WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Tuesday, February 9

against a blue background, a red and white graphic reads in black text: Unemployment bill signed into law. $1.7 billion tax relief for employers (April), 15% per week worker benefit boosted to 20%, $270/week minimum highest in nation.

Inslee signs bill to raise unemployment benefit, freeze taxes paid by businesses
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed an unemployment insurance bill to help businesses and workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It will increase the minimum weekly benefit for unemployed workers starting in July and will prevent a dramatic increase in unemployment taxes paid by businesses. Continue reading at KOMO TV.


A black and white photo of the domed capitol building and its pillars against a bright sky and trees.

Legislator’s bill proposes wiping advisory votes from your ballot
Legislators are looking to get rid of the advisory votes that allow voters to give feedback on tax-raising legislation. Senate Bill 5182’s primary sponsor, Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue), called advisory votes a “failed experiment” during the bill’s public hearing on Jan. 20. Continue reading at The Auburn Reporter. (File)


The interior of the domed Capitol building roof, with a large tear drop chandelier hanging from the center.

Legislative lookahead: Deadline looms for bills unrelated to Washington state budget
The first big deadline of Washington’s Legislative session is coming up, a week from Monday. That’s when non-budget related bills need to pass out of committee if they’re going to survive to see another day. Among those on the agenda this week: bills addressing the harassment of election workers and a proposal to allow school districts to experiment with a year-round schedule. Continue reading at KUOW. (Jim Heising)


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Aberdeen Daily World
County records its 40th Covid death
Spectators limited at high school sporting events
Aberdeen council, downtown revitalization organization working on new contract
Washington governor signs bill to help workers, businesses

Auburn Reporter
Legislator’s bill proposes wiping advisory votes from your ballot (Kuderer)

Bainbridge Island Review
Violation? Ranking system or secret vote?

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
‘Balance of power.’ Tri-Citians ask WA lawmakers to limit governor’s power to declare emergencies
Phone scammers targeting health care providers, Attorney General’s Office warns
Whatcom County surpasses 6,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 160 reported Monday
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Monday in Washington
There’s help for Whatcom seniors who aren’t tech-savvy and want the COVID-19 vaccine
How much did Bellingham spend on the removal of a downtown homeless encampment?
Stimulus checks would be capped at $100,000 income under Democrat plan. What we know

Capital Press
Simpson’s salmon recovery, dam breaching plan a ‘non-starter,’ ag reps say
House panel backs privatizing rule enforcement (Sells)

The Daily News
Good news from Cowlitz County: COVID-19 cases slowly trending down
Cowlitz County Superior Court Judges end contract with ICE to house youth

Everett Herald (subscription required)
New law averts big spike in unemployment taxes on businesses (Keiser, Sells)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: Vaccinations are going well, as long as you’re white
Bloomberg Commentary: Lies shouldn’t get a free pass on social media
Letter: Pandemic shows importance of rural internet access
Letter: System has to prioritize vaccines for those most at risk

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Man shot at by Kitsap sheriff’s deputy charged with DUI

News Tribune (subscription required)
Tacoma health systems discover suspected counterfeit N95s in supplies amid statewide search
Tacoma schools to expand in-person learning for grades K-2
Editorial: Ban vaccine appointments for privileged VIPs, demand access for all Washingtonians
Can you visit loved ones after getting a COVID vaccine? It depends, experts say
Tacoma club linked with fatal shooting violated ‘cease operations’ order from city

New York Times
Crisis Spurs Congress Toward Big Measures to Lift Families From Poverty
Trump Impeachment Live Updates: 2nd Trial Begins Today

Olympian (subscription required)
Shelton’s ‘Don’ Ricardo Del Bosque dies after 6-month battle with COVID-19
Thurston County adds 34 COVID-19 cases Monday
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Monday in Washington
Here’s what you need to know about noise on JBLM this week
Trump impeachment trial starts in Senate today — you can watch it live here
Plan to bring 2, 600-foot ships to the Port of Olympia is not happening, official says
Washington is home to one of the healthiest cities in the US, report says. Here’s why

Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
First COVID-19 doses still delayed

Puget Sound Business Journal
Inslee signs business tax relief package, boosts unemployment benefits (Keiser, Sells)
Attorney deems lawsuit against Seattle’s ‘hazard pay’ ordinance a ‘long shot’
The gig economy dipped again in the fall. But how bad was it?
Minimum wage hike would help poverty but cost jobs, budget office says
$14.4M approved for West Seattle Bridge repairs
Opinion: Economic recovery will depend on adaptation and reinvention of our cities

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Seattle’s disclosure of police records lags as experts question legality of city’s practices, funding
Can a fourth wave of COVID-19 be prevented? Not likely, says Fred Hutch model — but the curve could be flattened
Turmoil surfaces in Seattle City Council’s push to reimagine public safety
Inslee signs unemployment insurance tax cut, boost in jobless benefits to help those hurt by COVID-19 (Keiser, Sells)
Washington’s immigrant and refugee elders face challenges in COVID-19 vaccine access
A handful of Washington schools are rapid testing staff and students for COVID-19. Is it working?
‘Serious concerns’ over Washington state’s proposed ban on registration of new gas passenger cars (Macri, Fey)
Editorial: Interstate compact would help nurses get to work

Skagit Valley Herald
Youngest students return to Mount Vernon campuses
With COVID-19 cases dropping, Skagit County on the way to further reopening

South Seattle Emerald
Black Brilliance Research Project, born from Seattle’s Black Lives Matter protests, moving on without King County Equity Now
Opinion: To heal our collective trauma, we must first face it
Top SPD officials asked King County Jail officials to override COVID restrictions and book nonviolent protestors. They complied.

Spokesman Review
Mask frauds hits Washington hospitals; some workers were using counterfeit N95 respirators
Central Valley STEM class manufactures face shields using 3D printers

Tri-City Herald
62 lose their jobs after massive fire destroys potato processing plant
Richland school leaders are ignoring teacher safety and training concerns, says union
‘Balance of power.’ Tri-Citians ask WA lawmakers to limit governor’s power to declare emergencies
Tri-Cities COVID vaccine site outperforms other WA sites. New cases dropping
These Tri-Citians teamed up to heal a leading cause of local homelessness

Vancouver Business Journal
January windstorm is reminder of value of diverse energy sources

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
New COVID-19 cases continue to drop in Walla Walla County
Health officials: Walla Walla, Umatilla counties continue to vaccinate as fast as possible
Saturday school? Afternoon tutoring? Dayton School District eyes more help for students
Health officials: Walla Walla, Umatilla counties continue to vaccinate as fast as possible
Police: Pendleton man Richard A. Smith arrested after cutting off electronic monitoring anklet
Walla Walla police arrest woman on drug charges while on burglary call

Washington Post
Trump’s second impeachment trial to begin with clash over constitutionality of proceedings
Seeking to combat extremists in ranks, the military struggles to answer a basic question: How many are there?
Trump’s lawyers say he was immediately ‘horrified’ by the Capitol attack. Here’s what his allies and aides said really happened that day.

Yakima Herald Republic
Financial assistance helps Yakima Valley restaurants, but losses remain massive
Yakima County jail to get two rapid COVID-19 testing machines
Special meeting set to discuss legal issues raised by Yakima County Commission’s new health board rules
One month later, Northwest lawmakers reflect on ‘horror and disgust’ of the Capitol siege
Federal and state legislation may provide additional relief for restaurants

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
$3,600 per child: Congress considers COVID-19 payments to families
UW School of Nursing creates Center for Antiracism, tackling healthcare disparities
Mukilteo teachers build desks for students without at-home workspaces
Seattle mayor signs legislation to ban natural gas in some new buildings

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Race, credit scoring, and the most expensive neighborhood for car insurance in Washington
Gov. Inslee signs law with unemployment tax relief
Millions of potentially fake N95 masks pulled from hospital shelves
Facebook launching tools to battle COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, share public health info
Work sites are third most likely place to contract COVID

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Inslee signs bill to raise unemployment benefit, freeze taxes paid by businesses (Keiser)
Will Lumen Field be used as mass COVID-19 vaccination site?
New federal rules on transgender discrimination stirs hope in Washington state
New report shows Hispanic people in WA are getting less than their fair share of vaccine

KNKX FM
Watch Live: Trump Impeachment Trial In The Senate
Masks thought to be made by 3M turn out to be fake; lots of questions yet to be answered
Judge halts WA Proud Boy’s release in Capitol breach case
Inslee signs bill to help unemployed workers, struggling businesses
King County prosecutor says case backlog due to COVID pause must be addressed

KUOW FM
Cowlitz County youth jail moves to end contract with ICE
Here’s What You Need To Know About The Senate Impeachment Trial
Pandemic updates for Washington state
Seattle-area Proud Boy ordered to return to D.C. for Capitol riot hearing
Republican Congressman Ron Wright Of Texas Dies After COVID-19 Hospitalization
Legislative lookahead: Deadline looms for bills unrelated to Washington state budget
Trump Lawyers Reject Impeachment Case, Calling It ‘Political Theater’

NW Public Radio
Washington ‘Cattlegate’ Continues: Bankruptcy Complicates Creditors’ Claims To Easterday Empire

Q13 TV (Fox)
Communities report vaccine deliveries halted across Washington
Advocates in Tacoma rush to provide more resources for homeless as temperatures drop
Judge halts Proud Boy’s release in Capitol breach case

Web

Crosscut
Opinion: On human rights, Amazon is at a crossroads
WA immigration advocates want to do more than erase the Trump years

MyNorthwest
Seattle council debates reworked limits on crowd control weapons, SPD budget cut
Man killed in Kittitas County avalanche identified as WSP trooper
Mayor Durkan signs ban on gas heating in new apartments and buildings into law
Lawmakers aim to have Washington join Oregon in decriminalizing drug possession
Unemployment bill becomes first Washington bill signed into law in 2021
Pretrial release of Seattle-area Proud Boy overturned, will face charges for Capitol siege in DC
Washington AG doubles down on bid to fight pandemic price gouging
WA Rep. Lekanoff: Banning use of Native mascots is ‘how we honor the first Americans’
COVID-19 updates: Gov. Inslee signs bill to help workers, businesses

Slog
Participatory Budget Research Project Cuts Ties with King County Equity Now
We’re Running Low on Blood — But Teenagers Could Save Us (Liias)
Our Next Mayor Needs to Be a Municipal Broadband Champion
Washington State Considers Decriminalizing Small Amounts of Drugs (Davis, Harris-Talley)