Washington has highest state minimum wage in 2024
For the second year in a row, Washington has the highest statewide minimum wage in the country. Washington’s 2024 wage floor of $16.28 per hour reflects recent rises in inflation, which determine how much the state’s minimum wage rises each year. The new minimum wage in Washington is higher than California’s, which is $16 per hour. It also tops New York and Massachusetts, which have $15-per-hour minimum wages. Continue reading at Axios. (Tory Lysik)
3 policies we’ll pursue in Olympia to help fix our state ferry system
our ferry system is overworked and overwhelmed. There is no silver bullet to fix our ferries, but there is silver buckshot. After meeting with dozens of WSF crewmembers, union reps, community leaders and maritime experts we are building plans to turn the tide. Our policies focus on three areas: investing in new vessels with lower fuel costs; rebuilding the ferry workforce; and fostering transparent, accountable leadership. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (Meegan M. Reid)
Behind bars and then a bill: WA prisoner leads effort on ‘second chance’ legislation
Charles Longshore is a legal expert and a community organizer. And he’s been in prison for more than a decade. As part of his mission to do good, Longshore wrote a bill for the Legislature to consider during the upcoming 2024 session. Over the past several months, Longshore has spent countless hours – and thousands of dollars of his own money – making phone calls and sending messages to dozens of advocacy organizations and people, building a coalition of supporters around the bill. Continue reading at KUOW.
Aberdeen Daily World
Scrutiny mounts over sale of aging forests in Grays Harbor
County will see $788K in eviction prevention funds next year
Axios
Washington has highest state minimum wage in 2024
Everett Herald
As calendar turns, Lynnwood light rail is no longer ‘next year’
Labor board: Starbucks broke law in Everett, Seattle store closures
Even before Silvana flooding, still not clear who can order evacuations
Newborn southern resident orca spotted in Puget Sound near Kingston
Legislators want to boost state’s recycling rate, but they disagree on how (Berry, Fey)
Comment: Two bills will continue work regarding police conduct
Editorial: 2023 was an eventful year, In Our View
Indian Country Today
Plan to breach snake river dams was the work of tribes
Kitsap Sun
Rep. Greg Nance: 3 policies we’ll pursue in Olympia to help fix our state ferry system
News Tribune
City, state to blame for fiery crash that killed 1, injured others, survivor contends
‘Super El Niño’ may be on the way, new NOAA report says. What that means for WA weather
Opinion: Dept. of Natural Resources’ decision not to log this area is cause for celebration
Opinion: The system works — but policing is broken. The trial in Manny Ellis’ death proves it
Opinion: A law to make WA greener is coming. A compost facility could arrive in your city soon
New York Times
In 2024, Expect New Debates on A.I., Gender and Guns
More Women Who Are Not Pregnant Are Ordering Abortion Pills Just in Case
Port Townsend Leader
DNR designates forest for conservation
Puget Sound Business Journal
Small-business grants you can apply for in 2024
Microsoft, OpenAI hit with a new copyright lawsuit
Seattle Times
Seattle’s top data stories of 2023
Seattle RV safe lot finally opens after a year of delays
WA readers say no cellphones in school is a good idea
The new Washington laws taking effect in January 2024
Should WA schools restrict cellphones? One district has.
Seattle Public Schools wins $1.75M from vaping companies
HUD reports record-high homeless count in 2023 for U.S., WA
Inslee’s last legislative session holds some of the biggest issues yet
SeaTac federal jail struggles with 50% vacancy rate for key positions
Those breathing poorer air in WA live sicker, die younger, report says
As newcomers pour in, share of people born in WA declines in Seattle
Seattle settles police leader’s lawsuit over blame for 2020’s ‘pink umbrella incident’
Editorial: Make Seattle school bus safety a legislative priority in 2024
Editorial: Defense policy bill good for WA, and for bipartisanship
Editorial: King County should help fund new site to shelter unhoused Native people
Opinion: WA just dodged a bullet-train boondoggle
Opinion: Seattle’s pedestrian-first culture doesn’t always mean safety
Opinion: Job losses follow proposal to boost pay for incarcerated people in WA (Simmons)
Opinion: Victims in juvenile rape cases aren’t getting justice in King County
Spokesman Review
A bittersweet goodbye: Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl reflects on his time leading department
Wildfire smoke increased death rate in Spokane compared to statewide metric, says new state report
The Spokane Regional Opioid Task Force announced it was ending this month. Now it may continue in 2024
Lisa Brown names chief of staff, city spokeswoman and more leadership positions as she prepares to take office
Washington AG orders phone company Lumen to pay $825,000 to customers over illegal pandemic disconnections
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Amy Schwab to be sworn in as port commissioner
Providence St. Mary leadership talks about financial, staffing issues
Washington Post
Stock market surges into 2024, shrugging off recession fears
Blue-collar workers won big in 2023, defying bleak predictions
Millennials have found a way to save up to buy houses: Living with mom and dad
WA State Standard
The new Washington state laws taking effect in January 2024
The Standard’s guide to following the Washington state legislative session
Building Northwest schools so they can shake off the region’s next megaquake
Washington Department of Health cuts hundreds of jobs as federal COVID funds run out
Wenatchee World
How a Leavenworth WSDOT crew saved Christmas
Chelan County PUD closes in on remaining safety changes after 2018 PUD employee death
Whidbey News-Times
State representatives discuss school priorities (Paul, Shavers)
Yakima Herald-Republic
Release of Yakima County’s annual homeless report delayed
WA AG’s office investigating mobile home park owner Hurst & Son
Attorney shortage continues in courts around WA, with new proposals on the table (Torres)
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘I feel this is mostly targeted’: Asian-American families in Redmond experience home break-ins and burglaries
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Street racing among new laws, changes going into effect in Washington in 2024
KNKX Public Radio
Behind bars and then a bill: WA prisoner leads effort on ‘second chance’ legislation (Simmons)
KUOW Public Radio
Jury rules in favor of 5 Black UW police officers in racial harassment case
Seattle now has highest minimum wage of any major city in the United States
Police training commission moves to decertify Auburn cop charged with murder
The $7,500 tax credit for electric cars will see big changes in 2024. What to know
Only 4% of detained youth are offered attorney access by Seattle police, audit finds
Seattle police face reckoning over ‘culture’ in 2024 as federal oversight winds down
Here’s how much private and homeschooling in WA has jumped since the pandemic
Police groups say it’s time to ‘move forward together’ after Tacoma police trial verdict
WA lawmakers propose to ban companies like Amazon from spending on local elections (Mena)
Suicides spike at WA prisons, prisoners say they need more access to mental health care
I was a ‘library kid.’ But my old school is among many in WA that no longer have librarians
Reforms coming to WA elections after three counties settle with the UCLA’s Voting Rights Project
State workers see dramatic increase in workplace injuries and illnesses as Washington tops national average
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham Library, WTA expand help for behavioral health gap
Lummi Nation opposes BP’s $50M purchase of Cherry Point parcels
Business in 2023: Employment catchup, stubborn home prices and no recession
Year in Review 2023: New leaders, new jail, old challenges dominate NW Washington news
MyNorthwest
Electric bills will rise in 2024, Seattle City Light says
El Niño, drought, wildfires defined Washington’s weather in 2023