Spokane men included in Jan. 6 pardons
On President Trump’s first day in office, he issued pardons for more than 1,500 defendants involved in storming the capitol.
Ethan Nordean was a member of Seattle’s Proud Boys chapter, according to court records.
Social media posts show he and other Proud Boys planned to overwhelm police barricades on January 6th.
He was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2023, one of the longest sentences of any rioter.
President Trump called him out by name in a proclamation commuting Nordean's sentence to time served.
Thirty-two other Washingtonians have been charged or convicted for actions on January 6th.
Two men from Spokane, Joshua Edward Johnson and Elliot Patrick Williams, had been charged and convicted in connection to the riot.
Johnson pleaded Guilty to the charge of Obstruction of an Official Proceeding, but his other charges had been dismissed. In July of 2023, he received a two-year prison sentence, plus 24 months of supervised release, and been fined a $100 for a special assessment and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.
Williams pleaded Guilty to one charge: Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds. His other charges had been dismissed. His sentence included 30 days incarceration and a one-year term of supervised release, $25 special assessment, $500 in restitution, and 50 hours of community service.
Attorneys for Johnson and Williams have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Spokane remembers MLK
Dozens gathered in downtown Spokane Monday to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and the fight for civil rights yesterday.
The festivities began with a rally at the Convention Center. Speakers included the leaders of the MLK Family Center, the Spokane NAACP, and local Black student leaders, including Jetaime Thomas, who heads Ferris High School’s Black Student Union.
“With leadership in this country, it feels as if we're already cycling back. We need leaders who are not in love with money or publicity, but leaders in love with justice," he said.
Speakers challenged their audience to remember the legacy of Dr. King and be a part of local change. Some, such as Lisa Gardner, who directs the Spokane NAACP chapter, framed the day’s purpose in contrast with the presidential inauguration and the national political landscape.
"I ask you all to continue to be vigilant. Despite what's going on from a national level, it's here. We are all we got right here," she said.
Many, including Seattle Bishop Garry Tyson, echoed those thoughts.
“We are here today to lift our voices against economic tyranny and corporate takeover of the government. The political — that's right — the political and economic systems in our country are broken," he said.
The event also included a tribute to Reverend Happy Watkins, the Spokane civil rights activist who for years recited King's “I Have a Dream” speech at local MLK-related celebrations. Watkins died in October.
Washington legislators also honor Dr. King
The Washington House and Senate each unanimously approved resolutions on Monday honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Speakers such as Rep. Natasha Hill [D-Spokane] lauded his work promoting racial and economic justice.
“It is my hope, Madame Speaker, that we remember all kids and families from Snoqualmie all the way to Spokane, especially those who have different lived experiences than our own who are struggling and hurting today and that we honor Dr. King’s legacy, not only with our words, but with action, direct action," she said.
Representative Michelle Caldier [R-Gig Harbor] said she gained a new appreciation for King after losing her eyesight.
“Before I became blind, I did not see how much of Dr. King’s work was left undone. Isn’t it interesting that I had to lose my eyesight to gain vision to a new world, a world full of injustice," she said.
Since becoming blind, Caldier has at times battled legislative leaders, including those in her own party, to get help so she can more effectively do her job. For a time she even left the House Republican caucus to protest. She eventually returned after the caucus elected a new leader who promised to accommodate her and her disability.
Several legislators said King’s legacy is more than just a few marches and speeches on behalf of racial justice. They said his movement’s broader message was about economic equality and self determination for all people. They said there’s still work to do in many areas.
Washington's health exchange more popular than ever
Washington health officials say a record number of people applied for insurance through the state health exchange during the open enrollment period that closed last week.
Exchange officials report more than 308,000 people signed up for policies for 2025, nearly 50,000 of them new customers. The agency says more than 75% qualified for some form of subsidy to help lower their monthly premiums.
That’s good news for them, but perhaps bad news for the future of the program. Officials warn the federal tax credits that help make those lower premiums possible need to be renewed by Congress and there’s no guarantee of that. They also say the exchange policies are so popular that that the demand for the state subsidies that help to lower prices is so great that it may limit how many people can benefit in the future.
Labor leaders in Washington release their wish list
The Washington State Labor Council has rolled out its legislative agenda for this year’s state legislative session.
Priorities for the council include better child labor laws, bargaining on artificial intelligence in the workplace and better leave time benefits for workers.
House Bill 1181 would require that starting in 2027, all employers would have to provide paid vacation time to workers.
Joe Kendo, the chief of staff for the Washington State Labor Council, says all workers should have access to this time away from work.
“ Resting has, unfortunately, become such a privilege in this modern era," he said.
The bill would also boost the state's minimum wage over six years to $25 an hour. The minimum wage in Washington is $16.66.
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Reporting contributed by Owen Henderson, Scott Greenstone, Doug Nadvornick and Lauren Gallup.