Washington agency rejects Facebook settlement, refers campaign ad violation charge to AG’s office
Washington’s campaign finance watchdog on Thursday rejected a settlement that its own staff had negotiated with Facebook over charges the social media giant has repeatedly violated state campaign finance law. Instead of accepting the rather modest settlement — a proposed $75,000 fine for the $550 billion company and no admission of guilt — the Washington Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) referred the matter to Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson for further investigation. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Noah Berger)
‘Sexual by birth.’ Comprehensive sex ed mandate passes House committee by 1 vote
By one vote, a House committee on Thursday approved a bill to require public school districts to teach comprehensive sexual health education to K-12 students beginning with the 2022-23 school year. SB 5395 would be phased in over two years, with the topic taught to students in grades six through 12 beginning with the 2021-2022 school year and to all students a year later. Backers of the bill say it’s designed with equity in mind, to ensure all students get the opportunity to learn. Several opponents say sex education should be restricted to grades seven through 12. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Tony Overman)
Senate Dems: $5 million to help businesses disrupted by coronavirus
A last minute amendment to the Senate Democratic Caucus supplemental operating budget has earmarked $5 million to help businesses that have been negatively affected by international responses to the coronavirus outbreak overseas. Businesses like Cosmo Specialty Fibers, a textile producer that does 97 percent of its business with companies in Asia, have been disrupted by port closures intended to stop the spread of the disease. Continue reading at The Bothell-Kenmore Reporter. (Port of Everett)
Associated Press
Military funds for Washington state can’t go to build border wall, judge rules
Northern California city at epicenter of coronavirus mystery
House committee approves death penalty repeal bill
Washington agency rejects Facebook political ad settlement
2 Washington state teens survive fentanyl overdose
Stocks fall sharply on Wall Street; Dow Jones sinks 3.1%
Aberdeen Daily World
Commissioner of Public Lands visits Hoquiam
Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Hand washing can help prevent coronavirus, but you’re probably not doing it right
‘Sexual by birth.’ Comprehensive sex ed mandate passes House committee by 1 vote (Santos, Dolan, Stonier)
Bothell High School closed Thursday in ‘abundance of caution’ over coronavirus fears
State public health officials will be able to get test results for coronavirus faster
As coronavirus outbreak widens, Whatcom public health says to prepare for its spread
CDC shows you how to properly wash your hands
Worried you may have coronavirus? Here are steps to protect yourself and others
Are you more likely to die from coronavirus or the flu? There’s a big difference
Are we any closer to a vaccine? Five facts to know about the coronavirus
Will coronavirus wreck your spring or summer travel plans? 5 things to know
Bothell Reporter
Senate Dems: $5 million to help businesses disrupted by coronavirus (Takko)
Centralia Daily Chronicle
State Senate Operating Budget Adds $5M to Offset Business Losses Due to Coronavirus (Takko, Van De Wege, Blake)
Columbian
Senate Republicans propose alternative solutions to WA’s homelessness crisis (Rolfes)
In Our View: Taxpayers should share in good budget news
Journal of the San Juan Islands
Stewardship plate on track with sales (Lovelett, Lekanoff)
Senate passes bills to ensure health of natural waters (Lovelett)
Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Judge: Trump Administration can’t take $89m from Bangor pier project for border wall
New York Times
Unions push FTC to study if Amazon warps the economy
Seattle Times (subscription required)
150 people possibly exposed to TB by Microsoft vendor, public-health officials say
South Seattle residents blasted with late-night jet noise from improper Boeing test
Man dead after exchanging shots with troopers near Gig Harbor, police say
Sound Transit fast-tracks North Seattle’s 130th Street Station
Gray whales are back — and may hold clues to mysterious ‘unusual mortality event’
Seattle to sponsor workshops to educate immigrants on new ‘public charge’ rule on visas
Washington approves ban on ‘gay panic’ defense in homicide cases
Report of ‘animal serial killer’ prompts 10,000 calls, emails to Tacoma Animal Control
Alaska and Boeing shares fall sharply amid coronavirus fears
Washington agency rejects Facebook settlement, refers campaign ad violation charge to AG’s office
Kilmer: U.S. Senate should move to protect our public lands and grow jobs
Editorial: Caution, calm: Keys to coronavirus response
Seattle Weekly
Bothell High School is closed due to caution over potential coronavirus
Inslee gets involved in contract talks between Swedish, SEIU
Senate Republicans propose alternative solutions to WA’s homelessness crisis (Rolfes)
Snoqualmie Valley Record
Inslee gets involved in contract talks between Swedish, SEIU
Spokesman Review
Senate adds $1B in spending, passes budget (Billig, Rolfes, Van De Wege)
Legislature bans ‘surprise’ defense in LGBTQ attacks (Pedersen)
A COVID-19 Q&A: What we know, don’t know and how to prepare
Washington state will begin testing for COVID-19, lawmakers allocate $10 million to virus preparations (Rolfes, Takko)
Opinion: Dr. Craig Smith and Kris Tefft: Take care in changing workers’ compensation medical exams
Vancouver Business Journal
STEM magnet school opens on WSU Vancouver campus
Washington Post
U.S. workers without protective gear assisted coronavirus evacuees, HHS whistleblower says
Gov. Jay Inslee’s blunt advice to Pence on coronavirus: Stick to the scienc
Broadcast
KING5 TV (NBC)
Washington families claim KeyBank won’t redeem their bank bills
Bothell High School closed again Friday as a precaution for COVID-19 concerns
Lessons from the Nisqually quake that shook Pacific Northwest 19 years ago
Proposal would strengthen Washington state’s derelict vessel removal program
Mandatory sex ed bill gets House committee approval (Stonier)
KOMO4 TV (ABC)
US schools start planning for possible spread of coronavirus
Shoreline laboratory to start testing for coronavirus, speeding up results process
Three Shoreline Public Schools staffers self-quarantined for possible coronavirus
Neighbors next to new coronavirus quarantine site worried about safety
KNKX FM
Washington state on verge of tightening the tap for new bottled water plants (Carlyle)
Whale sanctuary, originally considered for the Pacific Northwest, to open in Nova Scotia
KUOW FM
Washington state health officials are preparing for possible coronavirus spread
Washington state on verge of tightening the tap for new bottled water plants (Carlyle)
Stocks In Free-fall: Dow Plummets Over 1,000 Points As Coronavirus Tightens Grip
What coronavirus’ shape-shifting structure tells us about the disease, and how to fight it
Bothell HS closed for second day over coronavirus concerns
NW Public Radio
Lewis County Pushback Leads Washington Lawmakers To Tighten Tap For New Bottled Water Plants (Carlyle)
Study: Evidence Does Not Support Hunting As A Way To Control Cougar Population
Q13 TV (Fox)
State labs to start testing for coronavirus locally ahead of potential spread
Federal judge in Washington state blocks administration from diverting some funds for border wall
Bothell High School closed again Friday amid coronavirus concerns
State AG’s Office closer to forming cold case unit for sexual assault cases
Web
Crosscut
Child sex trafficking survivors deserve to be protected, not criminalized (Orwall, Dhingra)
MyNorthwest.com
‘Potentially disastrous’ bid to use Kitsap base funds on border wall halted
Rantz: Inslee embarrasses WA with coronavirus insult hurled at VP Pence
Seattle council slams Nav Team on homeless camp sweeps
Thurston County site prepared for possible coronavirus quarantine
Sawant sends message to Olympia ahead of hearing on big business tax (Macri, Springer)
Washington Daylight Saving bill ‘unlikely’ to take effect in 2020 (Riccelli)
Seattle P.I.
Required sex education: One step from passing Washington State Legislature (Dhingra)