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Good afternoon from the KUOW Newsroom. This is Seattle now. I'm Paige Browning with a roundup of today's top stories.

It's Thursday, July 31st.

The city of Seattle is suing the Trump administration over two executive orders that pertain to DEI programs and transgender rights.

The orders were issued in January. One takes issue with the practice of recognizing transgender people. Among other things, it threatens to withhold federal funding from

anything that promotes gender ideology. The other executive order seeks to end any policy that

promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

City attorney Ann Davison says the executive orders overreach into areas of local control.

The city's case was filed in federal court today. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Violent crime has dropped in Washington State, according to a new report from the Washington

Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

In 2024, violent crime was down by nearly 8 percent compared to the year before.

Murders decreased nearly 20 percent.

Despite the progress, Washington's violent crime rate is still well above

pre-pandemic levels. Washington State has removed the CEO and watchdog from McNeil Island. That's the

site of the Special Commitment Center where courts send sex offenders who are deemed likely to offend

again once out of prison. Advocates for those

...