Mai Hoang

Investigations team caps four years with state law, policy reforms From youth labor violations to housing abuses to pandemic aid fraud, Cascade PBS investigative reporters cast light into undercovered corners of WA in 2025.

From youth labor violations to housing abuses to pandemic aid fraud, Cascade PBS investigative reporters cast light into undercovered corners of Washington. Our final Impact Report and a thread of some of the team's best work: www.cascadepbs.org/impact-repor...

Remembering Crosscut: 18 years of independent journalism in WA As Cascade PBS sunsets its digital newsroom, formerly Crosscut, current and former staff members reflect on some of the outlet’s impactful reporting.

As Cascade PBS sunsets its digital-first news operation, we take a look back at some of the stories that exemplify its impact on the region over the past 18 years, first as Crosscut and later as the Cascade PBS newsroom.

Yesterday was a dark day for local news. But we can weather dark times when we fight together. And we’re going to fight like hell over the next few weeks to get these journalists what they deserve from @cascadepbs.bsky.social

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

Nine Guild-represented journalists and their editors have also lost their livelihoods as a consequence of this decision. We are crowdfunding to support our affected colleagues, and you can help by donating to our layoff fund. tinyurl.com/LayoffFund

Our News and Investigations teams report deeply on crucial issues — immigration, labor, the impact of federal & state budget cuts, local politics — and with the elimination of these teams, many of these stories will go untold. Many voices in our community will be silenced.
tinyurl.com/LayoffFund

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

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...

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...

Today, I was laid off from Cascade PBS along with my entire team and most of the newsroom. I'll have more to say, but I have loved my time as news editor alongside some of the best journalists I have ever worked with. Every time a newsroom closes, stories go with it. The silence that follows is loud

Cascade PBS slashes Seattle newsroom, citing federal cuts Formed in 2015 by the merger of KCTS 9 TV and Crosscut, Cascade PBS will continue making video programs but will stop producing “long-form written journalism.”

Cascade PBS decided to shut down our news operation, leading to layoffs for 13 staffers, including me. Needless to say, it's a huge blow to me, my colleagues and our readers.

Dealing with the hurt, but I'll be back to talk about how I'm moving forward.

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

WA reviews uses for its portion of $50B federal rural health funds The Rural Health Transformation Program will distribute $100M annually to each state for five years in response to more than $990B in Medicaid cuts.

My latest for @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social: The Big Beautiful Bill includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid. However, healthcare officials hope a $50 billion fund included in the bill will mitigate some of the potential impacts from such cuts. www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/09...

I would like to note that this isn't even her main event and she's doing this as a side quest.

The PNW supports @propublicaguild.org
workers and their fight for a fair contract that includes “just cause” job security, a fair and transparent disciplinary process, and guardrails ensuring artificial intelligence does not replace journalists! Sign to support! @propublica.org

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.

Love this Q&A from my @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social colleague @sanfordnate.bsky.social on how he did his investigation on cities using AI. Some really useful tips on how to do it for your local governments.

www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...

Okanogan County protests highlight rural impact of Trump policies Organizers in the north-central Washington Republican stronghold want to call attention to how recent cuts could hurt the region’s poorest residents.

In Twisp, about 150 people gathered for the 27th consecutive Saturday protest. Despite living in a Trump stronghold, Okanogan County residents have sustained months of regular demonstrations protesting President Trump's policies hoping to connect with others & be heard by those with differing views.

Okanogan County protests highlight rural impact of Trump policies Organizers in the north-central Washington Republican stronghold want to call attention to how recent cuts could hurt the region’s poorest residents.

My latest for @cascadepbs.bsky.social: For six months, a group of residents in the Methow Valley in North Central Washington have been protesting weekly. This is part of one of several actions community organizers are staging throughout Okanogan County.

www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/09...

WA’s AG Brown joins petition to lift abortion pill restrictions Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has joined attorneys general and a governor from 16 other states to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to remove some restrictions on mifepristone, a drug...

The headlines about Costco and mifepristone are so misleading: They didn't cave to pressure; they never stocked it. For mifepristone news that's accurate and timely, check out @maiphoang.bsky.social's report on the AG's push for fewer restrictions on the drug
www.cascadepbs.org/news/briefs/...

WA delegates toe party lines in House passage of Trump budget bill GOP representatives say tax cuts will benefit working families and small businesses, while Democrats decry massive cuts to federal health, food programs

Latest @cascadepbs.bsky.social: Washington's Congressional delegation voted along party lines in House vote of landmark legislation earlier today. Republicans say tax cuts will help families while Democrats decry reductions in federal health care, nutrition funds. www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/07...

Screenshot of how Washington representatives voted on the big beautiful bill. Two republicans voted yes. 9 democrats voted no.

No big surprises among Washington's Congressional delegation. Votes split along party lines with Republicans Dan Newhouse and Michael Baumgartner voting for the bill.

Here's a handy starter pack of @cascadepbs.bsky.social news staff if you aren't following us already! go.bsky.app/SVamVeC

Washington accepts out-of-state bid for new ferry construction A longer version of this story appeared on the Washington State Standard. For the first time in more than 50 years, Washington State Ferries will contract with an out-of-state shipyard to build new v...

From @washingtonstatestandard.com: For the first time in more than 50 years, Washington State Ferries will contract with an out-of-state shipyard to build new vessels.

For a new series we're doing, @laureldemkovich.bsky.social is digging into specific programs the state budget is cutting and who it will impact. This week, she wrote about Treehouse, which provides programming + practical support for youth in foster care

Okay let's try this again! Thanks to all of you who have followed. I'm going to work on posting here more!

Cle Elum files for bankruptcy to settle $22 million judgment The second city in state history to do so, officials made the decision after months of mediation and say it’s the most “sustainable resolution.”

My latest for @cascadepbs.bsky.social: The city of Cle Elum files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, becoming just the second Washington city to do so. The city moved in this direction after emerging from mediation with a Seattle-area developer without a deal to pay a $22 million judgment.

Despite federal ruling, trans Seattleites can’t update passports A judge temporarily blocked an executive order on ID gender markers, but transgender citizens are still waiting for officials to comply.

After a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's executive order on ID gender markers matching birth sex, some trans Seattleites rushed to get new passports. But they found that local passport offices won't issue new IDs w/out guidance from the State Department. www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

Dusting this thing off -- playing catch up, posting some stories and trying to figure this place again.

Analysis | Musk is nearly done destroying what made Twitter Twitter Musk didn’t buy Twitter. He bought millions of accounts he could repurpose for another app entirely.

Some interesting food for thought about what Elon's getting rid of on Twitter.

Hoping Blue Sky can restore some of what made twt great. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Yakima City Council candidates talk budget deficit, homelessness With pandemic funding set to end in 2024, the general election could significantly affect how the city addresses its multi-million dollar shortfall.

In my latest for Crosscut: I chat with Yakima City Council candidates about the general fund budget shortfall anticipated for 2025 and their proposals for addressing unsheltered homelessness in the area. crosscut.com/politics/202...

Who will redraw Central WA’s Latino-majority voting district? The Legislature can either regroup the redistricting commission — an unprecedented move that some say is unlikely — or pass the task to a federal court.

My latest piece for Crosscut looks at the options before the Legislature to redraw WA's 15th Legislature District, a Latino voter majority district, to have it in compliance with federal voting rights law. crosscut.com/politics/202...

Live updates: 2023 Washington primary election results Check here at 8 p.m. as ballots are counted for races in Bellingham, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma and Yakima.

For my one or two followers who aren’t eating Election Day pizza right now, here’s the #waelex results page @Crosscut https://crosscut.com/politics/2023/08/live-updates-2023-washington-primary-election-results