RFK Jr. wants to target chronic disease in US tribes. A key program to do that was gutted
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spent time in tribal communities in Arizona and New Mexico this week highlighting ways they are trying to prevent chronic disease among Native Americans and Alaska Natives, something he has said is one of his top priorities. But Kennedy didn’t appear to publicly address a Native health program using traditional medicine and foods to tackle disproportionate rates of conditions like diabetes and liver disease. The program, called Healthy Tribes, was gutted in this month’s federal health layoffs. Continue reading at The Daily News. (Ross D. Franklin)
Washington Legislature approves requirement for clergy to report child abuse
Washington is poised to require clergy members to report child abuse or neglect, even when it is disclosed in confession. Nearly two-thirds of state House members approved a Senate bill on Friday night to make religious leaders mandatory reporters of abuse and neglect, adding them to a list that includes school counselors, police, and nurses. With passage of Senate Bill 5375 on a 64-31 vote, the legislation now goes to Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson for signing. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Legislative Support Services)
At WA homes for sex crime rehabilitation, warnings go ignored
Most lawmakers involved in sexual civil commitment legislation acknowledged the handful of bills introduced this year were just a piece of the larger issues that need to be addressed. None of the proposals would have created independent oversight or addressed the fundamental questions of whether the program is ultimately improving public safety or resident rehabilitation. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Gabriel Campanario)
Auburn Reporter
Measles case identified in King County adult
SAVE Act could disenfranchise millions of voters
Axios
Seattle’s World Cup plans face state budget roadblocks (Fitzgibbon)
Bellingham Herald
From rent cap compromise to condo rules, how WA is working to solve its housing crisis (Alvarado)
Capital Press
China strikes back with sharp words and 125% tariffs
Trump: Administration will work with farmers who have illegal workers
Columbian
DOGE cuts imperil Clark County nonprofits’ cultural, educational programming
The Daily News
Longview program helps disabled students with job, community skills
RFK Jr. wants to target chronic disease in US tribes. A key program to do that was gutted
Seasonal water releases for young salmon start at Bonneville Dam amid national political turbulence
Everett Herald
Facing projected $8.5M deficit, Edmonds school board weighs cuts to staff
Editorial: Reverse ruinous cuts to federal library program
Comment: BPA should rethink decision affecting ratepayers
Comment: Trade deficit isn’t the crisis Trump makes it out to be
Comment: Congress should add cancer test to Medicare coverage
Comment: Study needed of split in taxes charged alcohol products
Federal Way Mirror
Washington State Youth Advisory Council seeks local applicants
Journal of the San Juan Islands
Friday Harbor High School Students Advocate for Recycling Reform in Olympia (Ramel, Lekanoff, Lovelett)
Kitsap Sun
Federal Medicaid cuts would put greater financial burden on West Sound hospitals
Opinion: Bill to help underfunded schools isn’t moving forward, but I’m not giving up (Krishnadasan)
Donald Trump approval ratings for Washington state, US: Here’s what the polls show today
Mercer Island Reporter
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day set for April 26
News Tribune
No ‘qualified immunity’ for Pierce deputy in K-9 attack. What does it mean?
Pierce County one of a few selected for national housing program. What will it do?
Northwest Asian Weekly
Trump tariffs worry US shoppers who buy groceries at Asian supermarkets
Olympian
Why 2,000 workers were just hired at NW’s only nuclear power reactor
Bill closing Yakima Valley, Rainier schools moves ahead. ‘People will die,’ lawmaker says (Ormsby, Callan, Leavitt, Fitzgibbon, Pedersen)
Is boosting supply the only way to lower housing costs in Thurston? How about these ideas?
Peninsula Daily News
USAID worker fears damage
Capital budgets include Peninsula
Chapman asks not to employ legislative privilege (Chapman, Tharinger, Bernbaum)
Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle construction industry sheds thousands of jobs
Tourism sector could face unique headwinds from tariffs
Report: Chinese airline delays Boeing delivery amid trade tensions
Seattle Medium
Boeing Settles Lawsuits from 2019 Ethiopian Crash, Families of Victims Continue Their Fight
Seattle Times
Trump’s NOAA firings raise doubts for PNW fisheries
At WA homes for sex crime rehabilitation, warnings go ignored (Leavitt, Goodman)
After 10 years and $31M, WA workers’ comp upgrade has little to show (Stanford)
Former WA Health Secretary Mary Selecky, who led efforts to boost vaccinations and cut smoking, dies at 78
Letter: Inclusion: Recognizing Eid (Salahuddin)
Opinion: The cold war that’s chilling a hot Seattle tradition (Dhingra)
Editorial: GOP tax package could leave WA residents footing the bill
Opinion: Libraries, which inspire, inform and welcome all, are now expendable
Spokesman Review
Idaho GOP leaders announce new DOGE Task Force
New Idaho law slashes DEI at universities. What it means for students
‘Like playing with fire’: Spokane measles vaccine rates too low as Texas outbreak rages
Proposed port fees could have ‘devastating consequences,’ Washington wheat growers warn
Spokane council to consider mirroring LGBT+ protections; one member proposes protest amendments
USDA removes more than 1,000 training courses – including bullying and harassment – for ‘gender ideology extremism’ and DEI
Opinion: New health care price transparency legislation protects patients from overbilling
Opinion: Adjusting Washington state HB 1217 by adding rent caps would help our children thrive
Tri-City Herald
Eastern WA workers in limbo after nearly 1M immigrants lose legal status
Washington Post
U.S. companies struggle to smooth over ties with suppliers, buyers
Tariffs on chips, phones, laptops still coming, commerce secretary warns
Energy Department reduces funding for grants to colleges and universities
Unanswered calls. Outages. College financial aid faces delays after massive federal cuts.
WA State Standard
Students’ rights bill clears Washington Senate (Wilson, Stonier, Nobles)
Washington chief justice defends equity push, flags AI concerns
Washington Legislature approves requirement for clergy to report child abuse (Frame, Stonier)
WA House OKs unemployment benefits for striking workers, but adds four-week limit (Doglio, Berg, Reeves)
Washington’s Yakima County represents breaking point in state’s public defender crisis
Wenatchee World
Fires break out at Joe’s, Colonial Vista and Wenatchee Foothills
Addressing a housing crisis | Panelists discuss what needs to be done
Federal lawsuit claims EWPD, DSCO used excessive force during traffic stop
Yakima Herald-Republic
About 200 people attend Democrats’ town hall in Yakima
State pollution board backs decision to deny Caton Landfill permit
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
In Session: WA landlords would face 10% rent hike cap under Senate bill (Pedersen, Cleveland)
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Breakdown of Washington bills signed on Friday
REI retracts Trump-cabinet endorsement, apologizes to members
As tech moves to Bellevue, is Netflix coming to downtown Seattle?
Ex-Police Chief Avery Moore makes nearly $480K after Tacoma deal
KUOW Public Radio
Student, parental rights bills are advancing in Washington state. Is a ballot fight next? (Wilson, C., Nobles)
Washington’s libraries face ‘deep and dramatic’ funding cuts as Trump abruptly terminates federal grants
KXLY (ABC)
3.2 magnitude earthquake hits outside Okanogan
Spokane small businesses hit hard by China tariffs
“We are making a difference”: Spokane organization helps Black women give birth more safely
NW Public Radio
About 200 people attend Democrats’ town hall in Yakima
Multiple students at University of Idaho, Washington State University have student visas revoked
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Work begins on PeaceHealth St. Joe’s expansion that will increase patient capacity
WWU: No more investments linked to fossil fuels, weapons, human rights violations
Cascade PBS
The cost of aging: How rent caps could affect Washington seniors
Washington Senate passes rent cap bill — but with major changes (Cleveland, Shewmake, Alvarado, Liias)
MyNorthwest
Washington Senate Democrats amend ‘Parents Bill of Rights’ (Wilson, C.)
The Stranger
State Workers Won’t Let Ferguson Balance the Budget on Their Backs (Scott, Thomas)
The Urbanist
Sunday Video: How Big Box Retailers Are Bankrupting Cities
Op-Ed: Clark County Rallies Against Republican Plan to Block Light Rail
Washington Observer
More floor action (Cleveland, Scott)
Easing work life for the carless (Stanford, Scott)
Senate Democrats raise the roof on rent restriction (Alvarado, Shewmake, Cleveland, Cortes, Liias, Lovick, Salomon, Krishnadasan)
Bill that lets public health officials do their jobs makes it out (Bronoske)
Health insurers to cover prosthetics and other orthopedic devices (Stonier)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Spring-break Monday