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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)

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Associated Press
Key lawmakers float new rules for personal data protection; bill would make privacy a consumer right

Aberdeen Daily World
Environmental groups sue state to halt Westport golf proposal

Axios
Key lawmakers unveil landmark data privacy bill
Why Seattle’s young families can’t find big houses

Capital Press
Contest opens to name Washington State University’s new apple

Columbian
After a long slog, climate change lawsuits will finally put Big Oil on trial
Here’s how Washington’s legislative districts will change for this year’s elections
Cascade critter crossings: How Washington’s I-90 became safer for wildlife, drivers
Southwest Washington faces its first wildfire season without Larch crews on hand to battle blazes
Native American Youth and Family Center’s Mercedes White Calf channels experience with homelessness, addiction into hope

The Daily News
In diaper pinch, county rolls out network of supply

Everett Herald
Sound Transit to keep some Snohomish County bus routes
Last man to see a grizzly in Cascades says return ‘would be wonderful’
Snohomish County schools await standards for drug, alcohol education
County leaders debate testing shelters for meth, fentanyl contamination
As Link nears in Lynnwood, Community Transit looks to drop commuter fare
Comment: North Cascades need balance grizzlies will bring

News Tribune
Public can ‘air their grievances’ about controversial Sheriff’s Office hire Thursday
Tacoma’s newest park is a waterfront stunner, named for a leader, made for children
Opinion: A new fund is giving $40K a year to Black Tacomans. The latest winners just got the cash

Olympian
Amid budget crisis, Olympia elementary music teacher raises funds for instruments and more
Food bank asks Olympia to create more community gardens as city considers urban farm park

Puget Sound Business Journal
Community Transit CEO prepares to shift gears as light rail approaches
Amazon delivers hefty carbon savings on route to 2040 climate goals
Editor’s notebook: Climate friendly living is the norm in Seattle
Weakness in CRE market could create heavier property tax burden for homeowners

Seattle Times
As SPS faces a massive budget deficit, here’s what to expect
Police chase in Thurston County leads to wrong way crash on I-5
Wage theft victims are owed $5.4 million that WA hasn’t collected
Tentative agreement with Seattle police union makes only minor accountability changes

Skagit Valley Herald
Fishing and hunting licenses are now on sale

Spokesman Review
Amid explosive demand, America is running out of power
Wheat Country forecast: Specter of wind turbines divides the Palouse
Cantwell, McMorris Rodgers strike bipartisan deal on landmark data privacy bill
Local nonprofit plans teacher workshops to hear needs for helping students with dyslexia
Washington school districts are poised to start swapping out their diesel buses for electric under new law (Senn)

Washington Post
Biden’s proposed student debt relief plan could help more than 30 million

WA State Standard
Farm-to-school programs flourish in Washington
Judge tosses counties’ lawsuit pressing for more state funding for public defenders

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee hearing examiner approves Grace City Church’s private school
In search of a supermajority: Eastmont School District takes construction bond back to the ballot

Yakima Herald-Republic
Judge tosses counties’ lawsuit pressing for more state funding for public defenders

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘Not a safe place to be as a pedestrian’: 2 people killed on I-5 within 24 hours

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Whatcom County reports first ‘tranq’ death
Deaths on Washington roads continue to rise
New smart traffic signs in King County will do more than just monitor speed
Shoreline gas station owner angry after burglary suspect drives away while cops on the scene

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Wrong way police pursuit on I-5 ends in crash, injures 2
2 killed in crash with WSP trooper en route to an emergency identified
Port of Seattle expects record outcomes for local economy as cruise season begins

KNKX Public Radio
He’s leaving the legislature, but Frank Chopp says he’s ‘not the retiring type’ (Chopp)

KUOW Public Radio
More Seattleites have ADHD than ever, but finding meds and docs is a challenge

KXLY (ABC)
Senator Cantwell and Representative McMorris Rodgers team up to introduce data privacy legislation

Web

Crosscut
King County wants its own corrections officer training program

Friday, April 5

‘Nowhere else to cut’: Seniors face 14% rent increases, in homes they own
This past legislative session, Democrats introduced House Bill 2114 in Olympia, seeking to limit rent increases by 7%. But opposition from Republicans and divided Democratic lawmakers stalled the bill. It passed the House, but didn’t make it out of committee in the Senate. For manufactured home owners, the prospect of ever-increasing rents leaves them in a precarious position. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

When will light rail reach Lynnwood? Sound Transit sets opening date
Sound Transit’s light rail service will extend another 8½ miles on Aug. 30, when two stations open in Shoreline and trains finally cross the Snohomish County line into Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood. The $3.3 billion corridor took 15 years to design and build, since voters approved higher sales taxes in 2008 for the project, along with extensions in East and South King County. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

More federal money for child care is coming to Washington
Child care assistance for those most in need is getting a boost in Washington. As part of the federal funding package Congress approved last month, the state will receive almost $12 million more over the next year to help low-income families pay for child care, according to estimates from The Center for Law and Social Policy. That brings Washington’s total for the federal grant program this money will flow under to around $128 million. The funding will likely build on Washington’s work to expand access to its child care subsidy system. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Rebecca Rivas)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen ramps up cleanup at homeless camps

Axios
Meta to broaden labeling of AI-made content

Bellingham Herald
Drug trafficker providing fentanyl, other drugs to Whatcom, Skagit counties sentenced
New charges filed against fired Whatcom Co. deputy accused of multiple sexual assaults
Plans for Coast Salish longhouse in popular Bellingham park near WWU moving forward (Lekanoff)

Capital Press
Yakima River water supply forecast drops to 63%
Northwest wheat acreage holds ‘pretty steady’ in USDA report

Columbian
State to fund new youth mental health center at former Daybreak facility in Brush Prairie
Vancouver police stretched thin as officers pulled off patrol to respond to growing number of calls
Battle Ground council rejects partnership to almost double amount of affordable housing in the city

Everett Herald
Lynnwood Link to launch in August: ‘A major milestone’ for light rail
‘Nowhere else to cut’: Seniors face 14% rent increases, in homes they own

International Examiner
Six “abandoned” Filipino migrant fishermen fight wage theft and labor trafficking, garner community support

Kitsap Sun
Opinion: Why the trend toward quick and easy appointments may not be making us healthier

News Tribune
Pierce County Thai restaurant chain broke OT laws, owes thousands in back wages
New pilot program aims to help unhoused Tacoma students access affordable housing

Olympian
Another National Park just made it more difficult for you to visit
An Olympia motel will become permanent supportive housing by the summer. Here’s why
Washington has some of the worst roads in America, according to a new nationwide analysis

Peninsula Daily News
District, PAPEA continue to bargain

Puget Sound Business Journal
Sound Transit sets start date for Lynnwood light rail service

Seattle Times
What’s behind the ‘outrageous’ rise in WA car insurance rates
When will light rail reach Lynnwood? Sound Transit sets opening date
Nighttime gunshots may have broad impact on health and sleep of millions, study finds
Editorial: Cities make progress on homelessness while regional effort flounders
Opinion: Many patients, not enough beds: Here’s how to solve a care crisis

Spokesman Review
Avista Stadium ‘changing fast’ with offseason upgrades, more on the way
‘City Line is exceptionally popular’: Spokane’s new rapid transit bus system hits 500,000 rides
New Multicare Deaconess and Valley hospital contract ratified; up to 25% wage increase coming for some workers
Opinion: All in Coeur d’Alene should denounce racism against Utah players

Tri-City Herald
Should wind turbines be limited on Tri-Cities Horse Heaven Hills? WA taking comments

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Comprehensive Healthcare mobile outreach to begin this summer

Washington Post
The AI deepfake apocalypse is here. These are the ideas for fighting it.
Employers added 303,000 jobs in March, reflecting strong labor market

WA State Standard
WA trade mission heading to Vietnam without Inslee (Nguyen, Robinson, Thai, Tharinger)
More federal money for child care is coming to Washington
After a long slog, climate change lawsuits will finally put Big Oil on trial
Idaho Legislature passes bills to limit gender expression, ban compelled pronoun use

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
2-year-old child shot outside Federal Way IHOP dies
Here’s when Sound Transit says Lynnwood light rail will begin service
Evacuation order lifted for 20 Mercer Island homes in area of water main leak
Washington Supreme Court reverses Kitsap County DUI case decision challenging breathalyzers

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Mercer Island residents evacuated due to landslide risk have been allowed to return
Federal proposals aim to increase medical training for students in rural communities
Man arrested, accused of ramming police cars, driving wrong way on I-90 during chase

KNKX Public Radio
It’s a big year for regional light rail, but tough questions loom for Sound Transit board

KUOW Public Radio
After 16 years and $3 billion, Lynnwood light rail set to open this summer
King County drivers better be on their best behavior — these signs are watching you

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane police officers who shot, killed man in west central Spokane identified

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Nooksack Basin residents prepare to define, defend water rights
Bellingham, Anacortes median home prices head in opposite directions

Crosscut
Two new directors fill vacant seats on Seattle school board
Mossback’s Northwest: How avalanches changed PNW train travel

MyNorthwest
Highly contagious puppy disease raises concerns in Renton

PubliCola
After series of hurried meetings, Homelessness Authority decides to continue search for permanent leader

Thursday, April 4

Youth homelessness in WA dropped 40% in 6 years, report says
Washington saw a significant drop in youth homelessness over six years, according to a new report, something advocates say was due in part to new strategies, including emergency cash grants for youth in the margins. Between 2016 and 2022, homelessness among people ages 12–24 in Washington decreased by 40% from nearly 24,000 to just over 14,000, according to the report by the state Office of Homeless Youth — which was created in 2015 — and A Way Home Washington. Continue reading at Axios. (Shoshana Gordon)

How do wildfires affect mental health? A new UW study examines the connection
Checking air quality and staying indoors when smoke inundates the Seattle area has become second nature during Washington’s wildfire season in recent years. But new research highlights how wildfires can affect a less visible aspect of well-being: mental health. A University of Washington study published in late February found an increase in prescriptions to treat depression and anxiety or stabilize mood in the six weeks after wildfires. The study used prescription data, commercial insurance claims and pharmacy records to examine the impact of 25 large California wildfires from 2011 to 2018. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Richard Vogel)

Did Seattle defund the police? Five graphs explain this enduring myth
“Why has Seattle lost so many police officers?” The answer is not that the Seattle Police Department was defunded. Let’s rewind to 2020, when protests following the police murder of George Floyd launched a movement to defund police departments across the U.S. — including Seattle. Activists called for up to 50% police budget reductions, arguing that savings could be put toward community services. In Seattle, council members made gestures toward reducing police spending and “civilianizing” more public safety services. So, was the police department ultimately defunded? Continue reading at KUOW. (iStock)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen ramps up cleanup at homeless camps

Axios
Youth homelessness in WA dropped 40% in 6 years, report says

Bellingham Herald
Controversial hire at Thurston Sheriff’s Office resigns after community backlash, threats
Plans for Coast Salish longhouse in popular Bellingham park near WWU moving forward
Gray whale season has arrived in Puget Sound. Here’s where you can find ‘Sounders’ in WA
Walmart encampment property owner pushes back against city’s lawsuit, denies allegations

Capital Press
Site council drafts report to Inslee on Horse Heaven power project
What if…A look at the fallout if the lower Snake River dams are demolished

Columbian
Washington officials want Biden to declare January storms a federal disaster
New Clark College campus at Boschma Farms designed for advanced manufacturing, renewable energy programs

Everett Herald
Police brushed off 911 calls before stabbing at Tulalip hotel
Pfizer to lay off 119 workers with closure of south Everett plant
Lynnwood light rail opening date announcement coming Thursday
County weighs ban on selling fireworks where lighting them is banned
Comment: Hands-free or not, phones still a driving distraction
Comment: Species helped most by Endangered Species Act is us
Editorial: Necessary study of violent extremism gets reprieve

The Inlander
Police shootings already outpace all of last year
As Spokane smashes building permit records, a planned South Hill sixplex offers hints at the city’s dense future
A coalition of elected litigators, including Washington’s Bob Ferguson, looks to disrupt a nascent cannabis industry
Spokane Public Library and Thrive International collab will provide refugee housing in the latest evolution of library services

News Tribune
Controversial hire at Thurston Sheriff’s Office resigns after community backlash, threats
Opinion: My son is one of 750,000 in Washington with a rare disease. Lawmakers failed them

Peninsula Daily News
Makah Tribe to receive federal funds to support ocean mapping capabilities

Puget Sound Business Journal
IRS stops $1B in ERC claims as lucrative tax credit nears deadline
Wetlands project yields abundant climate benefits for Bothell campus

Seattle Times
Washington state’s first journalism fellows hired (Keiser)
Seattle’s social housing developer struggles to take shape
WA utility offers an alternative maritime fuel, but gets pushback
How do wildfires affect mental health? A new UW study examines the connection
Immigrant who died in ICE custody spent 13 years in solitary — many in WA prisons
Officer hired as sheriff’s deputy despite involvement in fatal Manuel Ellis arrest resigns
Editorial: Gates Foundation grant aims to steer more WA students into higher ed
Opinion: Amazon must do better with its packaging for our oceans’ sake

Spokesman Review
WSU police officer who fired at student over knife threat identified

Tri-City Herald
Will Tri-Cities schools see expected ‘financial crisis,’ layoffs other WA districts face?
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to block WA maps ousting Central WA’s first Latina senator

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Man charged with arson after allegedly starting fire at Walla Walla hospital

Washington Post
America’s new high-risk, high-reward $20 billion climate push
Hundreds of people breached airport security in the past year, TSA says
Which states are restricting, or requiring, lessons on race, sex and gender
America has legislated itself into competing red, blue versions of education (Liias)
Squatters have become a right-wing talking point. What to know about the rare practice.

WA State Standard
Another veteran Washington state lawmaker won’t return in 2025
Here’s how Washington’s legislative districts will change for this year’s elections

Wenatchee World
Weather forecasting tech company plans 2 X-band radars to cover NCW gaps

Yakima Herald-Republic
Amilio Morales puts safety first for WSDOT workers in Central Washington

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Residents in 20 Mercer Island homes asked to temporarily evacuate due to unstable soil
Proposed trail in Kirkland would extend Burke-Gilman by connecting Bellevue to Bothell
Officer acquitted in death of Manuel Ellis resigns from Thurston County job two days after being sworn in

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Would speed-limiting devices in cars work in Washington? (Donaghy)
Police: Passengers assault, rob Uber driver in Rainier Beach
Migrants’ stay in Kent hotel extended thanks to anonymous donation
Ex-Tacoma officer cleared in Manny Ellis trial resigns days after being hired as deputy
‘Children’s lives are at risk’: New traffic camera active in Everett to deter school zone speeding

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Venezuelan refugees take down camp from Seattle tennis courts
‘We’re going to track you down’: Federal Way mayor sends warning to criminals
Lawmaker says Ariel Garcia’s death shows gap in Washington law to protect kids
Residents demand immediate change to save lives at intersection after deadly Renton crash
Officer acquitted in Manny Ellis’ death resigns days after becoming Thurston County deputy

KUOW Public Radio
Did Seattle defund the police? Five graphs explain this enduring myth
Migrants descended on a Seattle tennis court. Then an anonymous donor paid for their hotel

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane International Airport receives enforcement order for PFAS contamination cleanup

NW Public Radio
Washington, Idaho receive “F” grades for tobacco prevention programs

FOX13 TV
Seattle Public Schools cancels gifted program ‘cohorts’ for equity reasons

Web

Crosscut
U.S. Supreme Court declines to block new WA legislative map
Whatcom County city debates removing fluoride from its water

MyNorthwest
Asylum-seeking refugees in Kent get to stay in hotel for another 11 days
White House pushes for extension of internet program aiding many Washingtonians

The Stranger
Will Seattle Respond to the Refugee Crisis with Housing or Handcuffs?

West Seattle Blog
Does the draft ‘One Seattle Plan’ envision enough housing? That question takes centerstage at West Seattle open house

Wednesday, April 3

As Washington’s prison population shrank, the cost of incarceration went up
Keeping people in Washington’s prisons has gotten more expensive in recent years. The state is one of several where costs per prisoner have climbed as overall prison populations decline. Washington recently closed a prison to save money, but officials say rising prices for essentials, as well as facility maintenance, are contributing to the ballooning price of keeping people locked up. Continue reading at KNKX. (Jeanie Lindsay)

Washington adds worker protection laws, including ban on mandatory anti-union meetings Washington workers will soon gain some new rights, including protections against employers holding mandatory meetings on religious and political issues. “In Washington state, we protect that which we value. We value our workers and we value our working families,” said Gov. Jay Inslee, who signed a slate of workplace protection bills on Thursday. The Employee Free Choice Act makes Washington the sixth state to prohibit employers from disciplining or firing employees who refuse to attend “captive audience” meetings, which employers often use as a union-busting tactic. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Office of the Governor)

Study says Washington state is home to four of the healthiest cities in the country
A new study conducted by Wallethub found that where you live does matter when it comes to health, and depending on the effectiveness of your city’s wellness promotions, it can impact your ability to stay healthy. The Wallethub comparison looked at 182 cities and identified the healthiest and unhealthiest cities in the country. The study listed four cities in Washington. One was ranked among the top three healthiest cities: Seattle. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Pete Caster)