Your turn, Congress: Washington state leads on firearm safety policies

Tuesday's violent tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, once again highlights the overwhelming need for policies to reduce gun violence. As the Associated Press reports, it also highlights how state leaders in Washington stand in contrast to Congress and Republican leaders.

During the past several years, Washington voters and the Legislature have passed policies to reduce and prevent gun violence related to domestic violence, suicide, community violence and mass shootings. Policies include universal background checks, an increase in the purchasing age for semi-automatic weapons, liability for people who don’t secure their firearms, and extreme risk protection orders – sometimes called “red flag laws.”

In the most recent legislative session, Gov. Jay Inslee signed bills to ban high-capacity magazines, untraceable ghost guns, and open carrying of firearms in certain public settings such local government meetings and election-related facilities.

"We must strengthen laws around gun violence to save lives. The public and our children are paying the price of the gun lobby's cynical interests. ENOUGH," Inslee said on Tuesday. "Want to show you care about kids and our communities? A few ideas: universal background checks, ban on high capacity magazines, ghost guns and bump stocks, and unsafe storage liability. WA has done this, and more. Your turn, Congress."

More work remains to prevent gun violence in Washington state. The state’s recently-created Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention promotes a data-driven approach to policy-making and investments. The office partners closely with communities, public health leaders, law enforcement and others to identify strategies for different communities and different types of gun violence.

Keeping WA litter free: crews collect 200 tons and counting

The Washington State Department of Transportation’s maintenance crews are teaming up with the Department of Ecology, Department of Corrections and Adopt-A-Highway volunteers to catch up on the huge amount of litter and graffiti that has built up on Washington’s highways.

So far, crews have collected more than 200 tons of litter from state roads, including 69 tons in April alone. That’s a lot of trash, and most of it is preventable. Remind friends and family members that everyone plays a role in a #LitterFreeWA by not tossing things out of vehicles and securing all loads, large and small.

As drivers see more of these crews along highways, be sure to move over and slow down to help keep them safe.

Reminder: COVID-19 boosters are best tool for preventing serious illness and hospitalization

As COVID-19 cases are steadily on the rise across the country, now is an important time to think about getting your booster shot if you still have not. Anyone 5 years or older is eligible for a booster shot if you are fully vaccinated. Getting vaccinated is the best tool for preventing serious illness from COVID-19.

To make a vaccine or booster appointment, visit Vaccine Locator, Vaccines.gov, or call the COVID-19 Information Hotline at 833-VAX-HELP. Language assistance is available. People with questions or concerns are also encouraged to talk to their trusted health care provider.

In other recent news, one case of monkeypox has been reported in Washington state, but public health officials say there is no reason to panic. There are large differences between monkeypox and COVID-19, including the way they spread. Monkeypox is spread through large droplets or the exchange of bodily fluids. Currently there is no evidence that monkeypox is locally spreading. Learn more about monkeypox from the CDC.

Check to see if you have money or assets waiting to be claimed

There is a one in 10 chance you may have money out there waiting for you to claim. Thousands of people each year have money from uncashed checks, forgotten utility deposits, or old bank accounts being held for them by Washington state’s Unclaimed Property Program (UCP).

The Washington State Department of Revenue administers Washington’s UCP as a free consumer protection program that works to return money and other assets to its rightful owners.

Visit claimyourcash.org to search for unclaimed property that may belong to you. The program holds more than $1 billion in unclaimed funds and has returned approximately $1.2 billion in cash over the years.