New law restrains boaters from approaching endangered orcas
Under a new law, Washington boaters must stay 1,000 yards away from southern resident killer whales (SRKW) at all times. The law went into effect on Jan. 1, the same day that many islanders spotted J Pod member Tahlequah carrying her dead baby as the pod passed by Point Robinson on Vashon. Continue reading at The Vashon Beachcomber. (Dante Aubert)
Washington lawmakers begin push to ban flavored vapes
Democratic lawmakers in Washington are pushing this year to ban flavored tobacco products, with the support of the state schools chief. Their proposal includes bans on flavored electronic cigarettes, also called vapes, menthol cigarettes and nicotine pouches, like Zyn. The ban would be effective Jan. 1, 2026. Continue reading at The Washington Standard. (Getty Images)
Weed sick: High-potency cannabis leads to ER visits, illnesses for some users
According to his death certificate, Brandon Danielson died of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS, a condition that results from daily use of cannabis, especially high-THC concentrates. As cannabis products like vapes, shatter, and dabs have reached near 100% potency, doctors across Washington state are seeing an increase in cannabis-related disorders, including CHS. Continue reading at KUOW. (the Danielson family)
Aberdeen Daily World
Grays Harbor County swears in two new Commissioners
Aberdeen launches temporary parking permit and safe parking program
Axios
Up to $20k offered for tips in Washington wolf slayings
Bellingham Herald
Bellingham bolsters City Hall security with metal detector for screening meeting attendees
Whatcom County home prices hit ‘all-time high’ in 2024, as amount of houses sold increased
Capital Press
WDFW opts to try to cull wolf pack
Yakima dairies suffer setback in 9th Circuit Court
Columbian
Vancouver looks at tax break for affordable housing projects built in parking lots
Lawmakers: Water Resource Development Act will boost Columbia River projects, jobs and the economy
The Daily News
Scientists predict the Pacific Northwest’s most active (undersea) volcano will erupt this year
Everett Herald
Snohomish County Council elects new leadership duo
Marysville, Lake Stevens celebrate progress of Bayview Trail
Bill seeks increased penalties for unlawful firearm possession
Indian Country Today
Report raises possibility of doing away with Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
The Inlander
New signage for retail stores explains the risk of high-potency cannabis
Kitsap Sun
Bainbridge Island School District facing two sexual abuse lawsuits
Mercer Island Reporter
Washington State Board of Education accepting applications for next student representative
News Tribune
Creating jobs, listening to voters: Career highlights for U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer
Why 3 Pierce County drug-treatment facilities will be on probation for at least a decade
New York Times
U.S. Efforts to Cut Emissions Stalled in 2024 as Power Demand Surged
Banks Are Racking Up Wins Even Before Trump Is Back in White House
Biden Administration Ignites Firestorm With Rules Governing A.I.’s Global Spread
Northwest Asian Weekly
UW awarded grant for COVID study to be led by researcher Helen Chu
Peninsula Daily News
Building association’s priorities advocate for housing
Puget Sound Business Journal
Microsoft plans performance-based job cuts
Six major landlords named in DOJ antitrust lawsuit
Seattle Times
Seattle Times sues Seattle police, alleging public records violations
Opinion: Study documents steep, painful decline of Olympia press corps
Spokesman Review
Undeveloped Spokane woodland to be transferred to developer with plans to build 1,000 homes
Spokane County to receive additional $44 million in federal funding to assist victims of Gray, Oregon Road fires
Tri-City Herald
New law restrains boaters from approaching endangered orcas
WSU cuts ties to Tri-Cities Master Gardener nonprofit over ‘disputes’ and ‘rivalries’
Major Hwy 240 overhaul in Richland to snarl thousands of Hanford commuters and others
WA State Standard
Yakima County’s two-year ban on solar may continue
Controversial state land transfer in Spokane is approved
Washington lawmakers begin push to ban flavored vapes (Reeves, Nobles)
Ferguson taps Washington transportation department insider to lead agency (Liias)
Yakima Herald-Republic
Larry Mattson appointed to Ecology post
Yakima Memorial’s emergency room reaching capacity as respiratory illness spreads
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Eastside school districts unite at town hall to demand full education funding
Olympia father hopes overdose ‘nightmare’ will serve as lesson to parents, teens
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
REI ends adventure travel business after losses
Gov. Inslee sends WA resources to help fight California wildfires
WSDOT contractor hurt after vehicle hits work zone truck on I-405
Large procession, memorial planned for late Metro bus driver Shawn Yim
Sons sue Metro Parks Tacoma after father is sucked into drain pipe and dies
Local lawmakers, advocates discuss efforts to ban flavored tobacco products in Washington (Reeves)
WA State L&I refuses to pay Kitsap County woman’s medical bills after suffering on-the-job injuries
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
REI cutting 438 jobs as it closes travel, tours division
US will keep protecting more than 2.000 Rocky Mountain grizzly bears
Cyclist sues Seattle over bike lane design after brain injury in Green Lake crash
Seattle boosts funding to tackle Aurora Avenue’s persistent sex trafficking issue
Education leaders and parents urge state to address school funding crisis at town hall
Commuters face delays as Amazon’s return-to-office mandate stirs Seattle’s traffic woes
Washington crews answer urgent call, joining thousands to fight devastating LA wildfires
KNKX Public Radio
Expanded buffer zone for southern resident orcas takes effect
KUOW Public Radio
Washington’s tribes want Medicaid to cover traditional healing
Despite state law, Washington takes 3+ years to reveal its climate pollution
Weed sick: High-potency cannabis leads to ER visits, illnesses for some users (Davis)
KXLY (ABC)
Heavy police response in Othello, Washington
Gov. Inslee sends WA resources to help fight California wildfires
WA lawmakers propose statewide ban on flavored tobacco products; businesses warn of economic impact
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom students tell legislators they’re being ‘failed’ by state’s K-12 funding model (Shewmake, Rule, Timmons)
Crosscut
Majority of voters have a negative outlook on Washington’s future
Poll: WA voters want 2025 Legislature to focus on their pocketbooks (Pedersen, Fitzgibbon)
The Stranger
Where the Left Went Wrong on Homelessness
Washington Observer
Shewmake named chair of Environment, Energy & Technology (Shewmake, Lovelett, Slatter, Riccelli, Chapman)
Slatter named to replace Kuderer in Senate, setting up a D-on-D fight (Slatter, Walen)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Thursday begins
FOLLOWUP: Safe to go in the water at Cove Park again, after overflow
POLICE STAFFING: Mayor says hires outnumbered departures in 2024 – by 1