NEWS
(OLYMPIA)– Gov. Bob Ferguson has named Matt Ransom of Camas and Gael Tarleton of Seattle to the Washington State Transportation Commission, filling two open seats reserved for representatives west of the Cascade Mountains. Their terms began on Oct. 17 and continue until June 30, 2031, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. Ransom serves as the executive director of the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council and brings more than 25 years of experience in local and regional government. He has overseen projects and initiatives for the city of Vancouver and C-TRAN, the transit service provider in southwest Washington. In (read more)
(SEDRO-WOOLLEY)- State Route 9 will remain closed between SR 20 and West State Street/Trail Road (milepost 55) in Sedro-Woolley, while repairs are made to a rail crossing signal box that was damaged in a crash Saturday, Nov. 1. The signals box, which facilitates safe operations of the railroad crossing, is owned by BNSF Railway. It was damaged beyond repair. The Washington State Department of Transportation also owns equipment that must be replaced and is coordinating this effort with BNSF. Crews also are making temporary adjustments to signal timing on SR 20 while the intersection is closed, according to a news release from WSDOT. (read more)
(OLYMPIA)- The GET Prepaid Tuition Plan reopened for its 26th enrollment year on Nov. 1, 2025. The annual enrollment period runs through May 2026, giving families another opportunity to begin saving for future education and career training costs. The GET unit purchase price for the 2025-26 enrollment year is $123.76, which is the same price savers enjoyed in 2024-25. While the purchase price remains unchanged, GET units are currently valued at $127.85 each, based on University of Washington tuition. This marks the first time in program history that units are being offered at a discount to current tuition rates, according to a news release (read more)
(OLYMPIA)- The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), in consultation with the Office of the Governor, has named fourteen education leaders from around the state to serve on the new Washington Completes FAFSA advisory board. Board members will work with WSAC to increase the number of Washington students who complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during their senior year of high school, according to a news release from WSAC. The board will hold its first meeting on Nov. 7 in Olympia. (read more)
(SKAGIT COUNTY)- North Star will host a joint meeting on Thursday, November 6th, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Skagit County Public Health with the Skagit Board of County Commissioners, Mayors, and City Councils of the cities of Mount Vernon, Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, and Anacortes. The meeting is open to the public and will be available to join via Zoom at the link on the Commissioners’ website, according to a news release. The meeting will be hosted in the Skagit County Public Health Chinook Room at 301 Valley Mall Way, Suite 110, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. There will be an opportunity for public (read more)