Washington State Standard

The United States has signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could allow the kingdom to enrich its own uranium, bypassing the so-called gold standard safeguards Washington required of the UAE in 2009. Lawmakers from both parties are raising alarms about the deal's implications for nuclear proliferation and stability in the Middle East.

US states are moving ahead of the federal government on regulating artificial intelligence safety, with state legislatures drafting and passing their own AI rules. The trend highlights a growing gap in Washington, where comprehensive AI legislation has stalled, leaving individual states to set standards on issues like transparency, bias and consumer protection.

A union representing Washington state workers has ratified a new contract that includes no general pay raise, according to Washington State Standard. The agreement comes as the state faces budget pressures, and the absence of a wage increase is likely to spark debate among employees and labor advocates about compensation amid rising living costs.

Members of the American Feed Industry Association are calling on the US Congress to pass the PURR Act, legislation affecting the regulation of pet food. Industry advocates want federal standards to replace a patchwork of state-level rules, arguing the change would streamline approvals and give pet owners more product choices. The push highlights ongoing lobbying by the pet food sector over how its products are regulated in Washington.