Investigations WA homeless youth program closes after contractor ‘misspent’ $330K Officials ordered a lobbying firm to pay back money meant for a state-funded Lifeline pilot hotline that connects at-risk young people to services. by Elizabeth Whitman / April 16, 2024
Investigations WA’s $5M youth homelessness effort is ramping up. Is it working? Though the funds helped dozens of young people secure housing, delays and slow spending stalled some programs in their first year. by Elizabeth Whitman Youth Today / August 15, 2023
Investigations ‘Home was never a place’: One woman’s life in WA foster care Now 30, Janell Braxton says she continues to reckon with the separations and instability stemming from her time in the foster system. by Elizabeth Whitman & Sam Leeds Youth Today / November 21, 2023
Investigations Researchers team up with court staff to help WA homeless youth H-SYNC — Housing Stability for Youth in Courts — has piloted using evidence-based surveys to identify teenagers in need of support services. by Elizabeth Whitman & Sam Leeds Youth Today / November 14, 2023
Investigations Washington’s new youth homelessness ‘Lifeline’ service lags The $750,000 pilot program has struggled to meet promises after state officials chose a lobbying firm to build the hotline service from scratch. by Elizabeth Whitman & Sam Leeds Youth Today / October 25, 2023
Investigations Podcast | It’s a Youth Today News takeover The third episode of the investigative series co-produced with Crosscut focuses on one woman’s experience with foster care and homelessness in WA. by Elizabeth Whitman / January 3, 2024
Politics 'Free' casino apps prey on addiction, users say, and WA lawmakers are considering a crackdown Several ongoing lawsuits allege that mobile casino games, as well as games that let players buy ‘loot boxes,’ amount to illegal online gambling. by Melissa Santos / February 7, 2020
Politics Iowa caucus chaos has Washington Democrats feeling 'brilliant' for switching to a primary For the first time this year, the state's Democrats won't use neighborhood caucus meetings to help choose a presidential nominee. by Melissa Santos / February 4, 2020 / Updated 1:08 p.m., Feb. 5, 2020
Politics State proposal would let King County tax large businesses to pay for homelessness and housing The measure, aimed at companies with highly paid workers, could allow the county to raise up to $120 million a year. by Melissa Santos & David Kroman / January 29, 2020 / Updated Jan. 29 at 5:58 pm
Politics 'It's a fairness thing': Testing positive for pot wouldn't disqualify you from most WA jobs under new bill Weed use has been legal in Washington state since 2012, but so has refusing to hire adults who lawfully consume the drug. by Melissa Santos / January 29, 2020