AGP Executive Report

Seattle Police Leadership Shakeup: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has fired Police Chief Shon Barnes, according to multiple local outlets, after the Bite of Seattle festival shooting and renewed scrutiny over his whereabouts and the department’s delayed public response. Community Pushback: Black community leaders and partner organizations rallied at City Hall in opposition to the dismissal, while supporters argued Barnes is being targeted amid political pressure. WNBA Fallout in Seattle: The Seattle Storm suspended minority co-owner Celeste Keaton for five home games and fined the team after she directed expletives at two teen fans tied to a Sophie Cunningham anti-trans rally; the Storm apologized and said fans deserve respect. Public Safety & Accountability: Police and court filings continue to shape the aftermath of the Bite of Seattle shooting, including questions about suspects and weapons. Spokane Heat Relief: Spokane City Council approved a “right to cooling” ordinance requiring rentals to provide adequate cooling options and allowing lease termination if tenants lack a cooling room. ICE vs. State Oversight: New ICE draft contract terms would keep 5,500 detention beds beyond state health and safety oversight, setting up fresh legal fights that include Washington.

Spokane Housing & Heat Protections: Spokane City Council passed the “Renter’s Right to Cooling” ordinance, requiring rental units to have adequate cooling in at least one room and giving tenants options to terminate leases or deduct installation costs up to $500, with new construction requirements starting Jan. 1, 2027. Spokane Budget Cuts: The Spokane City Council plans to lay off two remaining policy managers—Alex Gibilisco and Nicolette Ocheltree—by Aug. 7, ending much of a long-running effort to expand council capacity. Immigration Fallout in Spokane: Haitian residents are scrambling after Temporary Protected Status officially expired, with community leaders warning many could lose work authorization and face deportation risk. ICE Airport Dragnet: A new report says ICE is using plainclothes agents at airports nationwide, with TSA data-sharing helping target travelers and workers, including people not accused of crimes. Seattle Gun Violence Case: In the Bite of Seattle shooting, prosecutors say bullets that killed two bystanders don’t match the ghost gun allegedly fired by a 15-year-old, while investigators continue to identify other shooters. Seattle Food Aid Deal: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and the City Council reached agreement to fund universal school meals and weekend/holiday food support for low-income students, ending a months-long standoff. Election Mail Warning: Washington election officials urged voters to use drop boxes instead of USPS mailboxes late in the cycle, warning postmarks may not reflect when ballots were deposited. Wildfire Mutual Aid: California’s CAL FIRE is sending an incident management team to Washington for the Sinlahekin Fire under the Northwest Compact. WNBA Inclusion Backlash: The Seattle Storm apologized after a co-owner’s profanity-filled outburst at two teenage fans tied to the Sophie Cunningham trans debate.

Bite of Seattle Security Scrutiny: Sunday’s deadly shooting at Seattle Center’s Bite of Seattle has reignited debate over how the city keeps major festivals open while protecting crowds, with vendors and attendees questioning whether security planning was enough as Seafair Weekend approaches. State Budget Pressure on Disability Support: Nearly 40 bipartisan Washington lawmakers are urging Gov. Bob Ferguson and DSHS to protect the Parent to Parent program, warning it could be cut after August amid budget woes. King County Housing Funding Push: King County Executive Girmay Zahilay is forming a steering committee to explore a countywide housing levy and other revenue options to fund shelters and affordable housing as federal support remains uncertain. Seattle Police Leadership Fallout: Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank attacked Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes after a tense reporter confrontation tied to questions about Barnes’s whereabouts during the Bite of Seattle response. Education Policy Proposal: State Superintendent Chris Reykdal is proposing a mandatory yearlong “postsecondary launch” course for high school seniors, combining civics, financial literacy, and post-graduation planning. Costco Email Settlement: Washington Costco shoppers may qualify for cash under a proposed $14M settlement over allegedly misleading promotional email subject lines, with payouts depending on valid claims. Sports & Culture Flashpoints: The WNBA’s Sophie Cunningham trans-athlete controversy spilled into Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena week, with teams saying they had no knowledge of a rally tied to two Washington state initiatives.

Spokane Street Redesign: Spokane is taking public comments on a major Spokane Falls Boulevard overhaul tied to water-pipe replacement, with options ranging from adding dedicated bike lanes and narrowing lanes to converting parts of the one-way street into two-way traffic. Seattle Center Shooting Fallout: Seattle police say a 15-year-old suspect used a ghost gun and that the Bite of Seattle attack was targeted and likely gang-related, with investigators still hunting for additional suspects. Accountability Clash: The mayor and police leadership face renewed scrutiny over why a public briefing took hours, while Chief Shon Barnes defended his travel and a tense reporter exchange. Gun Violence Policy Push: Seattle Councilmember Maritza Rivera is calling for more aggressive action after multiple shootings in days. Millionaires Tax Fight: A lawsuit challenges Washington’s ballot wording for the “millionaires tax” repeal, focusing on 21 words about how repealing the tax could reduce funding for schools and human services. Spokane Transit: Supporters of the STA sales tax renewal are accusing opponents of misleading voters about service cuts if the measure fails. Public Safety Lawsuit Costs: Spokane’s firefighter vaccine mandate case heads toward a March 2027 trial, with the city still spending heavily on legal fees. Local Politics: Former Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward sues the city over a 2023 council resolution condemning her association with Sean Feucht and Matt Shea. State Disability Funding: Nearly 40 lawmakers urge Gov. Ferguson to protect the Parent to Parent program for families of children with developmental disabilities.

Seattle Center Shooting: Seattle police say the Bite of Seattle gunfight may have been gang-related, with court documents now pointing to at least three suspects; a 15-year-old is in juvenile detention after a judge found probable cause, while investigators continue searching for others as victims’ identities were released and a toddler was discharged. Police Accountability: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and SPD leadership faced renewed scrutiny over the response and public communication after the weekend attack, including criticism of how long residents waited for basic updates. State Ballot Fight: Washington AG Nick Brown’s office is defending the ballot wording for the income tax repeal measure, while former Sen. Lynda Wilson calls it a scare tactic because the tax won’t generate revenue until 2029. Disability Services: Parents of children with developmental disabilities fear Washington’s Parent to Parent support program could be cut after August amid state budget pressure. Olympia Politics: A third-party candidate, Aaron Croft, is pushing an independent voice in the WA House as the election season heats up. Courts Watch: Bryan Kohberger is seeking to reopen his Idaho murder case, arguing his guilty plea should be withdrawn.

Seattle Center Shooting Update: Police say the Bite of Seattle gunfight involved at least three suspects, with a 15-year-old in custody and a 19-year-old identified as one of the dead; investigators are still hunting at least one other unknown suspect, and officials describe the violence as possibly gang-related while reviewing video and shell casings. Court/Accountability: A judge ordered the teen held in juvenile detention on firearms and assault allegations as questions swirl about when officials shared key details with the public. Spokane Primary Watch: Spokane County voters head to the August primary to choose two finalists for county auditor, with three candidates—Michael Cathcart, Callie Gee and Dale Whitaker—seeking to replace long-time auditor Vicky Dalton. West Plains Data Center Debate: Spokane County discussions about a potential West Plains data center are drawing calls for more transparency, with residents pushing for a moratorium while county leaders weigh infrastructure and public impacts. Tacoma Budget & ICE Oversight: Tacoma leaders continued budget planning amid rising costs and housing/environment priorities, while a federal judge ordered the GEO Group to allow Washington State Department of Health inspectors into the Tacoma ICE facility. 5th District Race: Richard Freudenberg highlighted infrastructure, medical access and tariffs in a south-central Washington candidate interview. State Supreme Court/Legal Process: A Washington bar association profile of Supreme Court Justice Theo Angelis is drawing scrutiny for timing during the run-up to the Aug. 4 primary.

Seattle Center Shooting: A gang-related shootout at the Bite of Seattle food festival killed 3 people and wounded 4, including a toddler; police say one suspect surrendered while a second fled, with investigators still piecing together motive and whether more shooters were involved. Public Safety & Accountability: The incident has reignited scrutiny of city security choices and how quickly police responded, as officials delayed a news conference and urged witnesses to come forward. Labor & State Government: Washington public employees represented by WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 announced statewide walkouts, citing record state lawsuit payouts and warning that austerity is driving avoidable harm and staffing shortages. Energy & Legal Fight: AGs from 19 states and DC joined a lawsuit challenging a wind farm freeze tied to national security reviews, arguing it unlawfully blocks projects and raises costs. Local Politics & Elections: Walla Walla Valley races are heating up ahead of the Aug. 4 primary, with a look at who’s funding candidates and how money is shaping the contest. Economy & Infrastructure: HD Hyundai Samho won a Port of Tacoma contract to supply four new cranes, supporting terminal modernization and capacity for larger vessels.

Violence & Public Safety: Seattle Center’s Bite of Seattle festival turned into a mass-casualty scene Sunday night near the Space Needle, with police and fire officials reporting at least 2 dead and 5 wounded, including a toddler, as investigators work to determine what triggered the shooting and whether anyone is in custody. State & Federal Voting: A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s bid to lift an injunction blocking parts of a mail-in voting order in 23 states, keeping the fight over election rules in the courts as November approaches. Agriculture & Trade: USDA’s top foreign trade official, Luke Lindberg, visited Washington growers and the Port of Seattle, arguing Trump’s tariff strategy is opening overseas markets and narrowing the U.S. agricultural trade deficit. Local Elections Watch: Pacific County’s ballot return pace remains low as voters head into the final stretch of the primary, with drop boxes and deadlines set for Aug. 4. Environment & Land Use: The Three Queens Fire has shut a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail and cut access to Spectacle Lake, with no reopening date and limited evacuation options cited.

ICE Oversight Fight in Tacoma: Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Rep. Ilhan Omar, with local advocates, renewed scrutiny of ICE detention conditions at the Whipple Federal Building, citing trauma, restraints, and limits on legislative oversight. Mail-In Voting Court Battle: A federal appeals court blocked key parts of President Trump’s mail-in voting executive order in 23 states, keeping an injunction in place and signaling more legal fights ahead. Seattle Space Needle Trespass: Police are searching for two men who climbed over the Space Needle’s safety barrier and parachuted from the observation deck; trespassing charges are possible. Washington Consumer Law: A proposed $14 million Costco settlement targets alleged misleading “limited-time” marketing emails under Washington’s consumer and email laws. Eastern WA Data Centers: A Quincy report shows how data centers are reshaping a small town’s growth, services, and workforce. Sports & Wildlife: A Washington state shark-rule case adds to enforcement attention on protected species, while a separate federal drug-smuggling case in Seattle led to a 15-year sentence.

Voting Rights Fight: A federal appeals court blocked key parts of President Trump’s mail-in voting executive order in 23 states, keeping in place an injunction that found major elements unconstitutional. Seattle Politics & Budget: Seattle City Councilmember Robert Kettle urged Mayor Katie Wilson to rethink spending and taxing amid a $175 million budget shortfall, calling for a priority-based budget and scrutiny of “unnecessary” contracts. Capitol Updates: State panels approved moving the Marcus Whitman statue to make room for the Billy Frank Jr. statue in the Washington Capitol. Election Integrity (Local): Yakima County Auditor Charles Ross says his office followed rules when mailing ballots and invalidating older ones after new ballots were sent, responding to claims about multiple ballots reaching voters. Public Safety: Seattle police are searching for two men who parachuted from the Space Needle after climbing over the observation deck. Port of Tacoma: HD Hyundai Samho won a contract to supply four port cranes for Washington United Terminals at Tacoma, supporting the MASGA modernization project. Courtroom Security: Snohomish County deputies are searching for a man who escaped from an Everett courthouse after a judge ordered no bail.

State House Race: Spokane’s Isaiah Paine is among six candidates seeking to replace Rep. Mike Volz in the WA House’s 6th LD, with the Aug. 4 primary narrowing the field to two. Local Government: Seattle’s universal free school meals plan is back in a budget fight, with Mayor Katie Wilson backing FEPP levy reserve funding while some council members push for different financing. Energy & Federal Funding: The Trump administration acknowledged in court filings it canceled $7.6B in clean-energy grants “based solely” on whether recipient states backed Kamala Harris, drawing sharp reaction from Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Marcy Kaptur. Elections & Administration: Spokane County voters are again dealing with ballot problems tied to boundary errors, adding friction ahead of the August 4 primary. Public Safety/Travel: Sea-Tac issued a ground stop due to fog and low visibility, causing departure delays. Wildfire Readiness: Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz told lawmakers wildfires are surging beyond normal levels as drought and heat worsen conditions, while staffing cuts and restructuring raise concerns. Politics & Culture: Seattle is set to honor “Jimothy,” the viral raccoon, with an official city proclamation and weekend celebration.

Wildfire Readiness: U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz told Congress that drought and excessive heat are driving higher-than-normal wildfire activity across the West, as the agency faces a major restructuring and staffing cuts. Airport Disruption: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport issued a ground stop and delays tied to fog and low visibility. Seattle School Meals Fight: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and some council members back universal free school meals, but the City Council is debating how to fund the plan and which city dollars to use. AI and Courts: Microsoft asked a federal judge to pause a Seattle-area class action over Teams “voiceprint” interception claims. Paramount-Warner Merger: Washington and other states won a months-long halt to Paramount Skydance’s $110B Warner Bros. Discovery deal while antitrust claims play out in court. ICE Detention Oversight: Health inspectors in Tacoma remain blocked from entering an ICE detention center as the state’s legal fight with GEO Group continues. Election Countdown: With less than two weeks until Washington’s August 4 primary, a crowded top-two field is shaping up across key legislative and congressional races.

Federal Courts & Trump Power Grab: Fired Western District of Washington U.S. attorney Roger Rogoff sues after being removed just 54 minutes after swearing in, setting up a direct fight over presidential authority over court-appointed prosecutors. State Politics & Ballot Measures: Let’s Go Washington says I-645 would only repeal Washington’s 9.9% “millionaires’ tax,” pushing back on claims it would also kill other taxes or paid leave programs. Sports & Culture Wars: WNBA star Sophie Cunningham doubles down on her stance about men in women’s sports, drawing fresh national backlash and media attention. Seattle Local Government: Seattle agrees to relocate Pioneer Square’s new public toilets after a property owner appeal tied to historic district guidelines. Public Safety & Wildfire Readiness: Spokane-area officials and utilities are preparing for strong winds and hot conditions that could worsen wildfire risk, with Red Cross support for displaced residents. Elections Administration: Spokane County voters face another ballot error, with supplemental ballots planned after incorrect ballot styles were sent.

Spokane Primary Ballot Errors: Spokane County election officials say boundary mistakes sent incorrect ballot styles to voters in multiple areas, including Airway Heights (missing the Spokane County Library District levy), Precinct 6038 (missing an STA sales tax issue), and West Plains Precinct 6065 (missing the aquifer protection district measure), with supplemental ballots going out to affected voters. City of Spokane Litigation: Spokane City Council approved another $200,000 to fight a firefighter COVID-vaccine lawsuit, bringing total legal-defense spending to $885,000. Lummi Burial-Protection Fight: A federal judge ordered Whidbey Telecom to give the Lummi Nation at least 30 days’ notice before ground-disturbing work tied to Point Roberts broadband projects, citing likely violations of Washington burial-remains rules. Olympia Homeless Encampment Pressure: Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne says the city needs more state help to manage “The Jungle,” warning against scattering nearly 300 residents and pushing for a phased approach. Statehouse Symbol Shift: Washington lawmakers approved moving the Marcus Whitman statue to make room for a Billy Frank Jr. statue in the Capitol. Federal Funding Lawsuit: AG Nick Brown joined a coalition suing DHS and FEMA over conditions attached to emergency-preparedness grant funding. Seattle Universal School Meals: Seattle’s mayoral push for universal school meals faces delays tied to costs, with the program’s timeline shifting.

Wildfire Watch: Crews in northeast Spokane are bracing for more lightning and gusty winds as major fires keep growing, with the Kaiser Canyon Fire topping 80,000 acres and evacuation orders still in place. State Budget & Courts: A new WSAC white paper warns soaring county liability costs could push Washington counties toward insolvency, raising alarms for public safety and essential services. Local Government Finance: S&P cut Edmonds’ bond rating from AAA to AA-, citing sustained operational deficits and weakened reserves. Housing & Rent Rules: A Spokane County Superior Court hearing continues in the rent-cap lawsuit, with manufactured-home park owners arguing the law is unconstitutional and unworkable. Seattle Schools: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s universal free student meals plan is likely delayed a year as City Council weighs funding risks, with vouchers for eligible students moving forward. Elections (6th District): Voters in Washington’s 6th Legislative District face a crowded Aug. 4 primary to narrow races for two open state House seats. Public Health: Spokane expands its Behavioral Response Unit hours, adding capacity for overdoses and psychiatric emergencies.

Transit Tax Showdown in Seattle: The City Council unanimously advanced a sales tax hike to the November ballot, doubling the city’s dedicated transit rate to fund bus expansion and safety upgrades. Local Governance: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s universal school meals plan was delayed a year, shifting toward a voucher approach for holiday and summer meals. Elections Administration: Spokane County is mailing replacement ballots after boundary errors left nearly 6,000 voters with missing library or STA tax measures. Public Safety & Police Oversight: Spokane’s police ombuds report on the June 11 anti-ICE protest calls for major improvements in communications, planning, and recordkeeping, alongside expanded dialogue policing. Legal & Courts: A judge issued a preliminary injunction against Kalshi, finding it likely violated Washington’s gambling laws. Immigration Data Use: UW research says federal agents accessed Washington driver data in 58 immigration arrests via a national system. State Legal Costs: Washington’s lawsuit payouts and defense costs hit a new record near $614 million. Spokane Economy: June unemployment held near historic lows, with job growth mainly in health services and private education.