WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Thursday, February 4

A woman smiles at the camera, standing on the right side of the frame with a light red brick wall in the background.

First bill from state Sen. T’wina Nobles passes unanimously off floor
The first bill sponsored by state Sen. T’wina Nobles — who flipped a longtime-Republican 28th Legislative District seat to Democrat in November — passed off the floor in a unanimous vote Wednesday. Nobles is the first Black person to serve in Washington’s Senate in a decade, and represents Lakewood, University Place, DuPont and parts of Tacoma. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.


A closeup of a crowd of people from the neck down shows them holding signs. One sign in the center of the frame is cardboard painted red with black text reading “Periods R not a luxury”

Bill in Washington state House would make tampons, pads free in school bathrooms
Students at schools, colleges, and universities in Washington state could soon gain access to free menstrual hygiene products, such as tampons and pads, in their school bathrooms starting in 2022, if a bill up for consideration in the Legislature passes into law. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Abel Uribe)


Against the blurred background of a projector screen, a man in the bottom of the frame speaks into a microphone while waving a piece of paper in the air.

Unemployment costs spiked for employers hit hard by shutdowns, but Washington lawmakers have approved help
Washington lawmakers, recognizing the massive strain on businesses already teetering on the edge of collapse, passed a bill last week to eliminate $1.7 billion in tax increases that over the next four years would have been automatically charged to employers whose workers went on unemployment. Continue reading at The Inlander. (Young Kwak)


Print

Associated Press
Grocery industry suing Seattle over new hazard-pay law
US unemployment claims fall to 779,000 but job cuts grind on
CDC says schools can reopen without teachers getting COVID-19 vaccine

Aberdeen Daily World
Mass vaccination site adds additional date Friday
SR 109 open again after state crews find ‘no significant damage that would indicate future slope concerns’
Commentary: How shocking that the GOP now has a QAnon problem in their ranks

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Here’s what Whatcom’s elected officials are saying about Inslee’s COVID ‘Roadmap’
Whatcom’s latest COVID-19 location data shows positive results throughout the county
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Coronavirus updates: State passes 314k cases
First bill from state Sen. T’wina Nobles passes unanimously off floor (Nobles)
One mask or two? What’s one to do?
Dealing with the vaccine supply challenge
Time to mandate medical-grade or double masks? Experts debate as COVID variants spread
Pentagon reviewing how to better screen recruits for extremism after Capitol attack
About 29 million people would lose out on stimulus checks under GOP plan, experts say

Capital Press
Biden’s EPA nominee outlines his agenda
Raising radicchio’s profile worldwide
Washington lawmakers look at consensus bee bill
Potato industry survives huge backlog caused by COVID shutdowns

Columbian
Rep. Sharon Wylie of Vancouver will wait to see on billionaire tax (Wylie, Frame)
Declining COVID-19 cases move Clark County into ‘moderate’ activity range
In Our View: Billy Frank Jr. deserves place in Statuary Hall (Lekanoff)

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Pay freeze for Inslee, lawmakers this year; pay hike in 2022
Snohomish County’s boosted vaccine supply still isn’t enough
Indoor vaccination commences at Boeing Activity Center
Democrats repel GOP push to go bigger on pandemic aid plan (Ormsby)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo: Comment: Our youths have been left too long in the wasteland
Letter: That’s a no to a gas tax increase by Legislature

The Inlander
How computer glitches and server overloads for the Spokane Arena’s mass vaccination site actually resulted in more people getting vaccinated faster
Unemployment costs spiked for employers hit hard by shutdowns, but Washington lawmakers have approved help (Keiser, Billig)

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Plans for Ridgetop forest parcel moving slowly while COVID-19 has county’s attention
Kitsap has capacity for more vaccinations but not enough doses, health officials say
Graham: High school football games in jeopardy?

News Tribune (subscription required)
Two new vaccine events for Buckley, Gig Harbor. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Thursday
Sumner’s new council member to donate half his city salary to charity
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Here are Wednesday’s COVID-19 case totals for Pierce County
Firm proposes 64 recommendations to Tacoma police policy, including use of force rules
WA Proud Boys member charged in connection to Capitol riots has Puget Sound ties
Editorial: Unemployment data breach is bad, but Pierce County legislator places false blame

New York Times
Covid-19 Live Updates: As U.S. Vaccinations Speed Up, Cautious Optimism Grows
A Parallel Pandemic Hits Health Care Workers: Trauma and Exhaustion
Where Are U.S. Teachers Ineligible to Be Vaccinated?
Jobless Claims Decline for Third Straight Week: Live Updates

Olympian (subscription required)
First bill from state Sen. T’wina Nobles passes unanimously off floor (Nobles)
Thurston County COVID-19 cases trend lower as county announces 28 on Wednesday
Renata Rollins says she will step down when her term ends
Bill in Washington state House would make tampons, pads free in school bathrooms (Berg)
State Patrol looks for man connected to Jan. 6 Governor’s Mansion breach
Olympia building code change relaxes rules on ‘tiny homes’
Thurston County judge sets bail for 4 people in connection with Olympia hotel takeover

Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Seventh COVID-19 death confirmed on Peninsula

Puget Sound Business Journal
Democrats press ahead on stimulus as Biden signals openness to changes
Amazon to pay $62M for stiffing drivers on tips

Seattle Times (subscription required)
To heal our collective trauma, we must first face it
Auburn-area man, a prominent Proud Boy, charged in Capitol insurrection
After nearly 50 days in a Seattle hospital far from family, COVID-19 patient to go home to Alaska
Grocery industry sues Seattle over new $4 hazard-pay law
Lawsuit filed against California firm over Washington state auditor data breach
Opinion: To heal our collective trauma, we must first face it
Editorial: Shameful vaccine favoritism worsens rollout’s inequities

Seattle Weekly
Proud Boys member with local ties charged for role in Jan. 6 riots

Skagit Valley Herald
Swinomish tribe vaccinates La Conner school staff
Sedro-Woolley announces reopening date for middle school
Burlington police, fire departments receive grant
National Guard assistance extended at Helping Hands Solution Center

South Seattle Emerald
OPINION: Does Amazon minus Bezos equal greater civic engagement?
Black Lives Matter at School Week: A list of picture books
VOICES: Seattle Children’s Hospital’s version of accountability fails to prioritize healing of Odessa Brown families

Spokesman Review
Some major health systems in Spokane County got no new vaccine doses this week
Spokane VA Medical Center ramps up vaccination of veterans 75 and older
Bill to expand state’s reentry program for prisoners passes Washington Senate
Spokane hospitals: No VIP vaccine access for donors, volunteers

Tri-City Herald
Hospitals see spike in COVID patients, but new Tri-Cities cases continue to drop
Help for Tri-Cities seniors registering for COVID vaccine
Editorial: WA Gov. Jay Inslee has too much power over COVID. Lawmakers must fix the law 

USA Today
Young adults drive infections, but far back in line for shots; schools can reopen even without vaccinating teachers: Live COVID-19 news

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Walla Walla to welcome middle school students to hybrid in-person schedule on Feb. 16
Vaccine’s arrival at Walla Walla grocery store pharmacies unknown
Jury selection Tuesday for Leslie Moreno murder trial reveals COVID-19 hardships
Walla Walla police officers nab couple on suspicion of burglary, drugs in early morning arrest
Walla Walla man Timothy L. Palmer, accused of child rape, gets bail reduction
Police: Pendleton man Richard A. Smith is on the run and may be in the area
State withdraws charges against Walla Walla nursing assistant
Michael A. Cavagna takes plea deal in case of police chase, Walla Walla crash

Washington Post
McCarthy moves to keep splintering GOP intact, with protection for both Cheney and Greene
U.S. infection rates are dropping; global vaccine trust is on the rise, survey says

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima School District will bring back grades for in-person learning in March
“High schools are unique.” Yakima County administrators share their plans for bringing students back to campus
How Yakima-area businesses can qualify for Paycheck Protection Program funding
Opinion: Data breach prompts conflicting information
Washington Legislature takes up excessive force by law enforcement

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Demand for vaccine ‘greatly’ outweighs supply in Washington
Washington lags other states in reporting COVID-19 vaccine equity
Like everything else 2020, taxes will be like no other year
Lawsuit over Seattle grocery hazard pay comes as some stores embrace it
Seattle member of Proud Boys arrested in Washington state after US Capitol breach
Inside look at successful mass vaccine site in Wenatchee

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Second dose vaccine appointments in short supply
Rapid COVID-19 testing pilot study shows few positives in three school districts
Vaccine sites feel ripple effects of second dose scheduling troubles
Local ‘Proud Boy’ charged in Capitol riots
Vaccine shortages cause pent up demand in Snohomish County
Microsoft opening vaccine site at Redmond campus
King Country Metro installing mask dispensers on all buses

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
King County ‘Proud Boys’ member charged in connection to DC riot
Grocery industry suing Seattle over new $4/hr hazard-pay boost
More teachers, prisoners getting vaccine in Oregon; seniors still waiting
SPD to announce new changes to department policies in wake of federal consent decree
Experts say COVID vaccine is critical in getting businesses back up and running
For those who need a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, is there enough supply?

KNKX FM
State lawmakers consider bill to allow school districts to build teacher housing (Salomon)
LISTEN: Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah on vaccine access, some counties reopening

KUOW FM
‘Lay Low And Cool It’: Fauci Warns Against Super Bowl Parties Becoming Superspreaders
Pandemic blog: Updates for the Northwest
Alleged Seattle Proud Boy charged with storming of U.S. Capitol
Can’t get a Covid-19 vaccination appointment? Here are some tips — if you’re eligible
As Overdose Deaths Surge, White House Takes Steps To Build Drug Policy Team
Shark Populations Are Declining Toward ‘Point Of No Return,’ Scientists Say
Education Pick Miguel Cardona’s Message To Lawmakers: ‘En La Unión Está La Fuerza’
5 Hacks To Make Your Face Mask More Protective

Q13 TV (Fox)
New bi-partisan bill proposes expansion of sports betting outside tribal casinos in Washington state
Northwest grocery associations file lawsuit against Seattle over $4 hazard pay law
Lawsuit filed against California company involved in unemployment data breach
Troopers looking to identify man accused of assault during breach of Gov. Inslee’s mansion
King County Metro installing mask dispensers on entire bus fleet

Web

Crosscut
Podcast | An Oregon city’s decades-old alternative to police

MyNorthwest
Advocates believe latest effort to expand WA sports betting has ‘a lot of momentum’
Feds: Member of Proud Boys linked to Capitol siege arrested in Washington state
WA Employment Security Department whistleblower says she was told not to help people
Snohomish County grapples with frustrations surrounding vaccine scheduling, low supplies
WSP report raises questions over officers’ accounts of Manuel Ellis death
Seattle area ‘over a month ahead’ of a typical year’s rainfall to start 2021
WA businesses speak out against proposal to ban menthol cigarettes, curb vaping
‘I am 100% committed’: Mayor Durkan rejects calls to veto grocery store ‘hazard pay’
Jeff Bezos announces decision to step down as Amazon CEO
Washington lawmakers mull proposals to tax big businesses and billionaires
Healthy baby girl gorilla born at Woodland Park Zoo
Seattle council approves ban on gas heating in new apartments, commercial buildings

West Seattle Blog
What’s next for West Seattle’s low bridge, 3+ weeks into camera enforcement