Washington | featured news

WASHINGTON — Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker will testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 8, appearing as one of the new Democratic majority’s first witnesses as they seek to provide more stringent oversight of President Donald Trump.
In a letter sent to Whitaker Tuesday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler says he is “happy to have reached an agreement for you to appear” on that date. Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec confirmed that Whitaker would appear.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s pick to become the next attorney general said Tuesday that he would “not go after” marijuana companies in states where cannabis is legal, even though he personally believes the drug should be outlawed.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is recalling about 46,000 of its employees furloughed by the government shutdown — nearly 60 percent of its workforce — to handle tax returns and pay out refunds. The employees won’t be paid during the shutdown.
With the official start of the tax filing season coming Jan. 28, the Trump administration has promised that taxpayers owed refunds will be paid on time, despite the disruption in government services caused by the partial shutdown now in its fourth week.

PORTLAND — Southwest Washington-based organizations are eligible for Oregon Ethics in Business Awards recognition.
“There are many businesses and nonprofits in Southwest Washington that are going beyond the expected in running their organizations the right way,” Mike Rosenberg, chair of the Oregon Ethics in Business Awards committee, said in a news release. “Southwest Washington is a vital part of our community to include in this celebration.”

SEATTLE — Alaska Air Group says it plans to add more than 3,000 jobs this year, with three-fourths of the positions opening in Washington.
The Seattle Times reported that the Seattle-based airline group says the new jobs will include maintenance technicians, airport operations, customer service, cargo specialists, flight attendants and pilots.
The company says most of the openings will not require previous airline experience.