Big bills, quiet halls: How Washington’s ‘historic’ 2021 legislative session stacks up
As legislators and Gov. Jay Inslee reflect on the 105-day flurry of lawmaking, the word “historic” is commonplace. They passed sweeping policies in priority areas that reflect the times: from police reform and racial equity, to climate change and COVID-19. Continue reading at The Olympian. (TVW)
At the Washington Legislature, big and surprising wins on climate, policing and tax proposals. Why now?
It’s hard to imagine a more consequential 105 days for state government in Washington’s recent history. At the start of the legislative session in January, state lawmakers and Gov. Jay Inslee faced a host of vexing uncertainties. COVID-19 case counts had hit their peak and it remained to be seen whether the federal government would provide the state more financial relief. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Bettina Hansen)
Washington Legislature charts ‘new beginning’ in climate change fight
Lawmakers in Olympia have bound Washington state’s fortunes — literally — to the fight against climate change with a legislative blitz, enacting a “historic” suite of climate protections. Before adjourning on April 25, Democrats passed a pair of sweeping restrictions on greenhouse gas pollution intended to aggressively cut Washington’s carbon footprint while driving billions of dollars into state coffers and toward clean energy. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Dan DeLong)
Associated Press
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Aberdeen Daily World
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Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
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Columbian
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The Daily News
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El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
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Everett Herald (subscription required)
Lake Stevens annexation advances without public vote
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The Facts Newspaper
King County fireworks ban approved by full council
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Book Your COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments TODAY!
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High Country News
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Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Drug decriminalization debate just getting started (Dhingra)
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News Tribune (subscription required)
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New York Times
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Olympian (subscription required)
Big bills, quiet halls: How Washington’s ‘historic’ 2021 legislative session stacks up (Billig, Taylor, Robinson, Entenman, Fitzgibbon, Dhingra, Liias)
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State reports more than 1,600 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday
Peninsula Daily News
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Port Townsend Leader
Four more COVID-19 infections found in Jefferson County
Puget Sound Business Journal
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Boeing says in first-ever diversity report that it fired 65 employees for hateful conduct
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Seattle Times (subscription required)
Downtown Seattle dying? Not so fast. Demand for office space roars back to pre-pandemic levels
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At the Washington Legislature, big and surprising wins on climate, policing and tax proposals. Why now? (Rolfes, Gregerson, Carlyle, Fitzgibbon, Lekanoff, Mullet, Johnson)
Washington state’s carbon pricing bill could be most far-reaching in nation. How will it work? (Carlyle, Fitzgibbon)
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Skagit Valley Herald
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Tri-City Herald
$500,000 donation is 1st step for new energy institute at WSU Tri-Cities
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Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
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Walla Walla protest Saturday tied to allegations of unfair treatment by local attorney and county jail staff
College Place to add six more portable classrooms at Davis Elementary
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Washington Post
Many police officers spurn coronavirus vaccines as departments hold off on mandates
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Biden administration to propose first rule requiring cut in climate pollutants
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Broadcast
KING5 TV (NBC)
People are packing up and moving to Washington’s rural communities, real estate report shows
COVID-19 vaccines being offered at Seattle Sounders home games
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KIRO7 TV (CBS)
More than a dozen WA counties poised to roll back phases
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Can lessons learned in King County help Pierce County curb illegal street racing?
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KOMO4 TV (ABC)
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KNKX FM
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KUOW FM
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KXLY (ABC)
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Q13 TV (Fox)
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Web
Crosscut
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MyNorthwest
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Slog
Seattle Should Make Curbside Dining Permanent