Gov. Bob Ferguson is proposing a statewide ban on cellphones in Washington’s public schools. Neighboring Oregon is among a majority of states banning or restricting the devices.
At a press conference on June 9, 2026, at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School in North Seattle, Gov. Bob Ferguson announced that he wants to see a cellphone ban in all Washington state public schools.
Freddy Monares / KNKX
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At Robert Eagle Staff Middle School in North Seattle, something is notably missing as kids walk through the halls, changing classes: cellphones.
The school has required students to lock their phones away during school hours since implementing their “away-for-the-day” policy in 2024.
Gov. Bob Ferguson used the school as a backdrop for a press conference Tuesday to announce that he wants to see a cellphone ban in all Washington state public schools. The majority of states in the U.S. now have a type of cellphone ban or restrictions in place.
“In our schools, digital distractions are causing kids to miss what’s written on the white board. They’re focusing more on memes than on math,” he said.
In Washington, many individual public schools have cellphone policies, but there is no broad ban coming from the state.
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A recent study from the University of Washington shows that, on average, teens spend more than an hour a day on their cellphones while at school.
No phones at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School
Zach Stowell, principal at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, said at the press conference that he’s seen positive changes after taking students’ phones away.
“The classrooms are more vibrant, students are engaging, there’s more social time,” he said. “At the end of the day … our test scores are up, and I’m seeing kids smile at rates that we’ve never seen before.”
Zoe Taggart, a seventh grader at the school, said the policy has also helped her outside of school hours.
“After school, everybody’s hanging out with each other, and then again, it’s still phones away, because we know there’s better things to do,” Taggart said.
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Washington educators advocate for phone bans
Some educators have been pushing lawmakers for phone bans in schools.
The Washington Education Association, which represents 84,000 educators in the state, passed a resolution in April in support of a statewide cellphone ban in public schools.
Larry Delaney, the organization’s president, said he’s proud of the work state educators do on a daily basis.
“Their creativity is unmatched, but no amount of ‘gamifying’ or enhancing lessons will off the stimulation that the latest TikTok trend will. I’m 57 years old, and I find myself getting sucked in,” he said.
During the legislative session earlier this year, state lawmakers approved studying how cellphone use affects kids during school hours. Ferguson said that’s not enough to protect students.
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He said he and his team will meet with students and educators across the state to discuss the policy and hear feedback.
Ferguson expects to announce a detailed proposal by Sept. 15. If approved by the Washington state Legislature, it would be implemented by the start of the 2027-2028 school year.
Adia White from the Northwest News Network contributed to this report.
Freddy Monares is a reporter with KNKX. This story comes to you from the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.
It is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs, entertains and enriches their lives. To learn more, visit our journalism partnerships page.
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What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
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The MLB action continues on Wednesday as the Washington Nationals visit the San Francisco Giants.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Washington Nationals vs San Francisco Giants?
First pitch between the San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals is scheduled for (ET) on Wednesday, June 10.
How to watch Washington Nationals vs San Francisco Giants on Wednesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6:32 a.m.
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MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for June 10 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
Washington State University alumni Fé LopezGaetke and Mary Nam have been appointed to the university’s Board of Regents by Gov. Bob Ferguson. Both appointments will take effect June 9.
“Fé and Mary have been true advocates for Washingtonians for decades,” Gov. Ferguson said in an announcement Tuesday. “I’m confident they will provide steady leadership on the WSU Board of Regents.”
The board is the university’s governing body whose broad responsibilities are to supervise, coordinate, manage, and regulate the WSU system. The Board of Regents consists of 11 members, one of whom is a student and one of whom is a faculty member.
LopezGaetke is the co-executive director at Purpose. Dignity. Action. (formerly Public Defender Association). She was previously the director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Law School Admission Council, where she helped identify the effective strategies and policies for helping diverse students gain admission to law school.
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“Growing up in Central Washington, I know that so many in my community look to WSU as an accessible and important opportunity to further their education,” LopezGaetke said. “Additionally, my professional development path has afforded me the unique lens of surveying local and national educational trends and impact to underrepresented communities that can help inform Washington State University’s strategic direction. I look forward to working together to continue moving WSU into innovative sustained growth that is accessible to all who attend.”
LopezGaetke previously served as the first director of Seattle’s Community Police Commission, where she advocated for marginalized communities on issues of police reform.
She is a past president of the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington and OneAmerica.
LopezGaetke, a child of former farmworkers, is from Central Washington and is a WSU graduate. She currently lives in White Center with her family. She started her bachelor’s degree at WSU’s main campus and finished her degree at the Tri-Cities campus. She earned her law degree at Seattle University School of Law.
Nam is an Emmy Award-winning news anchor and journalist who spent more than 20 years at Seattle’s KOMO-TV. When she joined KOMO in 2003, she found herself among numerous fellow WSU graduates, carrying on a proud tradition of Edward R. Murrow College graduates joining the industry. In March, after 26 years, she retired from local news.
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“I’m very excited to join the WSU Board of Regents,” Nam said. “The education and experience I received at WSU changed my life — my four years in Pullman led to a 26-year career in broadcasting. Whatever you’re drawn to, WSU can create a path toward success. Students today face both new possibilities and challenges, and I’m honored to join at a pivotal time in the changing landscape of higher education. I thank Governor Ferguson for this opportunity. And I look forward to working with such a passionate and dedicated Board.”
Nam has worked with numerous non-profits, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Food Lifeline. She also previously volunteered with King County Senior Services’ Sound Generations and served as a youth mentor with the VOICE Mentor Program.
Nam and her husband, Eric, are WSU graduates. They look forward to the Apple Cup in Seattle this year, she said, and “Cougar football in the Palouse with our two sons is a fall highlight.”
The appointments of LopezGaetke and Nam fill two recent vacancies on the Board. The Governor will soon announce a third appointment to fill the vacancy due to the passing of former state Sen. Sam Hunt.
WASHINGTON (7News) — Several loaded Glocks and other illegal guns were seized by law enforcement during a 24-hour enforcement period across Washington, D.C.
The enforcement spanned from June 6 to June 7, and involved members of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force and U.S. Park Police (USPP).
A loaded Glock 19 was seized during a traffic stop on Clara Barton Parkway, and a loaded Glock 43 was found during a different traffic stop in Northwest D.C., USPP said.
RELATED | Trump administration highlights effort to beautify Washington, DC
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In addition, a handgun was seized from a person in Anacostia Park. Three guns, including an AR-style pistol, were taken during a traffic stop near Benning Road.
Another gun was recovered and multiple arrests were made during a traffic stop on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, USPP said.
SEE ALSO | Man faces murder charge after deadly fight in Southwest DC
“Every illegal firearm removed from our communities is a potential act of violence prevented,” USPP Chief Scott Brecht said.
The enforcement was carried out under President Donald Trump’s Operation Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful.
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“Under @POTUS’ DC Safe & Beautiful order, we are REDUCING violent crime and REMOVING illegal weapons from our nation’s capital!” U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wrote in a social media post.
