Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson violated state ethics law last summer by allowing a former aide to ride on a state plane, according to a settlement the state Executive Ethics Board approved Friday.

• The former aide, Mike Webb, had resigned months earlier amid allegations of creating a hostile workplace.

Why it matters: The plane trip — first reported by Axios — violated rules banning the use of state resources for the benefit of non-state employees, the settlement says.

• By allowing Webb on the plane, Ferguson also used his position to grant special privileges to a non-state employee, according to the settlement.

Catch up quick: Webb was Ferguson's chief strategy officer until March 2025, when he resigned after multiple women in the governor's office raised concerns about his workplace conduct. Webb denied the allegations.

• Three months later, Webb flew with Ferguson to the Tri-Cities on a State Patrol-operated aircraft at the governor's invitation.

The latest: Ferguson agreed to a $4,000 fine, with $2,000 to be paid within 45 days. The rest is suspended on the condition that he commits no further ethics violations for two years.

What they're saying: In the stipulation, the board said violations like Ferguson's "significantly reduce the public respect and confidence in state government employees."

• The settlement states that Ferguson acknowledged that letting Webb ride on the plane "was a mistake and it will not happen again."
• The governor conceded that the plane ride "may have given the wrong impression" that Webb had a role in his administration even after Webb resigned.
• Webb didn't respond to a request for comment.

Between the lines: In addition to being former colleagues, Ferguson and Webb are close friends, Webb told Axios last year. Ferguson was a groomsman in Webb's wedding in 2014, according to video from the event.

At the time of the flight, Webb was working as a public policy director for the private law firm Singleton Schreiber — a position he still holds today.

• The ethics complaint was filed by a private citizen who said they learned about the flight from news coverage.

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Seattle Public Utilities has installed seven free drinking water refill stations in downtown Seattle, making it easier to fill up reusable bottles while on the go.

The stations are decorated with illustrations by Seattle artist Stevie Shao.

The rollout comes as Seattle prepares to host six FIFA World Cup matches this summer, the utility says. The soccer tournament is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city.

• Each unit cost about $5,000.

What they're saying: "We were motivated by the increasingly frequent and severe heat waves that take place in our region during the summer," Kahreen Tebeau of Seattle Public Utilities wrote in an email to Axios.

• The utility wanted to make it easier for people to refill water bottles during those emergencies while also reducing waste from single-use plastic bottles year-round, Tebeau said.

The new drinking water stations are at:

• 1000 2nd Ave.
• 501 Olive Way
• 1398 3rd Ave.
• 898 3rd Ave.
• 298 James St.
• 100 Pike St.
• 201 Occidental Ave.

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🚁 Seattle Children's Hospital and the Laurelhurst Community Council agreed Friday to revisit a decades-old agreement governing which medical helicopters can land at the hospital.

• The policy drew renewed scrutiny after critics highlighted that many transport flights must land about a mile away unless a child is deemed critically ill. (KUOW)

⚓ Seattle postponed a $7.9 million overhaul of the Leschi marina after neighbors and businesses raised concerns about construction impacts on the waterfront area. (CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News)

🗳️ The conservative group Let's Go Washington plans to pursue a citizen initiative to try to repeal the state's newly enacted income tax. (Washington State Standard)

Two pets, two very different vibes — we were amused by these two for totally different reasons.

Reader Drew H. describes Link the bengal cat as "forever grumpy" and "forever hungry."

• While Link sometimes screams (literally) for attention, this cat has a "heart of gold," their owner says.

Meanwhile, Sushi the dog is a "happy hound," owner Leilani M. tells us.

• We can't help but wond how they'd get along if they ever met.

📸 Got a pet that deserves the spotlight? Hit reply and send us their name, some cute pics (horizontal if possible) and what they most like and dislike. They might just become our next featured star!