Washington Representative Roger Freeman, a first term lawmaker who made a major impact on child-welfare policy, died.

• Position: PEOPLE & POLITICS - Brief article - Obituary

WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE ROGER FREEMAN, A FIRST TERM LAWMAKER WHO MADE A MAJOR IMPACT ON CHILD-WELFARE POLICY, DIED at the end of October. He was 48. Freeman began his battle against colon cancer shortly after his election to the House in 2012, but he was confident he would be healthy for a second term. Freeman died before Election Day, but was headed for a decisive victory with 53 percent of the vote under Washington's mail-in system. House Speaker Frank Chopp (D) and Representative Eric Pettigrew (D), Democratic caucus chair, said the Legislature had "lost a treasured...