Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) urged transportation agencies in Washington state to apply for recently announced Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grants. The grants available, totaling $500 million, are awarded on a competitive basis, and will support critical investments in roads and bridges, public transit, freight and passenger rail, and ports. TIGER is a unique, cost-effective program that helps state and local agencies tackle complex transportation and economic development challenges in their communities.

Student teams at Washington State University, in Pullman and Gonzaga University, in Spokane will receive the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s latest People, Prosperity and Planet grant awards of up to $15,000 to develop sustainability projects to improve energy conservation and wildfire resistance. The WSU and Gonzaga student teams are among 38 winning teams across the U.S. to compete and win the “P3” sustainability grants.

The Palouse-Rock Lake Conservation District is being recognized for leadership in making on-the-ground improvements that benefit healthy farms and protect clean water.

A strategy to boost water supplies for fish, irrigators and domestic users is being advanced by the Icicle Creek Work Group after months of negotiations and collaboration

Attorney General Bob Ferguson prevailed today in his lawsuit against a California company that scammed new property owners into buying overpriced deeds

Following an announcement that the REC Silicon plant in Moses Lake will shut down production, U.S. Senators Murray and Cantwell, and U.S. Congressman Dan Newhouse (WA-04), today called on trade representatives to end the solar trade war between the U.S. and China.

Global real estate investment and services company Kennedy Wilson has named Cathy Leap as senior managing director of property services for the Pacific Northwest region. Leap, who brings more than 20 years of property management and commercial real estate experience to the position, has relocated to the firm’s Seattle office.

 Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced Washington homeowners will recover $1 million, as part of a $470 million agreement secured for homeowners nationwide through a state-federal legal action against mortgage lender and servicer HSBC.

Councilmember Sally Bagshaw will host a roundtable discussion with homeless advocates on Friday morning to hear their experiences and reactions to the State of Civil Emergency relating to homelessness. Recently, the Council dedicated $7.5 million in one-time funds for homeless response, on top of the $40.5 million in ongoing funding

The Department of Ecology today released a new draft clean water rule (also known as the fish consumption rule) that contains a more protective cancer risk rate, in keeping with the governor’s directive from October 2015.

Continuing a 35-year history of public investment in affordable housing, today Mayor Ed Murray announced his proposal to replace and expand the expiring Seattle Housing Levy with a new 7-year ballot measure that would invest $290 million to preserve and produce affordable housing. The Mayor is seeking public input on the initial proposal and will transmit a recommendation to City Council in early March.

The Clark County Commission on Aging is focusing this year on housing, especially for people 50 and older. Research reveals that 87 percent of people prefer to retire in place and will need accessible, affordable housing. Whether housing is a multi- or single-family dwelling or in an urban, suburban or rural area, most homes will need to be retrofitted or remodeled for people’s changing needs. For some people, building a new home tailored to their evolving needs is an option.

Mayor Ed Murray and over 1,000 volunteers spent the early hours of Friday participating in the One Night Count to survey Seattle and King County, estimating how many people were sleeping outside, in tents and vehicles, without access to shelter.

The City Council was briefed Monday on two affordable housing projects being reviewed for funding by local cities through A Regional Coalition for Housing, or "ARCH," Trust Fund Process. During the presentation councilmembers voiced their support for two local projects; Imagine Housing Totem Lake senior apartments and Imagine Housing at St. Luke's in Bellevue. A vote on the $120,000 in funds requested by ARCH to support both projects is expected in February.

On Feb. 3, 7-9 p.m., Bellevue's Cultural Conversations team will host a special community-wide presentation in City Hall's council chambers (450 110th Ave NE), exploring what it means for both newcomers and long-time residents to "feel at home" in our community. The evening will offer participants an opportunity to get fresh perspectives on living in Bellevue, build new community connections and increase their cultural understanding.

The project includes building acceleration lanes on Padden Parkway to improve safety by giving vehicles entering from Northeast 94th Avenue room to speed up before merging. Deceleration lanes also will be added or improved on Padden Parkway to provide room for vehicles to slow down before turning right onto Northeast 94th Avenue.

Councilmember Lisa Herbold issued the following statement following Council's amending and ratification of Mayor Ed Murray's Order of Civil Emergency relating to creating safe parking lots for people using vehicles as residences

In response to the continued crisis of homelessness on the streets of Seattle, Mayor Ed Murray issued anemergency order to expedite the siting of two safe lots in Ballard and Delridge for homeless individuals and families living in recreational vehicles and cars.

Councilmember Lisa Herbold issued the following statement following this morning's briefing on encampment removals from the Mayor's office, Human Services Department, and Office of Finance and Administrative Services

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray formed a Fair Chance Housing committee to reduce barriers to housing for people with criminal records. The committee will work to develop proposals that address rental housing discrimination, provide wider access to rental assistance and increase enforcement of Seattle fair housing ordinances