OLYMPIA — Republican senators pitched their own ideas to address Washington state’s homelessness crisis following the supplemental budgets unveiled by Democratic lawmakers this week.

SUNNYSIDE — The City Council gave City Manager Martin Casey an “over-all satisfactory and above average approval” rating after reviewing his first year as the city’s top administrator.

OLYMPIA — Sen. Jim Honeyford’s (R-Sunnyside) proposal to establish a Community Aviation Revitalization Board has passed the state Senate again. The senators voted Friday to formally create a program that will help smaller, regional airports operate in the black.

OLYMPIA — A bill requiring the Secretary of State’s office to send statewide voters’ pamphlets along with election ballots to deployed military service members passed the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

OLYMPIA — A bill that will help preserve hospital services in the Yakima Valley in the aftermath of the closure of Astria Medical Center in Yakima was promoted by State Rep. Jeremie Dufault (Selah-R) testifying before the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday.

OLYMPIA — The death penalty would no longer be a sentencing option in Washington state if lawmakers enact a bill passed by the Senate on Friday, Jan. 31.