OLYMPIA-- The State of Washington was extremely disappointed to hear from the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) on Thursday that two more milestones agreed to in the 2010 Hanford Cleanup Consent Decree with the State are at substantial risk of being missed. USDOE Secretary Ernest Moniz called Governor Jay Inslee on Thursday to inform him of this information

Washington State Joins Federal Trade Commission in Multi-State, Multi-National Law Enforcement Initiative
           

OLYMPIA— Attorney General Bob Ferguson has learned Washington residents are receiving calls from scammers posing as Medicare officials seeking personal information, claiming to need the information to issue new Medicare cards.

OLYMPIA— After an extensive investigation and litigation, the Attorney General’s Office today announced a settlement with Caicos Corporation for multiple violations of the state’s prevailing wage laws, resulting in a total payment of more than $64,000 plus $25,000 in interest to 14 misclassified workers. 

“The Attorney General’s Office is proud to work with the Department of Labor & Industries to protect workers from wage shortages and to hold companies accountable in the marketplace,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson.  

Mortgage servicing abuse payments total $24,130,286 for Washington

OLYMPIA, WA — Borrowers who submitted a valid foreclosure payment claim through the National Mortgage Settlement will receive a check this month for approximately $1,480, much higher than the amount of $840 first announced.

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Attorney General’s Office Friday charged Emily Kirk of Pullman, Wash., with theft of $13,910 from Whitcom 911 Employee Guild. The Guild’s treasurer is accused of Theft in the First Degree, Money Laundering and Forgery.

OLYMPIA—Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced the state filed a Notice of Appeal in the case of US v Washington— the “culverts” case. 

“The state remains committed to addressing fish passage barriers and will continue to do so as resources permit.  The implications of the case, however, stretch beyond culverts.  Issues of this magnitude deserve full and thoughtful appellate review.”

GRAND MOUND, Wash.—A group of young women from Wenatchee shared their efforts to prevent bullying in their schools and community and won the Grand Prize at the 2013 Spring Youth Forum-- a $3,000 partial scholarship to an upcoming prevention leadership conference in Washington, DC.

OLYMPIA—Washington has joined with other states and the federal government in a $500 million dollar settlement to resolve civil and criminal allegations against Ranbaxy, a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Gurgaon, India. The company is alleged to have introduced adulterated—or tainted— drugs into interstate commerce, resulting in false or fraudulent claims being submitted to Washington’s Medicaid Program.

AG Ferguson and Sec. of State Wyman Join BBB in Warning of Bogus Charities

DuPont, Wash. –In the wake of the massive tornados that touched down in Oklahoma this week, Better Business Bureau (BBB), the Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the Secretary of State (SOS) are warning of opportunistic fraudsters. Cons follow the headlines and can easily create bogus charities under the guise of helping victims.