How do you convince Social Security you’re alive after the agency declares you dead? Seattle couple says it’s far from easy Pam Johnson of Seattle found out her husband, Leonard or “Ned,” had been declared dead when she got a letter from Bank of America on Feb. 19 offering condolences. The note said more than $5,000 in Social Security benefits had been reclaimed from the couple’s joint account. Patricia Murphy Stephen Howie Vaughan Jones
Dow Constantine tapped as Sound Transit CEO The Sound Transit board voted unanimously to hire the longtime King County executive effective April 1. Ann Dornfeld
Seattle lawyers sue DHS to stop deportation of detained immigrants to ‘third countries’ Lawyers from Seattle and others around the country filed a lawsuit this week against the Department of Homeland Security over a recent practice of the agency to deport people who don’t have legal status in the U.S. to “third countries.” Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez
Has the U.S. revoked visas for UW or WSU students? Washington universities are on edge with this month's news of federal agents detaining students with green cards, and the U.S. revoking visas, of protesters who criticized Israel's war in Gaza. Scott Greenstone
Proposal to limit transgender athletes' participation in sports blocked in Washington state Washington state’s governing body for middle and high school athletics has determined proposed rule changes limiting how transgender students can participate in sports would violate state laws. Sami West
Eid moves one step closer to becoming a Washington state holiday Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, two holidays celebrated by nearly 100,000 Muslims in Washington state, is one step closer to state recognition. Ruby de Luna
‘No budget gimmicks’: WA Gov. Ferguson won't support legislative Democrats’ wealth tax plans Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is promising a fight with lawmakers if they stick to their recently unveiled tax plans. Jeanie Lindsay
Refugees are still coming to Washington state despite Trump's policies. But help is hard to find Unlike other refugees who must wait for the government to book their travel and connect them with a resettlement agency, some refugees can buy their own plane tickets if they have the means. But once they arrive in the U.S., there’s no guarantee the federal government will offer them any help at all. Eilís O'Neill
Trump’s rhetoric breeds 'unprecedented' threats, federal judge in Seattle says A federal judge in Seattle is calling on President Trump and his supporters to tone down hostile language toward the courts. Amy Radil
Washington, Oregon sue to block Trump's executive order overhauling elections The lawsuit targets a sweeping executive order that requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship as a condition of registering to vote, and restricts vote-by-mail states from counting ballots postmarked by Election Day but received thereafter. Liz Brazile
