SUGGESTED LEAD: A House committee has approved a bill that would help essential workers achieve home ownership in Washington state. John Sattgast reports.

SATTGAST: (:39) It’s called the “Homes for Heroes” program. Kennewick Republican Representative April Connors is the prime sponsor. 

CONNORS: (:09) “And it is a down payment assistance program for law enforcement officers, health care workers, and social workers – those kind of folks that need help getting into our communities.”

SATTGAST: Veterans and active-duty service members would also be eligible to participate.
 
CONNORS: (:10) “It is for lower-level paid workers that are coming in and they do have to pay it back if they sell their house, if they refinance their house, if they rent their house, the money goes back to the state of Washington.”

SATTGAST: House Bill 1022 passed the House Housing Committee on Thursday. It has the support of Governor Bob Ferguson. John Sattgast, the state Capitol.

01-19-25 - RADIO REPORT: Connors' 'Home for Heroes' bill wins House committee approval

Reps. Hunter Abell and Rep. Andrew Engell join Sen. Shelly Short for a 2025 session review with Tracy Ellis on KOMW radio. They discuss their priorities, wolf bills, the budget shortfall, public safety, housing, and more!

01-20-25 - RADIO: 7th District lawmakers join Tracy Ellis on KOMW’s “Live From Olympia” weekly show.

A look ahead at the week's events at the Washington State Capitol from Washington House Republicans.

03-14-25 - Capitol Calendar (For March 17-21)

Five 17-year-old juvenile inmates were charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 17-year-old Christopher Peterman during Memorial Day 1982 in the Ada County Jail in Boise, Idaho. Peterman was jailed for failure to pay about $65 in traffic fines. The suspects included Richard B. Engie, Andy D. Anderson, Randall McKeown, Sean Matthews and Joseph Khran.  KIDO's John Sattgast covered the murder trial of Sean Matthews and has this report.

March 1983 - KIDO VOICER: Sean Matthews convicted of killing cellmate in the Ada County Jail, Boise

In the wake of a record number of children dying under the watch of the Department of Children, Youth and Families, Rep. Jim Walsh told KIRO's John Curley legislation he proposed in 2023 would have placed more safeguards on the return of children to troubled parents. House Bill 1397, known as the Oakley Carlson Act, was named for a six-year-old girl returned to her parents from foster care and has been missing since February 2021. The bill did not make it out of a House committee. 

Walsh was critical of "Keeping Families Together" legislation that went into effect in 2023 that reduced restrictions against returning children to their biological parents -- even if the parents are struggling for drug abuse or other issues that could put the children in harm's way.

06-02-25 - RADIO: Rep. Walsh discusses Oakley Carlson Act with KIRO's John Curley

This is the official SoundCloud account of the Washington State House Republicans in Olympia, Washington. (www.houserepublicans.wa.gov)

06-02-25 - RADIO: Rep. Walsh discusses Oakley Carlson Act with KIRO's John Curley

Wash. House Republicans

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