Equity State Patrol under pressure to examine bias in traffic stops following investigation Officials have not filed a report since 2009 that examines the race and ethnicity of drivers who troopers stop and search. by Jason Buch InvestigateWest / January 28, 2020
Equity Foster parents say ‘retaliation’ by caseworkers means fewer families to help kids in need Records portray a culture of fear, even as Washington state attempts to respond to a flood of new cases. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / January 15, 2020
Equity Native American drivers are more likely to be searched by Washington State Patrol While the searches occur at five times the rate for white drivers, they are less likely to turn up drugs or other contraband. by Jason Buch & Joy Borkholder Investigate West / December 19, 2019
Politics Racial bias study for WA State Patrol could resume after 13 years House budget has $50,000 to fund a collaboration between State Patrol and WSU to analyze traffic stops for evidence of bias. by Jason Buch InvestigateWest / March 6, 2020
Politics New WA state budget won’t solve problem of foster kids in crisis The state Legislature approved nearly $16 million in new funding last week, but the effort may come up short in fixing an overwhelmed system. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / March 19, 2020
Politics WA commits $50K to investigate bias in State Patrol stops Decision comes in the wake of revelations that Washington State Patrol troopers search people of color at far higher rates than whites. by Jason Buch InvestigateWest / March 16, 2020
News Efforts to bring COVID-19 relief to undocumented workers gain traction While people without legal immigration status pay into unemployment insurance, they don't benefit. by Jason Buch InvestigateWest / June 23, 2020 / Updated on June 24 at 6 p.m.
News WA advocates call for freezing foster care ‘age-out’ during pandemic Young adults aging out of foster care face unique challenges in normal times, say advocates. Now, they face even greater risks. by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / June 3, 2020
News Birth parents fight to visit kids in foster system during pandemic Seeing their children in person may put parents, as well as foster families and social workers, at risk, but can the state stop them? by Rachel Nielsen InvestigateWest / April 22, 2020 / Updated on Friday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m.
Equity Recent protests revive push for WA to speed up police reform Nearly two years after voters approved I-940, training lags while investigations into police-involved killings face scrutiny. by Jason Buch InvestigateWest / August 25, 2020