Election Watch: Washington officials are urging voters to return ballots early, while a printing typo on about 535,000 Snohomish County return envelopes will not affect ballot processing. A suspicious white-powder letter sent to the state elections office was intercepted. Key Races: Republican Rep. Michael Baumgartner faces Democrat Carmela Conroy in a closely watched Spokane-area congressional race; Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is also fighting to keep her Southwest Washington seat. Ballot Initiatives: Cities in Snohomish County are weighing resolutions against measures on parental access to school records and transgender girls’ participation in school sports, amid sharp debate over their effects on families and students. Government Accountability: A review found nearly $17 million missing from King County’s homelessness authority, prompting renewed calls to dismantle it. Public Transparency: Walla Walla Valley law enforcement plans to encrypt radio traffic starting Oct. 30, a move agencies say protects sensitive information but critics warn could hinder public oversight. State Services: Washington’s social-services agency is considering cuts and modernization as it prepares its 2027 budget.