-This legislative session, Jay secured crucial victories for our kids:

• $1.3 billion in new funding for K-12 schools including all-day kindergarten for children statewide
• Reducing class sizes to 17 per class in grades K-3
• Historic new investment in early childhood education — thousands more children can now go to preschool

Jul. 15, 2015 –
Gov. Inslee gets Washington moving again with major transportation investments

• Jul. 10, 2015 –
  Legislature adjourns with a solid budget, action on key priorities
• Jul. 9, 2015 –
  Gov. Inslee statement on passing of Charles J. McCann, founding president of The Evergreen State College
• Jul. 9, 2015 –
  Inslee says state well-positioned and prepared to manage JBLM downsizing
• Jul. 8, 2015 –
  Statement from Inslee on the Senate student testing agreement
• Jul. 2, 2015 –
  Inslee announces AmeriCorps grants to Washington organizations
• Jul. 2, 2015 –
  Statement from Inslee cautioning risks posed by use of fireworks during drought
• Jul. 1, 2015 –
  Statement from Inslee about status of legislative session
• Jun. 29, 2015 –
  Statement from Gov. Inslee on the passage of the 2015-17 operating budget
• Jun. 29, 2015 –
  Inslee announces appointment of Melissa A. Hemstreet to Kitsap County Superior Court
• Jun. 29, 2015 –
  Inslee announces appointment of Michael Schwartz to the Pierce County Superior Court
• Jun. 29, 2015 –
  Statement from Inslee about the Sleepy Hollow fire in Wenatchee
• Jun. 28, 2015 –
  Statement from Gov. Jay Inslee about a statewide transportation investment package
• Jun. 27, 2015 –
  Governor Inslee, Legislative leaders announce operating budget agreement
• Jun. 27, 2015 –
  Statement from governor and legislative leaders on budget agreement
• Jun. 26, 2015 –
  Governor Inslee and Commissioner of Public Lands Goldmark take steps to reduce wildfire risk
• Jun. 26, 2015 –
  Statement from Inslee on the Supreme Court ruling guaranteeing nationwide marriage equality
• Jun. 25, 2015 –
  Statement from Gov. Jay Inslee about the Supreme Court ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act
• Jun. 23, 2015 –
  Inslee requests Kennewick Man be returned to Native Tribes and offers state assistance
• Jun. 20, 2015 –
  Inslee statement on the passing of Washington State University President Elson S. Floyd
• Jun. 10, 2015 –
  Inslee announces appointment of Brian Stiles to Skagit County Superior Court
• Jun. 4, 2015 –
  Inslee announces formation of Subcabinet on Military Downsizing
• Jun. 4, 2015 –
  Inslee announces appointment of Vikki Smith as director of state Department of Revenue
• Jun. 2, 2015 –
  Inslee honors 20 state government managers for outstanding performance
• Jun. 1, 2015 –
  Boards and commissions appointments by Governor Jay Inslee – May 2015

Petitioning POTUS, Charles E. Samuels, Jr., Kathleen M. Kenney Grant Me Compassionate Release and Help Me Save My Family Petition by Joy Nelson New Roads, Louisiana 1,824 Supporters Sign Joy’s petition

My name is Joy Nelson and my brother Thomas Nelson is serving a 10 year sentence for a non-violent crime. I started this petition on his behalf — here is his story in his own words:

I went to prison for corruption, the only thing I felt confident about was that my three children were in great hands. While I served 10 years for breaking my constituents’ trust as mayor of a town in Louisiana, I knew that my trustworthy wife would provide for our children and shape them into good, productive members of society. But that solace came to an end on September 23, 2012, the day my family was involved in a devastating car accident that left my wife and one of our three young children incapacitated, possibly for the rest of their lives. Now, the only person who is able to take care of my wife and children is me.  

Just before the accident, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) had amended its Compassionate Release Program to permit the release of an inmate whose spouse becomes incapacitated. So when this tragedy struck, I requested release — not complete freedom, but home confinement — to care for my spouse and children. It has twice been denied, despite the fact that prison wardens, staff and medical professionals all support my release.

I need the BOP to grant my request for a Compassionate Release, so I can serve the rest of my time on house arrest and care for my family.

The Compassionate Release law states that the welfare of an incarcerated person’s family must be central in considering a request for release. Legal assessments have determined that no other family member is capable of, or available to, care for my infirmed wife and kids besides me. This law was written to cover cases just like mine.

I am a first-time offender. I’m serving a sentence for a non-violent crime, in a low-security prison camp with no bars, no fences. My status as a model inmate has been confirmed by my Unit Team staff and warden. The warden approved my request for Compassionate Release and forwarded it to the BOP General Counsel in Washington for final approval, and that is where it was inexplicably denied, twice.

Meanwhile, I am borrowing money to pay a caregiver for my wife, whose severe traumatic brain injury has left her permanently incapacitated. She often cannot tell our children apart, let alone take care of their daily needs.

Please join me in asking the BOP to honor its own program statement, and permit my Compassionate Release to home confinement. My wife and my children are in trouble, and this program may be their last hope.

I’m Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. The nation is rattled by another mass shooting, this time against military service members in Tennessee; and Uber gets a big lift at LAX. Here are some story lines I don’t want you to miss today.

Top Stories

Carnage in Chattanooga
Another mass shooting. A dead gunman with an Arabic name. And a new wave of fear about “lone wolf” attacks. Four Marines were killed in an assault on two military sites in Chattanooga, Tennessee, before the gunman was shot dead. A motive wasn’t clear. Authorities are investigating as a terrorist attack. Here’s the latest on the attack and what we know about the suspect, by all accounts a bright and religious young college graduate.

A Pick-Me-Up for Uber
Los Angeles officials opened a huge door for ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, all but clearing the way for them to pick up fares at LAX. L.A. would be the biggest city to open such access to its major airport. It’s a big lift for Uber, which is beset by legal challenges around the country and the world — including some serious problems with California state regulators.

Farms vs. Fish
Congress can’t make it rain, but it’s good at starting storms. House Republicans passed a bill that would send more water to San Joaquin Valley growers by cutting water for endangered fish. Environmentalists are outraged. It won’t get to President Obama, who probably wouldn’t sign it anyway. Analysts say this merely highlights how little Congress can do about the drought.

Japan’s New Military
The U.S. took great pains to demilitarize Japan after World War II, even drafting a pacifist constitution for the country. Now, with China flexing its military muscle in the region, a doctrine of “collective self-defense” is taking hold. New legislation could allow Japanese troops to fight abroad, perhaps alongside U.S. forces. Problem is, a lot of Japanese want none of it.

India’s Epic Fail
It’s a colossal scandal even by India’s standards. Whistle-blowers say tens of millions of dollars changed hands to rig tests for exams for medical school, the holy grail of education in India. More than 1,800 people have been arrested. Now, there’s a grim twist: People linked to the scandal are dying. Take in some high crime and medical mystery in today’s Great Read.