There were at least ten other people who had parked at the scenic view point to also admire the sunset. Lucky to live in a state that's beautiful all over!

Can anyone tell me if these props would give the police money to buy flock (or comparable tech) as in "infrastructure upgrades"?

I will NOT vote for the police to conduct warrantless searches and invade mine and my communities privacy.

The wording is pretty ambiguous

https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2026/10/jeopardy-host-ken-jennings-urges-washington-voters-to-keep-million-dollar-earners-tax-in-no-on-645s-newest-television-spot.html

No wonder people think Ken Jennings is kinda hot, lol. 👀

I need to finally do this.

On March 31st of 2026 I was in a domestic violence situation. And my life was saved by a random hero.

Let the truth unfold.

So on the evening before, it was a pleasant Saturday afternoon with a stroll through our local woodland marsh. There are pictures of us having a good time. We make a fire out back of the house we are renting a room with. (We have roommates, and the one roommates has a teenager. Teenager and 2 other male roommates are gamers. Minus the mom of the teen. The reasons why they never hear the abuse is cause they have big headphones on...) And then as time progresses, he became obsessive about the lack of time I am spending with him. Because I go into the house to pee and godforbid I have to talk with the other roommates in passing. As the night progresses I know I have to go to work at 5am and his body language and speech is getting to a stage that I recognize. I decide to sleep in the mom's room with the door locked. (I know if I don't he will whisper to me all night. Saying horrible things to me. And startle me awake every 10 to 15 minutes. Or punch me in places that make it uncomfortable to sit down. Back, ribs, stomach etc.) I slept through almost ALL of the times he banged on the door and kicked it, keeping my friend/bed buddy/the mom awake. Thank you sleep gummies. ​

When my alarm woke me, I dressed, got my stuff ready. And as I stepped out to run to the bus I made a critical mistake. I thought that I should make things right and say something to him. Maybe an I love you, have a good day or something like that. I stepped to the door to the room and he yanked it open. He had been listening for my steps. And he pulled me in and forced me on to the bed and began telling me what a horrible person I was. When I tried to get away he wrapped his arms around me. When I tried to scream. He covered my mouth and my nose so I couldn't breathe. I kept trying to fight him. But he was always stronger. My salvation came from a knock on the door. The head roommate heard something that made him hesitate. And I tried to run. But...

He caught me near his car and ordered me into his car. I was half terrified he was going to chase me down and half terrified that I was going to be late.

He drove from the outskirts to the city. Swung into a parking lot and threw my coffee out the door while grabbing me as I tried to escape. He drove me while screaming with PURE rage and rejection at me about how I was a stupid slut onto the freeway. Driving so fast it was terrifying. Then he drove me to the south park n ride and said ok walk from here. I tried to jump out. He yanked me back. And said I'm not done with you. I said nothing. The entire time. I only made sounds, whimpers. I thought I was going to die.

We reached downtown Bellevue. And he stopped at a stop light and I tried to dive out at the turn lane. People honked at us as they drove past. As if it was rude of me to try to run. (It's a high end area, they do that)

He pulled around the corner into a straight lane. He paused cause someone was unloading a passenger. I took my opportunity and made a run for it. Literally swung the door open, slang my backpack onto my back in one motion and took off running the opposite way. He put the car in reverse and chased me. But I changed course and ran back down the street and into an alley. The first person I hailed down did not understand because he didn't speak English. My ex had parked and walked up casually with his hands in his pockets and laughed at me when I told the truth. I ran away again.

I thought I was safe for a moment and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw him walk the other way. And I thought I could make it to my building on time to clock in. At 6 AM.

I walked past a white work van with a man inside, checking his phone.

And then the headlights. His headlights came from the opposite side of the alley.

I panicked. I ran back to that van and smacked my palm against the window in terror. The man looked at me, popped his door open and I said "my boyfriend is trying to kill me! I just want to get to work."

Without any hesitation he said, "get it! I'll take you there!" I Ran around and jumped in. And then he said "where is it?"

I told him and he said he knew it. He drove me to work a block away.

But that's not the point. A stranger. Opened his door to save another strangers life.

To the man from Kirby Electric. At 5:57am. Bellevue Washington.

You saved my life!

Thank you so very very much! I wish I could say those words to your face and give you a hug and a damn good meal.

I love you without ever knowing your name. And I thank you.

Thank you, with love and pure respect,

Care.

And to those who are wondering my ex was arrested later that day and now has a five year restraining order.

Any thoughts on this?

“In a statement Tuesday, the school district said none of its staff failed to make mandatory reports to the state, and that district staff members are “well-trained and understand their mandatory reporting responsibilities.””

Someone dropped the ball

The payout seems excessive.

“Evergreen said the school district’s insurers made the decision to settle, to “avoid the risk of a jury verdict exceeding the district’s available insurance coverage.”

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/13/49-million-settlement-reached-in-wrongful-death-of-vancouver-teen/

We are a few of the more than 100 Washington pediatricians, family doctors and nurses who oppose I-638’s new sex inspection requirements. The initiative is a government mandate forcing us to conduct medically unnecessary and potentially harmful tests on elementary, middle and high school girls. This includes genital exams, and genetic or hormone tests, as a new part of sports physicals. 

I-638, officially known as the Defending Equity in Interscholastic Sports Act, is part of a coordinated and thinly veiled political attack on all girls, not just vulnerable transgender children. As The Seattle Times editorial board wrote in their opposition to I-638 : it “would send Washington back to the days of ‘femininity certificates,’ when amateur women athletes, including Olympic athletes, had to carry proof that they had passed visual exams and chromosome testing that proved they were women.”

Under I-638, sponsored by MAGA megadonor Brian Heywood’s Let’s Go Washington, any girl from elementary to high school who wants to play sports would be forced to provide medically verified proof of their sex as a new part of sports physicals just for girls. Boys are exempt. It prohibits parents from using birth certificates, and Section 3(2)) states that, to be in compliance, doctors must subject girls to examinations of their “reproductive organs,” or make parents pay for expensive genetic or hormone testing. Insurance will likely not pay for these expensive genetic and hormone tests because they are not medically necessary to diagnose, treat or manage a specific health condition.

Washington students currently remain fully clothed during sports readiness exams, and exams focus on cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and neurologic systems. But I-638 would change that, potentially even requiring pelvic exams, which are medically unnecessary for sports, and can emotionally and physically harm young girls. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says there is no medical reason for a pelvic exam for girls younger than 21, unless the patient has other health concerns. 

The initiative is so poorly written that its sponsors have even said they wish they had written an initiative with more clarity on how it would be implemented. There is no explanation of when and how the government will enforce these rules, who can conduct sex inspections or what evidence will be required during genital, hormone or genetic tests. It could be used to demand that girls as young as kindergarten or girls who participate in nonathletic activities like e-sports prove their sex to a stranger. I-638 is clear about only one thing: The government gets to make personal decisions for our patients and their parents.

Nearly 150,000 school-age girls across Washington state do not have a regular doctor — this is especially true for low-income, rural and immigrant girls, and girls of color — and would be subject to genital examinations by strangers. The American Academy of Family Physicians says sports physicals should take place “not in a group setting,” but many families depend on free large group sports physicals where girls could face greater embarrassment and trauma from invasive genital inspections. 

By requiring girls to undergo invasive inspections, I-638 would decrease participation, robbing girls of the physical, social and emotional benefits that sports provide. More than half of teenagers experience anxiety or depression. In the midst of a youth mental health crisis, the last thing we should do is put up barriers to healthy and social activities.

I-638 would force us to violate an ethical code to do no harm to our patients. That’s why we are joining the WA State PTA, WA State Nurses Association, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, the League of Women Voters, and thousands of parents and teachers across the state in urging voters to vote No on I-638.

Grace Shih: MD, is a physician, reproductive health specialist and professor in the Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington.

Glenna Martin: MD, MPH is a family physician in Seattle. She sits on the board of Pro Choice Washington.

Caitlin Blau: DO, is a family physician in Bellingham.

Sam Doyle: ARNP, is a nurse practitioner at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and a UW teaching associate of Medicine and Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine.

On Oct. 15, 2026, students, families, neighbors and employees will drop, cover and hold on for the Great Washington ShakeOut, part of the country’s largest earthquake drill. The event also includes siren tests and evacuation drills in some schools.

At 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 15, you’re invited to drop, cover and hold on wherever you are – whether it’s at work, home or school. Practicing builds muscle memory for when the real earthquake comes. This will help you react quicker and be safer.

At about the same time, more than 120 Washington tsunami sirens along the inner and outer coast will be tested using the real wailing sound of a tsunami warning, not the Westminster Chimes that are typically used during the monthly tests. PLEASE DO NOT CALL 911.

There WILL be a test of the Emergency Alert System on radio and television this year.

The Wireless Emergency Alert text system on cell phones will NOT be tested.

Those who have downloaded the free MyShake Earthquake Early Warning App on their phones will get a test. Sirens related to the Columbia Generating Station will be tested in the Tri-Cities areas and some local jurisdictions will test their reverse 911 and opt-in text alerts. NOAA Weather Radios will also sound an alarm. To make sure you’re signed up for alerts, visit https://mil.wa.gov/alerts

Lahar sirens in Pierce County will not be tested.

This year’s ShakeOut theme is “Prepared Neighbors.” After a major earthquake and/or tsunami, there will be help coming in the forms of first responders and assistance coming in from all over the country. But in the immediate aftermath of a quake, individuals and neighbors in local communities will be the first ones responding. In addition to practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On this ShakeOut, everyone is encouraged to do at least one more thing to help their neighborhood become more prepared. Learn more at https://mil.wa.gov/neighborhoods

Registration isn’t required but it helps the state understand how effective its outreach is. It’s also free and easy to register at https://www.shakeout.org/washington

Based off of their endorsements and/or previous actions the following Washington Supreme Court candidates are most likely to support a state income tax

Colleen Melody,

Jamie Michelle Hawk,

Ian Birk,

Sean O’Donnell,

Theo Angelis,

Debra L. Stephens - incumbent who affirmed the capital gains income tax

Any time anybody, including me, mentions being skeptical of it, or worried that it will come down to hit everyone else, or not really trusting it, you get an immense amount of toxicity.

I've been called MAGA, told I'm a Russian propaganda bot, that I'm stupid and watch Republican podcasts, and just overall insults and bullying thrown my way about how I'm insanely stupid if I'm not in full support of it.

I don't really understand this. Why is it so wrong to be skeptical? Why is it stupid to be worried? What is wrong with thinking about it? Why am I not allowed to have any reaction other than "Hell yeah! Tax the rich!"

They have never once promised it won't come to the rest of us. It's not in writing, it's not in the bill, they haven't mentioned this at all. There is reason to be worried about this.

But you aren't allowed to.
You just get swarmed by people insulting you and saying you're either stupid, a bot or MAGA and that's the only reason anyone would ever be skeptical of it.

I’ve worked with survivors of child abuse for over a decade. I can attest that confidentiality, privacy and having safe adults to turn to are crucial for abuse disclosures. For many children experiencing abuse or harm at home, a trusted adult at school may be the only person who recognizes that something is wrong and can help connect them with support.   

Initiative 001 (IL26-001)), on your November ballot, would remove commonsense record protections for victims of child abuse. The changes it makes would allow abusers who have been accused of, or even charged with raping, beating or otherwise harming their child to access their victims’ social work and counseling records, putting these vulnerable kids in more danger. 

It’s hard to see how anyone would want to remove safeguards designed to protect children. The backers of this initiative are playing politics in order to distract voters from the real issues families are facing, like rising costs. It’s important for voters to get the facts, not just the campaign narrative that I-001 backers are pushing. 

I-001 would put children at greater risk by discouraging them from seeking help at school. While most parents are loving, sadly child abuse is more widespread than most realize — there are more than 100,000 reports of abuse each year in Washington. Children are often afraid to report abuse, or don’t know what is happening to them is abuse. Under I-001 even fewer students facing abuse, including child sexual abuse, would seek help from trusted adults at school. We should not force schools to hand over sensitive information about kids to their abusers, but that’s what it does. 

I-001 is so poorly written that it actually removes parents’ rights. As The Seattle Times editorial board pointed out in its opposition to this initiative, I-001 repeals Washington’s parents’ rights laws and replaces them with language taken nearly verbatim from Louisiana. 

The state attorney general’s analysis found that I-001 removes parents’ guarantee of “immediate notification” when their child is a crime victim and replaces it with a much weaker standard of notification. “If a student is the victim of a serious crime at school, parents should not have to wait to find out and any delay could cause further harm to the student,” says former Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick, now a state senator.

Delayed notification only adds to a child’s trauma and can prevent them from getting immediate help and support from loved ones and professionals. If a student is the victim of a serious crime at school, parents should not have to wait to find out.   

Forcing schools to release students’ counseling and other records puts already vulnerable children in danger of further abuse. While it is understandable that most parents want to know what is happening with their kids in order to help them, the fact is that some parents abuse or kick out their child if they find out they are LGBTQ+. In fact, 40% of LGBTQ+ homeless youth were forced out of their homes because of their identities, putting these youth at higher risk for sexual assault.   

I-001 does the opposite of keeping our children safe. That’s why organizations across the state, including the Washington State PTA, the League of Women Voters, Washington State Nurses Association, more than 100 doctors and medical care providers and Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates are opposing I-001. 

No matter what your political affiliation, you can protect children from increased risks of harm by voting no on this ill-conceived initiative that would remove vital protections for youth to disclose abuse and get help from trusted adults. 

Roshelle Cleland: is public policy director at the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Blessed is an understatement!