WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Monday, December 13

Graph of fatal police encounters

Fatal police encounters in Washington fall to 5-year low
In the wake of 2020’s protests against police violence, Washington state passed a series of new police reform laws. They restrict how and when police can use force, and expand the penalties they can face for misconduct. Now there’s intriguing new data about police interactions in Washington state. The number of people who died in police encounters in the first 11 months of 2021 declined more than 60% from the year before. Continue reading at KUOW. (Martina Morris/Next Steps WA)


Essex Porter

Longtime reporter Essex Porter retires from KIRO, but his influence persists
A young Essex Porter watched in 1963 as trusted broadcaster Walter Cronkite told a troubled nation that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. Looking back, Porter says that’s the day he was drawn to journalism. Porter retired late last month from Seattle’s KIRO-TV and is learning to appreciate a new way of life after 43 busy and successful years in broadcast journalism, 39 of them at KIRO. Throughout the years, colleagues’ descriptions of Porter have remained steady and are reminiscent of Cronkite — honest, direct and fair. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Alan Berner/SeattleTimes)


Sen. Ericksen

No word on condition of Whatcom state Sen. Doug Ericksen after COVID treatment
No information has been available for three weeks about the location or condition of Republican state Sen. Doug Ericksen of Ferndale, who was reportedly being treated for COVID-19 at a Florida hospital after testing positive for the virus in El Salvador. Calls to Ericksen have not been returned recently, leading to public speculation about his condition. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (Ted S. Warren/AP)



Print

Associated Press
Lawsuit: Redistricting commission violated open-meetings law

Aberdeen Daily World
North Beach eyes brand new school

Bainbridge Island Review
Opinion: After COVID lull, school shootings return

Bellingham Herald
No word on condition of Whatcom state Sen. Doug Ericksen after COVID treatment  (Rule, Shewmake)     
New Whatcom company sells this ‘trashy’ service to fund ocean plastics cleanup
Pedestrians, bikes can coexist in the absence of sidewalks. Here are the steps to take
Tensions rise as Whatcom contemplates this flood prevention strategy
November storms took enormous toll on levees, state highways and county roads
Student arrested after airdrop threats at Bellingham’s Sehome high school last week
Restaurant roundup: Fairhaven eatery is closing next year; another reopens downtown

Capital Press
Normal winter precipitation will lead into cold, dry spring, meteorologist predicts

Columbian
In Our View: Transportation issues highlighted by traffic jam

Everett Herald
Community Transit asks what current, potential riders want in 2024
Snohomish County recognizes soldiers wounded, killed in war
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Report: Snohomish County lost more manufacturing jobs in October
Comment: Housing need too great not to approve county tax
Comment: Put sales tax increase for housing before voters
Comment: A closer look at inflation and what to watch for
Comment: Absent stricter gun laws, how do we protect kids?
Bloomberg comment: Subpoena fight shouldn’t distract from Jan. 6 crimes
Bloomberg comment: Why you should worry about Amazon’s opaque cloud
WaPo comment: Why Post and peers aren’t jumping all over ‘that’ leak
Editorial: Put county tax for affordable housing to voters
Letter: County’s affordable housing tax not affordable for taxpayers
Letter: College educations are necessary to our democracy
Letter: U.S. Supreme Court should be expanded by four justices

Federal Way Mirror
Federal Way to address ‘digital deserts’ for local internet connection
Evergreen Middle School celebrates healing, renaming ceremony

Journal of the San Juan Islands
San Juan County takes the lead in Washington vaccination rates

News Tribune
Online shoppers and their sales taxes help WA local governments weather pandemic
It’ll cost many millions to fix salmon barriers in Gig Harbor. Culvert removal ahead
Op-Ed: Tacoma and Pierce County need more affordable housing. Here are four things worth trying

New York Times
As U.S. Nears 800,000 Virus Deaths, 1 of Every 100 Older Americans Has Perished
Opinion: POSTCARDS FROM A WORLD ON FIRE
America’s Anti-Democratic Movement
With Roe at Risk, Justices Explore a New Way to Question Precedents

North American Post
Seattle Development and Flourishing Japantown

Olympian
Owner of Olympia dry cleaner sentenced to prison for workers’ compensation fraud
Longtime Port of Olympia commissioner, Bob VanSchoorl, dies at 74
Bail set for father, daughter accused of robbing Macy’s with bear mace, eluding police
Growing enrollment is job No. 1 at The Evergreen State College, new leaders say
Editorial: City of Olympia did the best it could in tearing down Deschutes Parkway camp
Avalanche at Crystal Mountain kills 1, temporarily traps 5 others

Peninsula Daily News
COVID-19 case rates rise in Clallam, state

Puget Sound Business Journal
Already challenged, US affordable-housing sector faces new hurdles through pandemic
Startup university founder: Online education is key to global talent pipeline
Alaska Airlines sustainability head aims to make good on net-zero goals
Analysis: Public companies boosted by pandemic surge in homebuilding and renovations see big market-cap jumps
Viewpoint: Facing high-stakes decisions, businesses paying a price for government inaction

Seattle Times
Sheriff’s deputies evict squatters from Hillside Motel on Aurora Avenue North
When Seattle area could see some snow; avalanche danger continues in mountains
Cataract surgery associated with lower risk of dementia, University of Washington study finds
Finding mental health care shouldn’t be this difficult (Orwall)
Essex Porter, veteran political reporter, retires after 39 years at KIRO
Is it time for you to drive a new or used electric car? Here are some incentives in Washington state
‘Demoralizing, enraging’: Readers share their experiences seeking therapy in Washington
Opinion: Allow dental therapists to practice statewide
Editorial: ‘Block-the-box’ crosswalk cameras can improve safety on Seattle streets (Van De Wege, Chapman, Wellman)

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County COVID-19 numbers remain relatively low
Anacortes sees increase in construction of multifamily housing

South Seattle Emerald
UW’s Department of Bioengineering names new chair
Citing need for affirmative action, local leaders urge Inslee to rescind old directive
Council changes course, won’t require city attorney to run diversion programs
Black educators closing equity gaps for African American students and teachers
Systemic fault lines for undocumented community revealed by the pandemic, new report shows
Opinion: For South Seattle on Human Rights Day
Opinion: We must collaborate to address violence and safety issues in Mount Baker

Washington Post
Governor says 64 confirmed dead in Kentucky, dozens unaccounted for
Manchin cites a blind trust to justify climate votes. But much income from his family’s coal company isn’t covered.
Boris Johnson reports U.K.’s first known death from the omicron coronavirus variant
House Jan. 6 committee poised to vote on holding Meadows in contempt for defying subpoena
First U.S. vaccine mandate in 1809 launched 200 years of court battles

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Deadly Crystal Mountain avalanche highlights importance of backcountry preparedness
Tacoma library branch closes over suspicion of drug activity
No, not all plastic is recyclable

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Avalanche risk still high after Crystal Mountain fatality
WSU study: cannabis use could increase risk of harmful drug interactions
Seattle sues county over trash cash from recycling centers
Bremerton School District warns of bus driver shortage for Monday
Lakewood police conducting holiday emphasis patrols on shoplifters
16-year-old arrested after making threats against Sehome High School
Tacoma library branch temporarily stops in-building services, citing ‘criminal activity’
Teacher uses racist language speaking to Seattle school student

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
After fatal weekend landslide, local experts warn of ongoing avalanche threat at Cascades
Modest home in San Francisco sells for $1M over ask. Can it happen in Seattle?
Fraud alert: Con artists are pretending to be debt collectors in calls and email
Five more Omicron cases confirmed in King County, health officials say
Washington healthcare unions address burnout, staff shortages

KNKX Public Radio
State to announce name of its first hybrid-electric ferry

KUOW Public Radio
Fatal police encounters in Washington fall to 5-year low
Shoreline nixes natural gas in climate change move, but not all is snuffed out
Covid blog: Updates for Seattle and the Northwest
Activists wanted Biden to revamp the justice system. Many say they’re still waiting

KXLY (ABC)
The Basic Law Enforcement Academy makes changes to what it teaches incoming officers

Web

Crosscut
Yakima residents aim to boost walkability with new Mile Loop concept
How PNW salmon could benefit from Biden’s infrastructure plan
Watchdogs sue WA redistricting panel over secret deal-making (Pedersen)

The Stranger
Expelled Bellevue Student Leaves Two Days After Returning to School: “It’s Just Very Clear That They’re Not on My Side”
Seattle City Attorney-Elect Ann Davison Comes Out the Gate Opposing a Pretty Standard Transparency Bill