My last story published last week, as @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social sunsets its investigative team desk -- ending coverage of a company with egregious safety violations developing a $44 million Port of Longview project. One that's already had an excavator fall into a pond.https://bit.ly/4hf2Ey7

bit.ly/4hf2Ey7 A Vancouver company won't face charges after a teen lost both legs operating equipment minors can not use. The prosecutor cited inability to prove "culpable mental state" despite safety violations, including $264K in fines from @lniwa.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Old docs, big bucks: Retired doctors are making millions examining injured workers for WA's workers' comp system. @lniwa bit.ly/461jJHJ @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Retired doctors are making millions examining injured workers for WA's workers' comp system. Are elderly examiners fit for the job? One doctor billed @lniwa.bsky.social $690K in a single year. bit.ly/461jJHJ @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

The controversial Independent Medical Exam — assessments done by a third-party doctor to evaluate an injured worker’s recovery — carry significant weight. They can pause treatment or wage-replacement, and also determine the size of a settlement. @lniwa.bsky.social bit.ly/4mVbdQr

Independent medical exams — one of the most controversial parts of WA’s workers’ comp system — often favor employers, workers say. They’re designed to give injured workers a second opinion, but also can pause treatment or wage-replacement payments. bit.ly/4mVbdQr @cascadepbs.bsky.social

A 16-year-old lost both legs while on the job for Rotschy operating machinery prohibited for minors. Clark County Sheriff declined criminal investigation, citing lack of victim cooperation. bit.ly/41tx2y1 @cascadepbs.bsky.social

Federal cuts threaten 3 WA centers that protect workers in the most dangerous jobs and train safety experts. "If you have fewer trained professionals to protect workers...you're going to have more workers who are getting injured." bit.ly/3HbHJhP @uwsph.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Federal cuts to close 3 centers in WA that protect workers in the most dangerous jobs and train safety experts. "If you have fewer trained professionals to protect workers...you're going to have more workers who are getting injured." bit.ly/3HbHJhP @uwsph.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

"L&I is on the side of the employer:"When Leticia Maldonado Reyes’ workers’ compensation claim was challenged, she became homeless and eventually took her own life disillusioned with the system. Here’s her story and how a system designed to help injured workers—can fail them. bit.ly/4e7m1aF

"This was truly a preventable death — the risks were very clear." Questions remain nearly nine months after a Filipino seafarer drowned in the Columbia River. bit.ly/3SnJTwU

"This was truly a preventable death — the risks were very clear." Questions remain nearly nine months after a Filipino seafarer drowned in the Columbia River. bit.ly/3SnJTwU @BAYAN_USA @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social @cascadepbs.bsky.social

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbs.bsky.social

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Jokes aside, when child labor laws are ignored or weakly enforced, real harm is done to children. Youth employment has increased 46% in WA in the last 10 years and injuries and labor violations have also grown. This is the situation HB 1644 aims to correct. #waleg www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

After WA teen's severe injury, L&I can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks. @CascadePBSNews bit.ly/44hJJy4

Labor & Industries can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks. @CascadePBSNews bit.ly/44hJJy4

Transparency or privacy? L&I says the law protects witnesses, while advocates contend it prevents scrutiny of serious incidents and investigations. WA keeps details of severe workplace injuries, deaths from public.

Transparency or privacy? L&I says the law protects witnesses, while advocates contend it prevents scrutiny of serious incidents and investigations. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

Rep Fosse’s bill to tighten youth labor laws made it past this week’s cut off. HB1644 would set minimum penalty amounts and bans companies with a history of serious safety violations from hiring minors. It now sits in the Senate’s Labor & Commerce Committee. bit.ly/41ajAj5 #waleg

WA ties workplace safety fines increases to inflation to catch up with national rates, but the boost will still keep amounts way behind the average. www.cascadepbs.org/briefs/2025/...

WA ties workplace safety fines increases to inflation to catch up with national rates, but likely will still lag behind. www.cascadepbs.org/briefs/2025/...

Recommended reading for the weekend; A little peek into one journalist’s road to covering the alt-right. slate.com/news-and-pol...

The bill comes after a teen lost both legs on a worksite for a school work program in the summer of 2023. bit.ly/41ajAj5 HB1644 would set minimum penalty amounts and bans companies with a history of serious safety violations from hiring minors. #waleg @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

The bill comes after a teen lost both legs on a worksite for a school work program in the summer of 2023. bit.ly/41ajAj5 HB1644 would set minimum penalty amounts and bans companies with a history of serious safety violations from hiring minors. #waleg @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Cle Elum goes for broke: The story of a small town and a large settlement that needs to be paid. @CascadePBSNews www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

Always, Always....Always click the link. In an effort to keep records secret the company running the Northwest ICE Processing Center in WA accidentally makes the records publicly accessible #ICE t.co/3w2QhbvnXl

In an effort to keep records secret the company running the Northwest ICE Processing Center in WA accidentally makes the records publicly accessible #ICE Always Always Always click the link. bit.ly/3EmySYW

City council selects another challenger CM Morales has previously defeated. Solomon ran against Morales for the D2 seat in 2019 in the general election, loosing 39% to 60%. t.co/jfrQPPbf9S

As rumors of ICE raids hit WA towns, some vow to follow state law and not assist, but at least one town wants to challenge the law. bit.ly/4hoBwLZ bit.ly/3PLhX4G

Interestingly; 5 years after inception more workers are now using WA’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program for medical needs to care for themselves or a family member, rather than after the birth or adoption of a child; last year 55% medical vs 45% family. @ESDwaWorks

Happy new Governor Day! As a new administration takes over and a 2025 legislative session begins, here are a few labor bills I am following so far. #waleg @WAHouseDems @WashingtonSRC #WashingtonState @CascadePBSNews

NEW: I’m excited to announce a new project I’ve been working on, the Seattle Sweeps Open Data Repository. This open-source data set contains records related to Seattle’s policies of displacement against unhoused people. gossipguy.net/introducing-...

These union members are demanding better, but they need your help. Use this form to send an email to Herald management letting them know journalists—and readers—deserve a fair contract: actionnetwork.org/letters/stan...

The new @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social documentary "Priced Out: Fear and resistance in WA mobile home parks" explores how one ownership group has bought up communities statewide and raised rents, straining low-income residents. Watch here or stream on the Cascade PBS app. t.co/Ahpxqi9yUJ