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Reposted by @investigatewest.bsky.social

Bolts @boltsmag.org · 05/10/2026

Washington’s governor has denied every clemency petition he has received, InvestigateWest reports:

investigatewest.org

Washington governor faces criticism for clemency denials

Gov. Bob Ferguson has rejected everyone the state board recommended for commutation

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Because of Idaho's women's prison overcrowding, some women can’t access the programming required of them to make parole - and end up incarcerated longer, even when a state commission has decided they're otherwise fit for parole. @wbryen.bsky.social reports - www.investigatewest.org/prison-overc...

investigatewest.org

Idaho’s women’s prison overcrowding is fueling parole delays

State agencies don’t know how many inmates face more prison time because they couldn’t access programs prescribed by parole commissioners

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Reposted by @investigatewest.bsky.social

Wilson Criscione @wilsonc.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

How Rob Curley’s plan to make the Spokesman-Review ‘The People’s Paper’ ended in a newsroom revolt (Reported in collaboration with RANGE) www.investigatewest.org/rob-curley-s...

investigatewest.org

How Rob Curley lost the Spokesman-Review newsroom

Newsroom staffers tell InvestigateWest and RANGE that concerns about Curley’s leadership festered until his August suspension — weeks before the paper was set to transfer to his nonprofit

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Reposted by @investigatewest.bsky.social

RANGE Media @rangemedia.co · 02/10/2026

How Rob Curley’s plan to make the Spokesman-Review ‘The People’s Paper’ ended in a newsroom revolt: Newsroom staffers tell @investigatewest.bsky.social and RANGE concerns about Curley’s leadership festered until his August suspension — weeks before the paper was set to transfer to his nonprofit.

rangemedia.co

How Rob Curley’s plan to make the Spokesman-Review ‘The People’s Paper’ ended in a newsroom revolt

Newsroom staffers tell InvestigateWest and RANGE that concerns about Curley’s leadership festered until his August suspension — weeks before the paper was set to transfer to his nonprofit

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Come join our team! InvestigateWest is hiring for two positions: a one-year reporting position with @opencampus.org to report on community colleges, and a full-time audience engagement manager. www.investigatewest.org/careersandin...

investigatewest.org

Work with Us

Job Openings: * Audience Engagement Manager * InvestigateWest/Open Campus Investigative Reporter Internships InvestigateWest typically hosts one or two interns each quarter. Prospective inte...

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

An Oregon Christian ranch has welcomed hundreds seeking relief from addiction, shelter from domestic violence or a fresh start after an arrest. While some say the ranch helped them heal, former residents want the place shut down: www.investigatewest.org/oregon-chris...

investigatewest.org

Former residents of Oregon Christian ranch call for closure

The board of 5Rock Ranch nearly shut it down more than a decade ago, but former residents say harmful practices continue

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A Washington appellate court recently found that APS can't be sued for negligence over its response to reports that an elderly man was being financially exploited because state law doesn't actually require it to investigate abuse reports. www.investigatewest.org/washington-i...

investigatewest.org

Washington is fighting to limit its duty to protect vulnerable adults

At the same time, Adult Protective Services workers say they’re under growing pressure to close investigations quickly.

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Since Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson took office in January 2025, a board he appointed has recommended early release for 15 of the 23 people who received commutation hearings. The governor hasn’t approved a single one. www.investigatewest.org/washington-g...

investigatewest.org

Washington governor faces criticism for clemency denials

Gov. Bob Ferguson has rejected everyone the state board recommended for commutation

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Current and former investigators for Washington's Adult Protective Services worry that the agency’s focus on closing cases could leave more vulnerable adults without meaningful protection - www.investigatewest.org/washington-i...

investigatewest.org

Washington is fighting to limit its duty to protect vulnerable adults

At the same time, Adult Protective Services workers say they’re under growing pressure to close investigations quickly.

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

A court said WA Adult Protective Services isn't required to investigate reported abuse of vulnerable adults. If applied more broadly, the ruling could limit legal recourse against APS. It comes as investigators say they're pressured to quickly close cases: www.investigatewest.org/washington-i...

investigatewest.org

Washington is fighting to limit its duty to protect vulnerable adults

At the same time, Adult Protective Services workers say they’re under growing pressure to close investigations quickly.

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Rural communities have had the highest rates of foster care placement in Oregon. Experts and advocates say there aren't enough mental health, financial aid and childcare services to help keep kids in their homes: www.investigatewest.org/oregons-rur…

investigatewest.org

Kids in rural Oregon are more likely to enter foster care

Advocates and experts say that reflects the challenges rural families have getting health and social safety net services

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Kids in Oregon’s rural counties are more likely to spend at least one day in the foster care system than those living in urban areas. That, in part, reflects challenges that rural families have in getting services that help keep kids out of the system: www.investigatewest.org/oregons-rura...

investigatewest.org

Kids in rural Oregon are more likely to enter foster care

Advocates and experts say that reflects the challenges rural families have getting health and social safety net services

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The Edmonds school board said they're limited in the action they can take against the principal, who critics say failed to act on years of complaints about a special education teacher's allegedly inappropriate behavior with kids. www.investigatewest.org/edmonds-scho...

investigatewest.org

Edmonds gives new contract to principal amid public concerns

The school board said state law limits the district from taking action against the former principal, despite community demands to fire him.

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

In 2021, Washington lawmakers passed a law aimed at keeping problem officers out of law enforcement. But we found police agencies have kept hiring cops accused of serious misconduct, who often manage to avoid a state investigation altogether. www.investigatewest.org/a-2021-law-e...

investigatewest.org

WA cops accused of misconduct evade decertification law

An InvestigateWest review shows how Washington police agencies keep hiring cops accused of serious misconduct

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

A federal judge dismissed an Idaho nonprofit’s lawsuit claiming that a state agency violated the First Amendment by revoking funding in retaliation for speaking to reporters. www.investigatewest.org/judge-dismis...

investigatewest.org

Judge grants Idaho agency immunity in free speech lawsuit

An Idaho nonprofit sued the state claiming its funding was pulled for talking to InvestigateWest; a federal judge tossed the case

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Emails show how an Idaho county probation department is helping ICE - including by combing through its case files to create a "foreign born list" containing the names of 82 probationers. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-county...

investigatewest.org

Idaho probation office compiles ‘foreign born list’ for ICE

Emails show how Canyon County probation officers are helping immigration authorities — including making a list of foreign-born individuals

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A federal judge dismissed an Idaho nonprofit’s lawsuit claiming that a state agency violated the First Amendment by revoking funding in retaliation for speaking to reporters - www.investigatewest.org/judge-dismis...

investigatewest.org

Judge grants Idaho agency immunity in free speech lawsuit

An Idaho nonprofit sued the state claiming its funding was pulled for talking to InvestigateWest; a federal judge tossed the case

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Washington agencies have kept hiring cops accused of serious misconduct - and many manage to avoid a state investigation altogether. It raises questions about whether a 2021 law does enough to keep problem officers out of law enforcement: www.investigatewest.org/a-2021-law-e...

investigatewest.org

WA cops accused of misconduct evade decertification law

An InvestigateWest review shows how Washington police agencies keep hiring cops accused of serious misconduct

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

An Oregon woman got 10 years in prison for her baby's death. She opened up in court about alleged domestic violence by the baby's father: “There had been numerous times I thought he would kill me, and after a while, I gave up trying to leave.” www.investigatewest.org/oregon-woman...

investigatewest.org

Oregon woman sentenced to 10 years for baby's death

A judge said the alleged domestic violence Deborah Albin experienced did not meet Oregon law’s strict criteria to avoid a mandatory-minimum sentence

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Tribal police departments make up a small fraction of Washington’s law enforcement workforce, but they are a disproportionately common landing place for officers who’ve been fired elsewhere. www.investigatewest.org/fired-office...

investigatewest.org

Washington tribal police hire fired officers at outsized rates

Tribal police in Washington hire officers fired elsewhere at a rate four times higher than their share of the workforce

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

States like New York and Oklahoma allow judges to reduce sentences based on how domestic violence played a role in a crime. But Oregon's efforts to pass such a law have hit political roadblocks: www.investigatewest.org/why-sentenci...

investigatewest.org

Why an Oregon reform to help DV survivors keeps failing

Advocates are pushing for a survivor justice law like those in other states, but a two-thirds legislative majority presents a major hurdle

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Advocates want Oregon courts to weigh how domestic violence pushes people into the criminal justice system. But a sentencing reform bill has hit roadblocks, year after year: www.investigatewest.org/why-sentenci...

investigatewest.org

Why an Oregon reform to help DV survivors keeps failing

Advocates are pushing for a survivor justice law like those in other states, but a two-thirds legislative majority presents a major hurdle

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Our reporting helped expose gaps allowing teachers accused of misconduct to quietly resign and move on to other jobs. Now Washington's K-12 oversight agency is proposing new policy changes: www.investigatewest.org/washington-s...

investigatewest.org

WA schools chief eyes changes to sexual misconduct response

The changes, which would expand the state’s investigatory abilities, still need approval from the governor-appointed Professional Educator Standards Board

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

A Kalispel Tribal Police detective was fired in 2021 after lying about an arrest. He'd been fired at least twice before. Tribal agencies are a fraction of Washington’s police workforce, but a disproportionately common landing place for fired officers - www.investigatewest.org/fired-office...

investigatewest.org

Washington tribal police hire fired officers at outsized rates

Tribal police in Washington hire officers fired elsewhere at a rate four times higher than their share of the workforce

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Records show administrators left a Washington teacher in an elementary school classroom, despite repeated concerns about his inappropriate behavior with students. Then a girl says she was assaulted: www.investigatewest.org/before-a-stu...

investigatewest.org

Edmonds schools received warnings before alleged sexual assault

Records show administrators left a teacher in an elementary school classroom despite repeated concerns about his inappropriate behavior with students

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

The judge said he was the type of defendant who would "typically get probation." But the judge sentenced him to prison instead - citing his immigration status. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-suprem...

investigatewest.org

Idaho judges can consider immigration in probation decisions

Some immigration attorneys and scholars worry the ruling will make it harder for undocumented people to get probation

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Rachel Spacek @rachelspacek.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Jesus Agustin Perez Garcia was a defendant who would "typically get probation," according to the judge in his drug case. But he didn't, in part, because of his immigration status. And the Idaho Supreme Court weighed in. Read my latest for @investigatewest.bsky.social

investigatewest.org

Idaho judges can consider immigration in probation decisions

Some immigration attorneys and scholars worry the ruling will make it harder for undocumented people to get probation

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Immigration and criminal defense attorneys worry the decision will make it more difficult for people who are not U.S. citizens to get probation — and easier for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport them once in custody. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-suprem...

investigatewest.org

Idaho judges can consider immigration in probation decisions

Some immigration attorneys and scholars worry the ruling will make it harder for undocumented people to get probation

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Reposted by @investigatewest.bsky.social

Jacob Jones @jonesdaily.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

How a data leak unmasked an Idaho state employee raising thousands of dollars a month in subscriptions by anonymously promoting pro-Russian commentary, white nationalists and Nazi memes. My new story for @investigatewest.bsky.social: www.investigatewest.org/idaho-labor-...

investigatewest.org

Idaho labor economist ran far-right online accounts

Sam Wolkenhauer ran anonymous accounts that generated thousands of dollars in subscriptions while posting pro-Russian commentary, slurs and Nazi imagery

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Eight states provide a domestic violence defense to parents accused of failing to protect their children from abuse. Some experts say the defenses can be a legal lifeline for DV survivors: www.investigatewest.org/domestic-vio...

investigatewest.org

Some states protect DV defense in ‘failure to protect’ cases

Parents in eight states can be acquitted if they can show “reasonable fear” of escalating violence

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

An Idaho labor economist's anonymous accounts generated thousands of dollars in subscriptions while posting pro-Russian commentary, slurs and Nazi imagery: www.investigatewest.org/idaho-labor-...

investigatewest.org

Idaho labor economist ran far-right online accounts

Sam Wolkenhauer ran anonymous accounts that generated thousands of dollars in subscriptions while posting pro-Russian commentary, slurs and Nazi imagery

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

As Idaho grows, ambulance agencies warn they need more money to keep up. But lawmakers have turned down bills that would fund emergency medical services. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-ambula...

investigatewest.org

Understaffed paramedic agencies say Idaho should fund EMS

State lawmakers wary of government spending have turned down bills to fund emergency medical services

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

As Washington reduces public defender caseloads, prosecutors say that's forced difficult charging decisions. In Spokane, 130 felony domestic violence cases referred by law enforcement from Jan 2025 - May 2026 were declined for prosecution: www.investigatewest.org/spokane-pros...

investigatewest.org

Spokane prosecutor declines more domestic violence charges

As Washington reduces public defender caseloads, prosecutors say that's forced difficult charging decisions

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

While the dollars will cushion hospitals before sweeping Medicaid changes take effect in January, hospital leaders remain concerned it won’t be enough to prevent further erosion to rural maternal healthcare in coming years. www.investigatewest.org/oregon-rural...

investigatewest.org

Oregon rural hospitals to get $37 million for maternity care

The state announced the new assistance as federal Medicaid cuts are expected to reduce Oregon’s program by $11 billion over five years

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Shoreline Community College failed to ask job applicants like Everett High teacher Kevin Kukla if they had ever been under investigation for sexual misconduct. Now the college is updating its hiring rules. www.investigatewest.org/shoreline-co...

investigatewest.org

WA college flouted 2020 sex misconduct disclosure law

The president of the college said in an email that they are updating their policies following an investigation into former Everett high school teacher

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investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

An Oregon jury convicted a Corvallis mother of manslaughter and other charges in her infant daughter’s death, without hearing most of the evidence that she had also allegedly been abused by the baby’s father. www.investigatewest.org/jury-finds-o...

investigatewest.org

Jury finds Oregon mother deprived infant daughter of lifesaving care, protection from abuse

Conviction shows how Oregon law holds parents to the same standards as those in states that explicitly criminalize failure to protect children from abuse

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