WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Thursday, June 20

 Bonneville Dam, June 12, 2024, in the Columbia River Gorge. (Erika Schultz / The Seattle Times)

Biden administration acknowledges harms of Columbia River dams on Indigenous people
The hydropower dams on the Columbia River flooded villages, disrupted economies and ways of life, and continue to harm people indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, according to a first-of-its-kind federal report released Tuesday. The report provides a summary of the historic, ongoing and cumulative harm to eight Columbia Basin tribes caused by 11 dams built in the Columbia and Snake rivers. It marks the first time the federal government has detailed these harms. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)


A fleet of electric delivery vehicles charges. A new network of stations up and down the West Coast could accelerate the adoption of more electric vehicles across the region. (Mustafa Hussain/Getty Images)

To help fund roads, WA lawmakers eye fee on delivery of online purchases
A fee tacked onto the delivery of many retail and online purchases could generate millions of dollars a year for maintaining city and county roads in Washington. State lawmakers now must decide if it’s an option worth pursuing as they, and local government leaders, wrestle with increasing costs of transportation upkeep and decreasing collections from the gas tax — the primary source of money for road work. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Mustafa Hussain)


As summer travel begins to spike, so does Covid cases across the United States. Unlike other respiratory viruses that surge in winter, like the flu and RSV, Covid has established a pattern of spiking in winter and summer, according to Dr. Helen Chu with UW Medicine. Seen here, a busy day at Ronald Reagan National Airport.

Covid is back in Washington just in time for your summer vacation
As Covid continues to settle into everyday life, health experts are noticing it has certain patterns, and a few other changes from the first few years the virus struck. Summer Covid is a thing. This is not what health officials expected from the virus. Sure, there’s the common winter cold and flu season. Officials began noticing Covid cases were on the rise in early June. Viral levels in wastewater, both nationally and in Washington state, were getting higher and higher. As of early June, Washington state was trending slightly higher than the national average. Continue reading at KUOW. (Tim Mossholder)


Print

Associated Press
US acknowledges Northwest dams have devastated the region’s Native tribes

Axios
SCOTUS ruling on Idaho abortion law could affect Washington

Columbian
This law is a lifeline for pregnant workers even as an abortion dispute complicates its enforcement
Cantwell’s bill would boost AI training for small businesses as Clark County companies incorporate technology

Everett Herald
On Juneteenth: ‘We can always say that there is hope’
Boeing lost track of up to 400 faulty 737 Max parts, whistleblower says
‘Financially insolvent’ Marysville schools to get unprecedented oversight
Comment: Juneteenth marked end to slavery; freedom’s taken longer

The Facts Newspaper
City of Seattle awarded nearly $3.2 million to support residential and small businesses transition from fossil fuels to clean, energy efficient appliances

The Inlander
The risk of wildfires is causing some in Spokane County to lose their homeowners insurance

News Tribune
Unable to find one itself, county to pay someone to locate new homeless shelter site
42 families had to move to make room for Puyallup apartments. Why is the lot still empty?
Someone I know uses pronouns I don’t understand. What now? A beginner’s guide to pronouns

Port Townsend Leader
Shellfish harvesting halted for toxicity

Puget Sound Business Journal
IRS ERC tax-credit backlog rises to 1.4M claims
Editor’s notebook: This is a workforce lost in space
Washington is one of the most expensive states for child care

Seattle Times
Seattle commission recommends against new test for police recruits
‘Everyone can do something’ to help pollinators, Woodland Park Zoo says (Liias)
WA police officer run over, seriously injured while trying to arrest suspect
Defense in Auburn Officer Nelson’s murder trial rests without his testimony
King County Council approves crisis care centers plan, mental health funding
Biden administration acknowledges harms of Columbia River dams on Indigenous people

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County Clean Water Program set for reauthorization
Judge considers whether to dismiss Skagit County from wrongful death lawsuit

Spokesman Review
Resurrected reality TV series ‘Cops’ to return to Spokane County despite local, nationwide critiques
Opinion:  It’s time to stand up for our most vulnerable citizens

Washington Post
Supreme Court upholds Trump-era tax provision on offshore earnings
How small chemical labs are skirting a U.S.-China crackdown on fentanyl
You don’t have to run your air conditioner 24 hours a day. Here’s what to do
Democrats seek to repeal Comstock abortion rule, fearing Trump crackdown

WA State Standard
Johnson & Johnson pays $123 million to WA following opioid lawsuit
To help fund roads, WA lawmakers eye fee on delivery of online purchases (Liias)
Washington sees steep rise, then slow down in prescriptions to treat opioid addiction

Wenatchee World
Eastmont School District cuts 2 art teaching positions
Washington Apple Commission announces new leader
Stemilt fined $350K after trench cave-in buries, injures worker
WVC to receive funding from Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative
Chelan-Douglas Land Trust acquires 221.6-acre conservation easement
East Wenatchee City Council approves $6 million road improvements on 19th Street
Chelan, Douglas counties deal with organic material waste laws; Winton Manufacturing provides service

Yakima Herald-Republic
Pacific Power outlines program for shutting down power during wildfires

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
11-year-old victim of alleged hate crime in Bellingham tells his story
Pride flag raised at city hall after Newcastle City Council reverses decision
Supreme Court rules against Redmond couple, upholds tax on foreign income
Announced Everett Herald layoffs will cut newsroom staff in half according to union
A call to restrict cell phone use in schools is gaining support amid youth mental health crisis
Relatives of people killed in 2 Boeing Max crashes ask the US to fine the company $24.8 billion

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Parents and staff demand answers about Marysville School District’s financial crisis
Newcastle City Council flips decision to raise Pride flag at City Hall after public outcry
Seattle’s Holocaust Center for Humanity vandalized, hate crime investigation underway

KNKX Public Radio
Goodbye plastic air pillows: Amazon shifts to paper filling in packages

KUOW Public Radio
Covid is back in Washington just in time for your summer vacation

KXLY (ABC)
New Washington mental health program for people under 25

Web

Cascadia Daily News
WSDOT plans for $85M fish passage project at I-5, Guide Meridian
New bill aims to ensure permanent funding for Northwest Straits Commission
Washington to launch Apple Health Expansion program for undocumented immigrants 
Bellingham community rallies around hate crime victim; letter writing campaign scheduled

MyNorthwest
1 of 2 late-night Tacoma shootings involve sheriff’s deputies
State sends reinforcements to review Marysville’s struggling school budget
Pride flag raised at Newcastle City Hall after City Council reverses decision