A bill to create a statewide tracking system for rape kits that allows law enforcement and victims to track the status and location of kits has passed the Legislature and is headed to the governor’s desk for his signature. “This bill is about justice and transparency, and it’s a critical...

In recognition of her service to Washington’s public-education system, Sen. Ann Rivers has been named a “Champion for Kids” by the Digital Public Schools Alliance. She was honored in a ceremony today in the Capitol Rotunda. The announcement came during the alliance’s annual visit to Olympia, when students, parents and digital-learning...

The Center for Agriculture, Science and Environmental Education that serves high-school students in the Battle Ground School District was recently recognized as a Lighthouse School and will receive a $20,000 grant so it can share best practices with other schools developing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs. CASEE...

Justin Krejcha, a junior at Mountain View High School in Vancouver, spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. Justin was one of 26 students who served as Senate pages for the seventh week of the 2016 legislative session. He was...

Cole VanderMaas, a sophomore at Hockinson High School in Brush Prairie, spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. Cole was one of 26 students who served as Senate pages for the seventh week of the 2016 legislative session. He was...

  By Sen. Ann Rivers  Sometimes, despite a person’s demeanor and education, she or he just isn’t the right fit for a job. Our state Senate majority recently decided against confirming Lynn Peterson as state transportation secretary. There was overwhelming evidence to support our vote, which ended her tenure at...

A majority of the state Senate voted today against confirming the state transportation secretary appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee. The decision means Lynn Peterson is out as head of the state Department of Transportation after three years. “This is about having accountability at the highest levels in state agencies. Secretary...

Photo caption: Accepting the Washington Association for Career and Technical Education Legislator of the Year award in September 2015. I’m sharing a blog post from the Washington Business Alliance championing a bill I’ve co-sponsored that would fund material and supplies for career and technical programs just like we do for...

The past three weeks in Olympia have been filled with committee hearings, education task-force work sessions, stakeholder meetings and visits from folks back home – like the firefighters pictured above who stopped by my office. It was great to see them!  Read my entire e-newsletter here to get my latest legislative update.