WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Wednesday, June 12

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks to reporters during a news conference in Seattle, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, as abortion rights supporters listen. Inslee announced that Washington state will spell out in state law that hospitals must provide abortions if needed to stabilize patients, a step that comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this month on whether conservative states can bar abortions during some medical emergencies. (AP Photo/Gene Johnson)

Gov. Jay Inslee says Washington will make clear that hospitals must provide emergency abortions
Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday said Washington will spell out in state law that hospitals must provide abortions if needed to stabilize patients, a step that comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this month on whether conservative states can bar abortions during some medical emergencies. There is no indication that patients have been denied emergency abortions in Washington, but the Democrat said during a news conference in Seattle he wanted to remove any doubt that hospitals were required to provide those services if necessary. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Gene Johnson)


Attorney General Bob Ferguson, right, shakes hands with former Southridge High School student Conner Mertens, who helped launch a new mental health helpline called “HearMeWA.” (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times)

Washington launches mental health, school safety helpline for teens
On Tuesday, the Washington Attorney General’s Office launched a youth-focused hotline …HearMeWA is a statewide reporting system for youth facing any kind of challenge or crisis: everything from food insecurity and social difficulties to suicidal thoughts and threats of violence at school. Any Washington resident under the age of 25 can use the hotline, which is operated by the gun violence prevention nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)



72% of Washington eighth graders not proficient in math, report shows
Most Washington K-12 students failed to meet basic math and reading proficiency standards in recent years, according to a new report. The analysis from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that in 2022, 66% of Washington fourth graders were not proficient in reading and 72% of eighth graders were not proficient in math. Data from all 50 states, published annually by the foundation, show Washington students doing marginally better than the national average. Across the United States in 2022, 68% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading and 74% of eighth graders were not proficient in math. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)


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Aberdeen Daily World
One arrested following Westport bombing incident

Capital Press
USDA under secretary tours Odessa groundwater replacement project
Washington Grain Commission approves ‘very healthy’ $7.2 million budget

Columbian
Clark County children can get free breakfast, lunch every day this summer
Evergreen, Vancouver district eighth-graders lag behind state in math scores
Gov. Jay Inslee says Washington will make clear that hospitals must provide emergency abortions
Biden administration seeks to wipe consumer medical debt off most credit reports with proposed rule

Everett Herald
With eye on growing county, PUD replaces aging Marysville substation
Free Snohomish County program offers training for manufacturing careers
New public database answers Snohomish County’s pressing crime questions

News Tribune
95 new species coming to Tacoma aquarium after $7M revamp. Here’s a sneak-peek inside

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon reloads multibillion-dollar affordable housing fund
Constantine updates plan to remake 7 blocks in downtown Seattle
What businesses need to know about the newest SBA lending program

Seattle Times
Bacteria in water closes several Seattle-area beaches
WA hospitals must provide emergency abortions, Inslee says
Washington launches mental health, school safety helpline for teens

Spokesman Review
Spokane landlords can no longer ban tenants from installing AC units
Wildfire forces dozens of evacuations southwest of Spokane amid high winds; fire knocked down Tuesday night
Opinion: Cost of care is increasing, but WA Cares’ benefit isn’t

WA State Standard
72% of Washington eighth graders not proficient in math, report shows
Inslee affirms WA’s position that hospitals must provide emergency abortion services

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Dozens of Pride flags stolen in downtown Burien
Burien police chief resigns, accepts outside employment opportunity
Inslee’s directive ensures emergency abortion services in Washington as SCOTUS abortion rulings loom

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Post-pandemic learning loss affecting WA students
Two Seattle police officers under investigation after violent arrest caught on video
Boeing sales tumble as the company gets no orders for the 737 Max for the second straight month
Garfield High School student raises money to increase school’s security following deadly shooting
‘A ticking time bomb:’ family of crash victim suing state DOT over ‘dangerous’ SR 509 intersection

KNKX Public Radio
BLM shrinks proposed size of controversial Lava Ridge wind farm

KUOW Public Radio
Mapped: Shootings around Seattle’s Garfield High School this year
Damaged track switch derailed sulfur-hauling train in Whatcom County
Should cops return to Seattle high schools? Interim Chief Rahr signals she wants to talk about it

KXLY (ABC)
Downtown Spokane Pride mural struck again by vandalism
School-based health centers provide easy access to healthcare for students
Students and teachers in Spokane feeling the benefit of ditching phones in the classroom
Medical Lake Mayor bans fireworks to prevent wildfires, city still recovering from Gray Fire

Web

Crosscut
Audit finds more problems with how WA spent federal COVID aid

MyNorthwest
Seattle City Council takes steps to expand use of automated license plate readers
Amazon adds $1.4B to affordable housing fund for regions where it has corporate offices