$6.9 million misappropriated from Pierce County Housing Authority by finance director, auditor’s report says
A former finance director misappropriated more than $6.9 million in public funds from the Pierce County Housing Authority, according to a fraud investigation report the State Auditor’s Office released Monday. It’s the biggest case of fraud for a local government in the state, according to Auditor’s Office records of the past 25 years. Continue reading in The News Tribune.
Feds say they’ll grant $790M for Federal Way light-rail extension
The dollars to build light-rail from Angle Lake Station in SeaTac to Federal Way are nearly in the bag, after the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave notice of its intent to grant $790 million, plus a $629 million low-interest loan. Both the grant and loan have been negotiated since 2016, when voters approved the Sound Transit 3 tax increase to build eight rail extensions and two bus-rapid transit corridors. Continue reading in The Seattle Times. (Tyler Sipe/The Seattle Times)
Congress votes to compensate Spokane Tribe millions for flooded Grand Coulee lands
Some 70 years after their traditional homelands were flooded as part of the reservoir for the Grand Coulee Dam, Congress approved a new system of paying the Spokane Tribe for the land they lost. The House gave final approval Monday and sent to President Donald Trump a bill that sets up a schedule of yearly payments to the tribe based on a similar system for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, who also lost land when the dam and reservoir were created. Continue reading in The Spokesman Review. (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Seattle tunnel contractor will appeal $57M award to state
Washington rain and heavy mountain snow expected this week
Spokane Tribe finally wins compensation for Grand Coulee Dam
Washington House members split on party lines over Trump
State hospital transgender discrimination suit settled
Pope removes shroud of secrecy from clergy sex abuse cases
Ex-Trump campaign official Rick Gates gets 45 days in jail
US, Mexico quickly mend rift over North American trade deal
Washington state school reviews racist incident at ball game
Ripples from Boeing’s 737 Max quagmire begin to spread
School in Kenmore closed Monday following gun rumors
Reeves resigns from state Legislature
Supreme Court won’t revive homeless camping ban in Idaho
Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen mayor, mayor-elect weigh in on Supreme Court homeless decision
Settlement likely in Willapa Valley teacher strikeRep. Kilmer hosts Facebook, telephone town halls this week
Auburn Reporter
State awards salmon grant for Middle Green River
Lawmakers aim to act on guns and pot, taxes and apples (Hobbs, Stanford)
Muckleshoots among 30 tribes selected for expansion of program enhancing tribal access to national crime information databases
Boeing Renton plant to halt 737 Max production
King, Pierce county officials want answers on Sound Transit fare enforcement disparities
Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Here’s where Whatcom County will see the impacts of rising sea levels
Whatcom County is a child care desert and it’s a problem all over Washington state
Storms line up to strike Whatcom County with wind, rain and snow. Here’s when
Here’s how climate change is causing rising sea levels
100 years of tiny seashells reveal alarming trend threatening West Coast seafood
Capital Press
Wafla chief warns of weaknesses in ag labor bill
Southwest Washington farmers start grain co-op
Change proposed in ag land property taxes
Beef exports contribute to ‘solid’ year ahead for industry
The Daily News
Kelso, Longview schools have high compliance with state vaccine law
CEDC drafts letter to Ecology supporting Kalama methanol project
Cowlitz County awarded $1.2 million in salmon recovery grants
Everett Herald (subscription required)
737 workers are relieved, for now, but much is uncertain
Report: Breakdown in Monroe prison left man to die of cancer
The juicy new starlet of the apple universe is Cosmic Crisp
Editorial: Traffic cameras could limit wrecks in Everett
WaPo Commentary: Don’t let McConnell hold a sham impeachment trial
Kent Reporter
A much-needed east-west connection for Kent
Sound Transit to receive $790 million federal grant, $629 million loan for light rail extension
What can be done to keep Kent schools safe?
Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Police officer accused of buying insurance policy while his apartment was on fire
Flu season off to a quick start in Kitsap
News Tribune (subscription required)
The Tax Break for Children, Except the Ones Who Need It Most
How Families Cope with the Hidden Costs of Incarceration for the Holidays
U.N. Climate Talks End With Few Commitments and a ‘Lost’ Opportunity
Puyallup has begun annexation process for farmland, warehouses west of the city
Want marijuana delivered to your door? Yeah, even the trade group says not yet, Washington
Here’s what you need to know about Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program
What’s Congress doing about homelessness in Tacoma? Not enough, advocates say
$6.9 million misappropriated from Pierce County Housing Authority by finance director, auditor’s report says
Nisqually Valley News
A Hero’s Promise: Yelm Ceremony Honors Fallen Veterans With a Focus on Women (Kilduff, Doglio)
Olympian (subscription required)
More local people are living in cars and on sidewalks in Olympia. Is Congress doing enough?
Dancer was hired to strip at Seattle homelessness conference. The video leaked online
Puget Sound is an earthquake hot zone, according to new seismic update
Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County commissioners approve tax to support affordable housing
Terrorist plot stopped in Port Angeles 20 years ago (Chapman)
Puget Sound Business Journal
HBR: The ethical dilemma at the heart of big tech companies
Liquor taxes could go up 400%, thanks to congressional dysfunction
US tech groups rebuff Trump’s new anti-Huawei push
Pacific Northwest nursing facilities file for bankruptcy with $30M in debt
Renton Reporter
King, Pierce county officials want answers on Sound Transit fare enforcement disparities (Hobbs, Stanford)
Seattle Times (subscription required)
Boeing will halt Renton assembly lines for 737 MAX, but no layoffs for employees
In Renton, local businesses worry about Boeing 737 MAX assembly line stoppage
The Supreme Court won’t hear a case on a ‘constitutional right to camp.’ Here’s what that means for homelessness in Washington
Homeless agency director resigns after dancer strips at Seattle homelessness conference
Monroe inmate died after prison failed to provide him with cancer treatment for over a year, report finds
Amazon cuts off FedEx ground for Prime shipments this holiday
New Sea-Tac program allows non-ticketed visitors to go beyond security checkpoint
Northwest killer whales are shrinking in size — and so are their prey, chinook salmon, new research shows
Highway 99 tunnel contractor will appeal last week’s court loss over Bertha’s breakdown
Feds say they’ll grant $790M for Federal Way light-rail extension
The secret is out: 105-year-old woman left $10M to Washington’s community colleges
How did your neighborhood vote on on $30 car tabs? Check out our precinct-by-precinct map
Seattle Weekly
Boeing Renton plant to halt 737 Max production
Victims, law enforcement speak about King County Courthouse conditions
Despite concerns, homelessness authority moves toward final Seattle vote
Skagit Valley Herald
Fidalgo Forest Stewards document impact of drought conditions
Spokesman Review
Daybreak Youth Services says $500,000 budget gap could force closure of treatment facilities in Spokane, Vancouver
Congress votes to compensate Spokane Tribe millions for flooded Grand Coulee lands
City adopts $1.1 billion budget
Spokane Police Department preparing to update body cameras, Tasers with new $2.8 million contract
Tri-City Herald
$90 million more for Hanford in latest spending plan. Congress likely votes this week
Hanford contractor earns $39M incentive bonus. Workers will see extra in their checks
Guest Opinion: Exempt vets, military and law enforcement from I-1639. They have earned it
Washington Post
House panel to set parameters for historic debate
McConnell rejects Democrats’ call for new witnesses
Mormon Church misled members on $100 billion fund, whistleblower alleges
He was sexually abusing underage girls. Then, police said, one of them killed him.
Southwest will cancel thousands of flights as Boeing 737 Max’s fate remains uncertain
Sackler family transferred $1.36 billion in Purdue Pharma profits overseas, company says in court filing
Another fired Google engineer alleges retaliation for union activity
How the ‘Okay’ hand sign keeps tricking us into looking
Corporations paid 11.3 percent tax rate last year, in steep drop under Trump’s law
Russian disinformation network said to have helped spread smear of U.S. ambassador to Ukraine
The Technology 202: Instagram is going global with its fact-checking program to limit misinformation
What does your car know about you? We hacked a Chevy to find out.
The Technology 202: Businesses should be watching out for deepfakes too, experts warn
Yakima Herald Republic
Tribal leaders gather for summit with Indian Affairs secretary on missing and murdered indigenous women
More of the Story: Export-Import Bank, essential to local businesses, likely to avoid shutdown
Supreme Court decision on homeless case is a blow to cities wanting more policing powers
Broadcast
KING5 TV (NBC)
Boeing to halt 737 Max production in January, but denies layoffs
Former finance director of Pierce County Housing Authority accused of stealing $6.9 million
Emergency grant approved to save 500 child care slots in Whatcom County
Pacific Northwest colleges could have lower enrollment due to Great Recession
KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Boeing suspends 737 MAX production in Renton
Homeless agency director resigns after video of dancer goes viral
State Auditor: Nearly $7 million misappropriated by former Pierce County Housing Authority finance director
Kenmore Middle School closed Monday following gun rumors
KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Seattle City Council approves new Regional Homeless Authority
Audit: Ex-employee stole $7 million from housing agency in state’s largest-ever fraud case
Renton locals, businesses anticipate economic impact from 737 MAX production shutdown
Flu activity ‘widespread’ in Wash. state as cases mount
Burien community ‘up in arms’ over city closure of community center
KNKX FM
Audit uncovers $6.9M fraud scheme by former Pierce County Housing Authority employee
Boeing says it will suspend 737 MAX production; Renton businesses and workers react
Northern Resident orcas compete with endangered Southern Residents for largest Chinook
Boeing Will Suspend Production Of 737 Max Jetliners In January
KUOW FM
Young climate protesters push Washington senators to sign onto Green New Deal
Washington Congresswoman to vote against impeachment, calling testimony ‘hearsay’
Boeing suspends 737 MAX production; no layoffs or furlough expected
Boeing Will Suspend Production Of 737 Max Jetliners In January
December 16th | What will change – and what won’t – about how western cities approach homelessness
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Case On Ban Against Homeless Sleeping In Public Spaces
READ: The House Judiciary Committee’s Trump Impeachment Report
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Case On Ban Against Homeless Sleeping In Public Spaces
Schrier will vote to impeach Trump despite political risk
House Slated To Impeach Trump This Week — How It Will Work And What Comes Next
NW Public Radio
Columbia River Treaty Renegotiation Brings Out Crowd And Contention In Tri-Cities
Boeing To Suspend Production Of Grounded 737 Max Jetliners, No Layoffs Expected
Boise Is Trying To Address Homelessness Through Courts. It’s Rippling Across Western Cities
Q13 TV (Fox)
Former Pierce Co. Housing Authority finance director accused of stealing $7 million in public funds
Boeing to suspend 737 Max production in January; no layoffs expected
Web
Crosscut
In Washington’s foster care system, aging out often means ending up in prison
Queen Anne & Magnolia News
Priorities in the 36th (Carlyle, Tarleton, Frame, Jinkins)
Seattle P.I.
Feds come through with $1.4 billion for Federal Way light rail extension
Slog
Seattle Just Voted to Create a Not-So Transformative Regional Homelessness Authority