Washington state auditor Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Programs For Disabled And Disadvantaged Washington Youth Imperiled After Lieutenant Governor Cancels Funding Amid Ethics Probe

By Austin Jenkins September 21, 2021

Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2019 as part of a fundraiser for an outdoor leadership program for young people with physical and sensory disabilities.

It was supposed to be former Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib's legacy — a pair of programs to serve youth with disabilities and youth from marginalized or disadvantaged backgrounds. But Habib's successor cancelled a contract with the nonprofit that operates the programs after identifying what his office called "suspicious financial activity" during Habib's last year in office.Read More

Washington Auditor Says State Unemployment Fraud Likely Much Higher Than $647 Million

By NWPB News April 14, 2021

This photo shows a sign at the headquarters for Washington state's Employment Security Department Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at the Capitol in Olympia.

The amount of fraudulent payments of unemployment benefits distributed in Washington state during the height of the coronavirus pandemic was likely higher than the $647 million identified by the Washington state Employment Security Department, according to a new set of reports released by the state auditor’s office Tuesday.Read More

Former Washington State Auditor Faces Prison Time After U.S. Supreme Court Denies Review

By Austin Jenkins March 23, 2021

Former WA State Auditor Troy Kelley leaves the federal courthouse in Tacoma in 2016. Kelley's attorney says he plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review Kelley's conviction. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

Former Washington state Auditor Troy Kelley has exhausted his appeals and now faces the prospect of having to report to a federal prison to serve a 366-day prison sentence after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition for review of his case.Read More

State Auditor: Data Breach Compromised Info Of 1.6 Million Washingtonians Seeking Unemployment

By NWPB News February 1, 2021

Commissioner Suzi LeVine addressed unemployment claim processing delays during a media teleconference Thursday. CREDIT: WA ESD via Zoom

A data breach may have exposed the personal information of 1.6 million residents who filed for unemployment last year, as well as other information from state agencies and local governments, Washington state Auditor Pat McCarthy said Monday.Read More

Court Upholds Conviction Of Former Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley, Further Appeals Possible

By Austin Jenkins July 29, 2020

Former Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected an appeal by former Washington state Auditor Troy Kelley who sought to have his 2017 convictions for possession of stolen property, filing false tax returns and making false statements overturned.Read More