Phone-Free Schools Act: Gov. Bob Ferguson unveiled a proposal to require Washington public schools to keep student phones and other devices powered down and out of reach all day, starting July 1, 2027, with Spokane as a key test case. Elections & Voting Access: Ballots for the Nov. 3 general election will hit mailboxes next week, with Pacific County mailing to 18,000+ voters and 24-hour drop boxes across the peninsula. Healthcare & Immigration: Federal rules are narrowing Medicaid eligibility for immigrants, with Washington among states expecting major coverage losses in October. Labor & Public Service: WFSE members approved a 2027–29 contract that protects healthcare funding and workplace protections while delaying general wage increases to a second-year reopener. Courts & Accountability: Providence and MultiCare reached $155.5M settlements in class actions tied to alleged unnecessary or improper spine surgeries. Community Resilience: A Kennewick teen returned to marching band after brain tumor surgery, with Seattle Children’s credited for a careful, nose-based operation. Culture & Arts: Earshot Jazz Festival brings pianist Zaccai Curtis to Seattle with Cubop Lives!, blending bebop and Latin rhythms. Sports: Washington women’s soccer shut out USC 1-0; Olympia’s Gabriela Peralta earned a nomination for the NFL Latino Youth Honors Program.