Latest news with #Orwall
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Candidate filing begins for 9 Washington state legislative seats
The Washington state Capitol on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard) The curtain is officially rising on Washington's 2025 election season. Candidates can begin filing at 8 a.m. Monday for more than 3,200 seats on city councils, county commissions, school boards, and special districts. They must turn in declarations and pay any fees by 5 p.m. Friday. There are contests for nine Democrat-held legislative seats. Eight involve lawmakers appointed for the just-completed session who are seeking to stay in office. Winners will serve through 2026. One race is to fill the vacancy created by the death of Democratic state Sen. Bill Ramos in April. The victor in November will serve the remaining three years of the term. Here's where things stand as filing gets underway. 26th District: Sen. Deb Krishnadasan, a Gig Harbor Democrat, wants to keep the seat she was appointed to after the district's former state senator, Emily Randall, was elected to Congress. The district covers parts of Kitsap and Pierce Counties. Republican state Rep. Michelle Caldier of Gig Harbor is the lone GOP challenger to emerge so far. 33rd District: Sen. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, served in the state House until she was chosen to succeed Sen. Karen Keiser, who retired. Orwall was the only candidate with a campaign committee as of Friday. The district includes Burien, Normandy Park, Des Moines, SeaTac, and much of Kent. 34th District: Sen. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle, moved from the House to the Senate to replace Joe Nguyen when Gov. Bob Ferguson named him to lead the state Department of Commerce. The district includes West Seattle, Vashon Island, White Center, and part of Burien. 48th District: Sen. Vandana Slatter, D-Bellevue, served in the House until being appointed to succeed Patty Kuderer, following her election as Washington's insurance commissioner. Rep. Amy Walen, D-Kirkland, who also sought the appointment, is challenging her former seatmate. The district covers communities in Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland. 5th District: No one had publicly announced their candidacy as of Sunday. Meanwhile, a Democrat will be appointed to serve in the office through the election. That process is expected to get underway this month. The district covers Issaquah, Black Diamond, Covington, and part of Snoqualmie. 33rd District: Rep. Edwin Obras, D-SeaTac, was appointed to fill Orwall's House seat. Kevin Schilling, a Democrat and the mayor of Burien, is gearing up to challenge him. 34th District: Rep. Brianna Thomas, D-West Seattle, was tapped to succeed Alvarado in the House. 41st District: Rep. Janice Zahn, D-Bellevue, was appointed to replace Tana Senn who resigned to join Ferguson's administration as secretary of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The district includes Mercer Island, Newcastle and part of Bellevue. 48th District: Rep. Osman Salahuddin, D-Redmond, was chosen to replace Slatter.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dementia care facilities would have to meet new state standards under WA bill
(Getty Images) Washington lawmakers are looking at requiring assisted living facilities to be certified to take care of people with dementia. Senate Bill 5337, sponsored by Sen. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, would require the Department of Social and Health Services to create, manage and enforce a certification process for licensed assisted living facilities. 'This bill is around supporting people as they age and supporting families and giving the Department of Social and Health Services the tools they need for that work,' Orwall said. In 2021, an informal study by the state's Dementia Action Collaborative found there were about 237 assisted living facilities in Washington that advertised memory care or specialized dementia care, but their services varied. 'Currently there are about 126,000 seniors in Washington with Alzheimer's disease, which is about 10% of the population 65 and up and that number is growing every day,' said Brad Forbes from the Alzheimer's Association. The lack of standardized care can make it difficult for individuals or families to understand the services and staffing that facilities offer. 'The challenge exists when the individual gives their trust and significant payments, sometimes $10,000 a month, for what they think is comprehensive care designed for a person experiencing cognitive decline,' said Joanna Grist, a lobbyist for AARP. The bill would require these facilities to maintain staff onsite 24 hours a day, to have at least six hours of continuing education for workers per year related to dementia-related behaviors such as aggression, and provide to patients with individual and group activities. A memory care facility is defined as one that is devoted specifically to that type of care or that offers a special unit or wing for those with dementia. They help people with housekeeping, meals, snacks, laundry and activities. Under the bill, the department would have to maintain a publicly available list of certified assisted living facilities that specialize in memory care or have memory care units. They would also review facilities' compliance with state law and conduct regular inspections. Facilities that are out of compliance could face civil penalties. The Senate passed the bill 49-0 last month, and it's now moving along in the House. If approved, the bill would require assisted living facilities to be certified by July 1, 2026. 'As we age, we want everyone to get the care they need and deserve,' Orwall said.
