LEAD's success, including recidivism data, and argues policymakers need stronger evidence before committing additional taxpayer dollars. LEAD co-founder Lisa Daugaard disputes attempts to connect the diversion program to Washington's broader homelessness and drug overdose problems, arguing LEAD has produced successful outcomes even as Seattle and Washington struggle with larger homelessness, addiction and public safety challenges. Finally, Washington high school wrestler Kallie Keeler and her mother are taking their girls sports and Title IX case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Alliance Defending Freedom has filed an emergency motion seeking protections before the upcoming wrestling season. Keeler and her mother are asking for advance notice if she is scheduled to compete against a transgender opponent so that her family can decide whether she participates in the match. Washington in Focus Daily breaks down Seattle's deadly Belltown shootings, Mayor Katie Wilson's public safety response, criticism from the Seattle Police Officers Guild, Seattle surveillance cameras, the $100 million LEAD diversion controversy, federal taxpayer funding, homelessness and drug policy, and the Washington girls wrestling case now before the Ninth Circuit. #Seattle #SeattleCrime #SeattlePolice #KatieWilson #SeattleNews #PublicSafety #Belltown #LEAD #WashingtonState #WashingtonNews #GirlsSports #TitleIX #NinthCircuit #WashingtonPolitics #TheCenterSquare

Kent Loux Criticizes Mayor Over Limits on Public Safety Cameras

13 views · September 9th, 2026

Kent Loux Criticizes Mayor Over Limits on Public Safety Cameras

Kent Loux Calls for "Real Consequences" for Repeat Offenders in Seattle

12 views · September 9th, 2026

Kent Loux Calls for "Real Consequences" for Repeat Offenders in Seattle

Seattle Rocked by 3 Shootings Over Holiday Weekend

57 views · September 9th, 2026

Three people are dead and three others injured following three separate shootings in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood over the holiday weekend, putting Seattle crime, gun violence, street takeovers and the city's police response back under scrutiny. Seattle police said the three shootings appear to be unrelated, and no suspects had been publicly announced as being in custody at the time this episode was recorded. Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sales addressed the violence and explained how SPD is responding, including increased patrols, bike patrols, the department's Community Response Group and Gun Violence Reduction Unit. Seattle police are also working with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office to identify repeat violent offenders and build cases against suspects involved in gun violence. One of the deadly incidents occurred amid another Seattle street takeover near the Space Needle and John Street. Street takeovers — sometimes organized and coordinated through social media — have become another public safety challenge for Seattle police as drivers perform donuts, burnouts and other dangerous maneuvers while crowds gather nearby. The incident is also raising questions about Seattle Police Department staffing and response times. Reporters questioned Chief Sales about whether SPD responded quickly enough to the street takeover and whether Seattle's West Precinct was overwhelmed as officers dealt with the unfolding incidents. Sales acknowledged that street takeovers can move rapidly between locations and said SPD is working to improve intelligence gathering, coordinate with regional, local and federal law enforcement partners, make arrests and impound vehicles connected to the illegal events. Asked whether the West Precinct was overwhelmed, Sales said he would examine staffing levels and provide additional resources if necessary. The violence adds to Seattle's ongoing debate over crime, police staffing, gun violence, public safety and the city's response to illegal street takeovers. Washington in Focus Daily examines the three deadly Seattle shootings, the Belltown violence, Seattle street takeovers, SPD staffing concerns, Interim Police Chief Andre Sales' response and what Seattle police say they plan to do next. #Seattle #SeattleCrime #SeattleNews #SeattlePolice #SPD #PublicSafety #GunViolence #Belltown #StreetTakeover #SeattleWA #WashingtonState #WashingtonNews #CrimeNews #TheCenterSquare

State Workers Demand More as Ferguson Administration Faces Budget Pressure

158 views · September 9th, 2026

Washington state employee unions are negotiating their next two-year contracts with Gov. Bob Ferguson's administration as state workers push for increased compensation and other contract changes ahead of an October deadline. Tens of thousands of Washington state employees are represented in collective bargaining agreements covering workers across state government and higher education. The negotiations come as Washington continues to face significant budget pressures, putting renewed attention on how much new state employee contracts could ultimately cost taxpayers. Washington Federation of State Employees representative Jillian Fulford says the union and the state remain far apart on key issues. The union argues that insufficient staffing, deteriorating facilities and inadequate investment in Washington's state workforce could ultimately cost taxpayers more in the long run. Workers are also seeking financial gains and other changes to their contracts. State employees have recently held demonstrations and walkouts as negotiations continue. But the bargaining process itself is also facing criticism. Washington State Sen. Mark Schoesler, a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, argues negotiations involving taxpayer-funded employee compensation need greater transparency. Schoesler says the public should have more information about what state employee unions are requesting and what the Ferguson administration is offering before agreements are finalized. The debate raises a larger question about Washington government spending: How much information should taxpayers receive while public employee compensation is being negotiated? Washington's Office of Financial Management says collective bargaining negotiations are scheduled to conclude by October 1. Under Washington's collective bargaining system, covered agreements requiring state funding are ultimately incorporated into the state budget process, with lawmakers generally voting on the funding requests for individual agreements as a whole rather than rewriting specific negotiated provisions. Washington in Focus examines the state worker contract negotiations, demands for higher compensation, Gov. Bob Ferguson's role in the bargaining process, Washington's budget pressures, recent state employee demonstrations and the growing debate over government transparency and taxpayer accountability. #WashingtonState #StateWorkers #BobFerguson #WashingtonPolitics #WashingtonBudget #Taxpayers #GovernmentSpending #GovernmentTransparency #WFSE #PublicEmployees #WAPolitics #WashingtonNews #TheCenterSquare

“America Is Under Attack” Inside President Bush’s 9/11 Morning

4 views · September 9th, 2026

What was it like inside the room when President George W. Bush learned that America was under attack on September 11, 2001? In this firsthand account, we hear what happened as President Bush arrived at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, on the morning of 9/11. While preparing to speak to a classroom of students about education, Bush was informed that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Moments later, after the second plane struck, White House Chief of Staff Andy Card told the president, “America is under attack.” The account describes the confusion and uncertainty inside the school, the Secret Service's concerns about the president's safety, Bush's decision to address the nation, and the eventual return to Washington, D.C. The conversation also looks at how the September 11 attacks changed American security, including the creation of the Transportation Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security, as well as the continuing challenges posed by terrorism, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The White House archive and 9/11 Commission records confirm that Bush was at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota when he was informed of the attacks and that he addressed the nation later that evening. Brought to you by The Center Square.

NYC's New AI Policy Splits Elementary Restrictions From High School Pilots

2 views · September 9th, 2026

New York City is rolling out a new policy restricting how artificial intelligence is used in public schools, limiting AI as a learning aid for younger students while introducing AI literacy pilot programs for junior high and high schoolers. The Center Square's Esther Wickham breaks down the policy following comments from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said children need human connection and the chance to work through problems on their own rather than relying on AI. The new rules restrict AI use and screen time for students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, while introducing pilot programs for older students designed to teach AI literacy across subjects like math, English, and language arts. New York City previously banned AI in schools outright in 2022 before lifting that ban in 2023. Wickham also discusses how similar AI and screen-time restrictions have spread to states including California, Texas, and Illinois.

25 Years After 9/11, New Research Reveals Lasting Impact on First Responders

0 views · September 9th, 2026

Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, new research is examining the lasting health effects of 9/11 on World Trade Center first responders — including evidence of accelerated brain aging associated with toxic exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers studied brain scans from World Trade Center responders who worked at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks. The research examined 99 responders, including 47 with chronic PTSD and 52 without it. Researchers found that estimated brain age among responders with PTSD and exposure was approximately three years older than expected. The amount of time responders spent working at the World Trade Center site was also associated with signs of accelerated brain aging. The findings add another dimension to the long-term physical and mental health consequences facing firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, recovery workers and other 9/11 first responders who were exposed to toxic chemicals, dust, debris and severe psychological trauma at Ground Zero. The broader health toll from September 11 continues 25 years later. According to federal data discussed in the segment, approximately 96,000 people have been diagnosed with physical or mental health conditions related to 9/11. The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund also continues to compensate people suffering from health effects connected to the attacks. Researchers say the findings are particularly important as the United States marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and a new generation grows up without firsthand memories of September 11, 2001. Washington in Focus Daily examines the new 9/11 first responder brain research, PTSD, toxic exposure at Ground Zero, accelerated brain aging, the continuing health impact of September 11 and why researchers say the experiences of first responders must not be forgotten. #September11 #911 #NeverForget #September11th #911Anniversary #FirstResponders #GroundZero #WorldTradeCenter #PTSD #BrainHealth #911FirstResponders #911Health #FirstResponderHealth #NewYorkCity