Jacob Jones

What happened to nearly $1 million of pandemic assistance in Thurston County? A case of fraud put a stop to emergency aid in Thurston County for months, but county leaders never pressed charges against the alleged perpetrator or demanded the money back.

I was on @kuow.org yesterday talking about why Thurston County leaders never pursued a property management company that Auditors suspected of running a $940,000 pandemic aid fraud scheme. www.kuow.org/stories/what...

Whatcom Council eyes closing legal loophole that hid $225K payout A prosecutor’s legal interpretation left the Council in the dark about a sexual harassment settlement, until Cascade PBS’s reporting unearthed the case.

The Whatcom County Council introduced an amendment last week to close a legal loophole that left them in the dark about a $225,000 sexual harassment payout they first learned about from a Cascade PBS investigation in 2024: www.cascadepbs.org/all/2025/10/...

Olympia ‘Diaper Guy’ named in $940K rent aid fraud investigation Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead.

Newly uncovered audit findings allege a South Sound property manager fraudulently obtained nearly $1 million in pandemic rent assistance money, in a scheme that led Thurston County to shut down emergency aid for months. By @brandonblock.bsky.social: www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

Whatcom County Council has now introduced legislation to increase oversight of lawsuit payouts in continued fallout from my reporting on the favorable treatment of a former public works director accused of sexual harassment.

Report: Whatcom County employees have trust issues over workplace harassment | Cascadia Daily News Nearly 50% of workers responded to survey — ‘dissatisfaction with complaint handling was prevalent’

County council commissioned a consulting group in February to review policies and procedures for workplace harassment.

Olympia ‘Diaper Guy’ named in $940K rent aid fraud investigation Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead.

Newly uncovered audit findings allege a South Sound property manager fraudulently obtained nearly $1 million in pandemic rent assistance money, in a scheme that led Thurston County to shut down emergency aid for months. By @brandonblock.bsky.social: www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

Olympia ‘Diaper Guy’ named in $940K rent aid fraud investigation Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead.

Newly uncovered audit findings allege a South Sound property manager fraudulently obtained nearly $1 million in pandemic rent assistance money, in a scheme that led Thurston County to shut down emergency aid for months.

Olympia ‘Diaper Guy’ named in $940K rent aid fraud investigation Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead.

New investigation: Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

The Curse of the Middle Guy: Ferguson’s first 8 months as governor Expectations were high for Bob Ferguson. For many across the political spectrum, the reality has been baffling and disappointing. What happened?

The last story I edited before Monday's news was @laureldemkovich.bsky.social's excellent examination of Bob Ferguson's first 8 months as governor, a tenure marked by low public approval, decisions baffling to Dems and Republicans, and reduced press availability.
www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

Donate to Support Cascade PBS journalists after online newsroom axed, organized by Isabella Breda On Monday, Sept. 22, Cascade PBS announced that it would be s… Isabella Breda needs your support for Support Cascade PBS journalists after online newsroom axed

It’s difficult to find the words to express how our unit is feeling right now, but we’ll take a stab at it: shocked, disappointed, angry, gutted. @cascadepbs.bsky.social’s choice to eliminate long-form written reporting is a massive loss for our community in a critical moment. tinyurl.com/LayoffFund

Last words: What Washington is losing with the demise of Crosscut • Washington State Standard COMMENTARY | As a nearly two-decade venture in nonprofit news comes undone, it underscores the precariousness of public service journalism.

Last words: What Washington is losing with the demise of Crosscut. As a nearly two-decade venture in nonprofit news comes undone, it underscores the precariousness of public service journalism. My latest column for the Washington State Standard: washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/09/24/l...

I’ll be talking about my reporting on government AI use on MuckRock’s FOIA Friday podcast this week, and on a panel at @ire.org AccessFest conference next month.

This investigation wouldn’t have been possible without support from the editors + news team who Cascade PBS decided to lay off this week

The arrest of the 'Spokane 9' stained by accusations of political justice Smoke and pepper balls filled the streets of Spokane on June 11.

From me: The former acting U.S. Attorney for Eastern WA resigned in July due to concerns about Justice Dept. leadership inside the Trump Administration, he told me exclusively last week. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...

Washington city officials are using ChatGPT for government work Records show that public servants have used generative AI to write emails to constituents, mayoral letters, policy documents and more.

Great public records story here: KNKX Public Radio and Cascade PBS obtained thousands of pages of ChatGPT logs from city officials in Washington state (h/t @muckrock.com) www.knkx.org/government/2...

Horse Heaven wind farm faces one-third cut over hawk protections Leaders of Washington’s energy permitting council advanced a plan on Wednesday that would cut by one third the size of the state’s largest proposed wind and solar energy plant. The state’s Energy Fac...

Leaders of Washington’s energy permitting council advanced a plan on Wednesday that would cut by one third the size of the state’s largest proposed wind and solar energy plant. By @brandonblock.bsky.social: www.cascadepbs.org/news/briefs/...

Is your mayor using ChatGPT? Here’s how to FOIA around and find out - Poynter Seattle PBS reporter Nate Sanford investigated how city officials throughout Washington are using generative AI. Here’s how he did it.

I talked with @poynterinstitute.bsky.social about how to get copies of government officials' ChatGPT histories.

FOIA around and find out:
www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...

MLK Labor pivots to dual Harrell, Wilson endorsement for mayor Delegates from the MLK Labor Council voted Wednesday evening to endorse both Mayor Bruce Harrell and challenger Katie Wilson in Seattle’s mayoral election. Before the primary, MLK Labor had given Harr...

NEW: Delegates from the MLK Labor Council voted Wednesday evening to endorse both Mayor Bruce Harrell and challenger Katie Wilson in Seattle’s mayoral election. Before the primary, MLK Labor had given Harrell a sole endorsement in this year’s race.

The Seattle Police Department has informed me that they will not follow the policy they agreed to in a settlement with the Seattle Times on public disclosure when dealing with my records requests. Instead, they are "grouping" all of my requests and responding to them, in full, one at a time.

Donald Trump’s Assault on Disability Rights Federal offices and programs that insure equal treatment are being shuttered and scaled back.

A group of fired workers from the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which oversees anti-discrimination enforcement for the Department of Homeland Security, submitted a whistle-blower letter to Congress.

Text messages are public records. How do you request them? Whether they appear in a yellow lined notebook or on white printer paper, government documents are government documents.

There are some challenges that can make requesting text messages more difficult than other public records. This guide will help you prepare for these challenges and navigate them. www.muckrock.com/news/archive...

Una guía de los tribunales de inmigración en el estado de Washington ¿Cómo se puede encontrar a alguien que está detenido por ICE? ¿Quién tiene derecho a una audiencia de inmigración? Abogados y defensores de los migrantes contestan preguntas frecuentes.

¿Cómo se puede encontrar a alguien que está detenido por ICE? ¿Quién tiene derecho a una audiencia de inmigración? Abogados y defensores de los migrantes contestan preguntas frecuentes. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

Wildland firefighters can wear masks after reports on smoke risks The U.S. Forest Service announced earlier this week that wildfire fighters can now voluntarily mask up against smoke, reversing a decades-long policy banning the use of respirators to reduce exposure ...

NEW: The U.S. Forest Service announced that wildfire fighters can now voluntarily mask up against smoke, reversing a decades-long policy banning respirators. The Forest Service will provide N95 respirators in the standard set of equipment. Prior to that, the agency had approved only bandanas.

Front page detail, The Columbian (Olympia), Vol. 1, No. 1, September 11, 1852

#OnThisDay in 1852, The Columbian, Washington's first newspaper, was published in Olympia. historylink.org/File/20433

A guide to navigating the immigration court system in WA state How do you locate someone in ICE custody? Who has the right to an immigration hearing? Attorneys and advocates answer common questions.

How do you locate someone in ICE custody? Who has the right to an immigration hearing? Attorneys and advocates answer common questions. By @farahe.bsky.social: www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

A guide to navigating the immigration court system in WA state How do you locate someone in ICE custody? Who has the right to an immigration hearing? Attorneys and advocates answer common questions.

Immigration court is and can be complex.

To help you make sense of the system, Cascade PBS spoke with immigration attorneys and advocates in Washington to answer questions regarding recent federal changes and our region’s unique challenges.

A guide to navigating the immigration court system in WA state How do you locate someone in ICE custody? Who has the right to an immigration hearing? Attorneys and advocates answer common questions.

How do you locate someone in ICE custody? Who has the right to an immigration hearing? Attorneys and advocates answer common questions. By @farahe.bsky.social: www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

Una guía de los tribunales de inmigración en el estado de Washington ¿Cómo se puede encontrar a alguien que está detenido por ICE? ¿Quién tiene derecho a una audiencia de inmigración? Abogados y defensores de los migrantes contestan preguntas frecuentes.

¿Cómo se puede encontrar a alguien que está detenido por ICE? ¿Quién tiene derecho a una audiencia de inmigración? Abogados y defensores de los migrantes contestan preguntas frecuentes. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

On the brink of a devastating canal collapse, a GOP district waits for Trump’s help After fire burned nearly all of the Yakima Tieton canal’s 12-mile route a team has documented more than 2,000 leaks spurting and gurgling from the concrete.

On the Brink of a Devastating Canal Collapse, a GOP District Waits For Trump’s Help

WaPo gift article link (may require email to read)

wapo.st/3IcrNMI

Whistleblower alleges abuse and retaliation at Seattle City Light A longtime employee says she experienced sexual harassment and assault from co-workers. Cascade PBS found SCL has already paid millions for misconduct.

A Cascade PBS investigation found that Seattle City Light has paid out at least $5 million in settlements over the past several years, including millions to its own employees over alleged discrimination or misconduct.

Whistleblower alleges abuse and retaliation at Seattle City Light A longtime employee says she experienced sexual harassment and assault from co-workers. Cascade PBS found SCL has already paid millions for misconduct.

Cambria Horne said she learned early in her time at Seattle City Light that speaking up came with consequences.
Horne, who helped spark an investigation into a culture of drinking & sexism at SCL, filed a new lawsuit last month alleging the city outed her as a whistleblower and enabled retaliation.