Laurel Demkovich
SpokesmanReview
Olympia, WA, United States
Contact Laurel
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Laurel:
Tax incentives for sustainable jet fuel could soon be coming to Washington
The bill would incentivize fuel producers to build alternative fuel production facilities in Washington by creating a preferential business and operations tax rate of 0.275% for the manufacture and sale of sustainable aviation fuels. → Read More
Ballots for the November election are on their way, and so is a new local voter's guide
The Spokane County Auditor's Office will mail out about 350,000 ballots for Nov. 8 election throughout the week. About 178,000 were mailed out on Wednesday with most of the rest going out Thursday, Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said. → Read More
Mothers gather in Olympia to receive first birth certificates for stillborn babies
After passing a law last legislative session, Washington became the 44th state in the country to allow families to request birth certificates. The law went into effect Saturday. → Read More
Republicans hopeful with Smiley Senate run, but likely face an uphill battle against longtime senator Murray
There’s no doubt that Republicans are underdogs when trying to capture statewide office in Washington. They haven’t won an election for governor since 1980. They haven’t won a race for U.S. Senate since 1994. They hold no statewide offices. → Read More
'Doubly desperate': Despite border reopening, North Idaho family struggles to prosper after business drops to 30% of what it was before pandemic
The border has since reopened, but some restrictions are still in place, and many businesses have yet to recover. → Read More
Some primary races still too close to call as of Thursday
A number of races from Tuesday’s primary election remained too close to call on Thursday. → Read More
State task force releases first recommendations regarding missing and murdered Indigenous women and people
At a Monday press conference with Attorney General Bob Ferguson, task force members Patsy Whitefoot, Abigail Echo-Hawk and state Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, shared their recommendations. → Read More
Misinformation, security of elections on secretary of state candidates' minds this election
The candidates include a county auditor, current and former state legislators, a data scientist, a banker and a business owner. → Read More
Washington prepares for approval of kids' vaccine
Kids under five years old may soon be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and Washington is ready. → Read More
With 600 COVID-19 hospitalizations and rising, Washington medical leaders worried about another surge
There are currently 600 COVID cases in the hospital with even more people suspected to have the virus but not yet confirmed, said Cassie Sauer, chief executive officer of the Washington State Hospital Association. That's a 10% increase from the previous week. → Read More
State Supreme Court upholds DUI standard for driving while high on marijuana
Washington drivers can receive a DUI for driving while high, the state Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. → Read More
Spokane cannabis retailer could owe as much as $300,000 in unpaid wages and overtime to employees
The corporation Cannabis Green, which owns three Lovely Buds locations in Spokane, and its owners Elizabeth and Todd Byczek are facing a wage and hour complaint filed by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries and the state's Office of the Attorney General. → Read More
Lasting effects of Amazon union vote unknown but could point to change in labor movement, Washington experts say
Though it's too early to tell what kind of lasting effects the union could have on Amazon and the labor movement in the U.S., Washington experts say it does fit into a narrative of a labor market that has experienced a lot of change in the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. → Read More
Discover Pass free days extended to all state recreational lands
State parks designate 12 days each calendar year when entry is free, no day fee or Discover Pass needed. Now that will be extended to any state recreational land. → Read More
Beware of fake charity organizations when looking to donate to Ukraine efforts
The Washington Secretary of State is encouraging everyone to research charities before donating. → Read More
Washington Legislature adjourns for year, passing $64 billion budget, $17 billion transportation package
The Legislature adjourned sine die Thursday just before the midnight deadline with more than half of their members — masked and mostly socially distant — in person on the floor. → Read More
With one day left to pass it, Democrats release $64 billion budget proposal
Democrats on Wednesday released their final budget proposal, spending $64.1 billion on new investments in K-12 schools, reducing poverty and homelessness, behavioral health and helping the state recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. → Read More
Capital gains tax court battle begins with Douglas County hearing
Friday's hearing is likely the first in a long court battle still to come, ending with the state Supreme Court ultimately deciding whether the tax is considered an income tax, which is currently unconstitutional under state law. → Read More
Fight over hospital safe-staffing standard continues in Legislature
A bill that would require hospitals to implement safe-staffing standards, including strict ratios, passed a House of Representatives panel Friday. It still needs to pass the full House before going to the Senate. → Read More
Inslee's bill to make lying about election results a crime gets first public hearing
Inslee testified in support of his proposal that would make it a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail or a $5,000 fine, to "knowingly, recklessly or maliciously" for candidates or elected officials to make false statements about election results. → Read More