WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Friday, February 26

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Bill to restore voting rights of Washington felons directly after prison passes state House
HB 1078, sponsored by Rep. Tarra Simmons, would make it so that a former felon would be eligible to vote the moment they are no longer incarcerated, and would retain that right regardless of whether or not they can pay off post-incarceration expenses. Rep. Simmons — who made history in 2020 after becoming the first former inmate elected to the Washington Legislature — believes that this proposal is integral in helping people reintegrate into society after prison. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Meesh)


In a parking lot on a rainy day, a man stands in camouflage pants with his back to the camera, with a vest and long black rifle slung across his back.

Washington Senate approves open carry ban at Capitol, permitted rallies
Openly carrying guns and other weapons on the Capitol campus and at or near permitted public demonstrations across Washington would be prohibited under a measure approved by the state Senate Thursday. The measure passed on a 28-20 vote and now heads to the House. Continue reading at KXLY. (Ted S. Warren)


The nine justices of the Washington State Supreme Court sit in two rows, wearing black robes with a large wooden door and marble wall in the background.

Justices nix state drug possession law; authorities react
Snohomish County’s top law enforcement officials are scrambling to assess the full impacts of a Thursday state Supreme Court ruling striking down the Washington law that makes simple drug possession a crime. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.


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Associated Press
Washington state justices strike down drug possession law
Senate approves open carry ban at Capitol, permitted rallies (Kuderer, Salomon)
Inslee announces pause in rollbacks in reopening plan
US consumers rebound to boost spending 2.4% as income jumps

Auburn Reporter
Republican state senators make bid to get children back into classrooms
New state modeling report explores options for safer return to in-person learning

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Thursday in Washington state
New energy secretary confirmed to guide Hanford cleanup, PNNL research
Washington state justices strike down drug possession law
Still no Phase 3, but Washington Gov. Inslee says no regions will backslide in reopening
Whatcom sees a death and 44 new COVID cases, as Bellingham schools report 3 incidents
Latest data shows COVID hitting this segment of Whatcom’s population significantly hard
Washington state Attorney General Ferguson sues Google again
Coronavirus weekly need-to-know: J&J vaccine, indoor gyms, mammograms & more
Yes, you still breathe in oxygen while wearing a COVID face mask, study shows
How far would $1,400 stimulus checks go? Struggling Americans and experts weigh in
Are indoor workouts COVID safe? Nearly 70% of people in one class got sick, CDC says

Columbian
In Our View: Body-worn police cameras will bolster trust
Southwest Washington legislators, state to meet over vaccine allocation inequity (Cleveland)

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
There are 200 COVID-19 vaccines available in Toppenish today
Inslee: regions won’t have to backtrack on Washington reopening plan
Virtual talk on emotional well-being in times of COVID
COVID-19 Vaccines Will Be Available This Weekend

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Justices nix state drug possession law; authorities react (Davis, Goodman)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Federal package could drive more than $10B to Washington (Jinkins)
Inslee: All of Washington to stay in Phase 2 for a few weeks
Cornfield Report: Money, drugs, hackers and the wait continues for Phase 3
WaPo Comment: Minimum wage’s history shows link to economic growth
Editorial: Goal or mandate, encourage move to electric cars

High Country News
Wildfires may have unexpected climate impacts
This year’s deadly avalanche season

News Tribune (subscription required)
Pay more sales tax for affordable housing in Tacoma? You might have to, like it or not
Relatives, community leaders call for justice for man who died in Tacoma police custody
Puyallup City Council split on community proposal for race and equity commission
MultiCare plans appeal after urgent care clinic in Puyallup cited for COVID violations
Five high school football games canceled in South Sound due to COVID
Editorial: Washington needs more bicultural, bilingual doctors. This Puyallup doc set a high bar

New York Times
Stimulus Checks Lift Personal Income 10% in January: Live Updates
The Coronavirus Is Plotting a Comeback. Here’s Our Chance to Stop It for Good.
Global Action Is ‘Very Far’ From What’s Needed to Avert Climate Chaos
F.C.C. Approves a $50 Monthly High-Speed Internet Subsidy
Granholm Sworn In as Energy Secretary
Top Senate Official Disqualifies Minimum Wage From Stimulus Plan

Olympian (subscription required)
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Thursday in Washington state
McClatchy agrees to recognize union for journalists in four Washington state newsrooms
New energy secretary confirmed to guide Hanford cleanup, PNNL research
More Olympia school grades set for hybrid learning; county adds 22 COVID-19 cases
Still no Phase 3, but Washington Gov. Inslee says no regions will backslide in reopening
Biden’s COVID relief bill widely popular among swing voters, Democratic poll finds

Peninsula Daily News
Olympic Medical Center’s vaccine supply is steady
Tribute to be for those lost to COVID-19
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
COVID cases confirmed in people in 30s, 40s
Inslee announces pause in rollbacks in reopening plan

Port Townsend Leader
Two Port Townsend residents test positive for COVID-19
Jefferson Healthcare improves scheduling for COVID vaccinations

Puget Sound Business Journal
Top senate official disqualifies minimum wage from stimulus plan
Employment law expert discusses liability concerns for re-opening offices
Washington businesses have received $3.47B in PPP loans so far this year
Costco to raise its minimum wage nationwide to $16 per hour
Let businesses apply for PPP directly with the government — for the program’s success
Powell says better child care policies might lift women in workforce

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Rep. Herrera Beutler censured over Trump impeachment vote
Notices to go out to 1.3 million Washingtonians affected by unemployment data breach
What we know about the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine: Timing, dosage, access in Washington state
Washington Senate approves ban of open carry of guns at protests statewide (Kuderer, Hunt, Hobbs)
Inslee: Washington state regions won’t have to backtrack on COVID-19 reopening for now
Opinion: Why Americans should care about the trial of democracy activists in Hong Kong
Washington Supreme Court strikes down law that makes unintentional possession of drugs a crime

Skagit Valley Herald
Scramble to re-issue permits for area shellfish farms underway following lawsuit
Kinzer to resign from Sedro-Woolley City Council

South Seattle Emerald
OPINION: We must continue lifting the voice of every womxn
King County argued for in-person trial in Le case, despite own COVID-19 precautions
Washington DOH cautiously optimistic about COVID-19, urges vigilance on variants
After learning details, families turn away from in-person learning at Skyway school
OPINION: A mother’s call to action for state lawmakers
Seattle City Council considers cutting SPD by $5.4m in response to 2020 overspending
Environmental justice activists push back on Inslee cap-and-trade proposal (Saldaña)

Spokesman Review
Washington Supreme Court rules state drug possession law unconstitutional after challenge by Spokane woman
Police responded to three times as many shootings in first two months of 2021 compared to past years
Open-carry at public demonstrations, capitol campus one step closer to becoming illegal after state Senate passage
Advocate for Snake River dams says removal would hurt farmers

Tri-City Herald
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Thursday in Washington state
Suspected drunk driver crosses Richland’s Highway 240 into oncoming semi
McClatchy agrees to recognize union for journalists in four Washington state newsrooms
8% of Tri-Citians receive 1st COVID shot. When will more be eligible?
Kennewick facilities district illegally spent taxpayer money on campaign, investigator says
Tiny homes swing into place in Kennewick
What you need to know about the Easterday bankruptcy, fraud
New energy secretary confirmed to guide Hanford site cleanup | Tri …

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Mask-related fine of Walla Walla business Hot Mama’s Espresso ‘affirmed’ but reduced
Walla Walla County reports two more deaths in Thursday’s COVID-19 update
Walla Walla County won’t have to backtrack to phase 1 of reopening for now
Whitman College considers cuts to prevent future budget crisis
Walla Walla high schoolers begin in-person learning on March 8
Walla Walla man Michael Tingle allegedly assaults jail staff while incarcerated

Washington Post
Vaccine lotteries and personal appeals: The medically vulnerable find their priority status slipping away
Exchange between GOP senator, transgender nominee draws fire from Democrats

Yakima Herald Republic
Inslee announces “pause” on sending regions back to Phase 1 of Washington reopening plan
Selah pays $45,000 to settle lawsuit over open meetings, public records violation allegations
Rep. Herrera Beutler censured over Trump impeachment vote
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic vaccinates about 900 people in Toppenish, more sites planned through weekend
Report: State facilities district improperly spent over $20K

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Seattle’s new vaccine waitlists help people find last-minute doses
Inslee pauses reopening plan for Washington state at Phase 2
COVID-19 vaccine supply could get big boost in March, Washington health officials say
Washington state justices strike down drug possession law

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Seattle police, Bellevue, other law enforcement immediately stop arresting people for drug possession
WA plans who will get single-dose vaccine
‘Your time is up’: Family of Manuel Ellis pressure AG for results of death investigation
Washington state justices strike down drug possession law
Coping with ‘Long COVID’ – the mysterious symptoms that won’t go away
Governor speaks out in support of ban on use of credit scores to set insurance rates

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Seattle police won’t arrest for drug possession after state high court strikes law down
Washington officials put pause on phased COVID-19 reopening plan, state remains in Phase 2
COVID-19 vaccine standby list created for Seattle residents 65 and older

KNKX FM
Law enforcement needs ‘culture change,’ says King Co. Council chair
Costco To Raise Minimum Wage To $16 An Hour: ‘This Isn’t Altruism’

KUOW FM
Joy Buolamwini: How Do Biased Algorithms Damage Marginalized Communities?
Brent Leggs: How Can Seeing Black History As American History Begin To Make Amends?
White advantage. Racialized trauma. Paths forward
Zero flu deaths in Washington state this year, a side effect of coronavirus protections
Washington Senate votes to ban open carry of firearms at Capitol and at demonstrations (Kuderer, Senn)

KXLY (ABC)
Washington Senate approves open carry ban at Capitol, permitted rallies (Kuderer, Salomon)
Weeks into Phase 2, Inslee says plans for next phase remain undetermined
Inslee: No risk of WA regions moving back to Phase 1, but still no plans for next phase
Vaccine appointment canceled? Here’s what you can do
Washington’s plastic bag ban on hold during COVID-19
Spokane woman’s case prompts state Supreme Court to strike down drug possession law

Q13 TV (Fox)
Washington schools find unique ways to adapt to in-person learning
Gov. Inslee announces all regions will remain in Phase 2, puts pause on moving backward
Washington State Supreme Court finds state’s felony drug possession law unconstitutional
Washington Senate approves open carry ban at Capitol, permitted rallies (Kuderer, Salomon)

Web

Crosscut
The model minority myth hurts Asian Americans seeking health care
Podcast | Militias, white supremacy and the U.S. Capitol insurrection
Opinion: I’m inheriting an enormous amount of wealth — WA should tax me more (Chopp, Macri, Pederson)

MyNorthwest
Des Moines neighborhood hit with spate of brake-slashing
Seattle launches standby vaccine list to hand out extra doses at end of day
SPD will no longer make arrests for drug possession after state Supreme Court ruling
Gov. Inslee announces all regions will stay in Phase 2 for next ‘several’ weeks
State Capitol monument to honor WA’s first Black pioneer, George Bush
King County looks to shore up treatment plant after 15 wastewater spills in 20 years
Bill to restore voting rights of Washington felons directly after prison passes state House
Costco set to increase minimum wage to $16 nationwide
Seattle Public Schools Board approves interim superintendent
Bill that would shut down Tacoma ICE detention facility passes state House
Biden administration rescinds Seattle’s ‘anarchist jurisdiction’ label
King County judge upholds series of Seattle eviction protections

Slog
Equality Act Passes House, Despite Republican Temper Tantrums

West Seattle Blog
Bald Eagle rescued at Don Armeni Boat Ramp
Seattle is texting alerts about leftover COVID-19 vaccines; here’s who can get on the limited standby list