Advisory votes on tax increases under fire | 2020 Legislative Session
Advisory votes that give voters a chance to let lawmakers know their opinions on legislation to increase taxes may be removed from future ballots. Instead, senators are considering replacing advisory votes with a public opinion task force. The proposal is not about silencing voters, but rather finding different ways to collect “genuine,” feedback from voters, said the sponsor of Senate Bill 6610, Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue. Continue reading at The Bainbridge Island Review.
As new coronavirus spreads, another epidemic looms: ‘yellow peril’ racism
After an unexpected December trip to China’s Hunan province to bury her father, a Renton woman returned home on Feb. 2. The following day, her husband told me, the woman was confronted at her door by her condo property manager. The manager told her because she had traveled to China, she should leave her home and be quarantined. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz / The Seattle Times)
Lawmakers consider allowing recreational pot users to grow it at home
People may be allowed to grow up to six of their own cannabis plants and up to 15 plants per household for recreational use if the Legislature passes House Bill 1131 or its companion, Senate Bill 5155. Under current law, people can obtain prescriptions for medical marijuana to grow up to 15 plants at home. But the proposed bills, sponsored by Rep. Brian Blake, D-Aberdeen, in the house and Sen. Maureen Walsh, R-Walla-Walla, in the Senate, would extend similar home-grow ability to recreational users. Continue reading at Peninsula Daily News.
Associated Press
Advisory votes on tax increases under fire (Kuderer)
Lawmakers propose a plan to treatmentally ill people without their consent (O’Ban)
Lawmakers propose cap and trade amid continued push for an emission-reduction policy (Carlyle)
Bipartisan bill to stop Ore. jail from taking detainees
Rains continue to cause flooding in western Washington
Investigation: Former lawmaker likely violated House policy
Seattle City Council to vote on winter eviction ban
Should Washington stop building roads? Some think so (Shewmake, Saldaña)
Accusations follow EPA’s ouster of California regional boss
Panel approves bill to repeal non-binding tax advisory votes
Lawmakers OK change to tax to fund college affordability (Pedersen)
Judge weighs challenge to Tim Eyman’s $30 car tab measure
Aberdeen Daily World
Locals ask Legislature for help to spur investment on historic properties in towns like Aberdeen and Hoquiam (Blake)
Sewage spill near Seabrook closes 1,500 feet of beach to razor clam digging
Ocean Shores adopts glyphosate spray ban
Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Storm, floods cause damage at Mount Rainier National Park
To help people living in cars, Bellingham hopes to entice a group to take this on
Whatcom officials share efforts to speed flood recovery, talk about future prevention
Heading to Seattle? It’s going to be a bumpy ride, and D.C. thinks it can help
10 bills to keep an eye on that are still alive in the Legislature (Kuderer, Valdez, Das, Wilson, Stonier, Macri, Fitzgibbon, Carlyle, Kl0ba)
Committee OKs bill giving media access to public workers’ birth dates, but no one else
Bothell Reporter
UW summarizes Washington climate impact on water
Columbian
Clark County homeless advocates meet with legislators to push for bills (Cleveland, Stonier, Ramel)
Cornfield Report: It’s cutoff day for policy bills to move out of committee (Jinkins, Chopp)
Editorial: Need grows to aid foster kids, homeless students
In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: A welcome delay; weather alert
The Daily News
Capitol Dispatch: Local lawmakers trash plastic bag ban (Blake, Takko)
Everett Herald
Meth, tire rubber among new pollutants found in Puget Sound
Edmonds nears phase 1 of renovations to crash-prone Highway 99
Ex-sheriff’s new job carries some oversight of his old office
Is it legal for a vehicle to be longer than its parking spot?
Cornfield Report: Another week, another deadline, and it’s all about money (Mead)
A $1M study intends to find congestion relief for U.S. 2 (Hobbs)
Editorial: Bill seeks a compromise on Sound Transit tax (Liias, Hobbs)
Federal Way Mirror
If the coronavirus makes it to Federal Way, how will the city respond?
Short legislative session turns left (Jinkins, Pellicciotti, Das, Wilson)
Inlander
State bill aims to speed up process that keeps Washington patients stuck in hospitals
Islands’ Weekly
Gov. Inslee comments on monument plan
Issaquah Reporter
Heavy rainfall leads to phase 4 flood warnings in Issaquah
Rapid rainfall has led to flooding, impacting all parts of King County.
Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Brother Don’s: Kitsap County judge rules Bremerton’s noise ordinance unconstitutional
Navy to expand daycare space at Jackson Park through $2.1 million renovation
A homeless shelter in Poulsbo? City leaders start discussion about affordable housing funds
Highway 305 roundabouts: Day Road project pushed back, Totten Road project elevated
Lynnwood Today
21st District telephone town hall set for Feb. 11 (Ortiz-Self, Peterson)
New York Times
Trump’s Budget Math Grapples With Economic Reality
Trump Opens National Monument Land to Energy Exploration
Olympian
Thurston County lifts evacuation advisory after Nisqually River flood waters recede
Peninsula Daily News
More drug offenders would be sentenced to treatment instead of prison under proposed law (Dhingra)
Lawmakers consider allowing recreational pot users to grow it at home (Blake)
Puget Sound Business Journal
Ransomware attacks grow, crippling cities and businesses
Renton Reporter
Guest opinion: Legislative ‘wants’ and ‘needs’
Mental illness: Lawmakers propose plan to treat without consent
Seattle Times (subscription required)
‘Road to Paradise’ blocked by mudslide as Western Washington dries out
Should Seattle ban most evictions in wintertime? City Council will vote today
Ishisaka: As new coronavirus spreads, another epidemic looms: ‘yellow peril’ racism
West Seattle church to host ‘safe lot’ for people living in cars, as pilot program starts to expand
Mudslide closes only road to 120-person neighborhood near Monroe
How fast can a new internet standard for sharing patient data catch fire?
Improved data could help Washington state get ahead of gun violence, says bill sponsor (Dhingra, Pedersen)
A new plan to prevent youth homelessness may be coming to King County — imported from 8,000 miles away
As 3 die of overdoses on same day, King County officials renew fentanyl warning
Who’s in charge at Amazon? Moves on secretive S Team signal tech giant’s priorities
Amazon’s senior leadership team slowly becoming more diverse
Amazon wants to depose Trump over loss of military contract
Editorial: Legislators, keep prioritizing congestion relief
Op-Ed: Seattle keeps making it harder for small landlords like us
Editorial: Charter schools are public schools and deserve more equitable funding
Op-Ed: I am a cancer survivor, and I support the dedicated nurses at Swedish
Op-Ed: For healing, Catholic Church must open sexual-abuse scandal records
Seattle Weekly
The future could look a lot like this year’s flood season
UW summarizes Washington climate impact on water
Skagit Valley Herald
Report says Mount Vernon lawmaker likely violated policy (Morris)
Snoqualmie Valley Record
Snoqualmie still seeking public records software
Flood waters inundate Carnation
Spokesman Review
A look at Rep. Matt Shea’s legal career: Recently laid off, he’s sued bad drivers and a state university
Washington could join national nursing compact, but first needs legislative approval (Riccelli)
RIP to these Washington state legislative bills (Van De Wege, Hunt)
House Democrats split on any action regarding Shea (Jinkins)
Popularity of Washington state’s new paid family and sick leave law leads to processing backlog
Homelessness, housing needs at center of Woodward’s 2020 plans
Opinion: Dr. Michael Dunn, Brad Van Dyne and Lorri Reilly: Creating access and opportunity through STEM education
Tri-City Herald
Rep. Newhouse and Trump at odds after tweets about dangerous nuclear waste disposal
Editorial: State presidential primary is exciting, but many won’t like the rules
Vancouver Business Journal
New CAT rules filed in Oregon, could affect Wash. businesses
Oregon passes new Corporate Activity Tax
Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Editorial: It’s time to end non-binding tax advisory votes
Editorial: Not extending ban on flavored vape products a mistake
Washington Post
James Comey: Trump called me a sleaze. The audience reaction to his rant was more upsetting.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s would-be successor resigns, reports say
Self-driving car company Nuro wins federal safety approval for grocery delivery robot
What, exactly, is the Trump administration’s 5G policy?
Trump’s hostile agenda against low-wage workers
British Airways plane flies from New York to London in under 5 hours, an unofficial record
U.S. charges four members of Chinese military in connection with 2017 hack at Equifax
Broadcast
KING5 TV (NBC)
Snohomish County community isolated after road damaged by mudslide
SR 410 opens only to local traffic near Greenwater after multiple landslides
Seattle City Council due to vote Monday on winter evictions ban
KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Two rivers remain above flood stage; landslides, road closures persist
Travelers believed to be exposed to coronavirus will be quarantined at Shoreline site
Sawant supports business tax, rejects potential restrictions
Judge weighs challenge to Tim Eyman’s $30 car tab measure
Preserving the history of the first black-owned bank in the Pacific Northwest
KOMO4 TV (ABC)
New study ranks Seattle as nation’s 2nd-healthiest city
Families rescued as Umatilla County floods turn deadly; part of I-84 remains closed
Private road damaged by slide near Monroe, isolating 44 homes
KNKX FM
Annual free health clinic in Seattle returns with some changes
Community leaders denounce stigma surrounding coronavirus
KGW8
Vancouver mom’s murder leads to push to strengthen laws protecting victims of domestic violence (Wylie)
KUOW FM
65 More Coronavirus Cases On Diamond Princess Cruise Ship Stuck In Japan
Climate Change Complicates Counting Some Alaska Native Villages For Census
Trump To Again Propose Slashing Foreign Aid In Budget
Floodwaters Begin To Recede In Oregon, Washington
How Trump’s Impeachment Unfolded, In The Words Of Those Who Administered It
NW Public Radio
Helicopter Rescues, Roads Closed, Sandbags Filled: SE Washington And NE Oregon Hit With Floods
Legal Betting On The Super Bowl Was A Big Draw In Oregon. Washington Could Be Next
Q13 TV (Fox)
‘Devastating:’ Residents return home to inspect flood damage as rivers recede
Storm aftermath: Mudslide leaves crumbling path to hilltop neighborhood in Monroe
Amazon wants Trump to testify in battle over $10 billion Pentagon contract
Web
Crosscut
Seattle to consider limiting evictions in winter
‘Free’ casino apps prey on addiction, users say, and WA lawmakers are considering a crackdown
My Northwest
Why Washington will weather Boeing’s 737 MAX crisis
Issaquah residents struggle with flooding and raging waters
Snohomish County task force has plan to address affordable housing
The ‘most important thing’ in Washington’s bid to curb vaping
FAA announces possible certification flight for Boeing 737 MAX in coming weeks
Seattle P.I.
Boeing gets good and bad news on its grounded 737 Max plane
Slog
Washington CEO Says Proposed Payroll Tax Would Cost Less Than a Holiday Party (Macri, Saldana, Nguyen, Frame)
Washington State Wire
Privacy and technology bills to watch this session (Hudgins, Sells)