WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Tuesday, Oct. 5

The lead case manager for Puget Sound Refugees Resettlement Services at Lutheran Community Services Northwest helps move furniture and supplies.

Washington state will welcome 1,670 Afghan evacuees in coming months
Abdul Ahmadi’s phone has been buzzing nonstop these past few weeks. In the 5½ years he’s worked at Lutheran Community Services, first as a driver and now as lead case manager, he estimates more than 500 clients have his cellphone number, not to mention his friends in the Seattle Afghan community. Following the emergency evacuation in Afghanistan in August, he has been deluged with constant texts from those asking for social services contacts, housing suggestions for new arrivals and people seeking help for their family as the Taliban took over Afghanistan. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)


People from the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Tribe and other Indigenous people gathered for the ceremony at Peace Arch Park

WA Indigenous communities remember boarding school era, call for federal investigation
Indigenous leaders and communities across the U.S. and Canada continue to come together in person or virtually to reflect on the Indian Residential School system during the week of The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, Sept. 30 is a day of remembrance to honor those who were lost, killed and survived the schools. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Warren Sterling)


State vaccine mandate takes effect in 2 weeks
The vaccine mandate takes effect statewide on Oct. 18. People who are not vaccinated can meet the mandate if they get the Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccine on Monday, Oct. 4. On the Washington State Hospital Association weekly call, hospital leaders say the mandate did increase the vaccination rate at local hospitals. At Swedish it went from about 86% before the mandate to about 92%. Continue reading at KIRO 7.


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Associated Press
US hospitals brace for next possible COVID-19 surge
J&J seeks US clearance for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses
Sen. Ann Rivers stepping down from Legislature for city job

Aberdeen Daily World
COVID fifth wave: county frequently seeing 100 cases or more daily

Bellingham Herald
This Bellingham-based nonprofit getting a ‘transformative’ grant from the U.S. government
Washington lawmakers ‘extremely frustrated’ by U.S. continuing Canadian border closure
Lynden has spent more than a year testing poop for COVID-19. Was it a good investment?
Whatcom County Superior Court delays jury trials until November due to pandemic
BP to spend $269 million at Cherry Point refinery to produce more biofuel
It’s been a month since Whatcom schools opened — what impact is COVID having?
Teen shelter moves forward despite Bellingham neighborhood opposition
Bellingham changes limits for tiny home shelter encampments
WA Indigenous communities remember boarding school era, call for federal investigation
Women’s March for abortion access takes to sidewalks in Bellingham
These new Coast Salish murals are the flagship project for Ferndale
 
Capital Press
WSDA seeks budget increase for environmental justice
Potato sales down 4.3% as foodservice lags

Columbian
Transit, tolls biggest issues in I-5 Bridge replacement project
Vancouver population growth leads to greater need for fire department resources, officials say
Sen. Ann Rivers stepping down from Legislature to take job in Longview

Everett Herald
Legislative, congressional district maps get public review
This panel wants to know how you would change state tax code
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Grocers at odds with workers over Black Lives Matter buttons
Bloomberg Comment: Soaring heat killing U.S. farm workers, even in NW
Bloomberg Comment: Pandora Papers’ tax avoidance has only gotten worse
Comment: Students’ time learning online suggests possibilities

High Country News
Could collective ownership of housing and land help solve the housing crisis?
Where do public lands factor into the homelessness crisis?

News Tribune
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state
More than 800 COVID-19 cases reported over three days in Pierce County

Olympian
Former Washington state ferry departs Port of Olympia
20 more Thurston residents die of COVID-19 in past week as case count remains high
Unvaccinated Connell prison guard sues Inslee, WA over possible ‘reassignment’

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam records 2 more deaths
Port of Port Angeles accused on EPA rules

Puget Sound Business Journal
Stock market’s hot summer became a swoon. Where does it go next?
Regence expands telehealth options to improve preventive care access
Lawmakers take aim at SBA direct lending, popular EIDL program

Seattle Times
Washington state will welcome 1,670 Afghan evacuees in coming months
Staff who choose to quit rather than get COVID vaccines could stress Seattle-area health care systems 
Non-bargaining, exempt Washington state workers get more time to get COVID-19 shots under Inslee mandate
Abandonment of SPD’s East Precinct did not violate law or policy, Seattle police watchdog agency says
Opinion: Aerospace workers should pilot future of a great American industry

Skagit Valley Herald
Concrete School District launches Transitional Kindergarten pre-K program
Salmon fishing seasons extended on Skagit, Cascade rivers

Sol De Yakima
Se manifiestan en Yakima contra ley de aborto de Texas previo a sesión de la Corte Suprema

Spokesman Review
Monday is the last day to comply with Washington’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for state and health workers – here’s what might happen after that
Infrastructure bill would let Bonneville Power Administration borrow $10 billion to modernize Northwest power grid, but critics say it props up ‘failed status quo’
Inland Northwest tribes getting EPA money for water quality projects
With hesitation, council approved Spokane Police Department’s PepperBall purchase
Spokane has eviction programs in place, but is it ready for Washington’s moratorium to end?
Spangle, co-op owner of Rockford grain elevator sued over pollution into Spokane watershed
Opinion: Spin Control: Unlike beauty, constitutionality is not in the eye of the beholder
Opinion: Joel Aune and Tim Garchow: It’s time to restore civility to our schools

Tri-City Herald
Benton County swears in new sheriff 2 months after his former boss was recalled
Truck used to haul waste catches fire in center of Hanford nuclear reservation
Unvaccinated Connell prison guard sues Inslee, WA over possible ‘reassignment’

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths declining in the Valley
College Place ‘parklet’ begins to take root

Washington Post
Johnson & Johnson asks FDA to authorize booster shot
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testifies on risks company’s platforms pose to kids
Garland asks FBI to address recent ‘disturbing spike’ in threats against educators
Climate change killed 14% of the world’s coral reefs in a decade, study finds
Supreme Court takes the bench after long absence, but things have changed
Opinion: I survived a Japanese American internment camp. We cannot forget that history

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakama Nation leaders share Columbia River concerns with White House official
Opinion: Hispanic Heritage Month is well worth celebrating

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Washington is first state to provide free legal help to tenants who can’t pay rent
Some Washington workers choose vaccination against their wishes as mandate deadline looms
New partnership paves the way for new Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center
‘It’s a huge deal’: UW professor examines impact of global Facebook outage on companies and users
7 passengers sue Amtrak, BNSF Railways over deadly derailment of train headed to Seattle

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
State vaccine mandate takes effect in 2 weeks
Report shows Tacoma saw fastest rent growth among metro cities in Puget Sound
Watchdog: SPD did not violate policy by evacuating East Precinct
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp back online; no evidence user data compromised, company says
Seattle restaurant to offer Pfizer booster shots
Three new light rail stations now open in North Seattle
Clallam Bay prison outbreak grows to over 160 cases
Reproductive rights marches, rallies held across western Washington

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Final day for state, healthcare workers to get vaccinated ahead of mandate deadline
Nike to require COVID-19 vaccinations for office-based employees

KNKX FM
Whistleblower to Congress: Facebook products harm children and weaken democracy

KUOW FM
Seattle Police evacuation of East Precinct broke no laws or policy, oversight agency says
Pandora Papers show how tax havens are part of the global inequity problem
What’s better, commuting by car, or taking the bus and light rail?
Transit riders celebrate new North Seattle light rail route

KXLY (ABC)
If you’re included in Washington’s vaccine mandate, you should now have your final dose
Spokane City Council greenlights funding to get SPD PepperBall launchers
Spokane homeless advocates: City’s Community Housing and Human Services Dept. is at ‘code red’

Q13 TV (Fox)
Renters being squeezed by rising prices
Last day for state workers in Washington to receive final COVID-19 vaccine in compliance with mandate

Web

MyNorthwest
Seattle council approves resolution recommending decriminalization of psychedelics
Washington hospitals ‘optimistic’ ahead of deadline for health care worker vaccine mandate
Seattle City Light fights off lawsuits involving crucial hydroelectric dams, endangered salmon 
Seattle mayor supports using tax dollars to replace Memorial Stadium
‘Keep Moving Street’ at Green Lake reopens to drivers with walk-bike path
OPA: Seattle Police Department did not break the law when it abandoned the East Precinct
Seattle council approves measure to do away with ‘single-family zoning’ label
Seattle retail outlet pays over $300,000 for allegedly violating hazard pay ordinance
Olympia elementary school latest to pause in-person learning over COVID outbreak
State workers must get COVID vaccine by Monday to meet Gov. Inslee’s deadline
School administrators make plea for civility amid hostility, threats over mandates

Slog
Council Gives Single-Family Zoning a Name Change but Not the Boot
The John Lewis Memorial Bridge Is a Godsend
Now That Northgate’s Open, Here’s What Opens Next

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit seeking members for new Community Advisory Groups