(The Center Square) – Retired police officers and firefighters in Washington are suing the state, trying to block an attempt to access their pension fund that the legislature wants to use to offset ongoing budget shortfalls. The mostly retired first responders, members of the LEOFF-1 pension program for law enforcement officers and firefighters, argue the move leaves their pension fund vulnerable, and they believe the legislature’s actions are unconstitutional. Backers of the legislation say the
(The Center Square) – The chic Columbia Tower Club in Seattle has shut down after 41 years, another negative development for a downtown that has struggled in recent years with fewer office workers and retail store closures. Several banquets on Thursday night were the closing menu for the club on the 75th and 76th floors, with breathtaking views of Elliott Bay and the city’s skyline. The restaurant and bar area, where thousands of business deals
(The Center Square) – On Friday, the second lawsuit against the new sheriff decertification bill that took effect in part on Thursday received a motion hearing before the same Thurston County Superior Court judge who granted a motion for a preliminary injunction in a similar lawsuit two days prior. And like in the Wednesday case, the judge sided with the plaintiffs, who received a preliminary injunction blocking the main parts of the new law. Friday’s
(The Center Square) – A national parental rights and education watchdog group has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the University of Washington for “forcing” women to use bathrooms with men. Defending Education sent the 11-page complaint to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights on Thursday. The central claim alleges the university is violating Title IX protections for women by refusing to give female students access to single-sex spaces, such as
