News WA misses deadline to bring foster kids back from out-of-state homes Following reports of abuse, the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families said it would bring back nearly 100 Washington youth by the end of September. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / December 2, 2020 / Updated Dec. 4 at 12:40 p.m.
Equity WA relying on hotels, state offices to house foster kids more than ever With nowhere else to go, the state’s most at-risk kids — and their caseworkers — are faced with limited options. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / September 7, 2020
News Pandemic pushes WA foster care group homes into lose-lose dilemmas With one group home losing a state contract after turning away infected youth, operators at other homes fear state retaliation. by Rachel Nielsen & Robert McClure InvestigateWest / August 14, 2020 / Updated at 5:53 p.m. Aug. 14
News Calls, texts to helplines surge amid COVID-19 Over the course of the stay-at-home order, the federal Disaster Distress Hotline alone has seen calls from Washington state increase sevenfold. by Dean Russell & Jamie Smith Hopkins & Sally Deneen InvestigateWest / April 24, 2020
News Birth parents fight to visit kids in foster system during pandemic Seeing their children in person may put parents, as well as foster families and social workers, at risk, but can the state stop them? by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / April 22, 2020 / Updated on Friday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m.
Politics New WA state budget won’t solve problem of foster kids in crisis The state Legislature approved nearly $16 million in new funding last week, but the effort may come up short in fixing an overwhelmed system. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / March 19, 2020
Politics Progress on WA climate bills could boost Inslee’s 2020 hopes After years of failure and frustration, Democrats are taking a piecemeal approach to climate legislation, and it appears to be working. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / April 16, 2019
Environment WA lawmakers pass on whale-watching ban aimed at helping orcas Orca Task Force members and Gov. Jay Inslee said the moratorium was needed to give the endangered whales a break from boat noise. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / April 8, 2019
Environment The environmental wins and losses in Olympia this year Even with Democrats in charge of the Legislature, environmentalists struggled on climate, clean water and orca protection. by Sally Deneen InvestigateWest / March 16, 2018
Politics As time runs out, will lawmakers pass a historic carbon tax this year? The chances of the carbon tax passing are looking better than they ever have. by Sally Deneen InvestigateWest / February 28, 2018