Pay-per-mile is on the Legislature’s radar. We asked how that would work in Washington
For seven years, Washington state has studied replacing the state gas tax with a pay-per-mile system. Next month, the state Transportation Commission is scheduled to vote on its recommendations to the Legislature. The commission is expected to recommend the pay-per-mile concept be phased in over at least 10 years, possibly starting with owners of electric vehicles and hybrids to see how it goes. Continue reading in the The News Tribune.
Oregon and California enacted rent control. Could Washington state be next?
The red stickers and signs posted around town leading up to this month’s Seattle City Council elections bore a simple message. “We need rent control” and “Seattle needs rent control” were some of the main campaign slogans of Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who recently won reelection despite record spending by business interests trying to unseat her and other progressive council members. Yet the reality remains that Washington state law doesn’t allow cities to impose their own rent control measures — and that’s something that will take much more than the election of a single city council member to change. Continue reading in Crosscut. (Matt M. McKnight/Crosscut)
Contamination halts work at Hanford project. It’s the 8th worker exposure this year
Work has halted at Hanford to remove a highly radioactive spill just north of Richland after an eighth incident this year in which a worker’s clothing or skin was contaminated with radioactive waste. The 324 Building sits over a leak of radioactive cesium and strontium into the soil beneath it at the site about one mile north of Richland and about 300 yards west of the Columbia River. Continue reading in the Tri-City Herald.
Associated Press
Witness denounces ‘fictional’ Ukraine election interference
Contamination stops work at Hanford project
E. coli contamination prompts water boil advisory
Church sex-abuse boards often undermine victims, help clergy
King County funds program to bus homeless away from county
Jury in Oregon sides with counties in timber revenue lawsuit
Forecast shows another uptick in Washington state revenue
Low chum salmon numbers means early closure
New measles case in child who visited Portland airport
Senators press Amazon over doorbell camera security concerns
Company creates human-composting, alternative for deceased
Aberdeen Daily World
Corps adding sand to south jetty spit to protect navigation channel, Westport infrastructure
OS council OKs homeless shelter moratorium
Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Chum salmon are returning in low numbers so fishing ends five weeks early here
Columbian
Measles case confirmed in Clark County
In Our View: U.S. producers, consumers losers in trade war
The Daily News
Port of Longview approves $36M budget despite dissenting commissioner
Kelso sales tax revenue higher than expected
Flavor ban shuttering Longview vape shops; one rebrands to survive
Transit agency adds new bus route through Longview
Longview declares severe weather emergency
Everett Herald (subscription required)
In Edmonds, voters decided to put women in charge of things
Affirmative action measure fails but could resurface in 2020
Editorial: It’s Legislature’s turn to face a legal challenge
Journal of the San Juan Islands
Smelling a cure for Parkinsons
Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Charter school finds a home in Manette
Opinion: I-976 means it’s time for less government
Opinion: Bipartisan hope emerging on climate change
News Tribune (subscription required)
Pay-per-mile is on the Legislature’s radar. We asked how that would work in Washington
Puyallup passes property tax increase, but your bill likely is to go down. Here’s why
Pierce County veterans nonprofit leader used funds for personal gain, AG alleges
Washington state lawmakers dump school lunches in Tacoma’s lap. Now, how to pay for them?
New York Times
A Wet Year Causes Farm Woes Far Beyond the Floodplains
Peninsula Daily News
Marbled murrelet strategy criticized for impact on rural areas
Sooke Whale Watching spots large gathering of whales, orcas
CASA to legislators: More funding is needed (Van De Wege, Tharinger, Chapman)
Puget Sound Business Journal
Google to limit targeting of political ads
US jury payouts leave insurers ‘facing $200bn hole’
Frozen in place: Americans are moving at the lowest rate on record
Trump floats tariff exclusions for Apple at Texas manufacturing plant
Google hires firm known for anti-union efforts
Opinion: Equity in boardrooms goes beyond numbers
Seattle Times (subscription required)
You might see a farm inside your grocery store: QFC tries new approach
Impeachment witness Fiona Hill warns Republicans to quit pushing ‘fictional’ narrative
WSU student died 4 hours before police were called, coroner says
Seattle sees nation’s biggest drop in solo car commuters as transit, walking surge
Public bathrooms for homeless people: Seattle might borrow this city’s approach
Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit PUD remodel faces rising costs
Grants awarded for orca research
Anacortes narrows list of what residents can recycle
Spokesman Review
State to prepare for $478 million in transportation cuts (Hobbs)
No sign of recession for Washington, economists say (Ormsby, Rolfes)
Federal judge halts execution of killer, Spokane City Hall bomber Lee
Tri-City Herald
Contamination halts work at Hanford project. It’s the 8th worker exposure this year
Editorial: We warned lawmakers not to skirt the public. Now the state is getting sued
USA Today
How to keep schools safe? We’re focusing our time, energy and money on ‘all the wrong things,’ experts say
Facebook considers changes to political ad targeting as Google announces plan to limit it
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Runoff pollutants, pet waste, impact island streams
Transportation and housing among King County’s top legislative priorities in 2020
Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Upheaval from I-976 begins
Washington Post
Indiana University says a professor’s views are racist, sexist and homophobic — but it can’t fire him
Britain’s Prince Andrew quits public duties after Epstein controversy
A rape kit wasn’t tested for 23 years. Police just matched the DNA — to a man suspected all along.
Fiona Hill warns of GOP’s ‘fictional narrative’ on Ukraine
Russia expert chastises lawmakers aiming to sow doubt on 2016 Russian interference
Where is John Bolton? Key takeaways from today’s testimony so far.
‘Popcorn lung’ may have brought teen close to death after vaping for months, doctors say
A DNA test could exonerate him 13 years after his execution. The state refuses to do it.
Former Baltimore mayor agrees to plead guilty in fraud case over her books, people familiar with deal say
West Seattle Blog
Washington State Ferries invites you to its first online community meetings
West Seattle Herald
$100k for homeless bus tickets included in supplemental King County budge
Yakima Herald Republic
Farmworker bill gains favor with House committee but Republican concerns remain
Grant will fund safety upgrades at 20 railroad crossings throughout Yakima County
Broadcast
KING5 TV (NBC)
Understanding toll bills from the SR 99 tunnel through Seattle
I-976 blows $478 million hole in state transportation budget (Hobbs, Fey)
Council approves $100,000 to bus homeless out of King County
Judge ousts leaders, orders emergency takeover of Pierce County veterans charity
KIRO7 TV (CBS)
King County offering the homeless one-way tickets back home
WDFW unveils culvert to save spawning salmon, part of potential $4 billion statewide project
Nearly $670,000 in grants will help endangered orcas
KOMO4 TV (ABC)
75-time offender Calderon captured once again
Forecast shows uptick in Washington state revenue
County council member critiques plan for homeless authority
Where SR99 tunnel drivers are diverting to avoid the new toll
KNKX FM
20 years later, atmosphere has changed around Makah whale hunt
Q13 TV (Fox)
King County approves $100K to buy bus tickets for people experiencing homelessness
Web
Crosscut
Oregon and California enacted rent control. Could Washington state be next? (Macri, Kuderer, Ryu, Carlyle, Tarleton, Jinkins)
Military families are getting sick from mold in their homes. Now they’re suing
Opinion: How Seattle can slow gentrification — and why it must