Tag Archives: Norm Johnson

14th District lawmakers protect Yakima Valley School from closure

Up to 70 percent of residents living at Yakima Valley School for the developmentally disabled have called it home for 25 to 30 years. With the passage of Senate Bill 5459 today, the Washington State Legislaturewill allow them to remain at the Selah facility for the rest of their lives.

The measure will close the Frances Haddon Morgan developmental disability facility in Bremerton by Dec. 31, but sets in place a plan to gradually reduce the number of residents at YVS. Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, worked to keep the facility’s residents and staff in place for as long as possible. Continue reading →

Bill to create anti-gang law ready to pass Senate with King’s support

House Bill 2414, which would create a criminal street gang activity nuisance law, was made eligible today by the Senate Rules Committee for a vote by the full Senate. The measure’s chief supporter in the upper chamber of the Legislature, Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, said such a law would give law-abiding citizens another tool to help combat gang activity in their neighborhoods.

“We’ve been fighting the expanding gang presence in our district for some time now, and this bill will make it easier for private individuals to take action,” King said. “We need all the help we can get to combat this scourge and this bill will certainly do that.” Continue reading →

King says stimulus vote keeps Valley Mall interchange on track

Sen. Curtis King says the Valley Mall Boulevard/Interstate 82 interchange project, which was at risk of being delayed to 2016, will remain on schedule now that the Legislature has passed a bill to appropriate about $340 million in federal transportation stimulus money.

“Representatives Johnson and Ross helped move the bill out of the House of Representatives, the Senate caught it at mid-afternoon and now it’s off to the governor’s desk. It’s been a joint effort that I appreciate very much,” said King, R-Yakima. “One of my three goals for this legislative session was to keep the Valley Mall interchange on track. The votes today mean the project will stay on schedule to go out for bid in October.” Continue reading →