Inslee denies drought emergency request

RITZVILLE — Gov. Jay Inslee is refusing requests to declare a drought emergency in the state.

Two wheat industry officials — Washington Association of Wheat Growers President Ryan Poe and Washington Grain Commission Chairman Mike Carstensen — requested the emergency drought declaration June 15 in a letter to the governor. A drought emergency declaration would give affected farmers access to additional governmental resources.

“As the extremely hot temperatures have reminded us, much of Eastern Washington — including our wheat-growing regions — is in the middle of a drought,” Sen. Mark Schoesler...