Washington News Roundup: Judge Halts Kalshi in WA, Wildfires Scorch Every National Park and More

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Community · Red Rock Daily staff

Here’s a roundup of recent Washington news: a King County Superior Court judge ordered the prediction market Kalshi to stop most of its operations in the state, wildfires have scorched all of Washington’s national parks during a fire season that has burned nearly 2% of the state, and Washington opened applications for emergency cash aid for wildfire victims on Aug. 12. Separately, Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office delayed a climate data correction for weeks, the state opened a formal investigation into the Let’s Go Washington PAC, and planners are mapping major grid upgrades as Pacific Northwest electricity demand surges.

King County judge orders Kalshi to stop most operations in Washington

A King County Superior Court judge has ordered Kalshi, the online prediction market, to stop most of its operations in Washington state. The Seattle Times reported Thursday, Aug. 13 that Kalshi was ordered to stop most operations in WA, and KUOW reported Friday, Aug. 14 that the ruling covers most online betting in the state. The New York Times said the order requires Kalshi to cease most operations in Washington. FOX 13 Seattle and MyNorthwest also covered the order as a stop to most gambling and prediction-market trading in the state. (The New York Times, Aug. 15, 2026; KUOW, Aug. 14, 2026; The Seattle Times, Aug. 13, 2026; FOX 13 Seattle, Aug. 13, 2026; MyNorthwest, Aug. 13, 2026)

Wildfires have scorched all of Washington’s national parks

Wildfires have now scorched all of Washington state’s national parks, NBC News reported Thursday, Aug. 13. The Seattle Times reported that Washington’s devastating 2026 fire season has burned nearly 2% of the state. Earlier in the month, Reuters reported fires on more than 250,000 acres of Washington prompted evacuations, and KPTV said fires in Oregon and Washington together had burned more than 3 million acres as of Aug. 9. CNN reported residents returning to find homes destroyed by fast-moving wildfires, and NBC News reported that an act of arson caused a large share of the destruction. A new fire near Mount Rainier scorched more than 300 acres with 0% containment, according to MyNorthwest on Aug. 10. (NBC News, Aug. 13, 2026; The Seattle Times, Aug. 10, 2026; Reuters, Aug. 2026; KPTV, Aug. 9, 2026; CNN, Aug. 2026; MyNorthwest, Aug. 10, 2026)

Washington opens emergency cash aid for wildfire victims

Washington state began accepting applications Aug. 12 for emergency cash aid and grants for residents impacted by wildfires, according to KREM and KOMO. (KREM, Aug. 12, 2026; KOMO, Aug. 2026)

Montana deploys National Guard to help Washington fire response

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte deployed National Guard resources to support Washington’s wildfire response, the Daily Montanan reported Aug. 10. (Daily Montanan, Aug. 10, 2026)

Ferguson’s office delayed climate data correction for weeks

Axios reported Aug. 13 that Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office delayed a correction to climate data for weeks. (Axios, Aug. 13, 2026)

State opens formal investigation into Let’s Go Washington PAC

Washington has opened a formal investigation into the Let’s Go Washington political action committee, FOX 13 Seattle reported Friday, Aug. 14. (FOX 13 Seattle, Aug. 14, 2026)

Planners map major grid upgrades as PNW electricity demand surges

With Pacific Northwest electricity demand surging, planners are mapping out major grid upgrades, the Washington State Standard reported Aug. 14. (Washington State Standard, Aug. 14, 2026)

Voters to decide on restoring Parents’ Bill of Rights in November

Washington voters will decide in November whether to restore the state’s original Parents’ Bill of Rights, KOMO reported. (KOMO, August 2026)

For more on the Evergreen State, see the Washington guide.