Snohomish County has the highest rent in the state. Could this bill help?
House Bill 2114, a proposal to limit how much landlords can increase their tenants’ rents every year, comes as rents across the state skyrocket. To afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in Snohomish County, you would need to work three full-time minimum wage jobs. If the rent stabilization bill passed, a $2,455 per month rent couldn’t rise more than $171 in a year. Continue reading at The Herald. (Ryan Berry)
House passes $14.3 billion supplemental transportation budget
The Washington State House of Representatives passed a supplemental transportation budget of $14.3 billion this week. Most of the increase is for the Department of Transportation. The increase is made possible by cap-and-invest auction revenues, federal funding, and Move Ahead Washington spending from available balances. The Senate is expected to pass its version of the budget on Tuesday. The legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on March 7. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)
Washington lawmakers advance bill making it a felony to threaten election workers
The Washington state Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to make harassing election workers a felony, three months after four county election offices received envelopes containing suspicious powder — including three testing positive for fentanyl — and had to be evacuated. Twenty-three states are considering bills addressing protections, according to the nonprofit advocacy group Public Citizen. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Gregory Bull)
Axios
Washington’s prison population is down 30% since 2017
Bainbridge Island Review
Good, bad, but mostly ugly of the state’s ferry system
Frank statue a reminder of Boldt decision 50 years ago
Bellingham Herald
With just two weeks left in the legislative session, lawmakers will consider 3 initiatives (Frame)
Western Washington University plans to vacate, demolish several rental homes north of campus
Capital Press
Tribes, officials sign Columbia River Basin Agreement on Snake River dams
Columbian
Seattle’s Lake Washington getting warmer
Holocaust education requirement fails in Washington Legislature (Wellman, Hunt, Pedersen, Nobles, Wilson, Mullet)
Housing affordability dominates two town halls by legislators from 17th, 49th districts (Wylie, Stonier, Cleveland)
Everett Herald
Ninth-grade program gets money, initiatives to get hearings (Cortes, Lovick)
‘We cannot keep up’: Mill Creek Starbucks workers file for unionization
Snohomish County has the highest rent in the state. Could this bill help? (Ramel, Cleveland)
Sen. Murray seeks aid for Snohomish County’s fentanyl, child care crises
Meth cleanup at Edmonds motel-shelter made matters worse, report says
Comment: Federal cuts to wildfire crews may hit at worst time
Editorial: Wildfire threat calls for restoring full funding
International Examiner
New proclamation recognizes February 19 as Day of Remembrance for Japanese American incarceration
News Tribune
US government worried about Chinese ‘spy cranes.’ What does that mean for Port of Tacoma?
Opinion: Student debt saddles you for life. This would let you know what you’re getting into
Opinion: Solitary confinement is torture and Washington state needs to end it
New York Times
Supreme Court Hearing Free Speech Challenges to Social Media Laws
Puget Sound Business Journal
A generational tug-of-war is hampering the housing market
Opinion: Why we need pay transparency laws
Opinion: Increasing real estate taxes is counterproductive
Seattle Medium
Seattle Police Officer Who Struck And Killed Graduate Student From India Won’t Face Felony Charges
Seattle Times
Holocaust education requirement fails in WA Legislature (Alvarado, Wellman, Hunt, Pedersen, Nobles, Wilson, Mullet)
WA bill to eliminate child marriages may soon become law (Stonier)
SeaTac federal detainees grow desperate amid lack of medical care
WA’s public defender system is breaking down, communities reeling
WA bill to build community through neighborhood cafes faces roadblock (Lovelett)
WA public universities give applicants more decision time amid FAFSA woes
Could WA lawmakers end developments like this one: a massive warehouse project in South Tacoma? (Mena)
Editorial: Two WA gun bills are spot-on but a third is unfair to dealers
Opinion: Pass bill that would hold police accountable and make us all safer
Opinion: How we can halt the erosion of government transparency
Spokesman Review
From a neighbor’s farm to your table: Spokane food system gets state grant backing
A bill to preserve historical files and artifacts starts with Lakeland Village, which once was a school
Editorial: State may test out new ways to battle highway graffiti (Paul)
Opinion: Infants and toddlers need mental health support too
Opinion: Bill would help put check on police violence
Tri-City Herald
Financial literacy may soon be required in WA to graduate. Meet the Tri-City teen behind it
Washington Post
Sales of EVs slow as skeptical consumers turn to hybrids, plug-ins
U.S. launches probe into possible fraud by organ collection groups
Supreme Court hears arguments in cases that could transform social networks
Deal to dodge government shutdown appears to stall amid GOP policy demands
WA State Standard
Ban on child marriages in Washington could soon be law (Trudeau, Dhingra)
Governors, tribes ratify Columbia River Basin pact at White House signing ceremony
Wenatchee World
USDA allots $22 million to wildfire prevention in Washington
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
In Session: Rebates, rents, initiatives highlight legislature’s final weeks (Fitzgibbon)
State receives $75,000 to survey, document important sites in LGBTQ+ history
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center set for 35th annual ‘BE LOUD’ advocacy event
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
House passes $14.3 billion supplemental transportation budget (Fey)
State Legislature passes bill to ban child marriages in Washington (Dhingra, Stanford)
KCPAO decision to not file criminal charges in Kandula case sparks Seattle protests
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Yakima looks at funding options for crime-free rental housing program
Washington’s apple exports blossom again following India’s lifting of 20% tariff
White House, tribal leaders hail ‘historic’ deal to restore salmon runs in PNW region
KNKX Public Radio
WA state Senate moves to make harassing election workers a felony (Dhingra)
Budgets, initiative hearings top agenda in week 7 of Washington’s legislative session
KUOW Public Radio
Time, money runs low for asylum-seekers sheltering at Seattle area hotels
Week in Review: book bans, grade inflation, and the Seattle Police Department
Budgets, initiative hearings top agenda in week 7 of Washington’s legislative session (Leavitt)
Seattle police captain was moved to nights after suing chief. ‘Retaliatory act,’ her attorney says
Grocery worker protections move forward in Washington in preparation for merger disruptions (Fosse)
Cleared of felony, Seattle cop who killed Indian student Kandula could end up in municipal court
NW Public Radio
Institutions to help students navigate new FAFSA application
Study: as the climate changes, the desert Tri-Cities is actually getting cooler
FOX13 TV
Washington lawmakers advance bill making it a felony to threaten election workers (Dhingra, Leavitt)
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Black History Month event brings organizers together, calls to action