Olympia bill would decriminalize certain levels of drug possession, and expand treatment resources
Nearly a decade ago, Washington became one of the very first states to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational use. Now, there is a proposal in the state Legislature that would decriminalize the personal possession of all drugs. Continue reading at KUOW. (Matthew T. Rader)
Senate panel OKs tougher penalties for threatening elections workers
Harassing an elections worker in Washington could result in a five-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine, under a bill sent to the full state Senate Thursday. The proposal was prompted by reports of threats and harassment around the country in the wake of last November’s presidential election, Sen. David Frockt, the bill’s sponsor, told the Senate Law and Justice Committee recently. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Colin Mulvany)
Most of WA will be in Phase 2 of reopening plan next week
All but six of Washington state’s 39 counties will be in Phase 2 of the state’s economic reopening plan as of Sunday, with five new regions meeting the requirements necessary to join two other regions that have already seen a loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, including limited indoor dining. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.
Associated Press
Northwest sees blast of snow, more expected this weekend
Report: Vaccinations fewer for Hispanic, Black people in WA
Almost all of WA will be in Phase 2 of reopening plan next week
AP: Over 9,000 virus patients sent into NY nursing homes
Judge: Trump’s lifting of mining ban in U.S. West was wrong
Justices block recall effort against Thurston County sheriff
Amazon faces biggest union push in its history
Auburn Reporter
Judge fines Tim Eyman $2.6 million for campaign law violations
Legislature examines restructuring public health in WA (Riccelli, Pollet)
Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Whatcom businesses get green light to move to Phase 2 of state’s ‘Roadmap to Recovery’
There were 300 slots. They were snatched up in 5 minutes, and other Whatcom vaccine news
Will Whatcom County move to Phase 2 of the ‘Healthy Washington’ reopening plan Friday?
For second straight day, Whatcom sees three COVID-related deaths and a decrease in cases
COVID vaccination rates lag among Washington’s non-white communities, report says
Most of WA will be in Phase 2 of reopening plan next week
UPDATE: Washington State Parks commission grants parks director authority to issue Navy permits
Coronavirus weekly need-to-know: Travel fines, breastfeeding, mask updates & more
Still haven’t received your second stimulus check? Filing your taxes ASAP may help
Whatcom’s region moves to Phase 2, $87 million more in relief for state
For second straight day, Whatcom sees three COVID-related deaths and a decrease in cases
Arthritis drug reduces death, length of stay in hospitalized COVID patients, study says
Do vaccinated people need to quarantine after COVID exposure? CDC offers new guidance
Capital Press
Washington wildfire bill needs money to catch on, Franz says
Columbian
B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant discovered in Clark County
Clark County approved for Phase 2 of Inslee’s reopening plan
Columbia Basin Herald
Bill would allow continuity of operations for county offices amid public crises (Orwall)
Everett Herald (subscription required)
Emerson kindergartners will start on path to being bilingual
Most counties cleared for Inslee’s Phase 2, joining Snohomish
Everett cold weather shelters at capacity as snow moves in
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Cornfield Report: A GOP budget, Cantwell makes history and a tax-bill revision (Riccelli)
Opinion:: State should have sought local help on vaccines
WaPo Comment: Impeachment video puts Jan. 6 attack into context
WaPo Comment: Rioters’ calls of ‘Oh Nancy’ familiar to many women
International Examiner
Filipino health care workers and their battle against COVID-19
Journal of the San Juan Islands
Inslee announces five regions to progress to Phase 2
Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Kitsap County under winter storm warning, with 6-8 inches of snow forecast
Highway 3 blocked after vehicle pursued by law enforcement crashes
Tribes, Navy expand eligibility as vaccination efforts pick up speed
Bainbridge council to revisit some police-court facility cost questions
‘We are already ready’: Eateries, theaters and sports officials welcome move to Phase 2
Kingston man charged in Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot
News Tribune (subscription required)
Next storm to bring heavy snow to Tacoma-Seattle Friday night
Thursday brings lower COVID-19 case total to Pierce County; two new deaths
It’s official: Tacoma’s Woodrow Wilson High School will get a new name
Racist statue in Puyallup ignites calls for action from city by community group
Why are local high school grads struggling in college? Listen and they’ll tell you
$1,400 stimulus checks just got one step closer to reality. Here’s what to know
Editorial: A COVID-19 no-brainer: Don’t leave Washington health workers exposed without benefits
New and more contagious COVID strain found at University of Washington, school says
New York Times
Impeachment Trial Live Updates: Trump’s Team Plans to Use Only 4 Hours to Defend Him
Oath Keepers Plotting Before Capitol Riot Awaited ‘Direction’ From Trump, Prosecutors Say
With More Vaccines Secured, Biden Warns of Hurdles to Come
Maryland Nears Country’s First Tax on Big Tech’s Ad Revenue
Northwest Asian Weekly
Day of Remembrance observance
ICHS fights for vaccines as part of serving community
Olympian (subscription required)
Guardsman, Navy reservist sue WA employers for discrimination based on military service
Here are schools and other entities shut down Friday by the snow
Puget Sound VA COVID-19 vaccine clinics closed Friday due to winter storm
Thurston County reports 28 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, increasing overall total to 6,747
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Thursday in Washington
State Supreme Court rejects petition to recall Thurston County Sheriff Snaza
5 regions to move to Phase 2, $87 million more in rental and business relief coming
Ecology says Olympia brewery owner owes it $11.37 million for oil spill cleanup
Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Clallam, Jefferson counties to move into Phase 2
Port Townsend Leader
UPDATE | Phase 2 reaction: Jefferson County sees ‘light at the end of the tunnel’
Gov. Inslee announces Jefferson County will move to Phase 2 Monday
Puget Sound Business Journal
With more vaccines secured, Biden warns of hurdles to come
Dip in unemployment claims offers hope as new virus cases ease
Restaurant workers, once deemed essential, will wait months to receive vaccine. Here’s why.
Opinion: Authorizing captive insurance would be a win-win for Washington
How Seattle’s Tableau helped states make sense of Covid data
More regions move to Phase 2 of Inslee’s Covid reopening plan
Runta News
New Data on COVID-19 Vaccination by Race and Ethnicity Highlight Inequities
Seattle Times (subscription required)
Jayapal, DelBene among more than two dozen in Congress asking for national ban on preferential access to COVID-19 vaccine
All but 6 Washington counties can relax some COVID-19 rules, Inslee announces
Police officer partnered in businesses with Auburn-area Proud Boy charged in Capitol siege, records show
Fourth Washington state resident charged in US Capitol breach
Kloba: You can buy it, so why is it still illegal to grow marijuana?
Skagit Valley Herald
Retroactive overtime pay lawsuits worry Skagit County dairy farmers (Shewmake)
User fees coming to Sedro-Woolley athletic fields
Skagit County COVID-19 vaccine clinic to receive no new first doses
Skagit County will move to Phase 2 on Sunday
South Seattle Emerald
Washington bill to decriminalize all drugs will receive first public hearing on Friday
As Seattle gears up for winter weather, officials scramble to secure emergency shelter
Spokesman Review
Waiting for their ‘big day to exhale’: Many Spokane-area teachers going back to class without receiving COVID-19 vaccine
Washington Supreme Court exempts bar association from open meetings law
Senate panel OKs tougher penalties for threatening elections workers
Spokane to move to Phase 2 of reopening plan next week, just in time for Valentine’s Day
Shawn Vestal: Reform will require blocking police unions from impeding accountability (Salomon, Billig)
Tri-City Herald
Registration for 2nd COVID doses at Tri-Cities fairgrounds begins Friday
Tri-Cities gets left behind as most of Washington state moves to Phase 2 reopening
Too many positive COVID tests in Tri-Cities compared to WA state, even as new cases fall
USA Today
House managers say timeline shows Trump’s silence encouraged insurrection
‘Stop killing us’: Attacks on Asian Americans highlight rise in hate incidents amid COVID-19
Live impeachment updates: Trump’s legal team aims to distance him from riot, Biden says GOP needs to ‘stand up’
Vancouver Business Journal
Construction Forecast for 2021
Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
City staff: Snow is in the cards for Walla Walla, and plowing crews are ready
Snow day school closures and delays in the Walla Walla Valley
Walla Walla County health officials ask residents to abide by vaccination guidelines
Master’s Ranch outside of Prescott in rural Walla Walla County closed for good
Walla Walla, Columbia county businesses losing patience with Roadmap to Recovery
State rests its case against Waitsburg resident Leslie Moreno, defense begins
Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima’s region stuck behind rest of state in COVID reopening
Judge: Trump’s lifting of mining ban in US West was wrong
Report: Vaccinations fewer for Hispanic, Black people in WA
Yakima County health forum combats vaccine misinformation in the Latino community
Broadcast
KING5 TV (NBC)
5 more Washington regions advance to Phase 2 of reopening on Sunday
More businesses flee Seattle because of crime and violence
VERIFY: Is it OK if you don’t get a second COVID-19 vaccine dose on time?
4th Washington resident charged in US Capitol breach
KING 5 poll: Inslee approval rating falls as pandemic drags on
Drinks with Daniels: Celebrating Black History Month in western Washington
KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Gov. Inslee: More regions will move to Phase 2 of reopening plan on Sunday
‘Do home security cameras really solve crimes?’ KIRO 7 investigates new ‘neighborhood eye’ police portal
Bill introduced in Washington legislature to stop pet stores from selling dogs, cats from animal mills (Walen)
KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Inslee: 5 more regions to join Puget Sound, West regions in Phase 2
KNKX FM
Region prepares for wintry blast, with snow expected over next few days
KUOW FM
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE SEATTLE AREA FROM THE SNOWY WEEKEND AHEAD
Pandemic updates for Washington state
Biden Team Unveils New Asylum System To Replace Trump’s ‘Remain In Mexico’
Olympia bill would decriminalize certain levels of drug possession, and expand treatment resources (Davis)
Citing racial inequities, WA insurance commissioner pushes to end use of credit scoring to set rates
Biden Announces Deal For 200 Million More COVID-19 Vaccines
House Impeachment Managers Wrap Their Case
Trump Official Cited Security To Kill Visas For VOA Staffers. Emails Say Otherwise
Federal Budget Deficit Expected To Hit Second Largest Since World War II
NW Public Radio
Assault Survivor Groups Denounce Former State Senator On Washington Redistricting Commission
Q13 TV (Fox)
Most of Washington moving into Phase 2 of reopening next week
New tutoring app helps high school and college students struggling during pandemic
At least one person injured in explosion at Bellingham homeless camp
Web
Crosscut
WA lawmakers consider expanding Medicaid in pandemic’s wake (Randall)
Confronting racial bias in health care
WA jobless benefits lag while unemployment taxes loom (Keiser, Rolfes)
MyNorthwest
Counties moving to Phase 2 reopen indoor dining in time for Valentine’s Day
Last region in Phase 1 looks for ‘glimmer of hope’ as it falls short of benchmarks
Gov. Inslee allows 22 counties to advance into Phase 2 of reopening
WA Supreme Court nixes recall of Thurston sheriff who wouldn’t enforce mask mandate
Redmond vaccination site on Microsoft campus to focus on highest-risk older adults
Slog
Without Vaccine Priority, Sex Workers Are Risking Their Lives to Keep Working