WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Tuesday, June 9

Legislators will likely meet soon to decide on deep cuts to the state budget. Some of their options include reducing public funds for the University of Washington and other institutes of higher education. (Paul Christian Gordon for Crosscut)

WA’s coming budget cuts could dwarf those of the Great Recession
Preliminary numbers suggest that, over the next three years, Washington state tax revenues will come in about $7 billion lower than previously expected. The actual revenue loss may be even greater, since the estimate is based on data from early in the coronavirus pandemic, before the economy collapsed further when unemployment soared and personal spending plummeted. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Paul Christian)


Broadband coverage by county in WA

Disconnected in isolation: How the coronavirus pandemic shed light on the digital divide
When Daria Smith moved to South Seattle, she wasn’t planning to get the internet any time soon. It’s expensive, and she had other, more pressing bills to pay. But her priorities shifted after the Auburn School District sent her son and daughter, ages 14 and 13, home in the middle of March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Mark Nowlin)


OLYMPIA – A protestor who refused to give her name adjusts a sign on the north steps of the Legislative Building calling for an independent investigation into the death of a Tacoma man in police custody. (Laurel Demkovich / The Spokesman-Review

Gov. Jay Inslee to create task force to ‘rethink’ policing
Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday that he would create an independent statewide task force to address policing across the state of Washington. The group would investigate the use of force as well as the need for a new independent agency to oversee the investigative process after a use of force incident. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Laurel Demkovich)


Print

Associated Press
A US recession began in February in the face of coronavirus
Amid US tension, Iran builds fake aircraft carrier to attack
Yakima County has nearly 5,000 COVID-19 cases
Snohomish police chief reassigned amid outcry over protests
Seattle council members protest after tear gas used on crowd
State granted joint jurisdiction in restraint death probe
Canada eases border restriction, allows immediate family in
Fruit processor reopening after virus outbreak infected 132
Volunteers reopening some federal offices closed in pandemic
State granted joint jurisdiction in restraint death probe
Farm workers union sues Washington over virus housing rules
IBM quits facial recognition, joins call for police reforms
The Latest: George Floyd to be buried Tuesday in Houston
Portland police chief resigns amid George Floyd protests
Police chief in Portland, Oregon, stepping down following George Floyd protests
Can tear gas and pepper spray increase virus spread?

Aberdeen Daily World
Film shows the Chehalis from many angles
Chehalis Tribe opposes proposed Chehalis River dam
Op-ed: John Elway’s inspiring Friday night tweet

Auburn Reporter
City and Auburn Police officer sued in federal court for “execution-style” killing
Future of new sex ed law may rest in the hands of voters (Wilson)
King County Library System to slowly reopen after 3 month closure

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
These retail stores, services open as Whatcom OK‘d for coronavirus Safe Start Phase 2
Coronavirus updates: DOH highlights importance of face coverings
‘We will strive to do better,’ Lummi Police chief says after incident caught on video
‘I’m going to fight for everything that I believe in’ Solidarity rally attendee says
Whatcom sees 9 new coronavirus cases Monday and 2 regions with dramatic increases
With very few new listings, Whatcom County home sales slow significantly in May
Solidarity rally attracts roughly 7,000 people
Inslee calls for statewide restriction on police use of chokeholds
Watch: Gov. Jay Inslee spoke Monday on statewide demonstrations, COVID-19 response
Washington passes 24K confirmed cases of COVID-19
Hundreds of thousands sign petitions for KKK to be declared terrorist organization
10 US Army bases are named for Confederate leaders. Could they be renamed?
Self-proclaimed KKK leader accused of ramming protester with truck, Virginia cops say
Didn’t file a tax return and expecting a stimulus check? IRS sets deadline to register
Police kill around 1,000 every year despite protests and reform, advocacy group says
What is qualified immunity? Here’s how it affects lawsuits against police officers
Some cities may dismantle law enforcement. What happened in places that already have?

Capital Press
Washington sheriff awaits AG approval to trap wolves

Columbian
Clark County has big COVID-19 weekend jump, adds 32 cases
In Our View: Child care critical for reopening economy

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Public defenders call for partial defunding of sheriff dept.
Deputy seen in video punching man was previously fired
After public outcry, Snohomish police chief is reassigned
COVID-19 and Phase 2 of a Safe Start for Snohomish County
McCollum Park to host virus test site for rest of June
Bloomberg: Comment: Don’t let market fool you; economy still needs help
Editorial: Our advice to the Class of 2020: Avoid the hornets

The Inlander
Spokane health officer Bob Lutz: Meeting testing goal for Phase 3 will be ‘very difficult’

Issaquah Reporter
Video of Bellevue officer’s forceful restraint of unarmed woman goes viral
King County Library System to slowly reopen after 3 month closure

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
‘I just don’t want to sit at home while everyone else is making a difference:’ Hundreds turn out for Bremerton protest
Portland police chief resigns after 6 months amid George Floyd protests
With training completed, Nimitz sets sail for a lengthy deployment

News Tribune (subscription required)
Tased, bound and cuffed: How Tacoma police restrained Manuel Ellis — and led to his death
Rep. Jesse Young, armed men, show up at peaceful BLM protest in Gig Harbor. They weren’t with me, he says.
Editorial: Washington state review of Tacoma police Manuel Ellis homicide is the right call
Different cities, different police responses to George Floyd protest marches
Emerald Queen Casino opens with celebration and COVID-19 safety precautions
UPDATE: AG declines offer to review Manuel Ellis case at same time as Pierce County prosecutors
Tacoma Mall opens, begins slow recovery process after COVID-19 shutdown

New York Times
George Floyd, from ‘I Want to Touch the World’ to ‘I Can’t Breathe’
Contradicting Trump, Barr says bunker visit was for safety, not an ‘inspection’
Police officer shared nude photos of student from Pullman before she was murdered in Utah, lawsuit says
First American woman to walk in space reaches deepest spot in ocean
Why Secrecy Laws Protecting Bad Officers Are Falling
Trump Rebuffs Protests Over Systemic Racism and Calls Police ‘Great People’
Child Abuse Cases Drop 51 Percent. The Authorities Are Very Worried.

Olympian (subscription required)
Evergreen proposes to change its name to Evergreen State University
Inslee calls for statewide restriction on police use of chokeholds
Some coronavirus deaths ‘almost certainly’ missed in Washington state, but most medical examiners not able to look back
3 new COVID-19 cases reported in Thurston County
Olympia City Council to host virtual town hall series to address mental health
Coronavirus updates: State reaches 24,041 cases on Monday; more CARES funding allocated
New Seahawks RB Carlos Hyde: NFL can show it cares about race ‘by signing Kaep back’
Photo of Olympia Police officer with armed men prompts mayor’s post, OPD investigation

Peninsula Daily News
Officials planning regional approach for Phase 3
Widespread protests continue
Deputies look into false Antifa reports
Health officers brace for possible rise in COVID-19 cases

Puget Sound Business Journal
‘Corporate America has failed Black America’
Congress should forgive all PPP loans under $150K — with a caveat
What would efforts to defund or disband police departments really mean?
People are marching against racism. They’re also reading about it.
Amazon warehouse workers sue company over health concerns
Opinion: Boeing can take steps to reclaim its reputation
New PPP law changes the importance of bonuses. Here’s why.
Don’t lose the thread. The economy is experiencing an epic collapse of demand.
Unemployment claims decline as parts of Washington economy reopen

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Disconnected in isolation: How the coronavirus pandemic shed light on the digital divide
Man accused of driving into Seattle protesters and shooting a man held on investigation of assault
Snohomish police chief reassigned after rumors about antifa spurred armed response
Seattle council members vow ‘inquest’ into police budget; some say mayor should consider resigning
Welcome to ‘Juneuary’: A couple of warmer days this week will be just enough to tease us before rainy Seattle weather returns
For many Seattle-area small businesses, recent looting damage only adds to challenges of reopening
Inslee proposes restrictions on police chokeholds, new Washington state body to investigate police killings
State AG declines shared control in investigation of Manuel Ellis’ death at hands of Tacoma police
US employers laid-off 7.7 million workers in April
How discrimination and systemic racism negatively impact health outcomes for Black Americans
Editorial: As more public business goes virtual, transparency is key
Op-ed: Test the deceased to uncover the true toll of COVID-19

Seattle Weekly
Video of Bellevue officer’s forceful restraint of unarmed woman goes viral

Skagit Valley Herald
Local churches prepare for changes

Spokesman Review
Agencies propose cuts in key programs as state looks at budget woesv
Spokane officials weigh in on calls to join other cities, defund police department
Gov. Jay Inslee to create task force to ‘rethink’ policing
Employees must wear facial coverings starting this week, due to governor’s Safe Start order

Tri-City Herald
Thousands take to Tri-Cities streets for BLM rallies to end racism
Tri-Cities COVID cases soar to highest daily total yet. Counties still look to reopen
900 sign petition for Richland schools to fight racism and remove police officers
Coyote Ridge only prison in state with growing number of COVID cases
Benton jail’s ex-healthcare company destroyed evidence in teen’s death
Some Tri-Citians still hungry. People turned away each week from food giveaways
Coronavirus infecting younger people in Tri-Cities. Business outbreaks, gatherings blamed
Op-ed: Number of uninsured Tri-Citians is surging 
Op-ed: Racial injustice hurts all of us 
Editorial: Respect for all Tri-City voices needed in fight against racial injustice

USA Today
Are more store closings coming? As many as 25,000 stores could shutter in 2020 due to COVID-19 impact

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Editorial: If you have hint of COVID-19 symptoms, insist on being tested
Higher education leaders plots course for fall
Phase 3 starts slowly in Columbia County
Walla Walla County coronavirus numbers shift slightly up

Washington Post
Big majorities support protests over Floyd killing and say police need to change, poll finds
Agency to remove most of fence near White House that has turned into a memorial wall
Op-ed: Congress’s kente cloth spectacle was a mess of contradictions
The crackdown before Trump’s photo op: What video and other records show
Newly released video shows N.J. trooper fatally shooting unarmed black man in traffic stop tussle
Puerto Rico, 14 states hit highest 7-day average of new infections
Op-ed: How we can start dismantling systemic racism
Trump administration lifts ban on controversial hunting practices in Denali, other national parks in Alaska
North Korea says it will no longer talk to South, dialing up pressure
Activists around the world use protests to highlight their own countries’ police killings
Tesla workers sickened after plant reopens

Yakima Herald Republic
“We are a hot spot for COVID-19.” Yakima County adds another 215 cases Monday
What does continued local protest of George Floyd’s death say about policing here?
Workers seek meeting as strike continues at Columbia Reach Pack
Homeless and acting erratically, Tiffany Eubanks died in Yakima Wednesday. What happened?
Pastor accepts offer to join special investigations unit, but 2nd Yakima civilian still considering
Editorial: Houses of worship should put others first and follow guidelines

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Protesters remove barricade at Seattle’s East Precinct on Capitol Hill
Blaine Police chief says it’s time for ‘the two Americas to come together’
Seattle council members explore defunding police after calls from protesters
Coronavirus updates: Canada eases coronavirus border restriction, allows immediate family in
Frustration continues over unemployment benefits in Washington state
Gov. Inslee says Washington state must ‘rethink’ policing
Kirkland startup helps businesses navigate COVID-19 world

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
‘An exercise in trust;’ Seattle police reopen streets around East Precinct
‘He saved hundreds of lives’: Brother of protest shooting victim speaks out
Gov. Inslee convening task force to evaluate policing in Washington state
73,000 signature petition calls for takedown of landmark Uncle Sam billboard
Fight over delayed unemployment payments taken to Washington Supreme Court
Some Seattle council members upset with how police handled protesters
Man who drove into Capitol Hill crowd, shot protester in custody
Unionized essential workers call for Mayor Durkan to resign
Researchers watching after COVID-19 cases spike on Saturday
Councilmember Sawant introduces legislation that would limit chemical weapons, crowd control weapons
‘Who’s going to answer that 911 call?’ SPOG president explains potential consequences of defunding police

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Calls to defund Seattle police grow but what does that mean?
Seattle City Council considering defunding police department in response to protests
Stare-down over: SPD removes barricades blocking roads along East Precinct
Man shot during Capitol Hill protest while protecting others called a ‘hero’
Canada relaxes border restrictions to allow family members across
As more counties reopen, businesses ramp up cleanings to prevent COVID-19 spread
Snohomish police chief demoted amid outcry over armed vigilantes
Video shows driver striking car, speeding away at I-84 demonstration

KNKX FM
‘I want to jump out of my skin’: Voices from the South Seattle march
Some educators push for law enforcement officers to be removed from schools
As counties move along in governor’s Safe Start plan, some communities get creative

KUOW FM
Seattle bar reopens after Covid-19 shutdown: Not a lot of people ‘but it’s 15 more than zero’
Reopening stores highlight the joy of non-essential things
What A 1968 Report Tells Us About The Persistence Of Racial Inequality
Updates: Protests for racial justice in Seattle area
Updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in Washington state
How Federal Dollars Fund Local Police
‘Counselors, not cops’: Seattle students and staff call for district to get police out of schools
‘They’ve given us the precinct.’ Seattle Police backs away, and protesters take back Pine
Gunman at Seattle protest claims he feared for his life. Others paint a different picture
Texas Reports Record-Breaking COVID-19 Hospitalizations As State Reopens
Sharing is caring, unless it’s misinformation
Protests Are Bringing Down Confederate Monuments Around The South
June 8th | These doctors say: no more gas
Expect Seattle police defunded ‘by 50 percent ideally’ says Seattle council member
Even In A Pandemic, WHO Believes That Public Protests Are Important
“You don’t see this type of youth influence anywhere else in the area”
Pierce County prosecutor wants state involved now in Manuel Ellis case
Seattle protests: ‘the time of the never-seen-before’

Q13 TV (Fox)
Tacoma mayor says she will push for police body cameras following death of Manuel Ellis
Seattle City Council members vow to cut police funding by 50%
Jeff Bezos ‘happy to lose’ customers over Black Lives Matter message
Back in business as Snohomish County enters Phase 2 of reopening
Protesters march to East Precinct after Seattle police reopen streets

Web

Crosscut
WA’s coming budget cuts could dwarf those of the Great Recession (Billig)
Covering protests with an eye on journalism’s past mistakes
Opinion: From the Northwest to the White House: The fascists are here
City council will consider defunding Seattle Police

Slog
The Dawn of “Free Capitol Hill”
Nikolas Fernandez Held on First-Degree Assault After Allegedly Driving Into Crowd and Shooting a Protester on Capitol Hill
Teresa Mosqueda Calls for Mayor Durkan to Resign
Evan Hreha Released from Jail
Over a Hundred Seattle Drag Queens Call for Defunding the Seattle Police Department
If We Defund the Police, We Must Also Decriminalize Sex Work and Drugs
This New Jersey City Disbanded Their Police in 2013
Slog PM: SPD Clears Out East Precinct, Lets Demonstrators March; George Floyd Public Memorial Held

South Seattle Emerald 
More than 20 local reps sign letter urging Mayor Durkan, Chief Best to take action to de-escalate police (Saldana, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Nguyen, Frockt, Pedersen, Johnson, Entenman, Tomiko Santos, Valdez, Gregerson, Macri, Chopp, Fitzgibbon, Cody, Frame, Hudgins, Bergquist, Davis)