WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Thursday, Aug. 26

COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise in Washington
Health officials say that the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is doubling every 18 to 19 days in the state. The surge, driven by the delta variant, has “stressed, stretched and strained” hospital resources across the state, Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah said Wednesday at a Department of Health briefing. The Seattle Times reported that the state has documented 5,879 possible vaccine breakthrough cases of COVID-19 in Washington state, but the vast majority of cases involve unvaccinated patients. Continue reading at The Associated Press.


Editorial: Vaccines: A surefire way to end a pandemic
Seventeen months ago, the country screeched to a halt. A novel coronavirus was spreading across the globe and had reached the United States, causing everything to shut down — seemingly over night. In the past 17 months, we’ve learned a lot — about the virus, pandemics in general, government stability, human decency and indecency, and ourselves. Continue reading at The Journal of the San Juan Islands.


An Asian giant hornet

Nearly 1,500 Giant Asian ‘murder hornets’ eradicated in rural Whatcom County nest
The first Asian giant hornet nest of the year has been eradicated in Washington state. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) said its crews eradicated the nest in the base of a dead alder tree in rural Whatcom County. This net was about two miles from the nest eradicated last October and not far from where a resident saw the giant Murder hornet earlier this month. Continue reading at KOMO News. (Washington State Department of Agriculture)


Print

Associated Press
Most support school masks and vaccine mandates, poll says
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise in Washington
Pierce Co. worries about firefighter exodus over vax mandate
Health experts predict 100,000 more US COVID deaths by Dec. 1
Health leaders report child COVID-19 death in Seattle as state sees continued surge
Pentagon: US troops must get their COVID-19 vaccines ASAP
US jobless claims rise by 4,000 to 353,000
US slightly upgrades GDP estimate for last quarter to 6.6%
Skagit County sues Seattle for utility financial records
House passes John Lewis voting rights bill
Capitol Police officers claim Trump, allies violated Ku Klux Klan Act in new lawsuit
Officials knew Seattle mayor’s phone setting caused texts to vanish
Census data shows US is diversifying, White population declining
Gaps in US wildfire smoke warning network leave many exposed

Auburn Reporter
Auburn firefighters union opposes vaccine mandate

Bellingham Herald
1,500 ‘Murder Hornets’ found in eradicated Whatcom nest, but experts expecting more nests
Bellingham medical group agrees to end decades-long monopoly in Whatcom, Skagit counties
State report: COVID delta variant cases in Whatcom County nearly double
Rates were up across the county, but one Whatcom region sees its infection rate double
These Whatcom health care workers are fighting COVID disinformation, stress
 
Capital Press
Washington to cull Togo wolfpack in Ferry County
Another Asian giant hornet nest destroyed

Columbian
PeaceHealth officials expect COVID-19 surge to peak Sept. 4
Opinion: In Our View: Biden, Congress must speed Hanford cleanup

Courier-Herald
Opinion: The fall of Afghanistan

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Requiere que menores hablen con un abogado antes de interrogatorios policiacos

Everett Herald
Everett City Council adopts tribal land acknowledgement
Light rail work to close I-5 north through Mountlake Terrace
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Editorial: Senate Democrats must advance voting rights bills
Bloomberg Comment: Clouds obscuring efforts to model climate change
WaPo Comment: During covid, judges’ partisan splits become clear
Letter: Sens. Murray, Cantwell must act on voting rights, climate
Letter: Anti-mask protest at hospital was insult to its staff

High Country News
Fire season is getting longer

The Inlander
We asked more than 65 local politicians if they were vaccinated for COVID-19. Here’s what they said

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Editorial: Vaccines: A surefire way to end a pandemic

Kent Reporter
Students from certain backgrounds more likely to be kicked out of Kent classrooms
COVID-19 guidance for parents of schoolkids | Harborview Medical Center tips

News Tribune
Vaccination rates in rural Pierce County are low. A local pastor wants to change that
Eatonville School District pauses use of COVID-related tracking monitors for athletes
Household items being collected in East Pierce County for Afghan refugees
Report: Tacoma ranks No. 1 in highest sales tax among major cities in the U.S.
With 30% of firefighters unvaccinated, Pierce County may see major staffing shortages

Olympian
The Evergreen State College, SPSCC announce COVID-19 requirements for in-person learning
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Dr. Fauci says no end to COVID pandemic before spring 2022 — at the earliest

Peninsula Daily News
Jail space not keeping up with expectations
Peninsula College sets vaccine protocol
COVID, tuberculosis outbreaks grow at Clallam Bay prison
Sequim chamber honors essential workers
Navigating difficulties: Help offered to those in crisis

Pharmacy Times
State Legislation Aims to Improve Access to Generics (Van De Wege)

Port Townsend Leader
Jefferson County health officials: 86 new confirmed COVID infections in past two weeks

Puget Sound Business Journal
Tacoma seeks economic boost as it weighs plans to spend federal relief funds
Report: Tech job posting numbers flat in the Seattle area
Labor shortage forced some business owners to consider shutting down
FAA to open new probe into Boeing’s safety reporting practices
US Air Force secretary checks in on ULA, Blue Origin’s late rocket engine issues
Job postings requiring Covid-19 vaccinations are rising rapidly

Redmond Reporter
State looks at college enrollment goals for high school students

Seattle Times
Seattle’s restaurants are struggling through pandemic-induced supply issues — here’s why that affects you
Downtown Seattle courthouse safety issues are keeping jurors away, judges say
Washington COVID vaccine rule stresses long-term care facilities struggling to keep staff
As the delta variant surges, here’s what Seattle-area sports fans need to know when attending games
King County says 70% of residents have been vaccinated across all ages, ethnicities

Skagit Valley Herald
Gathering restrictions unlikely at the county level

Snoqualmie Valley Record
What to expect when SVSD students return to school

Spokesman Review
‘We have to take COVID-19 very seriously’: It is necessary to stay safe from the delta variant, Dr. Francisco Velazquez says
The latest in a trend, Spokane Public Schools’ in-person meeting was canceled over an anti-mask crowd
On the verge of crisis, Kootenai Health converts classroom into COVID unit

Tri-City Herald
Nearly 30% of patients in 4 Tri-Cities area hospitals are suffering from COVID
Editorial: Franklin Commissioner Clint Didier’s anti-mask stunt was an embarrassing misuse of power

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
District schools welcome all students back, five days a week
Vashon case count rises, but rate has not increased
Opinion: Statement: Pandemic leaders respond to Krimmert controversy

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla School District to pay $333,000 in lawsuit for allegedly failing to protect student from sexual harassment
Pendleton man denied release in Walla Walla group attack; attorney says ‘minimal’ evidence in report
Walla Walla school leaders plan to spend reserves in support of pandemic recovery
Walla Walla Community Hospice learns to adapt as COVID-19 case numbers spike

Washington Post
Two blasts at Kabul airport cause U.S. and civilian casualties, Pentagon says
Hospitalizations hit 100,000 in United States for first time since January
Many measures of Earth’s health are at worst levels on record, NOAA finds
Seven Capitol Police officers sue Trump, right-wing groups over injuries from Jan. 6 riot
‘I’m still not planning to get it’: FDA approval not swaying some vaccine holdouts

Yakima Herald Republic
‘Dramatic spread’ of COVID-19 in Yakima Valley prompts pleas for vaccinations, masks
Yakima Board of Health urges Gov. Inslee to throttle back vaccination mandate
Weather-fire outlook is more favorable this fall in Washington, officials say
Opinion: Savoy tenants bear the brunt of landlord’s failures
Letter: Were you guilty of ‘BUI,’ Sheriff Songer?
Letter: ‘Rugged individualism’ or just selfishness?
Letter: Why the uproar? Vaccine requirements are nothing new
Letter: The Greatest Generation would’ve masked up

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Resource officers return to Kent schools as students head back to class
Asian giant hornet nest eradicated in Whatcom County

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Local school district shelves COVID-19 contact tracing program after parent pushback
Neighbors increasingly worried, want changes after shooting at Ballard encampment
Seattle Public Schools outlines safety measures, parent concerned it’s not enough

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Parents, students excited as Kentridge High School welcomes them back to class
Seattle Public Schools won’t remove homeless encampment behind school before first day
Nearly 1,500 Giant Asian ‘murder hornets’ eradicated in rural Whatcom County nest
Much of federal pandemic aid for US schools is being used for practical, other needs

KNKX FM
More Than 100,000 People Are Hospitalized With COVID-19, The Most Since January
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise in Washington
Pierce County worries about firefighter exodus because of vaccine mandate

KUOW FM
How did one Seattle ‘unhoused to hotels’ program work? The results are mixed

KXLY (ABC)
Students show support for masks at Spokane Public Schools board meeting
‘This pandemic is not slowing down’: State health leaders fear healthcare staffing crisis can’t keep up with hospitalizations

Q13 TV (Fox)
Kabul airport suicide attacks kill 13, wound 15 including 3 US Marines
King County leaders address courthouse safety in downtown Seattle, seek solutions to safety issues

Web

Crosscut
WA redistricting efforts aim to give more power to people of color
Unions warn of ‘mass exodus’ over city of Seattle vaccine mandate

MyNorthwest
State vacuums over 100 Asian giant hornets out of nest in Whatcom County
Eatonville High School halts use of contact-tracing ankle monitors for student-athletes
BBB warns of moving company, broker dishonesty in Washington
Potential jurors refuse to come to King County Courthouse over safety concerns
Snoqualmie School District bus routes suspended amid national labor shortage
Washington Sen. Patty Murray: Voting rights bill ‘should be wakeup call’ on changing filibuster
‘This pandemic rages on’: Delta variant has state’s hospitals filled to record levels
Seattle parents push for schools to move student lunches outdoors
Positive at-home COVID test results can be reported through state hotline
COVID vaccine exemption asks if state workers received medicine as an adult