Workers with immigration hearings can use paid sick leave to attend under bill passed by WA House
The State House has passed a bill that allows workers to use paid sick leave to attend or prepare for immigration proceedings. House Bill 1875 passed along party lines on Thursday with a 58-39 vote, with all Democrats voting in favor and all Republicans voting against it. The vote comes at a time when the Trump administration is aggressively deporting undocumented immigrants. The bill applies not only to traditional employees but also to drivers working for transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Julia Dallas)
Here’s how Congress could push Washington state lawmakers into a special session
“We’re on a plan to finish our work by Sine Die. If they just decimate Medicaid, there’s no way to plan for that,” House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, told reporters on Wednesday. Such a move, she said, would put Washington and the rest of the country “in completely uncharted territory.” Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Ryan Berry)
Ferguson unveils plan to return WA ferries to full domestic service levels by summer
Gov. Bob Ferguson unveiled plans Thursday to fully restore the state’s domestic ferry service by this summer. The goal is to get 18 vessels in the water, with another three going through maintenance at various times — a return to levels last seen in 2019. Continue reading at The Olympian. (The Olympian)
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Axios
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Bainbridge Island Review
WSF ferry service to be fully restored by summer
Bellingham Herald
WA Supreme Court affirms constitutionality of vote-by-mail signature verification process
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Trump lifts tariffs on Mexico until April 2
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International Examiner
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Kitsap Sun
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News Tribune
Tacoma police’s interim chief will begin leading Friday after start date was delayed
Ferguson unveils plan to return WA ferries to full domestic service levels by summer (Nance)
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WA Supreme Court affirms constitutionality of vote-by-mail signature verification process
New York Times
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Olympian
WA congressman who once defied Trump led the charge to punish the GOP president’s heckler
Peninsula Daily News
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Seattle Medium
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Seattle Times
SBA to leave Seattle because it’s a ‘sanctuary city’
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Spokesman Review
1-year-old reportedly overdoses on mother’s fentanyl
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Washington Post
As NOAA cuts loom, scientists and industry are pushing back
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WA State Standard
Washington Supreme Court upholds ballot signature verification system
Federal worker unemployment claims in Washington state double over last year
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Here’s how Congress could push Washington state lawmakers into a special session (Jinkins)
Trump flouted judge’s order by canceling Seattle Children’s grant, Washington AG says
Washington ferry service to be restored to pre-pandemic levels by summer, governor says (Liias, Fey)
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
JBLM soldiers accused of selling national defense information
King County installs costly heat pumps for free at adult family homes
Lawmakers propose budget cut that could eliminate Washington teachers bonuses (Gregerson)
Gov. Ferguson pledges to return ferry system to pre-pandemic service by this summer
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KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
JBLM soldiers accused of leaking military secrets to China in federal indictments
12-year-old girl hit by rolling car, killed outside Washington Middle School in Seattle
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
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KUOW Public Radio
The graveyard shift: lessons from WA’s dead bills (so far)
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Full ferry service returning to Puget Sound for summer 2025, Washington Gov. Ferguson says
KXLY (ABC)
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NW Public Radio
Farmworkers drive agricultural innovation in Pasco, Mexico
In the Northwest, some tribal grants frozen amid federal worker firings
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Family Care Network ‘unsure’ how canceled inpatient program at St. Joe’s will impact its staff
Cascade PBS
Full Washington State Ferries service to return this summer
MyNorthwest
Senate Democrats passed a bill to safeguard patient privacy. (Hansen)
Guns could soon be banned from more public places in Washington (Valdez)
‘We’re going to fight’: Sen. Patty Murray reacts as Trump preps to dismantle Education Dept.
Workers with immigration hearings can use paid sick leave to attend under bill passed by WA Senate (Salahuddin, Reeves)
The Stranger
Administration Ends Enumeration at Birth in Maine (Davis)
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The Urbanist
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West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Friday + spring-forward weekend notes
FERRIES: Governor hopes delaying hybrid-electric conversions will return system to full service