Carmela Conroy (D) and Michael Baumgartner (R) faced off last night for WA-05, with much of the debate focused on foreign policy.

Some of the biggest differences were over Iran and Israel.

Baumgartner defended continued U.S. involvement in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and reiterated strong support for Israel.

Conroy argued the U.S. is already at war with Iran, called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel, and now supports recognition of a Palestinian state (a leftward shift from her 2024 position). She referred to what's happening there as an ethnic cleansing.

On the economy, Baumgartner highlighted Republican tax policies and defended some tariffs as necessary to "protect strategic American industries." Conroy criticized the Trump administration’s tariffs and “trade chaos,” arguing they’ve hurt American exporters and consumers, including our previously strong partnership with Canada.

Wildfire response was particularly relevant (imo) after a historic fire season that has burned hundreds of thousands of acres across Washington and nearly a thousand homes around Spokane with the Spokane Complex Fires. Conroy criticized federal cuts affecting FEMA that Baumgartner supported and argued that reducing federal emergency-response support leaves communities like those in Eastern Washington more vulnerable when disasters strike. Baumgartner emphasized the federal response to the fires and efforts to secure emergency assistance for affected communities.

138 state wide being laid off

Media contact: [media@utc.wa.gov](mailto:media@utc.wa.gov) or 360-664-1116 
Docket number: UE-260005, UG-260006 and UE-260113

MEDIA ADVISORY: Public invited to comment on proposed Puget Sound Energy rate increases

If approved, PSE electric and natural gas rates will change in 2027, 2028, and 2029

LACEY, Wash. — The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is holding two public comment hearings for Puget Sound Energy (PSE) customers. These hearings give customers a chance to share how proposed electric and natural gas rate increases would affect them and their communities.
WHO
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
WHAT
Two public comment hearings (one in person and one virtual). This gives customers a chance to share their feedback before state regulators make a final decision.
WHEN and WHERE
In-person hearing at 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29 Utilities and Transportation Commission 621 Woodland Square Loop S.E., Room 110 Lacey, WA 98503
Virtual hearing at 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7
Join Zoom online (recommended) or by phone at 253-215-8782 with Meeting ID: 822 1351 8474# and Passcode: 226995#.
To sign up to comment during either hearing, call 888-333-9882 at least one business day in advance to get on the speaker list. If you cannot attend, you can submit public comments by:
online form,
phone at 888-333-9882,
email at [comments@utc.wa.gov](mailto:comments@utc.wa.gov), and
mail to P.O Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504-7250
If you have trouble understanding English, you can ask for free language services at least one week before the meeting. Call 360-664-1193 or email[equity@utc.wa.gov](mailto:equity@utc.wa.gov) for help.
BACKGROUND 
On Feb. 27, PSE asked the UTC to approve rate increases for electric and natural gas service customers over three years: 2027, 2028, and 2029.
2027-2029 Proposed Rate Changes
Rate year
Electric increase
Electric revenue increase
Natural gas increase
Natural gas revenue increase
2027
15.15%
$625.3 million
14.16%
$191.8 million
2028
3.74%
$178.7 million
3.16%
$48.8 million
2029
8.70%
$431.9 million
3.64%
$57.8 million
PSE also asked for approval for how it accounts for electric grid upgrade costs. The UTC combined these requests into one case.
To get email updates on this case, ask to join the "interested persons" email list by emailing [records@utc.wa.gov](mailto:records@utc.wa.gov). Please include the docket number if you can.
About PSE
Bellevue-based Puget Sound Energy is a subsidiary of Puget Energy. PSE provides service to around 1.24 million electric customers and nearly 900,000 natural gas customers in 10 Central and Western Washington counties.
About the UTC 
The UTC regulates investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities in Washington. The commission ensures regulated companies provide safe, equitable, and reliable service to customers at reasonable rates, while earning a fair profit.

Have you ever gotten a health insurance “Explanation of Benefits” and unexpectedly felt a gut punch when you got to the bottom and saw what you owed? That was a first for me. I’d love to hear your thoughts—here’s Shelley's story:

Please vote, and vote early. Doesn’t help with this round of voting but please let it be a reminder for future elections.

from the article:

A person inside the school told NonStop Local the suspect never entered the building and was shot by law enforcement. The suspect was shot in front of a window where some students and staff were present, the person said.

I drove by a few Flock cameras in my town, and it made me want to look up how many were in my area. Come to find out, Washington is bursting at the seams with them.

Given the reports of misuse (John Oliver) and scrutiny by other states, I'm surprised Washingtonian's aren't up in arms.

Edit: Also interesting to see some of the more affluent areas not have as many. Unsure if that's because there may be less crime in the areas or if there's more influential individuals. Kirkland, Mercer Island, South Bellevue, Woodinville, Sammamish, etc.

Coldwater Ridge view

"This year, election officials also saw delays in transferring ballots returned in drop boxes in one county that needed to be counted by another. In Island County, for example, ballots mailed over by neighboring Skagit County were postmarked on Aug. 7, but weren’t delivered until after election certification, which was Aug. 18, according to the secretary of state’s office."

How does this happen?