HomeMy WebLinkAbout052226 - WAcounties Weekly _ May 22_ 2026ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
May 22, 2026 COUNTY NEWS Trial for Spokane Woman Delayed After Defense
May 22, 2026
<https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/0>
COUNTY NEWS
Trial for Spokane Woman Delayed After Defense Team Fails to Appear
A Spokane woman accused of killing her ex-boyfriend in 2024 was set to go on trial Monday, but the case came to a sudden halt when her assigned public defense attorney failed to appear
in court. "It's shocking, it's embarrassing to the legal community. It's unfortunate for Ms. Khaleel, who is once again sitting and waiting for trial," said Spokane County Judge Jacquelyn
High-Edwards.
The courtroom confusion comes after Khaleel's trial date was pushed back twice in the last month, according to court documents. Records also show that the defense filed multiple requests
to change the trial date, stating they needed more time to prepare for trial. The most recent request was denied.
LEARN MORE <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/1>
STATE NEWS
Attorney General’s Office Proposes Revised Model Public Records Act Rules to Incorporate Public Feedback
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has proposed revisions to draft model rules designed to help state and local governments fully comply with the Public Records Act. The changes reflect
feedback from public comments about the AG’s initial proposal.
After public comment and testimony on the initial proposal, the AGO is now suggesting revisions to some sections of the model rules. The proposal incorporates Public Records Act legislative
updates and recent court decisions, providing clarity on submitting a records request, records production in a timely manner, third-party notice of records requests, as well as aligning
the rules for internal consistency and addressing copy edit errors, among other amendments.
READ MORE <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/2>
PARTNER NEWS
<https://wsac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/BD-Highlight-Newsletter.png>
Listening Before Leading: Establishing Public Trust Through Authentic Community Engagement
If you work in local government, you have probably felt it: residents expect more transparency, faster responsiveness, and clearer follow-through than they did even a few years ago.
At the same time, the “trust cushion” many communities once had is thinner. In a Pew Research Center survey conducted in late 2023, 61% of adults rated their local government positively,
down from 66% in 2022 and 69% in 2019. That slide is not a judgment on any one decision. It is a signal that trust is increasingly earned through day-to-day experiences.
LEARN MORE <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/3>
NACo NEWS
NACo Alert: House Transportation Committee Unveils Surface Transportation Reauthorization with Key County Wins
The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has unveiled the BUILD America 250 Act, a landmark surface transportation reauthorization bill that directs hundreds of billions
of dollars of federal investment over the next five years. Thanks to sustained county advocacy, the bill delivers real, measurable wins for local governments across the country.
READ MORE <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/4>
COUNTY NEWS
New County Transportation Funding Measure Could Shortchange Seattle
The King County Council is on the verge of tapping into a long-dormant funding source with the goal of aiding the county's beleaguered Road Services Division. But an amendment on deck
doling out a portion of those new dollars to King County cities could end up significantly shortchanging Seattle, the county's largest city.
READ MORE <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/5>
PUBLIC HEALTH
Local Health Officials Prepare for Influx of World Cup Fans
Health officials from the U.S. cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup say they are preparing to deal with infectious diseases, heat-related illness, and an array of other health threats
when millions of fans, many of them from overseas, come to watch the games.
READ MORE <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/6>
COUNTY NEWS
Spokane County to Ask Voters to Pay to Protect West Plains Aquifer
In August, voters on the West Plains will decide whether to tax themselves to protect their source of drinking water. The ballot measure proposes to create the West Plains Aquifer Protection
Area.
Washington state law allows counties to form aquifer protection areas to collect money and fund activities related to protecting groundwater within a certain area. The county has operated
the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Protection Area for about 40 years. Last year, nearly three-fourths of voters within its boundaries agreed to reauthorize the tax for another
20 years.
LEARN MORE <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/7>
<https://unlayer-hqpnbzmtervc8.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/%2F1705611441075-425944.png> Upcoming Events
WED
27
MAY 27 @ 10:00AM
PRA Deep Dive: Contracting with Public Records in Mind <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/8>
Webinar | $50
WED
27
May 27 – 29
2026 Biennial Forum: Northwest Community Forest Coalition <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/9>
Bellingham | $200
VIEW ALL UPCOMING EVENTS <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/10>
<https://unlayer-hqpnbzmtervc8.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/%2F1705613037920-355671.png>
NEW WSAC MEMBER?
Sign into The Hub for county resources & more ways to connect!
SIGN IN HERE <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/11>
<https://wsac.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/WSAC_Legislative_Icons_2021-Social.png> LATEST Job Openings
CLARK COUNTY
IT Project Manager <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/12>
$8,654 – $12,115/Mo
THURSTON COUNTY
Solid Waste Manager <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/13>
$8,630 – $11,352/Mo
VIEW ALL COUNTY JOBS <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/14>
<https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/15>
<https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/16>
Focused on inspiring organizations to transform and innovate, BerryDunn's Local Government Practice Group partners with municipal, county, regional, and quasi-governmental entities throughout
the US to help them meet their biggest challenges.
BerryDunn partners with local governments at the enterprise level, as well as within and across departments, to meet the most critical needs of your community, emphasizing principles
of equity and engagement. They take pride in tailoring our projects to recognize the work their clients do every day.
Find new resources from BerryDunn, including their recent article, "Listening Before Leading: Establishing Public Trust Through Authentic Community Engagement," here. <https://flight.us.toucantech.on
line/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/17>
Visit BerryDunn's website below to learn more about their services and find additional resources.
LEARN MORE <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/18>
FOLLOW US
<https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/19>
FACEBOOK
<https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/20>
LINKEDIN
<https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/21>
BSKY
<https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/22>
INSTAGRAM
<https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/23>
WEBSITE
This is a message from
Having trouble reading this email? Try viewing it in your browser
You can change your contact details and preferences here
Want to unsubscribe from these emails? Click here
Powered by ToucanTech <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4/24>
Unsubscribe <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/unsubscribe/784/wsac/1121927> from future emails
<https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/open/94f6291b-f375-4e9f-827d-928d55bee8e4.png>