‘I really don’t know where we go from here’: Analysis highlights Washington child care crisis
A statewide research analysis published in July revealed the lack of access to child care has resulted in a $6 billion loss to Washington’s economy. Despite state investments that kept child care businesses afloat during the pandemic, the child care crisis remains severe, according to the study by Child Care Aware of Washington. The study found challenges such as disruptions, turnover, absenteeism and lost income due to child care issues amounted to $6.9 billion in 2023 in Washington. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Amanda Cowan)
WA Supreme Court ruling in Amazon case sets ‘precedent’ on price gouging
Washington’s Supreme Court ruled last week in favor of consumers who say they were victims of price gouging on Amazon’s digital store at the start of COVID-19 lockdowns. That’s significant because, unlike most states, Washington does not have a statute preventing excessive price increases in times of emergency, like the aftermath of a natural disaster or a global pandemic. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Brandon Garcia)
Rising costs for Washington school districts outpace state funding, report finds
In recent years, districts are spending a lot more money to keep Washington’s schools running — but state funding isn’t keeping up. That’s according to a new report from the League of Education Voters, which found school districts have increased spending on staff by 19.7% between the 2019-20 and 2022-23 school years. Districts are spending well above state-funded levels for operating staff, especially for office support and custodians — 40% of whom are hired using more funds than allocated by state lawmakers. Districts are also spending about 5% more on teachers and 11% more on teachers’ aides, or paraeducators, than they’re funded for by the state. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Getty Images)
Axios
Inflation drops below 3% for the first time since 2021
What to watch when Medicare releases first negotiated drug prices
What a “no taxes on tips” policy could mean for U.S. tipping culture
Climate change-worsened wildfires drastically increased odds, severity of 2023 wildfires
Capital Press
WDFW removes wolf in Dominion pack
Washington cap-and-trade rebates start Aug. 26
Washington Fish and Wildlife chair: Let’s look at moving wolves
Columbian
Biden grants UW-led team $21M to develop cancer surgery technology
‘I really don’t know where we go from here’: Analysis highlights Washington child care crisis
Everett Herald
New artwork will greet Lynnwood light rail riders
Snohomish County set to launch $1.4M mobile opioid treatment program
News Tribune
State seeks comment on plan to demolish the old General Administration building
Hundreds of trees are coming to one Tacoma neighborhood. But will the city water them?
New York Times
A California Bill to Regulate A.I. Causes Alarm in Silicon Valley
Live Updates: Inflation Falls Below 3% for First Time Since 2021
How Extreme Heat Is Threatening Education Progress Worldwide
U.S. Said to Consider a Breakup of Google to Address Search Monopoly
Port Townsend Leader
$35M to boost peninsula economy
State finds first case of wasting disease in deer
Puget Sound Business Journal
Apartment renters seeing price relief as landlords sweeten deals
Day care facility breaks ground in Seattle after nearly 4-year delay
King County exec responds to businesses’ beefs about jail operations
Seattle Times
Marysville schools in ‘alarming’ financial condition, WA auditor says
WA Supreme Court ruling in Amazon case sets ‘precedent’ on price gouging
The Skanner
Pacific Northwest Tribes Battle for Funds Meant to Help them Adapt to Climate Change
Spokesman Review
‘The stakes are really high here’: Spokane Public Schools bans cellphone use in class
Sen. Maria Cantwell tours health facilities in rural northeast Washington to highlight need for services
Washington Post
Record-setting heat waves are baking the Arctic region
Inflation hits lowest level since spring 2021, most likely teeing up rate cuts
WA State Standard
Rising costs for Washington school districts outpace state funding, report finds
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Olympia City Council effectively decriminalizes psychedelic plants, mushrooms
Frustrated neighbors say campers are leaving an ‘unprecedented amount of litter’ behind
‘They failed the families’: Amazon missed multiple chances to stop selling chemical used in suicides
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Bigg’s Killer Whale population growing
Puddles the dog sniffs out invasive mussels
Lynnwood City Transit Center opening soon
FDA approves first auto-injector to reverse opioid overdose
Seattle first city to glide on Lime’s new seated electric vehicle
Yelm community raises enough money to save high school sports programs
Seattle City Council approves $12.5M for student mental health services amid public plea for more
Starbucks CEO replaced by Brian Niccol, a fixer who revived Chipotle when the chain was in distress
KNKX Public Radio
Music therapy uses sounds, lyrics and emotions to help patients
KUOW Public Radio
Seattle City Council considers ‘prostitution loitering’ law amid intense debate
Seattle City Council votes against restoring student mental health funds back to $20 million again
KXLY (ABC)
Spokane prepares to move to scattered homeless shelter model
How the Idaho library law might affect your child’s school libraries
Spokane Schools board of trustees will discuss restrictive new cell phone policy
Web
Cascadia Daily News
WWU draws heat for sale of two properties, records show one was never to be sold
Crosscut
50 years later, WA still feels the cultural reverberations of 1974
MyNorthwest
Why didn’t Washington make the top 20 in best states to live?
2 women rescued from human trafficking at Bellingham massage parlor