By Bill Lucia | Editor
Traffic crash deaths in Washington fell in 2025 for the second year in a row, following a pandemic-era spike, according to new state figures. Last year, 659 people died in vehicle crashes, down from 809 in 2023 and 737 in 2024, according to preliminary data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. The 2023 figure was the highest in Washington since 1990. “It is a relief to see fewer people killed in 2024 and 2025. But our goal is zero. One person killed is too many,” said commission director Shelly Baldwin.
Also in today’s edition…
A federal investigation into how Washington houses transgender prisoners.
A top Democrat in Congress highlights Washington as a redistricting target.
And, a state’s first-of-kind law to ban prediction markets triggers a lawsuit.
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A wrecked vehicle in Thurston County after it collided with a power pole, splitting the car in half in June 2025. The driver was treated for minor injuries and was booked for driving under the influence. The vehicle’s speedometer was stuck at 100 mph, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. (Photo courtesy of Thurston County Sheriff’s Office)
By Jake Goldstein-Street
Of the crash deaths last year, 297, or 45%, reportedly involved impaired drivers, compared to 370, or 50%, in 2024. Several dozen lab tests remain pending, so last year’s figure could rise. Alcohol was found in 57% of the impaired drivers, followed by cannabis (22%) and methamphetamine (8%).
“The ‘fatal four’ high-risk behaviors — impairment, speed, distraction, and lack of seat belt use — are involved in most of our traffic fatalities,” Baldwin said.
While most of the people killed in crashes were traveling in motor vehicles, last year’s deaths also included 160 pedestrians and bicyclists.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, seen here at the Justice Department last year, launched an investigation into Washington's transgender prison housing policy. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
By Jake Goldstein-Street
The Trump administration says it will investigate Washington state’s practice of housing transgender women in its women’s prison.
In a letter to Gov. Bob Ferguson, the U.S. Department of Justice cited allegations that the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor has “failed to protect female prisoners from sexual and physical violence, harassment, voyeurism, and intimidation from male prisoners who identify as female.” The department argued this could violate Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
The inquiry follows a lawsuit filed last month against the state by a woman held at the Gig Harbor women’s prison, alleging a transgender woman physically attacked her.
The women’s prison currently holds 20 transgender prisoners, while there are 347 transgender or non-binary individuals held across all state prisons, a state Department of Corrections spokesperson said Tuesday.
Top US House Democrat: WA among 7 blue state redistricting targets
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries included Washington on a list of seven states where Democrats are preparing to redraw congressional district maps ahead of the 2028 election, according to a report in the publication Democracy Docket.
In remarks Tuesday at a Center for American Progress event, Jeffries said Democrats are preparing to respond to redistricting in Republican states by redrawing districts in Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Washington, Oregon and Maryland by 2028.
In Washington, Democratic legislative leaders haven’t ruled out the idea of overhauling the maps. But they’d need support from two-thirds of the lawmakers in each legislative chamber to go down this path.
As it stands (assuming no Republican support), this would require Democrats to gain at least seven seats in the House and three in the Senate. Even then, all Democratic legislators would need to back a redistricting play. Gov. Bob Ferguson has voiced strong support for redrawing the congressional district boundaries.
Democrats now hold eight of Washington’s 10 U.S. House seats.
By Alyssa Chen
Minnesota this week became the first state in the nation to outlaw prediction markets — online platforms where people can bet on the outcomes of events. Gov. Tim Walz signed the policy into law Monday. On Tuesday, federal authorities at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a lawsuit seeking to block the law.
Prediction markets, which have soared in popularity since 2024, allow people to bet on almost anything. Kalshi, a popular prediction market platform, is valued at $22 billion. Another platform, Polymarket, is valued at $12 billion. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has already sued five states over attempts to regulate the markets. Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trump’s eldest son, is an adviser to Polymarket and Kalshi.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown sued Kalshi earlier this year, arguing the company is violating gambling laws. One of the company’s partners, Robinhood, followed by suing the state to preemptively protect its ability to continue offering shares in the outcome of everything from sporting events to politics and entertainment news.
ICYMI
More sunshine coming to WA Capitol with skylight restoration | Jake Goldstein-Street
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