Connelly: Seattle mayor, State Senate, attack ads center stage in 2017 vote

Manka Dhingra, a senior deputy King County Prosecutor, carries Democrats' hopes in the pivotal 45th District State Senate race, which could give Democrats control of the Washington Legislature. Manka Dhingra, a senior deputy King County Prosecutor, carries Democrats' hopes in the pivotal 45th District State Senate race, which could give Democrats control of the Washington Legislature.

US commerce chief Wilbur Ross says he is likely to divest Russia-linked shipping stake

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross holds a news conference at the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., U.S. March 10, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Thayer U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Monday he probably would not keep his holdings in a shipping company with business ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and that he had fully and properly disclosed investments.

Canceled contract with Trump-linked company throws Puerto Rico power restoration into disarray

Workers seek to repair distribution lines damaged by Hurricane Maria in the Cantera community of San Juan, Puerto Rico. CREDIT: AP Photo/Carlos Giusti Puerto Rico's decision to cancel its contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings LLC, a small Montana-based company with ties to the Trump administration, has thrown the island's electricity restoration efforts into disarray.

Power lines lay broken after the passage of Hurricane Maria in Dorado, Puerto Rico.

QUESTIONS have been raised about a $300 million contract to help rebuild Puerto Rico's electrical infrastructure was awarded to a small, two-year-old company that had only two employees when Hurricane Maria struck the US territory. Both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have called for an investigation after Whitefish Energy Holdings in Montana secured the multi-million dollar deal.

Lawmakers seek probe of power contract to Zinke neighbor

Members of Congress from both parties on Tuesday called for an investigation into a $300 million contract awarded to a small company based in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's hometown of Whitefish, Montana. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority awarded the contract to Whitefish Energy Holdings to help crews restore transmission and distribution lines damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Maria.

The Energy 202: Government watchdog wants Trump administration to address price tag of climate change

A congressional watchdog has a warning for the Trump administration: start paying attention to the price tag of climate change. The new report , which was requested two years ago by Sens. Maria Cantwell , ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Sen. Susan Collins , is slated to be released today by the Government Accountability Office.

GAO: Climate change already costing US billions in losses

A non-partisan federal watchdog says climate change is already costing U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars each year, with those costs expected to rise as devastating storms, floods, wildfires and droughts become more frequent in the coming decades. A Government Accountability Office report released Monday said the federal government has spent more than $350 billion over the last decade on disaster assistance programs and losses from flood and crop insurance.

Government report calls on Trump to act on climate change

A government report released Monday is sounding an alarm over the threat of climate change, and the government's response. The US government has spent more than $350 billion over the past decade in response to extreme weather and fire events, and the Government Accountability Office report estimated the US would incur far higher costs as the years progress if global emission rates don't go down.

This WSU Tri-Cities student is on the verge of graduating. But Congress must decide if she can stay

Maria Torres, president of the WSU Tri-Cities Dreamers Club, poses for a photo with Washington Attorney General Bob Fergusonon Monday after speaking about her trip to Washington, D.C., with a delegation of other DACA students about the status of the program. Watch a video at tricityherald.com/video Maria Torres, president of the WSU Tri-Cities Dreamers Club, poses for a photo with Washington Attorney General Bob Fergusonon Monday after speaking about her trip to Washington, D.C., with a delegation of other DACA students about the status of the program.

Inslee: Trump fight with NFL “not necessary” – Mon, 25 Sep 2017 PST

President Donald Trump should work on the issues behind the protests that prompt NFL players to refuse to stand for the national anthem rather than calling for them to be fired, Gov. Jay Inslee said Monday. Inslee, a big Seahawks fan, was asked at a press conference what he thought of the team deciding to stay in the locker room for Sunday's game until after that Star Spangled Banner was over.

Perry declares support for PNNL, Hanford; vague on funding – Wed, 16 Aug 2017 PST

In his first visit to the Tri-Cities, Energy Secretary Rick Perry offered enthusiastic support for the Hanford cleanup and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, but gave no assurance he will advocate to maintain current funding. Perry's first Northwest visit began with a tour of McNary Dam on Monday and continued Tuesday with stops at the national laboratory, the Volpentest HAMMER federal training center and the Hanford nuclear site.

Energy Secretary Perry visits Hanford

Energy Secretary Rick Perry, left, closely observes as worker trainers Joni Spencer, center, and Dean Beaver prepare to give a respirator demonstration Tuesday at the HAMMER Training Facility in Richland. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., stands next to Perry and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., stands in between the workers at right.

Schools fear impact of proposed Medicaid cuts

Medicaid cuts included in House and Senate Republicans' proposed Affordable Care Act replacement bills could disproportionately harm children from low-income families, according to Vancouver Public Schools. As the U.S. Senate appears poised to vote on its version of the health care bill Thursday, school officials are letting Washington's congressional delegation know about the direct impact Medicaid rollbacks could have on students.

Lawmakers ask feds to review progress of Hanford cleanup

Members of Congress are asking the federal government to review the progress of years of cleanup work at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, in light of the partial collapse of a tunnel containing radioactive wastes earlier this month. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell , D-Wash., says lawmakers sent a letter Wednesday to the Government Accountability Office asking for the review.

Congress Sends Bill to Boost Weather Research to President’s Desk

The National Weather Service would have to boost research - including some from private companies - to improve forecasts and storm warnings under a bill headed to President Donald trump's desk. Lawmakers said the bill should save lives by giving residents more time to prepare for hurricanes, tornadoes and other deadly storms.

Six more Democrats met with Russian Ambassador in the past

Six more Democratic leaders revealed to have been in meeting with Sergey Kislyak amid McCaskill's false claims that she had never met with the Russian Ambassador Attorney General Jeff Sessions failed to disclose during his confirmation hearing that he spoke with Russia's ambassador twice last year A September meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak came at the height of the Russian cyber campaign to influence the presidential race As Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill's claims that she had never met with Sergey Kislyak were proven to be untrue, six more Democrats have been revealed to have met with the Russian Ambassador.