Editorial: What good is that new payroll deduction?
A report updated last year for the federal Department of Health and Human Services determined that on average, an American turning 65 this year will incur about $121,000 in future long-term care costs over their lifetime. Very few people carry insurance to provide that care. At the same time, Medicare doesn’t pay for most care services; and Medicaid is only available after a person’s savings have been depleted to the poverty level. This new payroll tax supports a program called WA Cares, which is intended to provide a supplemental benefit of $36,500 — in effect up to $100 a day for a year in current dollars — for expenses for long-term care for seniors and those with disabilities to help pay for a range of services and needs. “That $36,500, even though it’s not $200,000, it’s enough that it can make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Ben Veghte, director of the WA Cares program, during an interview this week. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (WA DSHS)
Legislation boosts Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 1, will fund new dock for public market
Local lawmakers, port officials and Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti gathered at the Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 1 on Monday to celebrate economic development. A recently approved expansion to a state economic development law, tax increment financing will be used to help rebuild the Port of Vancouver’s dock, which will one day be home to its public market. Tax increment financing is relatively new to Washington. Lawmakers approved it in 2021, though more limited tax increment financing tools existed before then. This session, Rep. Wylie, D-Vancouver, carried the bill to expand the tax increment financing law through the Legislature, with the support of the area’s other lawmakers. “To make this work, you have to start with a great project with great support,” said Wylie. Continue reading at Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)
WA to get over $370 million from lawsuit resolutions to fight opioid addiction
The state of Washington will get $371.8 million to fight opioid addiction after resolving a lawsuit against opioid producing and selling companies, the state Attorney General’s Office announced Monday. Half of that will be divided between the state’s 125 local governments, which are required to use the funds for opioid remediation. The rest will go to the state. Over $100 million will go to King County and its cities. Seattle alone will see about $26 million. Neighboring Pierce and Snohomish counties will receive $48.2 million and $47.3 million, respectively. To comply with opioid remediation requirements, the funds can be used for housing or educating people in treatment and recovery, school-based programs, distribution of naloxone and supporting first responders. Continue reading at Seattle Times.
Axios
How and when El Niño could impact Seattle
Bellingham Herald
New WA law will make breast cancer exams more affordable and ‘flat out save lives’
Whatcom County homelessness at an all-time high, surpasses 1,000 people for the first time
‘Over the moon’: Bellingham REI becomes first Washington state store to unionize
Columbian
Vancouver’s Main Street to get a makeover
Legislation boosts Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 1 (Cleveland, Wylie)
Editorial: Portland camping ban consequences cross river
Everett Herald
Comment: Congress needs to fully fund bees’ highway habitat
Editorial: What good is that new payroll deduction?
Editorial: Wildfire smoke season calls for caution, preparation
News Tribune
High-speed chase through Tacoma ends in crash, 3 vehicles in flames and snarled traffic
Secretary Hobbs: Baseless attacks on an essential voter-registration partnership weaken us all
Olympian
State UTC fines CenturyLink more than $1.3M for 911 outage
Opinion: WA state is a leader when it comes to managing long-term care. New tax begins July 1
Peninsula Daily News
NOAA pledges $3 million for new marine life center in Port Angeles
Puget Sound Business Journal
Many companies not prepared for Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Seattle Medium
Washington State Department Of Health Urges Preparation As Wildfire Smoke Threat Looms
Extreme Heat Is Killing Incarcerated Black Folks
Seattle Times
As demand for mental health services overwhelms WA jails, judge revisits settlement
WA to get over $370 million from lawsuit resolutions to fight opioid addiction
Dockworkers union, employers clash over extent of Seattle port disruption
What the ‘Amazon effect’ means for Seattle traffic, bus ridership
Sen. Kauffman: Salmon restoration is a matter of ecological, cultural survival
Skagit Valley Herald
High levels of biotoxins close some recreational shellfish harvesting
Homeless programs getting a boost from the state
Spokesman Review
Spokane City Council passes emergency law to let ombudsman investigate police chiefs in wake of Meidl controversy
Opinion: Old-growth forests are more than timber — they can take on climate change
Opinion: Give credit where it’s due for Camp Hope closure
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Superior Court Judge expected to rule in City Council open meetings lawsuit
Washington Post
‘I know who I am’: Portraits of the everyday lives of trans teens
WA State Standard
Over $700M in funding for rural broadband projects unveiled by USDA
Yakima Herald-Republic
DTG and Yakima Health District to monitor forever chemicals at landfill in Yakima
It Happened Here: Treaty of 1855 took land, created the Yakama Nation
Editorial: WA commission not enthusiastic about Yakima as state’s primary aviation facility
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Mental health awareness: Exploring the struggles, perceptions, helpful tools
Time is running out for Washingtonians to claim their share of nearly $45 million owed by the IRS
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle Mayor’s Office to submit new drug ordinance in the coming weeks
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Burien City Council addresses growing homeless population in public meeting
Millions at risk of losing Medicaid coverage as pandemic provisions scale back
KNKX Public Radio
WA airport search committee disbands without recommendation
KUOW Public Radio
50th anniversary of landmark LGBTQ rights law in Seattle
Are smoke-free summers a thing of the past in Washington state?
NW Public Radio
Two districts, the same dilemma: Not enough shelter spaces
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County reports highest homeless number since census began
MyNorthwest
5 Washington locations with ‘derogatory names’ renamed
Western Washington University student workers vote to unionize
Seattle mayor, city council respond to failed drug possession ordinance with new plan
Inflation lowest since 2021 before pivotal Federal Reserve meeting