Hanford Cleanup Update: The U.S. Department of Energy says work is finished to empty high-level radioactive waste from Hanford’s leak-prone Tank A-106, with Washington regulators now deciding whether leaving about 4,000 gallons is enough to declare it “empty.” Nuclear Safety & Industry: A separate report revisits how “white liquor” chemical hazards have caused deadly industrial accidents in Washington and elsewhere, arguing the substance remains lightly regulated compared with the risks workers face. Critical Minerals Push: President Trump announced nearly $2B in new critical mining investments, including a $1.4B conditional loan tied to Sila Nanotechnologies’ next-gen battery facility in Washington, plus workforce grants. AI in Public Services: Washington’s AI task force wraps up, but a panel shows the fight over how much regulation is “enough” is far from settled. Tech Layoffs in WA: Salesforce plans 59 permanent layoffs in Seattle and Bellevue, adding to Google and Zillow cuts. Wildfire Science & Smoke: As smoke rolls into Western Washington, researchers and local reporting focus on what’s in the air and how to judge health risk during wildfire season. Autonomous Transit: Waymo adds a new Ojai vehicle to its Seattle-area testing fleet, continuing progress toward driverless ride-hailing. Local Governance: Tacoma City Council members and activists worry an ICE detention facility could be sold to federal control, complicating state oversight.