HEAL Act, requiring environmental justice in state agencies, signed at Duwamish Longhouse
On Monday May 17, across the road from the mouth of Seattle’s only river, the Duwamish, and at the cultural center of the people who have called themselves by the same name for generations, Governor Jay Inslee signed a far-reaching piece of environmental justice legislation into law. Continue reading at The South Seattle Emerald. (Susan Fried)
Municipal broadband in Washington will soon offer options beyond Comcast
A pair of bills passed in Washington during the last legislative session is giving the state’s rural communities the ability to offer municipal broadband to residents. Prior to the passage of those bills, Washington was one of just a handful of states that expressly forbade local governments from providing so-called “direct to customer broadband.” Continue reading at MyNorthwest.
A year after George Floyd’s death, Washington state lawmakers pass police accountability, equity bills
A year after George Floyd’s murder, Washington has a dozen new laws intended to reshape policing and to hold officers more accountable for misconduct. Those laws include a ban on no-knock warrants, chokeholds and neck restraints, and a requirement that officers intervene when witnessing excessive force by fellow officers. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Ringman)
Associated Press
As US schools resume testing, large numbers are opting out
Thurston County businesses chart their course for the economy reopening on June 30
Washington governor criticized over climate bill veto
Over a dozen JBLM families sue over housing conditions
Health director says he was attacked in Tacoma, Washington
Aberdeen Daily World
New COVID cases remain high, death total reaches 70
Auburn Reporter
Council approves B&O tax to generate more revenue for Auburn
Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Whatcom is 1 of 4 counties with high COVID-19 case counts, but hospitalization rate improves
State acts to finally settle disputed Nooksack River Basin water rights
Whatcom County Health vaccination update for May
Capital Press
Washington apple growers optimistic about 2021 crop
Centralia Chronicle
Washington Tribal Leaders, Legislators Slam Inslee Over Vetoes in Climate Bills (Chapman, Van De Wege)
Columbian
Vaccination effort gets shot in the arm in Clark County
Anti-mask protesters cause disturbance outside Vancouver elementary school
Business leaders quiz Clark County legislators on capital gains tax, I-5 Bridge, COVID relief (Cleveland, Wylie, Stonier)
State accepting COVID recovery grant applications from veterans organizations
In Our View: Police reform must go beyond new laws
In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Mask options, fake vaccine card
Everett Herald (subscription required)
By necessity, local farmers grow resilient to climate change
Agencies, nonprofits help farms adapt to changing landscape
PUD seeks volunteers to change energy habits — and save money
As virus wanes, Monroe prisoners still isolated by new rules
When businesses break COVID rules, many warnings, few fines
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Burke: Burke: We’re so smart, why do some deny what they’ve seen?
WaPo Comment: Let’s allow a little grace as we emerge from covid
WaPo Comment: Can we trust each other to follow advice on masks?
Editorial: Act now to save salmon, regardless of dams’ fate
Federal Way Mirror
Divisive needle exchange will continue in Federal Way
The Inlander
We try in vain to find a better WA county vaccination rate predictor than the 2020 election
Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Why some vaccinated people are keeping masks despite easing of COVID-19 requirements
News Tribune (subscription required)
Pierce County fire district to ask property owners for more funding in August election
Here are the COVID-19 numbers confirmed Friday in Washington state
Puyallup hotel program for the homeless going ‘quite well.’ City exploring more options
A Tacoma fire displaced 42 people. Some are still reeling, even with help on the way
Nearly 1K people need new sentences after drug ruling. Here’s Pierce County’s plan
Op-Ed: My husband was killed on his bike. Need for safe Pierce County drivers painfully clear
Editorial: These Pierce County folks tamed their vaccine doubts, fears. UW Tacoma students helped
New York Times
Live Updates: Memorial Day Deadline for Infrastructure Negotiations Closes In
Olympian (subscription required)
Large caseloads and backlogs are stressing staff and delaying justice, prosecuting attorney says
WA veteran organizations can get extra financial help recovering from COVID-19 crisis
No Music in the Park free concert series for second year in a row, ODA announces
Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA’s remaining PPP loan funding continues to dwindle
U.S. colleges face budget uncertainty as international students remain in limbo
UW academic building gets 50-year lease on life after renovation
Opinion: New class of investors not likely to go away any time State Department of Commerce distributes another $234M in small business grants, with more to come soon
He was denied an SBA grant. But the gated community nearby would qualify.
Renton Reporter
Redmond PD looking for feedback of possible implementation of police-worn cameras
Seattle Times (subscription required)
A year after George Floyd’s death, Washington state lawmakers pass police accountability, equity bills (Saldaña, Das, Pedersen)
Families of people killed by police are left without answers while King County’s inquests are stalled
As U.S. pullout nears, groups with Seattle ties that work with Afghan youth face uncertain future
Bellevue man at center of Washington’s long marriage equality battle dies at 65
The COVID pandemic split the King County homeless system in two. A year later, the differences remain stark
Opinion: Prioritize sexual-assault victims in court backlog
Opinion: Investing in ‘infrastructure’ means more than bridges and roads
Skagit Valley Herald
From La Conner to Hamilton, local governments oppose mining in Skagit River headwaters
After one-year pandemic hiatus, cruise ships return to Anacortes
Skagit Valley College to offer summer Running Start program
Snoqualmie Valley Record
Tribal leaders condemn Inslee’s veto of consultation, protection provisions in climate bill (Chapman)
Valley cities work on plan for spending housing money
South Seattle Emerald
Opinion: Stopping disaster gentrification post-pandemic will require robust action
Link to Lake secures $1 million in improvements to Rainier Beach’s Be’er Sheva Park (Saldaña, Harris-Talley, Santos)
Former SPD officer featured in CBS report has a ‘troubled’ history
Durkan and school board directors at odds over Bitter Lake encampment (TW: Threats of violence, profanity)
HEAL Act, requiring environmental justice in state agencies, signed at Duwamish Longhouse (Saldaña, Lekanoff, Harris-Talley)
Spokesman Review
Countering dam removal proposal, Cantwell hints at her ideas for Snake River salmon during Senate hearing
Former Attorney General Rob McKenna joins lawsuit seeking to invalidate capital gains tax
Major police reforms become law in Washington after Inslee signs bills he calls ‘just the beginning’ (Johnson, Dhingra, Goodman)
Federal judge orders Washington transgender inmates’ records to remain sealed, for now
Tri-City Herald
Benton County officials sued for rejecting Latino voter ballots 3+ times more often
Washington Post
Key impeachment witness Gordon Sondland sues Mike Pompeo and U.S. for $1.8 million in legal fees
Opinion: It is painful to remember. We have to remember.
How UFO sightings went from joke to national security worry in Washington
Yakima Herald Republic
After being driven to near extinction, wolves are back in Washington. Can we coexist with them?
Some Yakima Valley school districts look at a shorter summer break to limit learning loss
Opinion: Fourth of July event returns to State Fair Park, and we have a lot to celebrate
Opinion: The end for Roe v. Wade — or a chance to uphold it?
Broadcast
KING5 TV (NBC)
Rent prices for single-family homes skyrocket in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties
Major roadwork on I-5 in Seattle begins Monday
Washington restaurants rush to apply for federal grant funding
KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Expect ‘close to normal’ summer but more COVID cases this fall, experts say
Seattle Waterfront and its businesses are on the road to recovery
Amtrak restores service on Seattle routes after COVID cutbacks
King County mulling over tax relief incentives, gift cards to encourage vaccinations
CDC investigating potential rare side effect from Pfizer, Moderna vaccines
Capitol Hill bar asking for proof of vaccination from guests
KNKX FM
Surge in boating amplifies Boating Safety Week messages, especially for small craft
KUOW FM
Pandemic blog: Updates for Washington state
Skepticism Of Science In A Pandemic Isn’t New. It Helped Fuel The AIDS Crisis
Tribal leaders call Inslee ‘a snake’ after he vetoes climate law’s tribal consent measure
Schools Are Dropping Mask Requirements, But A New CDC Study Suggests They Shouldn’t
If a bargain gets vetoed, was it ever really ‘grand’? This week in politics (Billig, Jinkins)
KXLY (ABC)
Totem pole carved in Washington heading to the White House
Groups stand in solidarity with Palestine during protest at Clark Park in Spokane
Q13 TV (Fox)
Poll: Over 1 billion people worldwide unwilling to get COVID-19 vaccine, global herd immunity at risk
The Divide: Inslee strikes blow to compromise
Web
Crosscut
Ambitious B.C. project aims to fight climate change one seed at a time
Podcast | Former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best on a year of unrest
My Edmonds News
Letter to the editor: Thanks to 21st District legislators for climate action initiatives (Ortiz-Self, Liias, Peterson)
MyNorthwest
Municipal broadband in Washington will soon offer options beyond Comcast
Recycling, yard waste workers threatening strike that would impact thousands of customers
Slog
There Is No Compassion in Compassion Seattle’s Proposed Charter Amendment
Tammy Morales Proposes a COVID-19 Eviction Defense