Legislature tackled other issues along with COVID-19
Washington’s 2020 legislative session can be divided into two distinct parts: before cases of COVID-19 were discovered in the state, and after. In that first half – which by the time the Legislature adjourned Thursday evening seemed months, not weeks, ago – there were big concerns like growing numbers of homeless residents in urban and rural areas, a delay in transportation projects and worries about what was being done with personal data on the internet. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Rachel La Corte)
What Passed, What Didn’t In 2020 Washington Legislature (Hint: Coronavirus Changed Plans)
What a difference 60 days makes. When Washington lawmakers arrived in Olympia in mid-January for a short election-year session, the state’s economy was riding high, homelessness and housing were top of mind and there was talk of trying to expel Republican state Rep. Matt Shea from the House. As the Legislature adjourned Thursday, 60 days felt like a lifetime ago. A surreal “new normal” had taken hold as Washington finds itself in the grips of a global coronavirus pandemic — which poses a threat not just to the public, but also to the economy and to state revenues. Continue reading at Northwest Public Broadcasting. (Ted S. Warren)
Bars, gyms and more ordered closed in Washington state
All gatherings with more than 50 people will be prohibited in Washington state beginning Monday when Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign an emergency proclamation to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The order will not apply to restaurants, which will be able to provide take-out and delivery services, but in-person dining will be prohibited. Additionally, grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open. Continue reading at The Federal Way Mirror.
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New York Times
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