(The Center Square) – More than 500,000 Washington state children will receive new EBT cards for summer meals. The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program called SUN Bucks was approved by the federal government in 2022, but this is the first year each participating state has access to the funds. SUN Bucks is similar to a program that helped feed families during the COVID-19 pandemic, but is in fact a different program. The Washington State Department
(The Center Square) – Backers of the NO on Initiative 2109 campaign are off and running. I-2109, set for the ballot in November, asks voters to repeal the capital gains tax. State lawmakers passed a capital gains tax in 2021. It taxes 7% on the sale of stocks and bonds and other assets above $250,000, with some exemptions. “The first year it brought in $896 million which was over what was estimated,” said Treasure Mackley
(The Center Square) – The City of Bellevue’s program to provide spaces for homeless people living in their vehicles has opened this month with reports of success already. According to Bellevue Homelessness Outreach Program Manager Nico Quijano, as of Tuesday he has referred 11 households comprising 35 people to the program in its first month of operations. The 35 people include 16 adults and 19 children as young as six months old. The center was
(The Center Square) – Voters in the Spokane Valley based 4th legislative district will have a half dozen candidates to choose from in August’s state senate primary. Four Republicans and two Democrats have filed for the open office. In addition to Spokane Valley, the 4th legislative district includes the cities of Millwood and Liberty Lake, and extends north to the Elk area. Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, is retiring after serving for 14 years in
