WA defends choice, '26 World Cup, Dolly Parton



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Washington leaders defend abortion access

Photos from bill signing; left shows Gov Inslee signing a bill and right photo shows AG Ferguson speaking at podium

Gov. Jay Inslee signed a slate of pro-choice bills in April to protect Washingtonians from out-of-state actors wisdhing to obstruct choice and sell sensitive health data. This month, Attorney General Bob Ferguson joined other states in supporting a legal challenge against an extreme Idaho law that limits care beyond state borders.

Post-Roe, Washington has emerged as a leading state in the fight for abortion access. Just one state over, Idaho?s conservative legislature is passing extreme and unconstitutional bills to contain residents [ [link removed] ] to halt access to reproductive health care.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson this week joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general to file an amicus brief [ [link removed] ] repudiating the Idaho law. Per the brief [ [link removed] ], the law violates the sovereignty of states that protect the right of choice, criminalizes lawful travel, forces patients out-of-state for care, and chills doctors from providing vital information to their patients.

?Washington vigorously supports those challenging Idaho?s patently cruel and unconstitutional law restricting travel for abortions,? said Inslee. ?This law places Idahoan youth in grave danger, and unlawfully infringes on every person?s First Amendment rights to free speech and to travel freely between states? borders.?

?The Constitution protects the individual right to travel between states, and Idaho?s radical Legislature cannot abolish that right,? said Ferguson.

Since the law passed, Planned Parenthood clinics in Washington state have seen a surge in patients [ [link removed] ] from Idaho. Doctors are fleeing the state [ [link removed] ] and delivery wards are closing, forcing women on the run just to see a doctor for potentially life-saving care.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked [ [link removed] ] prosecution of Idaho doctors for referring patients out-of-state for abortions.

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Washington will welcome millions for World Cup

Gov. Jay Inslee holds up the 2026 FIFA World Cup flag to celebrate Seattle?s selection as a host city.

Gov. Jay Inslee and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, surrounded by the SEA 2026 executive committee and professional soccer players, hold up the 2026 FIFA World Cup flag to celebrate Seattle?s selection as a host city.

Two million people enjoy Seattle?s annual Seafair every summer. More than 144,000 Taylor Swift fans just ?shook it off? so hard they caused measurable seismic activity. Another 150,000 visitors came to see baseball?s best during the MLB All-Star week.

Seattle fans show up, and they rock the house. In 2026, downtown will roar even louder.

Seattle was selected last year as a host city for a leg of the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament. As many as 750,000 visitors and over $500 million in revenues might be expected. Millions more will watch on television. The event promises to be a true international spectacle.

The tournament?s positive effects go beyond hospitality revenues. The Seattle Sounders have committed to build 26 new community playfields across the region by the time the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins. The state is chipping in, too ? included in the state?s capital budget this year were funds for playfields, stadiums, and pools across the state. In just a few years, those new playfields will be full of kids inspired by international superstars visiting their home city.

Seattle has initiated a rocket-powered post-pandemic tourism rebound by attracting some of the largest events in North America. ?Swifties,? Seafair-goers, and soccer fans agree ? Seattle?s hot streak is a wonderful thing.

Read the full story on Gov. Jay Inslee?s Medium. [ [link removed] ]





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News you might have missed:

University of Washington votes to join Big Ten Conference

Earlier today, University of Washington officials?announced [ [link removed] ]?that the school would leave the Pac-12 conference and join the Big Ten conference in 2024. "There?s reason to be mournful & wistful about the loss of this century-old Pacific coast conference," said Inslee. "But I am pleased UW committed to maintaining the Apple Cup tradition of spirited rivalry between our two great Washington schools. This tradition is close to the hearts of so many Washingtonians, including Trudi and myself. Go, Cougs! Go, Dawgs!"

Dolly Parton to visit Washington state

Country music icon Dolly Parton launched her Imagination Library program in her home state of Tennessee in 1995, mailing books to kids living in Sevier County. Now, it?s worldwide. A Washington state program launched last year to mail books to kids in each of the state?s 39 counties. Parton will visit Washington state [ [link removed] ] on Aug. 15 to celebrate the program?s distribution of 1.6 million books to 65,000 Washington children to date.

EVs selling well in Washington

One in six cars sold [ [link removed] ] in Washington state is now electric. According to the Electric Power Research Institute, EVs are sold twice as often statewide compared to nationwide. Thanks to generous tax credits and cheap, abundant power, more Washingtonians are finding that buying and charging an electric car is economical.

State Patrol launches hit-and-run media alert

The Washington State Patrol saw more than 300 injurious hit-and-run incidents last year. They?ve just launched a new system [ [link removed] ] to catch more perpetrators. When a hit-and-run causes serious injury, an alert with descriptive information of the suspect may be released to a subscriber list of media. By getting the word out faster, WSP intends to hold reckless drivers to account.








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