"Brant was pivotal in the founding of InvestigateWest." After 17 years, InvestigateWest Board Chair Brant Houston is moving to an emeritus role: www.investigatewest.org/board-chair-...

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...

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...

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

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...

As Washington reduces public defender caseloads, prosecutors say that's forced difficult charging decisions www.investigatewest.org/spokane-pros...

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-...

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...

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-...

Some states offer domestic violence defenses to parents charged with failing to prevent child abuse. Should Oregon? www.investigatewest.org/domestic-vio...

InvestigateWest, Invisible Institute sue Idaho for withholding police employment records www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...

Mercer Island superintendent knew of teacher sexual misconduct allegations despite public statements - www.investigatewest.org/mercer-islan...

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...

Oregon Health & Science University president says neonatal ICU expansion is a top priority, but offers no timeline www.investigatewest.org/ohsu-preside...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Nurses say more babies are being squeezed into rooms in the 30-year-old unit www.investigatewest.org/oregon-healt...

These reforms could improve accountability for Washington teachers accused of sexual misconduct: www.investigatewest.org/these-reform...

SPJ Western Washington has announced the winners of the first-ever Evergreen State A‑Mark Award for Investigative Reporting. I was honored to be one of five judges and to read such impactful work from journalists across the state. Learn more via @spjwash.bsky.social: www.spjwash.org/2026/05/ever...

Washington was the first to enact “Don’t Pass the Trash” legislation two decades ago, but gaps remain. These reforms could hold more Washington teachers accountable for sexual misconduct - www.investigatewest.org/these-reform...

A girl caught in a custody battle said she was raped. The court-appointed investigator didn’t believe her. www.investigatewest.org/a-girl-caugh...

Idaho's incarceration rate is rising. As state prisons are running out of room, they've sent some women to "the hole" for temporary housing. www.investigatewest.org/overflowing-...

Oregon prosecutors said she didn’t protect her baby. She says she was surviving abuse. www.investigatewest.org/prosecutors-...

When a child caught in a custody battle said she was raped, the court-appointed investigator didn’t believe her. Though a Washington judge later found the investigator failed at her job, by then, the child’s mother said, the damage had already been done. www.investigatewest.org/a-girl-caugh...

As Idaho prisons run out of room, some inmates with good behavior have been sent to segregated housing - small cells that are usually reserved as punishment. “They’re treating us like we’re in trouble when we haven’t done anything." www.investigatewest.org/overflowing-...

Loopholes and failed investigations allowed a former Henry M. Jackson High School teacher to skirt accountability. From our partners @investigatewest.bsky.social

A review of thousands of text messages and investigation documents shows how school leaders and law enforcement failed to recognize and properly investigate common sexual grooming behaviors as the teacher grew closer and closer to the student. www.investigatewest.org/an-everett-t...

Text messages and investigation documents show how Everett Public Schools leaders and law enforcement failed to recognize and properly investigate common sexual grooming behaviors as the teacher grew closer and closer to the student. www.investigatewest.org/an-everett-t...

🏅The finalists for the Maynard award are Danielle Ohl, Spotlight PA, The Cost of Failing; Whitney Bryen and Wilson Criscione, InvestigateWest, Guarded by Predators 🏅

Owyhee County, Idaho is among hundreds of local law enforcement agencies getting paid by the Department of Homeland Security to help enforce immigration law - www.investigatewest.org/rural-idaho-...

Idaho law previously only protected inmates if the abuse included genital contact. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-legisl...

Washington courts appointed guardians ad litem to 7,000+ family law cases since 2020 to investigate how domestic violence and other issues impact kids. But there’s little independent oversight of the role: www.investigatewest.org/washington-c...

The new law expands the definition of unlawful sexual contact between prison staff and inmates, after InvestigateWest reported on how the previous state law made it difficult to punish prison guards for sexual abuse. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-legisl...

How effective are Portland’s sanctuary city policies when ICE can track and surveil immigrant communities with ease? @fi2w.org reports - www.investigatewest.org/surveilled-a...

Immigration attorneys, like Jennifer Ibañez Whitlock of @nilc.org, say they've seen detention derail what would otherwise be straightforward asylum cases — and even push people to give up their cases to avoid lengthy stays in detention centers. www.investigatewest.org/i-was-trying...

The reforms come roughly 2 ½ years after InvestigateWest’s “Cruelest Lie” series exposed child abuse and neglect at youth residential facilities. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-passes...

The Franklin County Sheriff is the second sheriff in the state to sign up for an ICE task force agreement - the most involved and controversial cooperative agreement because it allows local police to stop people to check their immigration status. www.investigatewest.org/franklin-she...

InvestigateWest reporters bring high-impact watchdog journalism to the Pacific Northwest and collaborate with other newsrooms to bring you stories that might otherwise go untold. On this inaugural Local News Day, show your support: www.investigatewest.org/donate

In many Washington counties, these family court investigators have limited training, aren’t required to have a professional license and have little independent oversight. But these reforms could help. www.investigatewest.org/washington-c...

@investigatewest.bsky.social examined the enforcement challenges and shortfalls in cases of domestic-violence-related firearm confiscations.

Former residents of an Oregon homeless encampment said when they called the Forest Service to reclaim belongings, their calls went unanswered, appointments never happened or they weren't given enough time to gather belongings. www.investigatewest.org/oregon-homel...

A bill that would make it easier for prosecutors to charge prison staff accused of sexually abusing inmates passed the Idaho Senate on Tuesday and is now awaiting final approval from Gov. Brad Little. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-legisl...

Washington courts appoint guardians ad litem to look out for kids' interests in custody cases, especially when abuse or domestic violence is alleged. But there’s little independent oversight of these court investigators, and discipline is rare. www.investigatewest.org/washington-c...

Asylum seekers whose cases are before an immigration court can’t be deported until their case has been decided. But a growing number of asylum seekers are being detained for allegedly missing immigration check-ins - often without evidence of those violations. https://ow.ly/krcq50Yx6np

Idaho lawmakers ordered an independent probe into how the state handles allegations of sexual abuse by Idaho prison staff. It comes after InvestigateWest exposed misconduct allegations against dozens of women's prison guards. https://ow.ly/YLYh50Yx6mc

Wilfredo Castillo was detained at what he thought was a routine appointment for his asylum case. During the 11 months he spent in detention, Castillo was stabbed by another detainee and struggled to collect evidence to back his asylum claims. www.investigatewest.org/i-was-trying...

ICE is now increasingly detaining asylum seekers for allegedly missing required appointments and check-ins on a phone app — often without providing evidence, according to lawyers and a review of federal court rulings. www.investigatewest.org/i-was-trying...

Lawmakers ordered the audit after InvestigateWest uncovered sexual misconduct allegations against dozens of women’s prison guards that were inconsistently tracked, frequently dismissed without a thorough investigation and rarely prosecuted. www.investigatewest.org/idaho-lawmak...