SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated a health care staffing shortage in Washington, so the state Legislature this year provided more than $38 million to expand nursing programs statewide. Some schools, like Eastern Washington University, got funding to create a new four-year program. But Washington State University, didn’t receive any to bolster their current programs. Legislators and university officials say that’s because of what funding each school requested this year. The Spokesman-Review reported that other schools that received nursing funds include Western Washington University, the University of Washington and technical and community colleges.