WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Wednesday, December 8

Buss with vaccination campaign and biker

Booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be critical against omicron, companies’ study suggests
A booster shot could prove pivotal in helping control the omicron variant of the coronavirus by raising virus-fighting antibodies high enough to block the virus, vaccine makers Pfizer and BioNTech announced in a news release Wednesday. The early data, which is not yet peer reviewed or published, suggests that two shots may not be sufficient to prevent infection from omicron and echoes a finding published Tuesday afternoon by leading scientists in South Africa. Continue reading at Washington Post. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)


Cecil Lacy Jr. and child

Family of Tulalip man who told deputies ‘I can’t breathe’ during fatal struggle will get $1.75 million in Snohomish County settlement
Snohomish County has agreed to pay $1.75 million to the widow of a Tulalip tribal member who died while struggling with police in 2015, settling a lawsuit over allegations that officers used excessive force on Cecil Lacy Jr. when they held him down, even as he told them he couldn’t breathe. The settlement resolves a suit that at one point was summarily dismissed by a state judge, only to be unanimously reinstated by the Washington Court of Appeals last year Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Galanda Broadman LLC)


How childcare provisions in ‘Build Back Better’ bill could greatly help Washington families
Parents, preschool providers and lawmakers alike say the childcare provisions laid out in a federal spending plan proposal could significantly help families in need of childcare services. Senate Democrats are still negotiating the bill known as “Build Back Better” that, if passed, would expand Medicare, climate change initiatives, and reduce health care and childcare costs. Continue reading at KING 5.


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Aberdeen Daily World
Rent, utility help available for Grays Harbor families

Auburn Reporter
King County Council approves plan for future of housing-first approach to homelessness

Bellingham Herald
A longtime Bellingham oil company has been sold to a Washington state firm
Bellingham city employees get this new paid holiday in 2022
Bellingham mayor shares results of vaccination mandate for city workers
Here’s why recent flooding sent millions of gallons of sewage into Bellingham Bay

Columbian
In Our View: Child care crisis slowing economic recovery

The Daily News
Cowlitz County commissioners pass 2022-2023 budget, swear in new member

Everett Herald
Tulalip elders vote to keep Tomahawks mascot in Marysville
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg comment: There’s no clean energy transition without elimination
WaPo comment: Remembering Pearl Harbor often forgets Pacific’s past

The Inlander
Omicron discovered in Washington as state health officials credit ‘strong’ genomic surveillance
Spokane health district fires two leaders heavily involved in pandemic response

News Tribune
Tacoma has a new police chief. Veteran Dallas cop confirmed by City Council
Tacoma adopts Climate Action Plan to eliminate carbon emissions and save $4 billion by 2050

New York Times
Covid Live Updates: Pfizer Says its Booster Offers Significant Protection Against Omicron
The Achilles’ Heel of Biden’s Climate Plan? Coal Miners.
New Covid Pills Offer Hope as Omicron Looms

Olympian
Squaxin Island and Olympia community celebrate ‘Unity’ installation

Peninsula Daily News
Health officer: Thanksgiving surge size could be smaller than expected
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Puget Sound Business Journal
AWS teaming up with Washington state to provide cloud training to K-12 students

Seattle Medium
Community Mourns The Loss of Former State Senator George Fleming
Strickland Introduces Legislation To Help Servicemembers Access Fertility Care And Start A Family
Massive Health Through Housing Measure Approved By King County Council
Washington’s Black Members Caucus Hopes To Carry Momentum Into 2022 Legislative Session

Seattle Times
Two large North Seattle homeless encampments are being removed this week
See how many people received an additional COVID vaccine dose in each Washington state county
Why experts aren’t worried that 10 earthquakes were just recorded off the Oregon coast
After fatal shooting in protest zone, Seattle mayor’s email called situation ‘foreseeable and avoidable’
More than 3,500 Seattle child care workers to receive payments in recognition of work during pandemic
Family of Tulalip man who told deputies ‘I can’t breathe’ during fatal struggle will get $1.75 million in Snohomish County settlement
Seattle student arrested, accused of threatening a shooting at his middle school
Editorial: Address student concerns about sexual assault

Skagit Valley Herald
Anacortes City Council considers salary increase for mayor
Skagit County to offer COVID-19 boosters in downtown Mount Vernon

Sol De Yakima
Funk propondrá opciones de vivienda a bajo costo en la sesión del ayuntamiento de Yakima
Se detectan casos de la variante ómicron en el estado de Washington
Finaliza construcción de la glorieta en la carretera US 97 afuera de Toppenish

Spokesman Review
Christmas tree trouble: Fires, weather, supply chain issues lead to higher prices, shortages at local lots
‘Absolute last resort’: Spokane City Council approves $3.4 million to cover unanticipated firefighter overtime
Five Spokane County commissioner seats are up for grabs in 2022, and here’s who might be running

Tri-City Herald
Fred Meyer grocery workers in Richland vote to unionize in historic campaign
Popular Kennewick restaurant damaged in early morning blaze
A Benton City businessman paid for a recount in City Council race. Here are the results

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Lewiston teenager and alleged kidnapper located in Spokane Valley
COVID-19 case rates up in Washington, Oregon, down in Walla Walla County

Washington Post
Two years into this pandemic, the world is dangerously unprepared for the next one, report says
Booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be critical against omicron, companies’ study suggests
4.2 million Americans quit their jobs in October as workers continued to search for better opportunities
Jan. 6 committee says it will move to hold former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt
A child with the virus was sent to school. Then 75 classmates had to quarantine.
A youth mental health crisis was already brewing. The pandemic made it worse, surgeon general says.

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
How childcare provisions in ‘Build Back Better’ bill could greatly help Washington families
Avery Moore becomes next Tacoma police chief
UW seismologists raise concern about ShakeAlert earthquake warning system
Pfizer: COVID-19 booster protects against omicron variant
‘Bold’ proposal would eliminate Tacoma Narrows Bridge tolls in less than 2 years (Randall,  Bronoske)
‘Groundbreaking day’ as King County Council approves future transit plans
King County to skip homelessness count for 2nd straight year

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
What three Seattle experts are saying about Omicron
Church gets threats for offering free breakfasts across from Ballard Commons
Flooding caused millions of gallons of raw sewage to flow into Bellingham Bay
Explosion in Pacific County damages multiple homes, buildings
Senator announces legislation to remove tolls from Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Randall)

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
State senator proposes bill to eliminate toll for drivers using Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Randall)
Biden pushes free at-home COVID tests, but there’s a problem
Seattle Public Schools says homeless camp behind Broadview Thomson will be cleared 
Two minors shot, critically injured in Tukwila early Wednesday
State Patrol investigating reports of toaster, other debris tossed at I-5 motorists
Avery Moore confirmed as Tacoma’s next Police Chief
Seattle removes encampment from Ballard Commons after months of complaints

KNKX Public Radio
Omicron variant, flooding among top issues on state’s plate right now
Supreme Court weighs mandating public funds for religious schools in Maine

KUOW Public Radio
Covid blog: Updates for Seattle and the Northwest
The House OKs a bipartisan defense policy bill that includes servicemember pay boost

Web

Crosscut
How Cascadia can fight climate change in 2022 — and get back on track
Colville mother’s conviction raises justice issues facing Native women

MyNorthwest
Tacoma approves landmark bill doing away with single-family zoning label
New bill to keep Washington in standard time provides way around need for federal approval
Two minors in critical condition after Tukwila shooting
King County Council approves plan for ‘Health though Housing’ dollars to 2028
Seattle business owners and homeless population grapple over concrete barriers
Seattle police arrest 13-year-old after threat against school
Seattle clears Ballard Commons homeless camp, relocates 66 into shelter options
Seattle plans to finally address over 1,100 buildings at risk of collapse in earthquake
State lawmaker floats proposal to curb recent rise in catalytic converter thefts

The Stranger
“The End of An Era”: The City Closes Ballard Commons, Displacing Unhoused Residents

West Seattle Blog
PORT: Congestion easing, but Northwest Seaport Alliance hopes to get more containers moving