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[un]Divided: Washington leaders sign Future 42 pledge to tackle homelessness

[un]Divided: Washington leaders sign Future 42 pledge to tackle homelessness

Elected leaders from across Washington are signing onto Future 42’s “Real Solutions to Homelessness Pledge.” Nate Nehring, head of Future 42’s efforts in Snohomish County, joined unDivided with Brandi Kruse to discuss. Watch unDivided five days a week and support the show at unDividedPod.com.

By Brandi Kruse

[un]Divided: State audit flags $1.17B in mishandled spending

[un]Divided: State audit flags $1.17B in mishandled spending

The Washington State Auditor’s Office found that 11 different state agencies failed to properly account for at least $1.17 billion in federal funds administered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch unDivided with Brandi Kruse five days a week and subscribe to support the show at unDividedPod.com.

By Brandi Kruse

[un]Divided: Black-owned coffee shop says taxes are crushing them

[un]Divided: Black-owned coffee shop says taxes are crushing them

The owners of a Seattle coffee shop said in a Facebook post that taxes and regulations are leaving them in a “huge hole.” Brandi Kruse breaks down how the business environment in Washington state got so bad. Watch unDivided four days a week and subscribe to support the show at unDividedPod.com.

By Brandi Kruse

Police pursuit finally restored in Washington

Police pursuit finally restored in Washington

Last year, millions of signatures were collected on six, citizen-led initiatives, forcing lawmakers to consider these issues during their legislative session earlier this year.  Despite being required to make them a top priority, they wanted nothing more than to pretend they didn’t exist. They went weeks without giving any of them so much as a...

[un]Divided: Thanks to voters, police officers can pursue criminals again

[un]Divided: Thanks to voters, police officers can pursue criminals again

An initiative to restore reasonable police pursuits became law on Thursday, thanks to more than 400,000 Washington voters – from across the political spectrum – who demanded a change. As Brandi Kruse reports on the unDivided Podcast, some of the state’s largest law enforcement agencies say they are expecting the new law to help reduce crime.

By Brandi Kruse

[un]Divided: Asylum seekers strain already dismal homeless response

[un]Divided: Asylum seekers strain already dismal homeless response

Cities around Seattle are being hit with an influx of asylum seekers, but no one seems quite sure where they are supposed to go. The ordeal has placed a strain on an already faltering homelessness response in King County and beyond. Brandi Kruse has more on the unDivided Podcast.

By Brandi Kruse

[un]Divided: Pierce County must avoid King County’s mistakes on homelessness

[un]Divided: Pierce County must avoid King County’s mistakes on homelessness

Despite crafting a regional response to address the homeless crisis, 23% more people are living on the streets of King County today than in 2022. As Pierce County works to set up its own regional response, leaders would be wise to look to Seattle for a lesson on what not to do.

By Brandi Kruse

[un]Divided: Are soft-on-crime policies leading to vigilantism?

[un]Divided: Are soft-on-crime policies leading to vigilantism?

Aaron Babcock owns a small car dealership in Eatonville, WA. He faces criminal charges for chasing a suspect who stole a truck off his lot – after police told him the law prevented them from pursuing. Brandi Kruse has more on the unDivided Podcast.

By Brandi Kruse

How Whatcom County legislators voted in 2024

How Whatcom County legislators voted in 2024

How did our state legislators vote this year?  Learn more in our Whatcom County 2024 Legislative Session Recap. The 60-day 2024 legislative session adjourned on March 7. Legislators debated several important bills during this year’s “short session” that lacked the biennial state budget present in odd-numbered years. Some of the critical policies considered included a plan...

Help Protect Snohomish County: Support Ordinance #24-011 Today

Help Protect Snohomish County: Support Ordinance #24-011 Today

Ordinance #24-011, mandating environmental testing for toxic drugs in county-owned homeless housing, is a crucial step toward ensuring the safety and well-being of residents, visitors and staff. The closure of multiple, county-owned facilities due to meth and fentanyl contamination serves as a stark warning of the risks posed by drug contamination. By implementing regular testing,...

Everett City Council considering tax increase while simultaneously increasing city expenses for taxpayers

Everett City Council considering tax increase while simultaneously increasing city expenses for taxpayers

At their April 24th and May 1st meetings, respectively, the Everett City Council will be discussing and taking action on a proposal to raise property taxes by over 5% through a ballot measure. This could raise over $13 million per year in an attempt to balance the city’s budget, which currently faces a deficit. This levy lid lift proposal is expected...