WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Thursday, March 19

A member of a cleaning crew wheels a cart toward a vehicle at the Life Care Center, where at least 30 coronavirus deaths have been linked to the facility, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, in Kirkland, Wash.

Gov. Inslee issues eviction ban as WA coronavirus deaths rise to 67
Washington state health officials reported 13 new deaths from the coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the state tally of fatalities to 67 – the highest in the country. Also, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a 30-day statewide moratorium on evictions of residential tenants as the state continues to grapple with containing the spread of COVID-19 and the impact it is having on the state’s economy as businesses are forced to temporarily close and employees are laid off. Continue reading at KNKX. (Elaine Thompson)


The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Tukwila, Wash. The agency said on its website that seeking treatment or preventive services for the virus would not adversely affect green card applicants.

‘We’re Petrified’: Immigrants Afraid to Seek Medical Care for Coronavirus
The coronavirus was not on the agenda when a legal-aid group two months ago invited farmworkers who toil in the date groves, lemon orchards and vineyards of California’s Coachella Valley to an information session about immigration issues. But when Luz Gallegos and her team showed up over the weekend, they were cornered by people who peppered them with questions about the virus. On Monday, public health authorities announced the first two deaths from the virus in this part of Southern California, both in the Coachella Valley. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Jason Redmond)


Presort Lead Jameel Henricksen, right, and Sorter Jerome Thomas remove plastic bags at Waste Management's SMaRT Center in Spokane.

Washington lawmakers pass statewide plastic bag ban
Starting in January 2021, customers in Washington state will no longer be able to get single-use plastic bags for their purchases at grocery stores and retail outlets. This session, lawmakers passed a statewide plastic bag ban meant to encourage the use of reusable bags by shoppers. Similar bans had previously been passed by cities like Seattle and Bellingham. Continue reading at The Inlander. (Young Kwak)


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Associated Press
Mnuchin: Family of 4 could get $3K under virus relief plan
Trump calls himself ‘wartime president’ as he battles virus
Italian virus death toll nears China’s as outbreak spreads
How long will Americans be fighting the coronavirus?
Treasury proposal: Deliver $500B to Americans starting April
National parks are open — with some changes — amid virus
Getting coronavirus updates in Spanish is a mixed bag in US
Sick staff fueled outbreak in Seattle-area care centers
WA coronavirus deaths up to 67, Inslee issues eviction ban
Washington state scrambles to secure hospital beds, supplies
Virus claims University of Washington pathology professor
Judge asked to force decision on US wolverine protections
Food banks face virus dilemma: More demand, fewer volunteers
Wall Street see-saws up and down as volatility retains grip
Trump invokes emergency authority, no new cases in Wuhan
Asian shares resume decline after latest Wall St tumble
What you need to know today about the virus outbreak
AP PHOTOS: Small business falls victim to virus
Gov. Inslee issues eviction ban as WA coronavirus deaths rise to 67
Judge asked to force decision on US wolverine protections
US struggles to fill requests for protective gear
Trump invokes emergency authority

Auburn Reporter
Evictions on hold statewide amid COVID-19 outbreak
How will COVID-19 impact wildfire response?

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
One more Whatcom resident tests positive for coronavirus, Health Department says
Point Roberts an island after COVID-19 forces border closure to non-essential traffic
Bellingham, Ferndale schools announce meal service plans during coronavirus closures
No residential evictions for 30 days because of COVID-19, Gov. Jay Inslee announces
Whatcom coronavirus business updates: Grocers OK worker benefits, job losses mount
Coronavirus outbreak puts Bellingham homeless encampment move in April on hold
Washington ranks high in US for coronavirus containment policies. Here’s why
Coronavirus update: Western State Hospital patient tests positive
Whatcom school districts begin providing food service answers during COVID-19 closure
Whatcom County courts issue more suspensions on trials, jury duty due to coronavirus
State elections chief asks governor to cancel April 28 election to protect workers
Curbside pot pickup? Washington relaxes rules during coronavirus pandemic
Deadly coronavirus outbreak in Seattle care center was spread by sick staffers, CDC says
Up to 20% of younger adults infected with coronavirus end up hospitalized, CDC says
Senator says swine flu and MERS started in China like coronavirus. Here are the facts
At-home coronavirus test kits are in the pipeline, company says. Here’s what to know
As jails let inmates go to slow coronavirus outbreaks, ACLU asks to curb arrests, too
Workers forced to leave jobs because of coronavirus to get paid under new Senate bill

Capital Press
H-2A cutoff averted as virus adds to labor worries
Sandison: Washington’s food supply chain remains open and operational

The Daily News
‘Quarantine shaming’: US navigates radical new social norms

Everett Herald (subscription required)
‘Senior hour’ gives at-risk shoppers more time and space
Evictions on hold statewide amid COVID-19 outbreak
Local organizations bracing for COVID-19 to hit the homeless
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Commentary: A long, deadly history of failing to communicate
Editorial: Political divide on coronavirus could be deadly
Letter: Celebrate effort of ‘bureaucrats’ fighting coronavirus outbreak
Letter: Lagging coronavirus tests show why we need single-payer
Letter: We all need to make sacrifices to confront outbreak

Federal Way Mirror
Federal Way mayor activates Emergency Operations Center; Permit Center closes for in-person business
Federal Way Public Schools provide much-needed meals for students during statewide school closure
CHI Franciscan suspends patient billing for COVID-19 testing, treatments

The Inlander
Washington lawmakers pass statewide plastic bag ban
Officials call for massive closures across the country as health care systems brace for more coronavirus patients
 
Islands’ Weekly
Coronavirus — national emergency and statewide school closures

Issaquah Reporter
Evictions on hold statewide amid COVID-19 outbreak
Issaquah Mayor updates the community on COVID-19
King County COVID-19 deaths increase by 10 to 56
A COVID-19 recession could cost millions of jobs

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Washington jails limit new bookings over coronavirus concerns

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
COVID-19 updates: Deaths in Washington state rise to 65, 2 new cases identified in Kitsap
Albertsons, Safeway offer special shopping hours for vulnerable populations
Childcare in Kitsap prioritized for emergency and essential personnel
Drive-in theaters allowed to remain open during COVID-19 battle
Not all school districts planning to pay coaching stipends
U.S. state coronavirus curves show many could be close behind New York
‘It’s going to take all of us’: Public health officials urge community to heed precautions as pandemic settles in Kitsap
USA TODAY analysis: America’s coronavirus ‘curve’ may be at its most dangerous point
Two members of Congress test positive for coronavirus; Trump signs emergency aid package
Kitsap County Jail taking steps to reduce chance of COVID-19 infections

New York Times
The tech headaches of working from home and how to remedy them
Ahead of the pack, how Microsoft told workers to stay home amid coronavirus outbreak
Younger adults comprise big portion of coronavirus hospitalizations in U.S.
Need a coronavirus test? Being rich and famous may help
Coronavirus Live Updates: State Dept. Expected to Warn Against International Travel
A Cascade of Warnings, Heard but Unheeded, Before Virus Outbreak
Pandemic Erodes Gig Economy Work
Trump Seeks $500 Billion in Checks for Taxpayers
Automakers to Close Factories in North America
‘We’re Petrified’: Immigrants Afraid to Seek Medical Care for Coronavirus

Olympian (subscription required)
Washington state’s coronavirus cases swell to 1,187 with more than 65 deaths reported
No residential evictions for 30 days because of coronavirus, Gov. Inslee announces
Libraries, book stores provide things to read, watch and do even when they’re closed
Olympia City Council declares public health emergency to fast-track coronavirus response
Thurston County courts delay trials, escalate response to coronavirus outbreak
Thurston County confirmed coronavirus count increases to 6

Peninsula Daily News
Peninsula restaurants offer takeout, delivery options
Jefferson County government agencies close offices to public
Port Angeles City Council declares emergency
Clallam County sees first COVID-19 case
Chimacum student serves as House of Representatives page (Chapman)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Tech companies still hiring despite mass lay-offs elsewhere
Washington weighs big bailouts to help U.S. economy survive coronavirusDurkan halts evictions of small businesses and nonprofits
Pandemic erodes gig economy work
Layoffs are just starting, and the forecasts are bleak

Renton Reporter
Evictions on hold statewide amid COVID-19 outbreak
King County COVID-19 deaths increase by 10 to 56
Op-ed: To our elected officials: Be bold, be consistent, be honest, be helpful

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Coronavirus spread in a Kirkland nursing home for weeks, while response stalled
Coronavirus daily news updates: ‘Disturbing’ lack of airport screening, confusion at Canada border, fear at Boeing
Travelers describe ‘disturbing’ lack of coronavirus screening at Sea-Tac Airport
FYI Guy: Is one generation better at social-distancing than others? Gen X might have a leg up
Stay on campus or go home? For Washington students, coronavirus makes spring break a complicated gamble
Inslee says now not the time for a coronavirus ‘shelter in place’ order in Washington
Boeing workers increasingly angry, worried as coronavirus infections rise inside the factories
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and two UW experts will field your coronavirus questions. What do you want to know?
As coronavirus spreads, Bothell ventilator maker revs up production with ‘weight of the world on our shoulders’
Inslee orders temporary stop to evictions, other help for workers and businesses in response to coronavirus
Volunteers stay home, meal programs go to-go — and homeless feel the effect of social distancing from coronavirus
Bloomberg: Lufthansa to cut 95% of flights in survival mode
Miami Herald: Miami’s Mario Diaz-Balart is first member of Congress to test positive for coronavirus
New York Daily News: Harvey Weinstein headed to maximum-security prison in upstate NY
Op-Ed: Coronavirus: A good argument for Medicare for All
Editorial: David Calhoun’s Boeing criticism misses its most deserving target

Skagit Valley Herald
Few changes for Washington State Ferries
County food banks adapt to coronavirus

Spokesman Review
Inslee announces new aid package to help financial fallout from virus outbreak
Drive-thru coronavirus screening to open Friday in Spokane – but you need a doctor’s note
Inslee, Trump and local courts halt evictions, but some Spokane leaders say more action still needed
‘We are always, always on guard’: For those with underlying health conditions, distancing is matter of life or death
School lunch to go: Spokane district to begin distributing food Thursday
Learning doesn’t have to stop amid COVID-19 outbreak: Education experts offer tips, online resources for school at home
Opinion: Rep. Marcus Riccelli: Hungry kids can’t learn. Let’s feed them.

Tri-City Herald
It’s standing room only for cannabis retailers because of coronavirus
1st Tri-Cities death from coronavirus confirmed. It’s the second known case
Kadlec hospital stops elective surgery, closes some Tri-Cities clinics due to coronavirus pandemic
An ill Benton inmate is in isolation. Jail is still waiting for a coronavirus test kit
Editorial: A ‘bored media’ did not start a coronavirus panic. Dying people did. 

USA Today
Trump signals he’s open to federal government taking equity stake in companies – live updates
Coronavirus is slowing down search for census workers, could make it harder to count Americans

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Editorial: Nationwide vote-by-mail needed to ensure fall election
Grocery workers get further support with growing pandemic demands

Washington Post
How to pet dogs during a coronavirus pandemic
Italy to extend lockdown as death toll mounts
China reports no new locally transmitted cases
As layoffs skyrocket, U.S. safety net’s holes become apparent
Dow falls despite central banks’ rescue plans
As labs pledge to make more test kits, here’s why testing may still lag
For those in need of a smile, a coronavirus love story
Megan Rapinoe wasn’t surprised by U.S. Soccer’s ‘unbelievable’ sentiments in legal filing
How to tackle the grocery store during coronavirus
Who are the lawmakers who have coronavirus, or have self-quarantined for it?
The elected officials who are still downplaying coronavirus
ICE to stop most immigration enforcement inside U.S., will focus on criminals during coronavirus outbreak
CBP temporarily shuts down ‘Trusted Traveler’ enrollment centers citing coronavirus concerns
CDC, the top U.S. public health agency, is sidelined during coronavirus pandemic
The Technology 202: Coronavirus puts a spotlight on telemedicine for gig workers
‘That can actually kill somebody’: Scam robocalls are pitching fake coronavirus tests to vulnerable Americans

Yakima Herald Republic
“Not summer vacation.” How Yakima County parents are adjusting to life with school canceled
Two Yakima health care facility workers infected; total cases in county rises to 9
A doctor’s advice: Tips on staying healthy and sane during the coronavirus outbreak
Editorial: Legislative session did have a few bright spots (Hobbs)

Broadcast


KIRO7 TV (CBS)

Coronavirus: Gov. Inslee places 30-day moratorium on evictions as case numbers increase
Temporary field hospital being built on Shoreline soccer field
Supply shortages shut down COVID-19 test site, has hospitals asking for donations
Local hospitals prepare for surge in coronavirus patients
Fake flyers spread false COVID-19 response in Olympia
Coronavirus live updates: Worldwide cases swell past 222,600 as global death toll tops 9,000
Patient at Western State Hospital tests positive for COVID-19

KNKX FM
Drive-through coronavirus testing begins for UW Medicine patients
Health officials report first coronavirus death in Pierce County as cases there rise
British Columbia government welcomes border closure, widespread coronavirus restrictions
LISTEN: U.S. Rep. Kilmer talks plans to support small businesses amid coronavirus outbreak

KUOW FM
NO EVICTIONS, EXPEDITED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR WASHINGTONIANS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 OUTBREAK
Seattle bar owner says ‘it’s uncharted territory’ in coronavirus pandemic
Trump, Governors To Discuss Coronavirus Strategy As FEMA Takes Bigger Role
Confirmed Coronavirus Cases In The U.S. Near 10,000
Stock Markets Are Falling Again
Live coverage: COVID-19 in Seattle and Washington state
Federal Reserve Establishes Lending Facility To Back Up Money Market Mutual Funds
Filings For Unemployment Benefits Rise As Coronavirus Hits Job Market
Laid off in Seattle and thinking about the future
‘Panic-gogy’: Teaching Online Classes During The Coronavirus Pandemic
China Reports No New Domestic Cases, But Battles Coronavirus Imported From Abroad
Amazon Employee At New York Warehouse Tests Positive For Coronavirus
‘They’re Feeling Invincible’: White House Steps Up Warnings To Young Adults
Starbucks says it’s already recovering from the impact of COVID-19
Efforts continue to flatten the coronavirus curve
Worried about a shelter-in-place order? Well, we’re already doing it around Seattle anyway
The pros, cons, and privilege of online learning during a pandemic
March 18th | How novel coronavirus plays out on public transi
Stimulus Cash For Strapped Workers, With Few Places To Spend It
Gun sales spike alongside COVID-19 concerns in Western Washington
Small Businesses To Washington: Please Send Money Soon Or We Won’t Survive
Community health centers are on the front lines amid COVID-19 outbreak
U.S. Navy Hospital Ships To Deploy To New York, West Coast
What Seattle doctors have learned the hard way about coronavirus
Drive-through COVID-19 testing expands in Seattle
‘If it had to happen somewhere, this is a pretty good place,’ says top COVID-19 detective
Life In Lockdown: From Shock To Panic To … Acceptance

NW Public Radio
Social Distancing Yields Worries Of Blood Shortages As Donation Drives Get Canceled
Inslee Gives Washingtonians Eviction Protection; Little Asks Idahoans To Avoid Large Crowds
Washington Limits Federal Agents’ Ability To Arrest Undocumented People In Courthouses
Coronavirus Threatens Food Supply Chain As Farms Worry About Workers Getting Sick
Outside Coronavirus Epicenter, Northwest Health System Workers Brace For What’s Coming

Web


Crosscut

Coronavirus has jail lawyers worried about safety — for clients and themselves
New WA state budget won’t solve problem of foster kids in crisis (Pollet, Senn, Valdez, Darnielle)
Why Native people ‘need to count’ in the 2020 census
How Washington allows clear-cut logging in cities that don’t want it
One couple, two coronavirus cases and wildly different symptoms

My Ballard
City to provide small business financial relief, halts evictions of small businesses and nonprofits

Seattle P.I.
Stay positive: Here are 23 pieces of good news regarding COVID-19
A complete guide of where, how Seattle public school students can pick up free lunches
Jobless claims jump by 70,000 as virus starts to take hold

Slog
Breaking Coronavirus News: Trump Signs Relief Bill, SIFF Is Canceled, Melania Trump Will Star in Coronavirus PSAs
A Scientist Talks About Learning to Live with COVID-19
As Courts Across the Country Postpone Cases, King County Superior Court Remains Maddeningly Open
From a Reader in Spain, a Warning on Public Parks During a Pandemic