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Friday, April 12

More transparency needed for WA police asset seizures, audit says
A new state audit says that Washington police agencies could be more transparent about the process of seizing assets like cars, cash or guns in the course of criminal investigations and clearer about how people can get that property back. Between January 2020 and December 2022, more than 100 of Washington’s 250 police agencies got nearly $30 million in property from local and state forfeitures, according to the state auditor’s office. They received an additional $10 million through a partnership with the federal government. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Fiona Martin)

Washington extends emergency graduation waiver for class of 2024
Washington school districts will be able to keep waiving certain graduation requirements for high school students in the class of 2024. School officials asked the State Board of Education to continue allowing them to waive requirements for the state’s “graduation pathways” for the 2023-2024 school year, citing the lasting impact of COVID-19 on students. The board granted an extension to the emergency waiver on Thursday. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

Washington to adopt new U.S. PFAS limits, but may take two years
The Washington Department of Health plans to lower the limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced new lower limits on Wednesday. The new EPA maximum levels are mostly lower than the limits adopted in 2021 by the Washington State Board of Health. Those state limits will stay in place until the Board of Health adopts the new federal levels, which can take up to two years, according to a news release from the DOH. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Andy Engelson)

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Axios
Voters to city: Fix the darn potholes
How climate change impacts Seattle’s allergy season

Capital Press
More Washington farmers face broken CREP contracts
Potato industry, senators urge opening of Japan fresh market

Columbian
1st tribal casino planned for Tri-Cities. What new documents reveal about the project
‘Tranq’-laced fentanyl nearly doubles in Clark County and expert says it will only get worse
Report estimates Lower Snake River dams, reservoirs emit millions of tons of greenhouse gases

Everett Herald
WA high court: DUI breath tests valid, machine results not at fault
Judge orders mining company to stop work next to Everett school
Washington will move to tougher limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in water

Kitsap Sun
Sidewalks for Warren Avenue Bridge redesign likely smaller than planned, due to budget
PGST, Bellingham nonprofit partner to remove lost crab pots in Hood Canal, Port Gamble Bay

News Tribune
There have been calls to close Tacoma’s immigration lock-up for years. Why hasn’t it?
Manny Ellis’ sister questions Thurston Sheriff about decision to hire acquitted officer
Opinion: Enrollment at Tacoma schools is falling. Providing better before-school care is key

New York Times
E.P.A. Says ‘Forever Chemicals’ Must Be Removed From Tap Water
Biden Administration Raises Costs to Drill and Mine on Public Lands
$7.4 Billion More in Student Loans Are Canceled, Biden Administration Says

Puget Sound Business Journal
Here’s how much Amazon CEO Andy Jassy made in 2023
Boeing stock hits a low as it faces new quality-control allegations
Chief Seattle Club cuts ribbon for $40M housing project in Lake City

Seattle Times
More transparency needed for WA police asset seizures, audit says
Wrong-way crash near Lynnwood kills 1, injures 2 after police chase
Biden administration announces another round of loan cancellation under new repayment plan

Spokesman Review
New air quality sensors arrive in Spokane, part of state effort to combat pollution
How do you name them apples? WSU seeks public input on what to name its new variety
Title company offering free service to defy historic racist property restrictions in Spokane County

Washington Post
Biden administration cancels another $7.4 billion in student loans

WA State Standard
New Washington apple needs a name
State audit charts course to retool how WA police seize assets
Washington extends emergency graduation waiver for class of 2024

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Public art at new light rail station brings mixed-race experience into focus
Seattle City Council considers changes to Seattle Police Department’s hiring process
Thurston County Sheriff holds forum after hiring former officer acquitted in Manuel Ellis’ death

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
‘Brown water’ at a Tacoma school outrages parents, students
Congress examines how to address rising childcare costs for families & providers

KNKX Public Radio
Pilot project in Port Angeles to use the power of the ocean for carbon removal

KUOW Public Radio
Not in my valley. Some San Juan Islanders say no to solar power
Sen. Murray pushes for outside investigation into Tacoma ICE facility
Should Washington state consider climate impacts when it approves timber sales?
Paraeducators strike in Port Angeles. But can strapped school districts afford to pay them more?

KXLY (ABC)
Families of Gorge Amphitheater shooting victims sue operator for wrongful death
Idaho library bill signed into law allowing parents to take action against “harmful material”
Spokane hospital workers voting on strike authorization amid contract negotiations with management

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Most school districts failing to follow rules in reviewing sexual harassment policies

Crosscut
Former WA Gov. Dan Evans feted for energy, conservation work
Washington to adopt new U.S. PFAS limits, but may take two years

MyNorthwest
Staffing crisis forcing closures of Seattle Public Library locations through June

Thursday, April 11

Washington gun store sold hundreds of high-capacity ammunition magazines in 90 minutes without ban
A Washington state gun store owner said he sold hundreds of high-capacity ammunition magazines in the short span of time Monday between a judge ruling a ban on the sales unconstitutional and the state filing an emergency appeal to the Washington Supreme Court. Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

Washington considers fee hikes for campers and boaters at its state parks
Camping and mooring boats on state lands may get more expensive next year. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is considering upping the fees for campsites and mooring. The cost of Discover Passes, which are set in state law, will not change. The proposed increases will help the agency catch up with inflation over the last few years. Prices for camping were last updated in 2020 and for mooring in 2015. Under the new fee proposal, camping prices will jump no more than $6, though the exact price depends on the type of site and time of year. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (WA State Parks)

States race to restrict deepfake porn as it becomes easier to create
Deepfakes — digitally altered photos and videos that can make someone appear to be, or be doing, just about anything — have proliferated on the internet…States, such as Florida, South Dakota and Washington, have enacted laws that update the definition of child pornography to include deepfakes. Washington’s law, which was signed by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee in March, makes it illegal to be in possession of a “fabricated depiction of an identifiable minor” engaging in a sexually explicit act — a crime punishable by up to a year in jail. Continue reading at Stateline. (Associated Press)

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Associated Press
Washington gun store sold hundreds of high-capacity ammunition magazines in 90 minutes without ban

Aberdeen Daily World
Nonprofit brings tracked mobility chairs to Westport

Bellingham Herald
Bike lanes, safer crossings planned for downtown Bellingham’s busiest street
Whatcom County executive issues order addressing the worsening fentanyl crisis
Port of Bellingham hit with restraining order after developer Harcourt files countersuit

Columbian
PeaceHealth nurses announce plan to picket outside hospital April 18
Washougal budget cuts threaten dual language program in elementary schools

Everett Herald
Edmonds mayor makes first pitch of plan to fill $20.5M budget deficit
Congress summons Boeing CEO to testify after Everett whistleblower’s claims
Comment: Loss of dignity keeps some from housing solutions
Comment: Americans need tutoring on financial literacy
Editorial: ‘History, tradition’ poor test for gun safety laws

The Inlander
By providing free fare, Spokane Transit can increase ridership and revenue, and convince more people to leave the car at home
An anti-government group from Arizona arrives in Spokane looking to ‘rescue’ trafficking victims and bring vigilante justice to purported perpetrators

Kitsap Sun
Report on Kitsap County’s litter shows progress but lacks funding

News Tribune
‘Troubling trend’ of crashes dogs Army aviation. Here’s what military is doing about it
Exec Bruce Dammeier delivers his last state of the county address. Here’s what he said

Olympian
Olympia city council adopts renter protections with amendments after landlord push back

Peninsula Daily News
Funding farm-to-school programs

Puget Sound Business Journal
An under-the-radar crisis for small businesses is getting worse
VC funding in Seattle area picks up, but climate remains ‘defensive’
The SBA is overhauling a major loan program. Bankers are optimistic.

Seattle Times
WA considers hiking fees for campers, boaters at state parks
Surge in electricity demand spells trouble for PNW, forecasts show
Chehalis man accused of sabotaging two electrical substations in Oregon
These two Oregon and Washington cities named among best places to live in U.S.
Editorial: NCAA women’s stars elevate the sport to its rightful place

Skagit Valley Herald
La Conner Town Council passes 0.1% sales tax for transportation projects

Spokesman Review
Stretch of Centennial Trail east of Spokane to close this summer for resurfacing
A new mayor, an old promise to improve Spokane’s permitting process: Will Brown be the one to do it?
Public water systems across the country to test and remove PFAS under EPA regulations announced Wednesday

Tri-City Herald
What WSP says caused a truckload of crushed cars to flip on Highway 395 in Tri-Cities
WA has one of the highest workplace injury rates in the U.S. But is that really a problem?

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Police Department hires Emily Redman as new victim advocate
Downtown Chevron owner’s plan to replace gas tanks open for public comment

Washington Post
Privacy talks are heating up in Congress. Here’s what to watch for.
‘I wish I would have known’: Stories of taking abortion pills at home in states with bans

WA State Standard
Washington considers fee hikes for campers and boaters at its state parks
Washington will move to tougher federal limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in tap water

Wenatchee World
WSD gives 2 Columbia Elementary options: close in 2024 or 2025
Water Safety: Experts talk river precautions at Wenatchee World forum

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma’s ICE processing center under fire after series of 911 calls made by workers
Police searching for suspect accused of intentionally driving over unoccupied tents in Seattle
Five months before UW football player was arrested for rape, Title IX was investigating the case
Seattle-based nonprofit aimed at helping those experiencing homelessness closing after 10 years

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Jesse Jones: Homeless homeowner gets his house back
A look behind King County’s largest addiction treatment center
WSDOT Study: Washington Drivers aren’t aware of work zones
Democrats push more drug makers to lower the price of inhalers

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Thurston County sheriff to host public forum addressing concerns over hiring decisions

KUOW Public Radio
At 16, my grandma had an abortion. At 17, I’m telling her story
Migratory birds could cause avian influenza in Northwest dairy cattle
Seattle police lieutenant condemns Chief Diaz, says he enables department ‘serial harasser’
King County prosecutors ‘rush filed’ charges against UW football player accused of two rapes

KXLY (ABC)
Local lawmakers, parents urging for more protection online

NW Public Radio
New WA law about DEI in education divides Prosser residents

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County announces plan to fight fentanyl on multiple fronts

Crosscut
A Pacific Northwest butterfly project is restoring habitats, hope

MyNorthwest
Gun shop owner sold ‘hundreds’ of these after ban was briefly lifted
It’s not the whole enchilada, but light rail to roll on Eastside this month

Stateline
States race to restrict deepfake porn as it becomes easier to create (Orwall)

Wednesday, April 10

At least 6 suicide attempts at Tacoma ICE facility, 911 calls show
Over a period of less than three months this year, the federal immigrant detention center in Tacoma has seen at least six, possibly seven, suicide attempts, according to audio and records of 911 calls. On Tuesday, the University of Washington Center for Human Rights shared the audio and records of dozens of calls it obtained through public records requests, covering a period of Jan. 1 to March 18. Six calls were related to people held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center attempting to kill themselves through hanging or asphyxiation. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

How Washington’s local governments have moved to allow for denser housing
Washington lawmakers in recent years have passed laws to require local governments to allow for more housing density with duplexes, triplexes or attached dwelling units. But before lawmakers required these changes, they looked at ways to incentivize local governments to do this on their own. Two laws, one passed in 2019 and one passed in 2020, provided grants to local governments to create housing action plans intended to increase the number of units that could be built. For many places in Washington, the incentives worked, according to a new study. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Jason Finn)

New WA state law mandates K-5 recess for physical, mental health benefits
Any school kid will tell you, recess is fun. But it’s more than just a chance to get out of class and run around. It’s also important for a child’s mental health. A new state law passed in the 2023 legislative session takes effect in the fall, mandating at least 30 minutes of recess time every day, for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Continue reading at KOMO News . (KOMO News)

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Associated Press
New WIC rules include more money for fruits and veggies. They also expand food choices

Aberdeen Daily World
Taholah starts to craft vision for new school on higher ground

Axios
EPA imposes first national limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water

Bellingham Herald
Bike lanes, safer crossings planned for downtown Bellingham’s busiest street
Bellingham City Council approves purchase of new site for tiny home transition-living villages
Opinion: Imagine what it’s like to be an LGBTQ teen as politicians around the country attack us

Capital Press
Fruit harvesters at center of international patent dispute

Columbian
Study says Washington is home to four of the healthiest cities in the country; Vancouver is No. 57
Safe Stay gains lifeline: Vancouver boosts Hope Village, providing for wage increases, addition of case manager
Vancouver woman’s death certificate debacle: Communication gaps, software changes, state rules cause one-month delay after husband dies

Everett Herald
Boeing whistleblower reports dangerous ‘shortcuts’ at Everett plant
‘Silent disease’: Many have kidney disease, but don’t know till it’s too late
Editorial: Adopt federal rules on data privacy and rights
Letter: Officials’ inaction on mobile home rent increases shameful

Indian Country Today
The biomass boom is coming

Kitsap Sun
Multi-million St. Vincent de Paul redevelopment to add housing, services in Bremerton

News Tribune
New village with more than 2K homes, trails, businesses proposed in Pierce County city
Opinion: A mega-warehouse project threatens Tacoma’s health. It’s not the only one

Northwest Asian Weekly
Ramadan Iftar dinner (Dhingra, Kloba)

Olympian
‘Gone for good.’ U.S. workers flee farms, leaving WA growers struggling under old rules

Peninsula Daily News
Port Townsend awarded grants for urban forestry

Port Townsend Leader
School superintendent on the big picture

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle biotech research hub launches with big goals for growth

Seattle Times
At least 6 suicide attempts at Tacoma ICE facility, 911 calls show
State imposes corrective action against Why Not You charter school
‘Lost Patients’ podcast Episode 5: Out of the hospital, into homelessness
Have Boeing planes really had more problems lately? Look at the numbers
Opinion: Rethink sites for light rail stations in South Lake Union
Opinion: WA gun ruling is another warning we’re headed back in a time warp
Editorial: New Seattle police contract must include stronger accountability

Skagit Valley Herald
Swinomish tribe receives grant to study river floodplains

Spokesman Review
NAIA ruling to ban transgender women from competing in sports will affect Inland Northwest colleges
Judge rules Washington’s ban on high-capacity magazines unconstitutional, case now heads to state Supreme Court
Former Defense Secretary James Mattis accepts WSU’s inaugural Thomas S. Foley Award for Distinguished Public Service

Tri-City Herald
Opinion: Five ways to see how AI can improve government efficiency and save taxpayer money

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Business notes: State officials set aside 500K to help clean up gas leak

Washington Post
Here’s how EVs could get 200 miles per gallon
EPA limits toxic air pollution from chemical plants
Inflation keeps coming in hot, likely delaying interest rate cuts
In a first, EPA sets limit for ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
Earth sees hottest-ever March, the 10th record-breaking month in a row
We mapped nature across the U.S., neighborhood by neighborhood. Look up where you live.

WA State Standard
Why are these WA industry leaders heading to Japan to play games?
How Washington’s local governments have moved to allow for denser housing

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Drivers crash into WSDOT work zones 4 times in less than 24 hours
Boeing whistleblower warns of ‘shortcuts’ in 787, 777 Dreamliner production
Both sides of gun debate ready for high-capacity magazine battle in Washington state

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
At least a dozen suspects burglarize, ransack Central District marijuana store
Washington state lawmakers Cantwell, McMorris Rodgers lead plan to expand digital privacy nationwide

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
SPD reports significant decrease in use of force from 2021 to 2023
New WA state law mandates K-5 recess for physical, mental health benefits
Port Angeles School District paraeducators go on strike, schools closed Tuesday

KNKX Public Radio
WA state ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines ruled unconstitutional, but state appeals

KUOW Public Radio
How data privacy united a Washington Democrat and Republican
A Boeing whistleblower raises fresh concerns about the 787, and the FAA investigates
Short on staff and ships, can Washington’s new ferry chief navigate out of troubled waters?
Vulnerable patients caught in ‘churn’ between Washington mental health care systems face life and death circumstances

KXLY (ABC)
Tax deadline for Spokane County wildfire victims extended
New Fire Chief O’Berg plans to tackle Spokane’s drug and mental health crisis
South Hill Catholic Charities apartment complex raising rent, leaving residents concerned

NW Public Radio
Unhoused residents file complaint in court against city of Clarkston

FOX13 TV
Washington firearm background checks plummet in 2024

Web

Crosscut
Judge rules Washington high-capacity magazine law unconstitutional

MyNorthwest
Our brains are changing because of the environment, says PNW scientist

The Urbanist
Heroes and Zeroes of the 2024 Washington State Legislature (Peterson, Street, Alvarado, Gregerson, Mena, Duerr, Nobles, Trudeau, Kauffman, Cleveland, Mullet, Van De Wege, Fey, Liias, Lovelett)

Tuesday, April 9

WA gun sales spike, then plummet as new laws take effect
Gun sales in Washington have fallen dramatically this year, according to federal background check data, as a suite of new state gun regulations took effect. The decline follows a nearly unprecedented spike in Washington gun sales at this time last year, as gun buyers rushed to make purchases while state lawmakers debated and ultimately passed a ban on AR-15s and similar semi-automatic weapons that took effect immediately. Washington was the 10th state to ban the high-powered semi-automatic rifles. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Lindsey Wasson)

New state legislation fights catalytic converter theft
Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill on March 26 adding new regulations to the purchase and sale of catalytic converters — and the metals used within the manufacturing of catalytic converters — in a legislative effort to reduce thefts of the vehicle component. House Bill 2153 requires all purchasers of catalytic converters to be licensed and subject to regulation and inspection, requires the permanent marking of catalytic converters for the identification of the originating vehicle, and the creation of an enforcement structure and penalties for the regulations. Continue reading at The Auburn Reporter. (File photo)

Legislation ensures services for young children with disabilities
Advocates and providers gathered in Olympia on March 26 as Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1916, a bill primarily sponsored by Rep. Tana Senn (D) from the 41st Legislative District, comprising Mercer Island and portions of Bellevue, Issaquah, Sammamish and Renton. The bill’s enactment will change current state law to recover funding for the Washington Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program, which helps children ages 3 and under with disabilities receive special education services through local providers. Continue reading at The Bellevue Reporter. (Kindering)

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Associated Press
Latino voters are coveted by both major parties. They also are a target for election misinformation

Aberdeen Daily World
Forestry leaders talk 50 years of forest practices

Auburn Reporter
New state legislation fights catalytic converter theft

Axios
Seattle is among the best cities for clean transit
Books most targeted for bans in 2023 centered on race, LGBTQ themes

Bellevue Reporter
Legislation ensures services for young children with disabilities (Senn)

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham receives notice its wastewater plant violated air quality standards this month

Capital Press
Federal protection sought for wolves in lawsuit

Columbian
49th District lawmakers hold contentious town hall (Stonier, Wylie )
Camas officials debate changing rules on discharge of fireworks
Port of Woodland to diversify as it sets itself on path to operate first marine terminal

Everett Herald
Snohomish County’s biggest fire district has a new chief
At Whitehorse Mountain Time, locals learn Lushootseed on ancestral land
Editorial: Adopt federal rules on data privacy and rights

Indian Country Today
Quinault Indian Nation wellness courts replace punishment with empowerment

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap County home listings asked for more money in March – see the current median price here

News Tribune
Western State Hospital’s chapel was ‘most beautiful building,’ so why was it destroyed?
‘Gone for good.’ U.S. workers flee farms, leaving WA growers struggling under old rules

Olympian
Judge rules WA ban on high-capacity magazines unconstitutional, but law stays in place for now

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing jets still under scrutiny as regulators launch probe into Southwest Airlines incident
Everett port seeks contractor for Waterfront Place’s next phase as major shipbuilder moves in

Seattle Times
WA gun sales spike, then plummet as new laws take effect (Berry)
WA’s ban on high-capacity gun magazines ruled unconstitutional
Puget Sound Energy facility has violated air permit over a dozen times
Most WA voters think building more housing won’t cool prices, poll shows
Amid Seattle growth debate, map shows walkable neighborhoods in King County
Editorial: Keep lights on as Washington transitions to clean power
Editorial: Zero traffic deaths by 2030? Put more emphasis on law enforcement
Editorial: Potatoes are not grains. Keep them rooted in the vegetable family
Opinion: Higher ed has role to play in climate change solutions

Spokesman Review
Spokane County to get millions of dollars from feds for bus upkeep
Getting There: Spokane County will renovate ever-popular Liberty Lake Regional Park this summer

Washington Post
EPA mulls tougher limits on new gas plants as 2024 election nears
Biden makes another pitch for student loan relief, but challenges loom
They were desperate to get pregnant. Then IVF gave them extra embryos.
Tax Day 2024: What to know about deadlines, extensions, refunds and more

WA State Standard
Washington’s Housing Trust Fund explained

Wenatchee World
Microsoft gets OK for 4th building near Pangborn Memorial Airport

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Grant secured, emergency declared for collapsed road repairs in Tulalip
Washington’s high-capacity magazine ban ruled unconstitutional by Cowlitz County judge
Boeing’s CEO turned down $3 million bonus after 737 Max panel blowout, and still made this much in 2023

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Is Big Brother tracking your driving?

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
City Council to get update on Seattle police use of force assessment Tuesday
WA lawmakers draft bill aimed to empower Americans with online privacy rights

KUOW Public Radio
Can $500 a month make a dent in Seattle-area poverty?

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane landlords may soon be required to give six months notice when increasing rent

NW Public Radio
New tool tracks contaminated groundwater at Hanford, other DOE sites

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Two Bellingham tiny home villages will relocate by end of 2024
Construction of Western’s House of Healing longhouse to begin this summer

Crosscut
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown’s first 100 days: How is she doing?

MyNorthwest
Swinomish Casino & Lodge closed until further notice

Monday, April 8

Washington school districts are poised to start swapping out their diesel buses for electric under new law
Bid farewell to the familiar rumble of a school bus engine and the subtle aroma of diesel in the air and say hello to a fleet of clean and quiet zero-emission buses. Making progress on his goal to significantly reduce carbon emissions across Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill in late March that will update grants and require school districts to begin the transition from diesel to electric buses. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Office of the Governor)

Wage theft victims are owed $5.4 million that WA hasn’t collected
More than 1,800 Washington workers across all industries are also waiting for wages. Since 2018, L&I has failed to collect $5.4 million from employers that the agency itself says is owed to workers, a Seattle Times analysis of the agency’s collections data found. State representatives are paying attention. In March, lawmakers unanimously directed L&I to explore how the agency can more effectively recover wages for workers. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Jennifer Luxton)

Farm-to-school programs flourish in Washington
Washington’s [farm-to-school program] was established in 2008, and since then, farm-to-school has exploded in popularity. Last fall, the Washington State Department of Agriculture received over $8 million in farm-to-school funding requests from schools, more than twice the amount of funds available. The state expanded the program in 2021 using federal COVID-19 funds. Based on how the budget is written, the agriculture department expects that as federal funds run out, legislators will backfill the money with state dollars. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Grace Deng)