Student, family homelessness funding doubles in state budget
State lawmakers more than doubled the funding for a program that helps homeless students and their families across Washington connect to housing and services, answering advocates’ calls for greater financial support. The Homeless Student Stability Program grew by $4.6 million to total $9 million — an unprecedented increase for a 7-year-old program whose funding has generally hovered around $4 million. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)
State budget includes $21 million for ‘safety net’ abortion providers
State lawmakers allocated $21 million for safety net abortion providers to cover the costs of care, increase their workforce and enhance security. Planned Parenthood is one of these safety net providers, serving uninsured and underinsured patients. In a press release, state Planned Parenthood leaders hailed the money as the “largest investment in abortion services in recent memory.” Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Lindsey Wasson)
Legislative report card: A mix of achievements, progress and failures
The Washington Legislature ended its 105-day session on April 23 with long-fought achievements, some misses and some incomplete work. Gov. Jay Inslee says he wants lawmakers to come back in special session to try again to reach an agreement on the state’s expiring drug possessions law. Here are The Seattle Times editorial board ratings on only a few of the issues The Times has followed closely. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Legislative Support Services)
Associated Press
Washington creates missing Indigenous people cold case unit (Lekanoff)
Aberdeen Daily World
Mobile health van touring Pacific County
Axios
With Washington state set to decriminalize drugs, cities may step in
Bellingham Herald
Former House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox reflects on his time in leadership as he steps down (Billig, Jinkins)
Bellingham is buying 20 acres near Lake Whatcom. This is what’s planned
Attorney General’s Office won’t defend Legislature in public records lawsuit
Columbian
Habitat loss brings bears, cougars closer to suburbs, cities in Southwest Washington
Little White Salmon watershed project aims to prepare area for effects of climate change
Everett Herald
Gun sale spurs protest outside Everett’s Angel of the Winds Arena
State budget includes $21 million for ‘safety net’ abortion providers (Robinson)
After outcry, Hope Church won’t be turned into Everett homeless shelter
Editorial: Assault weapons ban can withstand legal challenge
International Examiner
Future of Filipinx History and Ethnic Studies in Limbo Amid SPS Budget Deficit
News Tribune
Pierce County sheriff reflects on 2022 SWAT operation that left deputy, suspect dead
As youth violence grips Tacoma, could safe space for kids to talk mental health help?
Op-Ed: Tacoma is beautiful — but there’s too much trash. Here’s what the city is doing
Op-Ed: How Sound Transit loses people — even in liberal cities like Tacoma
Op-Ed: The NW Seaport Alliance is like a marriage. Tacoma and Seattle are stronger together
Olympian
E. Washington ‘geological wonder’ named one of Earth’s top significant sites. Why?
Port Townsend Leader
State announces opening days for spot shrimp fishing
Puget Sound Business Journal
Biofuel repository in Snohomish County awarded $6.5M from state
Seattle Times
WA Gov. Jay Inslee won’t seek reelection for fourth term
Student, family homelessness funding doubles in state budget (Rolfes, Fey)
How WA seeks to stem flow of people from jails to state hospitals (Dhingra)
WA ferry fares increase for peak season
EPA pitches $290 million cleanup for Duwamish Superfund site
Supreme Court to decide important case on government power
Legislative report card: A mix of achievements, progress and failures
Multiple benefits from WA’s decision to support local news (Keiser)
WA lawmakers deadlocked as drugs ravage Snohomish County, rest of state (Dhingra, Robinson)
Skagit Valley Herald
Seattle City Light commits to fish passage over Skagit River dams
Mount Vernon Library Commons to get another $2.1 million, nearly fully funded
Spokesman Review
Does Spokane’s Waste-to-Energy Plant fit into the city’s climate goals?
Survey indicates Spokane’s homelessness increased by 36% since last year
Glaring uptick in anti-trans laws nationwide felt by Washington’s trans community
Bill extending tax break to Washington business that use wood waste for energy awaits signature for final passage (Tharinger, Nguyen)
Getting There: WSDOT reminds Spokane it could close local access to U.S. Highway 195 if safety issues aren’t addressed
Gov. Jay Inslee visits Crosswalk shelter in Spokane on Friday to acknowledge successes, needs to address youth homelessness
Opinion: Rural pharmacies at risk without reform
Tri-City Herald
Can your neighbors turn their house into a duplex? What new WA laws mean for Tri-Cities
Opinion: WA legislators must get back to work. Drug law needs statewide fix and it can’t wait
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Capital budget: Walla Walla Public Library gets $2 million for renovation, expansion
US 12 Walla Walla corridor gets $183 million in WA transportation budget
WSDOT crews to use drones to apply herbicides along section of US 12
Wenatchee World
Center for Alcohol & Drug Treatment receives $19.6 million for new facility
Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima council members address airport plans, crime
Pedestrian safety is goal of trail project in Lower Yakima Valley
Efforts to unionize agricultural workers in WA face long-standing hurdles
Editorial: Lawmakers’ work isn’t done yet — we need a permanent Blake fix
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Amazon’s return-to-work policy has employees anxious, businesses hopeful
Over 100 guns surrendered at giveback event in Tacoma
‘It’s bittersweet’: Inslee to sign law increasing penalties for hazing
After years of conflict, Seattle City Light agrees to tribal demands on Skagit River
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington creates missing Indigenous people cold case unit (Lekanoff)
KUOW Public Radio
In the absence of state law, Washington cities seek bans on public drug use
Week in Review: drugs, guns, and housing
Can fish and dams coexist on the Skagit River? New plan may be first step
KXLY (ABC)
Crosswalk Youth Center getting new shelter through state funding
“A problem in public areas”: Spokane residents react to possible emergency ordinances
Web
Cascadia Daily News
New state laws pave way for more housing density (Shewmake, Ramel)
Study: New boating distance rule no cure-all for Southern Residents (Lovelett)
Western academic student employees earn right to bargain
MyNorthwest
1 in 6 Pierce Co. children don’t have enough to eat