As we near 6 months in Washington’s stay-home order, mental health experts warn that things may get worse
You’ve been self-isolating, working in your pajamas and ordering everything online. Every trip to the grocery store is a white-knuckle adventure through a claustrophobic hellscape, recently under “Blade Runner” skies, and it’s hard to carry on normal, everyday conversations with … anybody. You think it can’t get any worse as we approach and pass 200,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. Well, we’re here with some bad news: just wait. We’re about to hit rock bottom. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kira Mauseth)
Washington’s prison system backs reform
The state’s prison system now appears ready to lead the type of changes supported for years by activists and some legislators to counter increasingly long sentences, startling racial disproportionality and what is often termed mass incarceration. While the state’s incarceration rate has dipped roughly 9% over the last decade, and is lower than the national average, it is still more than double what it was in 1980. Continue reading at The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. (Mike Siegel)
Incoming storm may aid smoky skies
Thanks to a storm front sweeping in from off the coast, forecasters say people in Western Washington will be breathing easier this weekend as marine air and widespread rain clear out most of the region’s lingering wildfire smoke. Coastal communities and other low-lying parts of the North Olympic Peninsula got a brief taste Thursday morning of the cleaner air to come after receiving some overnight rainfall. Continue reading at Peninsula Daily News. (Nicholas Johnson)
Associated Press
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News Tribune (subscription required)
Washington state reports 386 new COVID-19 cases Thursday and 11 deaths
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New York Times
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Peninsula Daily News
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Seattle Times (subscription required)
Washington prison system may lead effort to cut inmate population, amid COVID-19 and protests over racial injustice (Goodman, Darneille, Dhingra)
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As we near 6 months in Washington’s stay-home order, mental health experts warn that things may get worse
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Skagit Valley Herald
Air quality expected to improve
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Tri-City Herald
Franklin COVID case drop stalls without meeting rate needed for school reopening
When exactly will the smoke clear in Tri-Cities? And will storms cause more fires
USA Today
Coronavirus updates: USPS scrapped plan to send 650M masks to Americans; public still split on COVID-19 vaccine; Las Vegas bars to reopen
Alleged unwanted hysterectomies and other abuses at ICE facility prompts investigation
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Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Putting their lives on the fire line
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Oregon and Washington roll out changes to pandemic response
Seattle Times: Washington’s prison system backs reform
Washington Post
Trump administration bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores beginning on Sunday
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Yakima Herald Republic
Fair Food Fest officially underway — and it’s something
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Broadcast
KIRO7 TV (CBS)
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KNKX FM
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U.S. To Bar Downloads Of TikTok, WeChat
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Web
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Slog
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