Two bills to protect abortion rights move forward in Olympia
Two bills in Olympia to protect abortion rights took important steps forward on Tuesday. One, known as a “shield law,” seeks to protect people who travel to Washington seeking abortions. The second bill would require insurance coverage of abortion care without co-pays or deductibles. The shield law bill, HB 1469, also aims to protect those who assist people from states that restrict abortion and gender-affirming care. It also includes protections for health care providers. SB 5242 would require insurance companies to pay for abortion coverage without charging any co-pays or deductibles also moved ahead. That bill passed in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading at KUOW. (Austin Jenkins)
To solve home care aide shortage, Washington may expand who can be one
Mae Hochstetler has two jobs: a patient health navigator and a paid parent home care provider for her son Joshua, 25. She frequently tears up when she talks about the home care worker shortage and the impact on seniors and people with disabilities or complex medical needs. “We need more caregivers, and we need them now,” Hochstetler said. State lawmakers are considering legislation and a budget that could help ease the way for others like Hochstetler, by increasing pay and expanding who can be a family caregiver. House Bill 1694 would expand who can be considered a family caregiver, meaning people like grandparents and cousins would have simpler training requirements. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry)
Washington may add automated cameras on highways to catch speeders in construction zones
Automated cameras may be coming to work zones on state highways to catch speeding drivers. A bill that passed the state Senate last week would allow the Washington state Department of Transportation to add automated speed safety cameras in work areas to capture speeding when workers are present. The department would be responsible for mailing notices for infractions, while Washington State Patrol would enforce them. According to a 2023 Washington Traffic Safety Commission report, 28 people died in work zones over the last three years. Around 20% of collisions in work zones are a result of speeding, the report said Continue reading at Spokesman Review.
Associated Press
Labor judge: Starbucks violated worker rights in union fight
Axios
State’s plan to phase out natural gas in buildings prompts lawsuit
Capital Press
Washington bill on ‘extremism’ draw ire of House GOP leader (Ramos)
Columbian
Waterfront Vancouver lot set to grow upward in 2024
Everett Herald
To solve home care aide shortage, Washington may expand who can be one (Ortiz-Self)
Embracing recess, capping insulin costs and targeting street takeovers (Alvarado, Lovick)
Editorial: State AG’s lawsuit may protect medication abortion
Letter: Renters need limits placed to prevent gouging by landlords (Ortiz-Self, Peterson, Liias)
The Facts Newspaper
Senator Murray Discusses Strengthening U.S. Competitiveness with Regional Industry Leaders
The Inlander
Drug tests, teenagers and cardiovascular disease
Environmental and faith groups oppose plans to pump more gas through an Inland Northwest pipeline
Opinion: Disparate groups found a way to work together to preserve riparian habitat for salmon, but Jay Inslee preferred a regulatory approach (Chapman)
Kitsap Sun
Washington State Ferries delays restoration of Bremerton ferry service past summer
News Tribune
Local school district estimates $12 million deficit without staffing, program changes
Tacoma police using overtime for property crime initiative. Here’s how it’s going
Clover Park official alleged district demoted her after injury. She settled for $2.5M
Olympian
Sex offender housing near Tenino has been canceled, but officials say it’s just first step
Puget Sound Business Journal
Find out why the Washington estate tax exclusion amount is frozen
Seattle Medium
Can Fixing Abandoned Houses Lower Rates Of Gun Violence?
Lack Of Funding And Staffing Continue To Be Problematic For Black Non-Profits
Seattle Times
Abortions could get less expensive for WA patients (Cleveland)
WA proposals to address wealth gap die in Legislature (Berry)
Skagit Valley Herald
More ARPA funding destined for use at Memorial Park in Sedro-Woolley
Spokesman Review
Cheney council wants relocation strategies for mobile home park residents if development forces them out
Washington program to reconnect communities damaged by transportation projects renamed in honor of Sandy Williams (Billig, Liias)
Washington may add automated cameras on highways to catch speeders in construction zones (Liias)
Wenatchee World
Legislation to require inclusive curriculum in public schools clears Senate (Liias, Wellman, Wilson)
Broadcast
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
‘They mislead victims’: Lawmakers consider ban on sale of over-the-counter rape kits
Bill making clergy mandatory abuse reporters passes Washington Senate (Frame, Whalen)
KNKX Public Radio
First auction held for ‘licenses to pollute’ in Washington
New commercial airport site search in WA may get a do-over (Fey)
KUOW Public Radio
Two bills to protect abortion rights move forward in Olympia (Hansen)
In WA, pay and child care present obstacles to jury diversity and participation (Trudeau)
‘They’re not listening anymore.’ Member of WA’s government transparency committee steps down
KNDO (NBC)
WA State Senate unanimously approves transferable sick leave for construction workers (Keiser)
Web
Crosscut
The egg shortage won’t end anytime soon. Here’s why