Builder for new WA ferries to be chosen in summer 2024
As the state’s ferries age, Washington State Ferries expects it won’t find a builder for its new class of hybrid-electric boats until summer of 2024, kicking off a sprint to deliver two new vessels by its target date of late 2027. The state’s 21-boat fleet needs new ships. Washington should have 26 boats, which would allow WSF to swap in replacements whenever and wherever they’re needed. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)
Washington’s long road to replacing the gas tax
Washington lawmakers embarked in early 2012 to learn if charging drivers for the miles they travel could eventually replace taxing them on every gallon of fuel they buy. The Washington State Transportation Commission, the citizen panel entrusted with steering the yearslong effort, concluded the Legislature should “begin a gradual transition” from taxing motor fuels to per-mile assessments. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Bill Lucia)
Housing forum brings up wins, future challenges for affordability on Vashon
Local leaders and researchers pondered solutions to one of Vashon’s most vexing issues on Oct. 3 at the Vashon Center for The Arts: Housing, and how to afford it. Sen. Nguyen described his and his colleague’s efforts to restore funding to the state’s housing trust fund, which he described as having been “effectively gutted” during the 2008 recession. But that’s still “not nearly enough,” Rep. Emily Alvarado said, as affordable housing development is already outstripping that figure and needs more funding. Continue reading at Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber. (Alex Bruell)
Associated Press
IRS says Microsoft may owe more than $29 billion in back taxes; Microsoft disagrees
Black Man Was Not a Threat to Tacoma Police Charged in His Restraint Death, Eyewitness Says at Trial
Aberdeen Daily World
In vacation rental debate, Westport reckons with identity
Axios
Washington’s birth rate has fallen 22% since 2007
Bainbridge Island Review
Petition pays off; historic redwood likely saved
Bellingham Herald
Can my HOA do that? A guide to homeowners association regulations in Washington state
Capital Press
WSU wheat academy provides ‘why’ behind science
Columbian
Vancouver hires LA-based firm to develop downtown Waterfront Gateway project
Vancouver port hails ‘world-class’ soda ash shipping facility planned at Terminal 2
Clark, Cowlitz counties get $800K grant to aid in opioid programs
Editorial: Port project part of Vancouver transformation
Courier-Herald
SR 169 to see heavy construction for the next six years
Everett Herald
‘We work just as hard’: Everett paraeducators rally for fair wages
‘Not if, when’: First responders in Snohomish train for mass shooting
The Inlander
Perfecting Eden’s fruit takes geneticists, AI, and some earwigs
Kent Reporter
State board: Reduce sentence for man convicted in Kent shooting
Olympian
Want to watch the solar eclipse over WA this weekend? Here’s when, how to do it safely
Work crews plan to close I-5 lanes in south Thurston County starting Thursday
Peninsula Daily News
Federal grant would increase employment
Clallam County coroner: OD deaths are among worst in state
Puget Sound Business Journal
Air taxis are coming, and cities aren’t ready
New factors are weighing on employees’ mental health
Women face gap in SBA’s marquee loan program. Some want to change it.
Seattle Times
Builder for new WA ferries to be chosen in summer 2024 (Fey)
People without college degrees increasingly rare in Seattle
Months after WA employers required to share pay info, a flood of lawsuits
King County homelessness authority layoffs result in housing instability
WA AG’s office says Aberdeen mobile home park should refund tenants
WA agreement would require access to trans health care in prison
Opinion: One failed homelessness program shouldn’t be an indictment of them
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Housing forum brings up wins, future challenges for affordability on Vashon (Alvarado, Nguyen)
Washington Post
Prices rose 3.7 percent in September as Fed keeps up inflation fight
WA State Standard
Washington’s long road to replacing the gas tax (Liias, Fey)
WA Board of Education sets its priorities for next legislative session
Yakima Herald-Republic
Washington State Patrol investigating fake jewelry selling scams in Eastern Washington
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Eyewitness, death investigator testify in the trial for the death of Manuel Ellis
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Bethel School District parents voice concerns over troubled bus transportation system
King County warns of ‘dramatic fiscal situation’ if cap on property taxes doesn’t change
Flags to fly at half-staff in Washington Thursday to honor those killed in Israel attacks
KNKX Public Radio
For first time since dam removal, a fishery opens on the Elwha
KUOW Public Radio
Financial losses slow for WA hospitals, but concerns remain
Seattle pays $1.9M to woman who says police officer raped her as a minor, decades ago
Seattle elementary one of two in Washington state named Blue Ribbon school
KXLY (ABC)
Federal childcare funding ends, causing crisis to grow
Q13 TV (FOX)
Marysville targets repeat criminal offenses with new ordinance
Web
Cascadia Daily News
WWU enrollment shows signs of recovery
MyNorthwest
Marysville institutes mandatory minimums to end cycle of fentanyl
Construction season comes to an end as I-90 work wraps east of Snoqualmie Pass
‘Absolute heartbreak’: Parents, students try to save Seattle teachers’ jobs as SPS makes cuts
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC ALERT: West Seattle low bridge reopens ahead of schedule – here’s why, and what’s next