On our final episode before our annual July/August hiatus, Inside Olympia host Austin Jenkins spent the whole hour with Roger Millar, secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Two topics that are much on Millar’s mind? Maintenance and safety. Millar offered some historical context on transportation maintenance and funding.… Continue reading Inside Olympia – Transportation Infrastructure
This week we sat down for in-depth interviews with the first director of the state’s new Office of Equity, Dr. Karen Johnson, and Joel Sacks, director of the state’s Department of Labor & Industries.
Dr. Johnson was hired in March to lead the new office, which was created and… Continue reading Inside Olympia – June 24, 2021
This week on Inside Olympia, Host Austin Jenkins interviews WA Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) Secretary Ross Hunter, and Lisa McLean, executive director of the 2021 WA State Redistricting Commission.
Secretary Hunter said his department supported the bill approved by the 2021 Legislature that emphasizes keeping kids… Continue reading Inside Olympia – June 17, 2021
June 10, 2021
Description: This week on Inside Olympia, host Austin Jenkins sits down with State Epidemiologist Scott Lindquist for the latest news on the state’s battle against COVID, and the WA Lottery’s Kristi Weeks on Washington’s “Shot of a Lifetime” vaccination lottery.
After 15 months of intense work that… Continue reading Inside Olympia – COVID Update and Vaccine Lottery
This week: An in-depth interview with Washington Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown on the state of the Washington economy and recovery from COVID.
Brown calls the economic impacts of COVID uneven, with big negatives for some businesses, big positives for others. She talks about a “K-shaped” recovery in which… Continue reading Inside Olympia – Economic Recovery from COVID
May 27, 2021
This week host Austin Jenkins goes in depth with two of Washington’s statewide elected officials: Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, and Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler.
Before winning election as lieutenant governor in November, Heck was a U.S. representative from Washington’s 10th Legislative District. He says Congress is… Continue reading Inside Olympia – Lieutenant Governor and Insurance Commissioner
In the second of a two-part series, we get perspectives from law enforcement organizations on police reform bills passed by the 2021 Legislature — and what they will mean for policing in Washington. Our guests are Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) Interim Executive Director Monica Alexander, and WA Fraternal Order… Continue reading Inside Olympia – Police Reform
Inside Olympia – May 13, 2021
Policing was the topic behind many contentious debates during the 2021 legislative session. Democrats, who control both House and Senate, pushed through a package of police reform and accountability proposals they say will make communities safer and cut down on deadly encounters between police… Continue reading Inside Olympia – Police Reform
(Photo credit Washington State Patrol)
In February, in a 5-4 decision in the “Blake” case, the WA Supreme Court struck down the state’s felony drug possession law, thereby decriminalizing drug possession. The majority found the law unconstitutional, because it didn’t require prosecutors to prove a person intended to possess drugs.… Continue reading Inside Olympia — Drug Possession
April 29, 2021
The 2021 Legislature adjourned on Sunday, April 25th. Majority Democrats, who control both House and Senate, and minority Republicans give vastly different reviews of the session.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig of Spokane and Democratic House Speaker Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma call the session historic,… Continue reading Inside Olympia – Legislative Leaders
