Facebook parent company fined $25M for WA campaign finance violations
Meta, Facebook’s parent company, was fined nearly $25 million Wednesday for intentionally and repeatedly violating Washington’s campaign finance laws. King County Superior Court Judge Douglass North issued the maximum possible fine to the social media giant, after finding that the company had, between 2019 and 2021, violated Washington’s longstanding political disclosure law 822 separate times. It is the largest campaign finance penalty ever issued anywhere in the country, Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office said. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Jim Wilson)
Yakima, Spokane counties forfeit nearly $2M in federal rental aid
Spokane and Yakima counties lost a combined $1.9 million in emergency federal rental assistance, the U.S. Treasury reported last week, part of the latest round of a process intended to speed distribution of funds to renters at risk of eviction. Spokane officials will reportedly lose $1 million from their $7.2 million allocation. Yakima County gave up $900,000 in this round of reallocations, adding to a previous $1.1 million the county handed back to the federal government earlier this year. Yakima County’s previous loss of $1.1 million earlier this year made it the only county in the state forced to give back rental assistance funding at the time. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Nicholas K. Geranios)
World falls ‘pitifully short’ of meeting climate goals, U.N. report says
Despite a high-profile promise to boost ambitions at last year’s U.N. climate summit, nations have shaved just 1 percent off their projected greenhouse gas emissions for 2030, a new United Nations report found — leaving Earth on track to blow past a safe temperature threshold by almost a full degree. Thursday’s report on the emissions gap — the gulf between national plans to reduce carbon pollution and the actual cuts needed to avert catastrophic warming — found that countries’ strongest climate pledges put the Earth on a path to warm by a dangerous 2.4 degrees Celsius (4.3 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Afolabi Sotunde)
Associated Press
Student loan forgiveness support split between Washington Democrats, Republicans
Meta fined $24.7M for campaign finance disclosure violations
Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: State is wise to develop clean-energy industry
Everett Herald
Everett council districting commission erred in meetings, resident says
Judge asked to cut number of Growler flights on Whidbey Island
Kent Reporter
State long-term care fund projected to be solvent over long term
News Tribune
Tacoma wants to raise business license fees. Now, 3 council members are asking for more
Pepper spray, shouting as people clash at anti-transgender rally in Tacoma on Wednesday
Olympian
South Puget Sound Community College closer to offering its first bachelor’s degree
Puget Sound Business Journal
Meta fined $24.6M for WA campaign finance violations
Seattle Times
Facebook parent company fined $25M for WA campaign finance violations
Woman’s legal quest illuminates the rights of hospital patients who want to leave
WA AG slams $4B dividend by Albertsons ahead of Kroger merger
Amazon to open new Kirkland plant to build Project Kuiper satellites
SPU lawsuit against WA AG dismissed by federal judge
WA supports student loan forgiveness, but some have misgivings
Seattle City Council proposes amendments to Harrell’s budget plan
Respiratory infections surge in WA, leading to long waits at hospitals
Skagit Valley Herald
COVID-19 testing site at Cascade Mall may close
Spokesman Review
Spokane ending contract with homeless shelter operator just weeks after embezzlement allegations
‘It’s like you belong again’: State agencies helping Camp Hope residents get critical ID cards
‘False deadlines,’ emergency proclamation only hinders Camp Hope efforts, state, health foundation say
Tri-City Herald
Cocooning the past. Plutonium reactor in Eastern WA encased in steel to protect the river
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla County to consider allowing some rural wineries to build restaurants, overnight lodging
Washington Post
U.S. economy grows in third quarter, reversing a six-month slump
Overt U.S. antisemitism returns with Trump, Kanye West: ‘Something is different’
World falls ‘pitifully short’ of meeting climate goals, U.N. report says
Communities of color record big gains in health insurance coverage
Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County will tap more than $47 million in reserves for 2023 operating budget; jail debt retired
Yakima County’s jobless rate is lowest since September 2018
Chinook and Cayuse passes close for the season
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Thousands of formerly incarcerated people in Washington allowed to vote for the first time this year
Almost half of nearly 3,000 unsolved murder cases in Washington are in King County
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Starbucks union employees say company is penalizing them for being members
KNKX Public Radio
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program just got more flexible
KUOW Public Radio
Washington’s HIV prevention program just ran out of money
KXLY (ABC)
State agencies unwilling to set deadline to clear Camp Hope without housing options
‘It needs to go’: East Spokane Business Association wants Camp Hope removed by Thanksgiving
Spokane County to use $2 million in ARP funds to enhance tourism, travel and hospitality
Web
Crosscut
Yakima, Spokane counties forfeit nearly $2M in federal rental aid
MyNorthwest
Big losses, but potential future gains for Boeing
The Stranger
Eyebrow-Raising City Council Budget Items