WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Thursday, July 22

The Washington Supreme Court Building

Despite WA court ruling, warrants continue for drug possession
Months after the Washington Supreme Court deemed the state’s law criminalizing drug possession unconstitutional, thousands of people remain on parole with drug-related charges that are likely invalid. In some cases, these people have been arrested for parole violations on warrants issued by the Washington State Department of Corrections, despite their almost certain eligibility to have the past charges cleared under the court’s so-called Blake decision. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jovelle Tamayo)


Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson rejects ‘insufficient’ $527 million settlement with opioid companies
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson rejected a $527.5 million settlement with drug companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic, setting the state up for a trial he hopes could win billions of dollars for drug treatment and prevention. “They put profits ahead of the health and wellbeing of thousands of Washingtonians,” Ferguson said Wednesday. Continue reading at KING 5.


Single-use plastic bag ban begins Oct. 1 in Washington
Washingtonians will begin to see fewer plastic bags littering the state’s roadsides, parks, and streams beginning Oct. 1 when the statewide plastic bag ban goes into effect, prohibiting the distribution of single-use plastic carry-out bags by restaurants, retail, small vendors and grocery stores. The ban had been originally scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2021, but the limited availability of compliant bags prompted Gov. Jay Inslee to delay it through a proclamation. The proclamation was recently rescinded. Continue reading at Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber.


Print

Associated Press
Washington AG rejects opioids settlement, wants trial
US jobless claims rise to 419,000 from a pandemic low

Aberdeen Daily World
QIN member lends hand to local waterways cleanups

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom’s job market is still in disarray. These industries are bouncing back
Wildfires keeping this road east closed, but many trails are still accessible
U.S. extends border closure to Aug. 21 while Canada will allow in vaccinated Americans

The Daily News
Cowlitz County Superior Court faces nearly 43% uptick in open felony criminal cases due to pandemic

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Yakima Valley Police Force Criticize Police Reform Measures
Recreational areas in eastern Washington closed due to fire danger

Everett Herald
Bob Anderson, Everett’s first ‘strong’ mayor, dies at 91
$1,250 pandemic bonuses approved for some county employees
In first in-person meeting, Edmonds Rescue Plan passes 6-1

The Facts Newspaper
Following surge in murder rate, gun violence, Dunn seeks to reestablish gang unit
DSHS Division of Child Support receives $1M federal grant to develop parenting program for teens, yo
Inslee statement on federal decision to maintain U.S.-Canada border closure

Islands’ Weekly
County Drug Court celebrates its first graduate

Kent Reporter
King County purchases Auburn hotel to house homeless

Kitsap Sun
Lawsuit claims Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue tolerated sexual harassment accusations

News Tribune
Plans for $200M resort near Mount Rainier dealt another blow. Is this the end?
State keeping tabs on 21 derelict vessels in Pierce County. Here’s where they are
Another Pierce County resident’s death has been attributed to the June heat wave
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
County’s homeless heat wave response lacked leadership. ‘You can’t survive without water.’
South End, Northeast Tacoma properties under consideration for new homeless shelters
Another cost of COVID: WA state saw sharp increase in derelict boats in 2020
Here’s why Tacoma public pools have such limited hours during the height of summer
Gig Harbor re-opens Civic Center to public; Here’s what school, park districts are doing
Paused due to COVID, Gig Harbor plastic bag ban is coming back. Get ready.

New York Times
Rising Rents Threaten to Prop Up Inflation
Pelosi Bars Trump Loyalists From Jan. 6 Inquiry, Prompting a G.O.P. Boycott
The Bootleg Fire is now the third-largest blaze in Oregon since 1900.
House Republicans soft-pedal push for Covid vaccinations amid rising infections.
Fire, floods, dead fish: Climate change fuels extreme weather, with no ‘return to normal.’
Amid rising cases, the C.D.C. director warns the U.S. is at “another pivotal point” in the pandemic.

Olympian
State closes Eastern Washington land to camping. Corps parks still open
Vaccinated people can still get COVID. Here are the most common symptoms, study says

Puget Sound Business Journal
Apartment rents take off ‘like a rocket ship’ as for-sale housing market feels unattainable for many
As Delta variant rages, here’s what businesses need to know about Covid-19 workplace safety requirements
Workers want more remote work. The trend may save employers millions.

Renton Reporter
New state police reform laws to kick-in on July 25

Seattle Times
After years of delay and deliberation, Bellevue shelter has a site and funding
Yes, it’s still summer in Seattle, but our days before ‘the Big Dark’ are numbered
After watching decades of gentrification, Central District church calls on Seattle to return land
Biden’s border decision extends pain for Point Roberts residents

Skagit Valley Herald
Grant to give boost to area trails
Skagit County’s agritourism study progressing
Samish Bay oyster recall issued, harvest closed due to bacteria-related illness
$3.2 million distributed for local transportation projects

Spokesman Review
Buying a house in Spokane County? It’ll cost an extra $200 starting Monday
Agriculture secretary, Idaho-Oregon farmer urge Senate panel to fix ‘broken’ immigration system
Fast-moving fire on Spokane Reservation in Stevens County grows to 200 acres
‘Hit by climate change right, left and center’: Inslee calls for revamped FEMA aid system during visit to fire-ravaged Nespelem

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Single-use plastic bag ban begins Oct. 1 in Washington
New COVID Cases Crop up Locally, With One ‘Breakthrough’ Case

Washington Post
In America’s least air-conditioned cities, brutal heat changes some people’s minds
Biden administration to impose sanctions on Cuban officials following attacks on protesters
Facebook and YouTube spent a year fighting covid misinformation. It’s still spreading.
Wyden delays Biden border nominee, seeking answers on federal actions during Oregon protests
Takeaways from the Pegasus Project
You got a coronavirus vaccine. But you still became infected. How did that happen?
For unvaccinated, coronavirus is soaring again

Yakima Herald Republic
Construction of U.S. Highway 97 roundabout set to begin next week
Yakima Council might put local income tax ban to voters
Yakima County prosecutor, sheriff push for law and justice sales tax that doesn’t expire
Opinion: Vaccines are protecting our economic health

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Clearing homeless encampments ‘not humane,’ Washington DOT secretary says
Homeless encampments near I-90 in Seattle to be removed following string of rock-throwing incidents
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson rejects ‘insufficient’ $527 million settlement with opioid companies
Stretch of North Cascades Highway likely closed through July due to wildfires

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Delta variant cases soar in Washington along with demand for COVID testing
Single-use plastic bag ban begins Oct. 1 in Washington
Study ranks Seattle as one of the best cities in the country for a carless weekend getaway

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
I-90 homeless camp to be cleared after dangerous debris-throwing incidents
Rock throwing suspect held on $500K bond after being arrested with help of motorist
500,000 hotel jobs nationwide won’t return after pandemic, experts say
City says West Seattle Bridge repairs are on schedule, but public remains frustrated

KXLY (ABC)
Local police sharpen skills to help those in crisis
‘I am extremely disappointed’; Gov. Inslee critical of White House decision to keep borders closed

Q13 TV (Fox)
Local law enforcement have concerns over new police reform laws going into effect
Single-use plastic bag ban to begin Oct. 1 in Washington
WSDOT to remove homeless camp along I-90 as rock-throwing incidents increase in the area
WA State overdose numbers on track to hit record high

Web

Crosscut
Despite WA court ruling, warrants continue for drug possession
How strengthening the PNW’s electrical grid could end up doing harm
Opinion: For homeless solutions, Seattle can look to New York and Vancouver