Meet In CommonNews

News in Lacey, WA

Capital Press · Lacey, WA

Farm labor groups align to promote ethical employment practices

Five organizations involved in bringing seasonal foreign farmworkers to the U.S. have formed an alliance to promote ethical recruiting and employment practices. Trusted Recruiter Alliance members intend to exceed regulatory standards set by the government, said Enrique Gastelum, CEO of the Worker and Farmer Labor Association in Lacey, Wash. “We don’t need the government coming in and telling us what’s morally right,” he said. The alliance’s other members are Western Growers in California; Oakland, Calif.-based CIERTO; Austin, Texas-based LaborMex, and másLabor, which has offices in Virginia and Georgia. U.S agriculture, particularly in states with labor-intensive crops, such as Florida, Georgia, California and Washington, rely on the H-2A program to fill jobs. The Labor Department certified 398,258 job openings for H-2A workers last year. Some 16% of all farmworkers were foreign workers, according to the Congressional Research Service.

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Grand Forks Herald · Rochester, WA

Nearby: Rochester, WA

The best way to spend a day in Rochester

A free day in Rochester is packed with potential. From delicious dining destinations to trendy boutiques and family fun spots, there's no shortage of things to do. Plan your next free day in Rochester with these Best of the Best winners that residents swear by. Rise and grind If you're the kind of person who likes to start your day with some athletic training, head to Burn Boot Camp for a 45-minute workout. They offer alternating High-Intensity Interval Training and strength training days. Drop in for a class to try it out and start your day on the right foot. Find your morning perk-up at Cafe Steam. Try their rich and delicious Mocha or a Spice Thai Coffee with sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, cardamom and clove. For the best breakfast in town, head to Hollandberry Pannekoeken for a mix of classic and creative offerings. The namesake pannekoeken is highly recommended and is available with a variety of toppings, from bananas to bacon to rum raisin.

Molalla Pioneer / Herald Pioneer · Tacoma, WA

Nearby: Tacoma, WA

Gov. Kotek wants Oregon to ban immigration detention centers. Others have tried and failed.

Oregon already has a 2021 law banning private immigration detention centers that may not be enforceable in light of previous court rulings on privately-run facilities. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is calling upon state lawmakers to pass legislation outlawing the construction of new immigration detention centers in the upcoming legislative session next year, but previous court cases from other states suggest that such a law may not be enforceable. The governor made her comments at a Friday press conference where she was asked what more she and state leaders could do to support Oregonians amid the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, during which federal agents have shot people, conducted warrantless arrests and smashed car windows. Research from immigrant rights advocates has shown that counties with such centers are more likely to see immigration-related arrests.

Tacoma Ledger · Tacoma, WA

Nearby: Tacoma, WA

UW Tacoma students share their thoughts before the election

UW Tacoma students shared their thoughts about the election ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026, election. By Kai Lee Many students at UW Tacoma gave their opinions on the election or voting ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026, elections. About 39% of adults in Washington state voted in 2025. The voter turnout for young adults ages 18 to 29 was 17% in recent years according to Campus Vote Project. Some students at UW Tacoma find voting important to uphold their values. “I hope people of all groups will feel safe,” Jordan Eng, a third-year Computer Science and Systems major, said. “If you are American, you should treat other Americans as Americans, no matter what they look like.” In the interview with Eng on Oct. 30, he said he was planning on voting that weekend. On the ballot, there were initiatives brought up by Let’s Go Washington, a conservative-leaning political action committee. One was I-001, which aims to allow parents access to their child’s school records and more.

The US Inquirer · Auburn, WA

Nearby: Auburn, WA

New federal housing rule could displace thousands, experts warn

Residents of federally funded public housing will be required to show proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status under a new rule published Thursday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The measure could displace nearly 80,000 people, including tens of thousands of citizens in mixed-status families, from their homes, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research and policy institute. Since 1995, mixed-status families have been permitted to live together in HUD-funded housing as long as federal subsidies covered only eligible household members. The new rule may force these families to decide whether to remain together in nonpublic housing or split up their households. “This is tearing apart families and sowing division,” said Marie Claire Tran-Leung, director of the Evictions Initiative Project and managing attorney at the National Housing Law Project.

Seattle Medium · Tukwila, WA

Nearby: Tukwila, WA

36th Annual Youth And Law Forum To Feature Erin Jones And Shawn Kemp

The 36th annual Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum returns to Tukwila Nov. 14, featuring keynote speaker Erin Jones and former SuperSonic Shawn Kemp. The free event offers workshops on police encounters, mental health, bullying and online safety, aiming to build trust between youth, families and justice system professionals through interactive, hands-on learning experiences.

Capital Press · Seattle, WA

Nearby: Seattle, WA

Judge rejects union bid to reset piece-rates for farm work

A federal judge in Seattle largely upheld the Labor Department’s rules for setting prevailing piece-rates for farm work, declining to order wholesale changes sought by a farmworkers union. Familias Unidas por la Justicia alleged the rules artificially limit piece-rate opportunities for foreign and domestic farmworkers. Instead, farmworkers must work for hourly wages, which pay less, the union claimed. U.S. District Judge John Chun agreed with the union on one rule, but mostly left intact the current methods for setting wages. Although the union’s suit focused on farmworker wages in Washington, a broader ruling in favor of the union could have affected farmworker wages nationwide. “The Labor Department can’t have a separate set of rules for Washington,” Worker and Farmer Labor Association CEO Enrique Gastelum said.

The Stranger · Seattle, WA

Nearby: Seattle, WA

Nobody Wants a McDonald’s in Chinatown

McDonald’s wants to put a new store in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID). Almost nobody thinks that’s a good idea. They are decidedly not loving it. Last night, about 80 CID residents and supporters packed the meeting of the International Special Review District (ISRD), the neighborhood’s historic preservation board. Impassioned public comments, handmade protest signs in Chinese and English, and several people in Ronald McDonald-esque clown masks injected the typically sleepy meeting with life. McDonald’s wants to place its new franchise on the corner of 4th Avenue South and South Jackson Street, along a busy thoroughfare close to the regional transit hub and sports stadiums. The storefront has remained vacant since Bartell Drugs closed four years ago. In submitting its proposal, Mickey D’s managed a remarkable feat: Uniting the community to take action in the span of less than a week.

International Examiner · Seattle, WA

Nearby: Seattle, WA

Exhibit explores the connection between Hwagae Market in Korea and Pike Place Market in Seattle

Surrounded by dense forests, the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts houses the Leonor R. Fuller Gallery. As a contemporary state-of-the-art venue, it currently features an exhibit of installations and paintings by local Korean women artists—telling the “Stories of Immigrant Life through the Spirit of the Marketplace.” If you were fortunate to make the opening reception on September 18, you were treated to an amazing performance by the Gunsan City Children’s Dance Company. Afterwards, you likely gorged on a delicious Asian style buffet. And, of course, you were captivated by the artwork. Curated by Kellis Parlett, the exhibit titled “From Hwagae Market to Pike Place Market” displays the talents of Korean women artists. As an artist herself (as well as the curator for Jade Choe Gallery at Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma), Parlett had in-depth answers to our questions about the exhibit.