OLYMPIA – Beginning Saturday, July 1, a new payroll tax kicks in for most Washington workers to fund the state’s new long-term care insurance program.
It’s too late now to opt out of the WA Cares program. And if you haven’t, you’ll be paying 58 cents for every one-hundred-dollars you earn from your paycheck for a lifetime maximum long-term care benefit of 36-thousand-500 dollars. Those who work in Washington and live in Idaho will be taxed but never be able to receive the benefits, unless they obtain an exemption.
Republican State Representative Peter Abbarno of Centralia says it’s an “unpopular, inadequate and regressive” program, and just a bad deal for Washington workers.
Advertisement
“This is a short-term, not a long-term, and an inadequate benefit that many, including my kids, who are 11 and 12, will be paying into probably more than they’ll ever get out of,” said Abbarno.
For the past two years, Abbarno offered legislation supported by Republicans to repeal the program and the tax, but majority Democrats wouldn’t allow a hearing on the bill. That means starting Saturday, someone earning $75-thousand dollars annually in Washington will be giving up 435-dollars of their paycheck to the state. “And that’s money that so many people are going to invest in this program and never receive the benefit from,” said Abbarno.
Looking to win big? The Idaho Lottery offers several games if you think it’s your lucky day.
Lottery players in Idaho can chose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Lucky For Life, 5 Star Draw, Idaho Cash, Pick 3 and Pick 4.
Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here’s what experts say to do first.
Here’s a look at Sunday, May 18, 2025 results for each game:
Advertisement
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 18 drawing
Day: 9-0-7
Night: 2-3-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 18 drawing
Day: 1-7-0-7
Night: 7-5-4-7
Advertisement
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from May 18 drawing
01-03-04-18-30, Lucky Ball: 08
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Idaho Cash numbers from May 18 drawing
04-11-12-14-41
Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Advertisement
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?
Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
Advertisement
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Following direction from Idaho Gov. Brad Little, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare submitted a formal request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Friday seeking approval to implement House Bill 109, signed by Gov. Brad Little in April.
Idaho is among just a few states to move quickly on submitting the waiver, a step that is required to implement the new law. House Bill 109 aims to promote healthier food choices by removing soft drinks and candy from the list of items eligible for purchase through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps.
“My administration is committed to securing the necessary waiver as quickly as possible so we can improve lives and Idahoans’ overall health,” Little said. “I appreciate the support of USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and the Idaho Legislature as we promote the MAHA movement in Idaho.”
Advertisement
Health and Welfare’s Division of Self-Reliance submitted the formal request.
“Idaho supports the health and well-being of families who rely on SNAP,” said Self-Reliance Division Administrator John Bernasconi. “By aligning SNAP benefits with basic nutrition standards, we hope to reduce preventable chronic health conditions and encourage healthier habits across the state.”
Once finalized, Idaho’s waiver request will ask the USDA to approve specific modifications to SNAP’s allowable food categories. If approved, SNAP benefits would no longer cover the purchase of soda, energy drinks, or candy. These changes reflect growing public health concerns over the role of added sugars and processed foods in contributing to conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
House Bill 109 received strong support in the 2025 legislative session and builds on a national conversation about the role of nutrition in federal food assistance programs. According to USDA data, a significant portion of SNAP purchases—approximately 20% nationally—are spent on sugary beverages and snacks.
“This effort is not about limiting choice—it’s about encouraging better options for families and making sure public resources are supporting long-term health,” Bernasconi said.
Advertisement
=htmlentities(get_the_title())?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=get_permalink()?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=htmlentities(‘For more stories like this one, be sure to visit https://www.eastidahonews.com/ for all of the latest news, community events and more.’)?>&subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20EastIdahoNews” class=”fa-stack jDialog”>
Some soft calls were coming from my bird feeders as I walked out to check my rock tumblers, “evening grosbeaks,” I thought as I strolled across the lawn. Two males flushed from the sunflower seed feeder as I got near it. I stopped and watched them join a small flock in the flowering chokecherry bushes along the full water ditch.
The next day while walking through the baren garden the sharp call of a male bullocks oriole came from a tree that they normally feed on orange halves. He appeared disappointed that the oranges had not appeared yet, but he came back as soon as I ran in the house to get the tree supplied with two halves for him.
After a four-day stay in EIRMC for a heart attack, I came home with all my feeders empty and quickly had my grandchildren load them up. This week I have had black-headed grosbeaks, lazali buntings and western tanagers joining the evening grosbeaks and bullock’s orioles adding color to my backyard. If you want these beautiful birds to visit your backyard, it is time to put out an assortment of food like orange halves, grape jelly, shelled sunflower seeds and bird feed with some white millet in it.
With the cold rainy weather this week, I have increased my types of feed adding dried mealworms and safflower seeds for any odd bird that may show up and need a snack. One of my favorite winter birds, a male steller’s jay, showed up Friday morning to brighten my morning along with a House wren.
Advertisement
A couple of male western tanagers trying to decide which one gets first dibs to feed on an orange half. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com
I have been researching types of bird food this week to see if I need to expand even a little more. If you follow me, I have preached that red millet is a huge waste so I will not purchase bird feed that contains a lot of it, but in doing so, I have not used white millet. In visiting with another birder, I was told that white millet attracts Lazuli buntings, I found a store that carries white millet mixed with nyger seeds and will add it to my backyard restaurant for birds. If you have a favorite food for birds, give me a shout about it.
Colorful, and plain, birds are like medicine for me. In the spring when my daffodils, tulips and other early spring flowers brighten the wet, dark dreary days, adding colorful or new birds brings joy to my life. When I am tethered to a doctor’s or self-imposed physical leash and cannot leave home as often as I would like, a beautiful backyard full of flowers and birds lessen the need for an escape.
A winter favorite, a Steller’s jay, hangs around and occasionally comes to backyard feeders when it gets cold or stormy. Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com
This to shall pass and hopefully in a week or two (probably four), I shall be able to chase the birds, rocks and fish and won’t have to bring them to my backyard. The doctors tell me being lazy is not a sin, but a healing process, so I will do my best to follow their instructions.
If any of you are following the nesting sandhill cranes at Camas National Wildlife Refuge or watching the great blue herons harvest voles on the south side of Mud Lake, now is the time to do it. The cranes should hatch out in the next week to 10 days and one of the nests is very visible if you can time the hatch. Watching a colt (sandhill crane chick) come out of the egg is a show you will never forget.
Good luck and stay safe – this is a crazy time of the year with too much going on to miss!!
A male Evening grosbeak is alert after being flushed from eating at a bird feeder. Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com
=htmlentities(get_the_title())?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=get_permalink()?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=htmlentities(‘For more stories like this one, be sure to visit https://www.eastidahonews.com/ for all of the latest news, community events and more.’)?>&subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20EastIdahoNews” class=”fa-stack jDialog”>