WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Thursday, December 17

A man in a dark shirt signs in ASL. Next to him, a man in a dark suit and mask sits at a table with a blue flag behind him.

Some good news: Washington state’s third COVID-19 curve appears to be flattening
Washington state’s current and worst COVID-19 curve might be flattening and the dreaded post-Thanksgiving surge does not appear to be materializing, according to state Department of Health officials. Still, the situation is tenuous despite the first doses of a vaccine for the coronavirus being administered this week in Washington, officials say. Relaxing preventive health safety protocols could re-charge the surge. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (TVW)


A headshot of a man wearing glasses, a black-and-white patterned mask, and a dark suit.

Inslee paves way for return to in-person classroom learning
New recommendations provided Wednesday by Gov. Jay Inslee could spark the return of in-person learning in many school districts across Washington. “It is time to begin the process of getting more of our students back into the classroom,” Inslee said during a virtual press conference. Inslee said that the state is lowering the threshold for schools to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading at The Kitsap Sun. (Ted S. Warren)


A hand in blue gloves holds a small glass bottle with a silver lid.

Who’s next in line for the COVID-19 vaccine after front line health care workers?
As vaccinations against the virus that causes COVID-19 ramped up across Washington state Wednesday, health authorities still have yet to determine who is next in line for the vaccine. It might be late spring or early summer until everyone in Washington who wants to be vaccinated will be able to receive the shot, said Assistant Health Secretary Michele Roberts during a state media briefing on the pandemic. Continue reading at The Olympian. (AP)


Print

Associated Press
Washington unemployment rate in November was 6%

Aberdeen Daily World
Grays Harbor EMS facing funding crisis
Westport Marina dredging project complete
Op-ed: The mail must go through; USPS should get COVID relief
Commentary: Postal bailout talk shows Washington’s fiscal insanity

Bellingham Herald
Use of covid quarantine facility in Bellingham is at its highest. This is one reason why
Some good news: Washington state’s third COVID-19 curve appears to be flattening
Whatcom County sees 40 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, state reports
COVID infection rates in four Whatcom regions decrease, but another rockets to record level

Columbian
Walk-up, drive-thru COVID-19 testing on the horizon in Clark County

The Daily News
New Wallace Elementary School opens with ribbon cutting, virtual tour

Everett Herald (subscription required)
188 concrete columns: Light rail to Lynnwood is 25% done

The Inlander
COVID-19 sweeps through incarcerated populations in Spokane and Airway Heights
Spokane got a grant for a new young adult shelter, but the mayor doesn’t want it here. What now?

Kitsap Sun
Inslee paves way for return to in-person classroom learning
Barbs fly as Bainbridge Island council appoints city’s first Black council member
CNO, Navy leaders pay Kitsap, region a visit in recent weeks

News Tribune
New fire station near LNG plant on Tacoma Tideflats could sit empty when completed in 2021
First COVID vaccine recipient at Tacoma hospital hopes it brings ‘a little light’ to dark times
Pam Roach — yes, that Pam Roach — narrowly averts public health coup. Now what?

Olympian
Coronavirus updates: Bowling centers offer buildings for vaccine inoculations
Thurston County COVID-19 cases grow by 34 on Wednesday, increasing total to 4,067
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
JBLM begins vaccinating its health care workers against COVID-19
Who’s next in line for the COVID-19 vaccine after front line health care workers?
Revised guidance lowers bar for schools to reopen in Washington state, Inslee announces
Fisher Scones fined for violating teen labor laws

Peninsula Daily News
First vaccination on Peninsula at Jefferson Healthcare
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Unthank: Pandemic straining health department finances (Van de Wege, Tharinger, Chapman)
New virus cases reported

Port Townsend Leader
First COVID-19 vaccination is given in Jefferson County

Puget Sound Business Journal
Deadline set to start planning shutdown of convention center project in Seattle
Durkan extends residential, commercial eviction moratoriums as landlords struggle

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Seattle was the saddest metro area in the nation last month, survey shows
Inslee releases new state standards, urges Washington districts to begin reopening some schools after COVID-19 closures
Seattle police have exceeded overtime budget; City Council will consider additional cut next year
Maker of Fisher Scones cited for more than 1,500 instances of overworking teens
Federal judge considers order to stop tent removal at Cal Anderson Park; city says encampment is a health and safety risk
6 weeks after Election Day, Mark Mullet wins 5th Legislative District race in Washington state (Mullet)
Editorial: Seattle Promise gains ground in higher education

Seattle Weekly
Inslee announces new guidelines for schools and in-person learning

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Regional Health receives donated freezer for vaccine
Burlington mayor proposes site for year-round homeless shelter
Burlington City Council vote threatens George Hopper project
Skagit Valley College seasons pushed back

South Seattle Emerald
State avoids post-holiday surge, won’t share personal information with federal government in vaccination plan
‘Community defense’ and activists — but not police — fill Cal Anderson as sweep deadline arrives
Opinion: no one should go to court because they can’t afford a transit ticket
Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture launches cultural PDA to preserve cultural space and strengthen communities of color
Protesters march to SPD South Precinct demanding justice for police killing of Shaun Fuhr
As murder trial delayed a third time, Auburn police officer who shot Jesse Sarey still employed and receiving $100k salary

Spokesman Review
Back to school: Inslee releases guidelines to bring kids back to the classroom
Senate report: Opioid industry has paid advocacy groups $65M
Enrollment decline impacts Spokane Public Schools budget
For the first time in more than 80 years, salmon spawning in the upper Columbia River
Spokane-area gym owners face grim reality of pandemic shutdown
Facing pressure, Woodward now open to young adult homeless shelter in city limits

Tri-City Herald
600 people wanted Tri-Cities public health doctor removed. Here’s how the board responded
4 more Tri-Cities residents lost to COVID. State says new case data lagging
Editorial: Newhouse must repair damage done after backing Trump’s claims of fraud 

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Valley vs. The Virus: When COVID-19 got personal for one Walla Walla nurse
Inslee releases new state school reopening standards
Two Walla Walla organizations receive $16 million from MacKenzie Scott

Washington Post
Coronavirus vaccinations have started. But people in Africa face a much longer wait.
Congressional leaders try to clear final hurdles in sprint to finish coronavirus relief package
French President Macron tests positive for the coronavirus after showing symptoms

Yakima Herald Republic
COVID-19 vaccinations begin for Virginia Mason Memorial staff
Yakima School District plans to refinance two decade-old bonds – and may save taxpayers $2.8m
Rodriguez True becomes 1st Latino to serve as Yakima County Superior Court commissioner

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Fisher Scones maker cited for overworking teenagers
2nd Alaska health care worker has adverse reaction after coronavirus vaccine
New guidelines lower the bar for Washington schools to bring students back into classrooms
Judge to rule Thursday on allowing Seattle to clear homeless camp in Cal Anderson Park
COVID-19 vaccine timeline: When western Washington health care workers will get shots
JBLM healthcare workers, soldiers among first in US military to get COVID-19 vaccine

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
COVID-19 vaccinations underway; who’s next?
Gov. Inslee announces new COVID-19 guidelines for in-person learning at schools
FDA authorizes use of at-home COVID-19 test requiring no prescription
WA Pfizer vaccine trial participants share experiences for the first time
City set to sweep Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park, but plan appears to be on hold
CHI Franciscan ramps up COVID-19 vaccinations across hospital system
Move to break up Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department fails on tied vote
Seattle mayor extends Seattle eviction moratorium through March
French president tests positive for COVID-19

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
‘Seattle has lost control:’ Security company owner explains why Cal Anderson sweep failed
Cal Anderson Park resident files suit to block city’s plan to remove encampment
Survey: Tacoma is now the nation’s hottest housing market
Gov. Inslee announces new COVID-19 guidance for in-person learning
State officials preach vigilance as cases, hospitalizations flatten
Issaquah High School closes after two staff members test positive for COVID-19

NW Public Radio
Jay Inslee Urges Washington Schools To Consider Bringing Back More Students
Contaminated Former Orchards In Central Washington One Step Closer To Being Safer
Endangered Species Status Of Northern Spotted Owl Will Remain Unchanged

Q13 TV (Fox)
Governor Inslee loosens guidelines for schools reopening
No post-Thanksgiving COVID-19 surge, signs of flattening curve in Washington
City works to clear large homeless encampment to reopen Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park
People of color express concerns and historical impacts on vaccines

Web

Crosscut
WA unemployment problems persist, with some going unpaid for months
Opinion: 2021 will be a year of sloppy economic thinking in Seattle
Gov. Inslee gives WA schools clearer path to reopening

MyNorthwest
WA Education Association: Safety requirements need to be ‘fully in place’ before in-person return
Gov. Inslee recommends Washington schools begin bringing students back into classrooms
Mayor Durkan extends Seattle eviction moratorium, COVID relief through March 2021
Two eagles shot in Southeastern WA, WDFW seeks perpetrator
Seattle councilmember ‘concerned’ over planned sweep of Cal Anderson Park

Seattle P.I.
Planned sweep of homeless encampment in Cal Anderson Park postponed as protesters gather

West Seattle Blog
School board delays reopening vote, after governor announces new recommendations
City extends eviction moratorium for residences, nonprofits, small businesses, and other pandemic-relief measures