A union of Washington state workers said it plans to strike because of a lack of pay increases. A raccoon named Jimothy, born with a shortened spine, became an internet sensation. President Trump fired Seattle’s court-appointed U.S. attorney just an hour after he was sworn in.
Washington Federation of State Employees union plans a strike over “insulting” pay offer
A major conflict is brewing in Washington state between Governor Bob Ferguson’s administration and tens of thousands of public employees. The Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), which represents more than 50,000 workers, announced it intends to stage a large protest on August 31. The trigger was Ferguson’s pay proposal, which the union called “insulting and suicidal”—in essence, a total absence of any wage increases in the next two-year budget cycle.
Contract talks for 2027–2029 have been moving with mixed results, but in recent days the tension has sharply escalated: the parties have a deadline of October 1, and so far there has been no progress on any of the points.
As The Seattle Times reports, in its message to members the union said the governor’s delegation came to the talks not with an offer but with a refusal. “We weren’t expecting rainbows and unicorns,” the message said. “But what the governor’s negotiators brought wasn’t just tough—it was insulting and suicidal. Obviously, not a single cent is planned for your compensation in the 2027–29 contract.”
WFSE president Mike EastRamsky, in an interview with the outlet, said he is frustrated by the administration’s position, which cites a lack of funds, while responses on other issues—less contentious ones—took months and ultimately amounted to “no” with no counteroffer.
No comment was provided on the substance of the negotiations by officials from the governor’s office, including Hayden McClain, spokesperson for the Office of Financial Management, citing confidentiality. McClain did say only that they are “committed to the process” and are working toward an agreement by October 1. After the passage of several tax-increase measures, including the famous “millionaires’ tax,” which will not take effect until 2029, Ferguson promised to present a budget without new taxes for 2027. In June, his budget office already demanded significant cuts from agencies, warning that projected tax revenue would not cover current expenses.
The union argues that the last contract for 2025–2027 included a 5% pay increase over two years tied to inflation, as well as some stipends for certain categories. But, EastRamsky said, inflation has “gotten out of control,” meaning the purchasing power of public employees has effectively declined. Strikes have occurred during previous negotiations—back in 2024, workers staged a partial walkout to push for better conditions.
This current standoff is not just an emotional flare-up, but a symptom of a deeper budget problem: the state is teetering on the edge of a deficit, and the governor is constrained by an election promise not to raise taxes. For workers, that means their interests are being sacrificed to political rhetoric; for the administration, it raises the risk of paralysis in government services if the union decides on a full-scale withdrawal from jobs. Experts say such “weapons-rattling” is typical in the bargaining process, but the current ultimatum appears more serious than usual because of the rigidity of both sides’ positions. Whether a compromise can be reached before October is a question that affects not only the well-being of 50,000 families, but also the stability of the state’s schools, hospitals, and other public institutions.
Raccoon Jimothy: how a crooked-spine critter won Seattle—and the internet
A short video with a simple question—“What do I see?”—turned a Seattle raccoon into a worldwide internet star in just a few days. The unusual animal, dubbed Jimothy by internet users, has a shortened spine—most likely the result of a congenital deformity, as explained by Marcy Logsdon, an associate professor at a veterinary clinic at Washington State University, in an interview with The Seattle Times. The video has racked up more than 10 million views on social media, and Jimothy instantly became a pop-culture hero. Merch with his image appeared, along with drawings, and the slogan “Jimothy’s hot summer”—a pun on the well-known phrase “hot girl summer” by rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Fans call him “Saint Jimothy” or “King Jimothy.” Even a tattoo artist in Tacoma announced a discount for anyone who gets a raccoon tattoo.
Residents in the Ballard neighborhood began sharing old video clips, which they say show Jimothy when he was still a baby. “Oh my gosh, I’m so happy someone caught our sweet little prince as a baby,” one Reddit user wrote. Now the raccoon has his own subreddit, and media outlets across the world have been republishing his story.
Despite the abundance of old photos, Logsdon believes Jimothy was most likely born this year. “The fact that he’s made it to this age says that he’s adapting and coping. I was surprised—and honestly, a little inspired by his resilience,” she said.
Given the popularity, some may want to find Jimothy, but experts warn that the animal should be left alone. If you’re concerned about him—or other wildlife—in Seattle you can contact the PAWS Wildlife Center. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends not feeding raccoons, not leaving trash accessible, feeding pets indoors, and locking animal-proofed doors at night. By the way, Jimothy isn’t the first raccoon from Western Washington to make global news: several years ago in Poulsbo, a woman began feeding raccoons, and about a hundred of them surrounded her home, forcing her to call 911 to be let inside.
Title
Trump fires new Seattle prosecutor appointed by the courts within an hour of his appointment
President Donald Trump fired the newly appointed top federal prosecutor for Seattle on Wednesday, less than an hour after he was unanimously approved and appointed by judges in the county. The incident is the latest example of the tension between the judiciary and the president’s administration over control of key posts in the Department of Justice.
Roger Roergoff, a former judge and a veteran prosecutor at the state and federal levels, was sworn in as U.S. attorney at 8 a.m. at the federal courthouse in downtown Seattle. In a phone interview, he said that immediately after the swearing-in, he went to the prosecutor’s office to meet with Charles Neal Floyd, whose 120-day temporary term in the role had expired back in February. While Roergoff waited in the lobby, he received an email from the Trump administration notifying him that he had been fired. He is now consulting lawyers about whether he can sue over his dismissal.
Typically, presidents appoint U.S. attorneys—the top federal prosecutors in each judicial district—with subsequent confirmation by the Senate, except for temporary appointments. When temporary appointments expire and the president’s nominee has not yet been confirmed, judges in the district can appoint a prosecutor themselves. Under Trump, however, the Department of Justice sought to keep unconfirmed prosecutors in their jobs indefinitely, often using unconventional staffing maneuvers.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on social media that district judges can appoint a temporary prosecutor, and that the president can fire him—adding that the judges who selected Roergoff “declined the time-tested procedure of consulting with the administration so that the selected prosecutor would be able to serve at this administration.”
Trump appointed Floyd—who previously served as an immigration judge—as temporary U.S. attorney in October of last year, but never sent his nomination to the Senate. When Floyd’s term expired, the administration simply changed his position title to “first assistant U.S. attorney,” leaving the head of the office vacant—a tactic also used in other districts. In May, a panel of the federal appeals court expressed doubts about the legality of that maneuver.
In response, the district judges decided to announce a search for the position, setting up a bipartisan commission to review applications. On Wednesday morning, a court consisting of 17 active and senior judges, appointed by five presidents, unanimously appointed Roergoff as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington.
Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, who previously opposed Floyd’s nomination, sharply criticized the firing. She said Roergoff, throughout his career, had shown outstanding dedication to public service and was lawfully appointed. “This administration doesn’t want to go through the Senate confirmation procedure—they just want to put their people in place to carry out a corrupt political agenda,” she added.
A Yahoo News article notes that in December Alina Habba stepped down as chief federal prosecutor for New Jersey after an appeals court ruled her time in the job was unlawful. Lindsay Halligan, who had prosecuted two of Trump’s opponents, left her post in Virginia after a judge found her appointment was illegal and ordered her charges against James Comey and former FBI director should be dismissed. The judges there appointed James Handley, but the administration fired him as well, along with the prosecutor in Northern New York.
Roergoff, who worked for 20 years as a state prosecutor and six years as a federal prosecutor before becoming a judge, admitted that he knew the possibility of immediate dismissal existed, but he had no doubts about the conflict he was stepping into. For a prosecutor, he said, being a U.S. attorney is “the best job in the world.” He said he is proud of his career and deeply moved that the district judges—before many of whom he had argued or worked—found him worthy of the position.
This story shows not only the ongoing fight over control of the judiciary, but also how the Trump administration uses legal loopholes to bypass the Senate confirmation process—driving a wedge between branches of government and calling into question the legality of many prosecutorial actions.
