3 WA lawmakers attended election conspiracy conference on taxpayer dime
Documents show three Republican lawmakers from Washington used taxpayer dollars to attend MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell’s election fraud symposium in South Dakota in August. Public records released to The Seattle Times last week show state Reps. Robert Sutherland of Granite Falls, Vicki Kraft of Vancouver, and Brad Klippert of Kennewick requested and received expense reimbursements from the Legislature for the symposium. The state paid $4,361 in all for their hotels and flights. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Manuel Balce Ceneta)
More than 103,000 Americans hospitalized with covid, matching worst of summer surge
More than 103,000 Americans were hospitalized with covid-19 on Monday, according to Washington Post figures, the highest number since late summer, when the delta variant of the coronavirus triggered a nationwide surge in cases. The figure reflects a 27 percent rise in covid-19 hospitalizations in the United States in the past week, while the daily average of new cases during the same period more than doubled. Average daily new deaths from covid-19 declined by 8 percent. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Jenn Ackerman)
Country’s first alert system for missing and murdered Indigenous people proposed in WA
A new bill to create the country’s first-ever alert system to help identify and locate missing Indigenous women and people will be proposed in Washington state’s next legislative session, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Monday, Jan. 3. Similar to “silver alerts” for missing vulnerable adults, the system created by House Bill 1725 would broadcast information about missing Indigenous people on message signs and highway advisory radio messages as well as through press releases to local and regional media. Continue reading at The Olympian.
Associated Press
3 WA lawmakers attended election conspiracy conference on taxpayer dime
Heavy snow closes some passes, highways in Washington and Oregon
Starbucks says employees must get vaccine or test weekly
CDC approves Pfizer extra dose measures to increase access
State House returns to mostly remote session amid COVID spike (Jinkins, Sullivan, Ortiz-Self, Stonier)
Auburn Reporter
New laws bring changes to minimum wage, plastic silverware, voting rights for felons
Opinion: Jan. 6, 2021: A date that will live in infamy
Bellingham Herald
This longtime Whatcom County gravel supplier was sold to an international firm
Whatcom sets new weekly record for COVID-19 cases, as another death reported by state
Bellingham hospital sets COVID record high and asks Whatcom residents to get booster shots
Snow still in the forecast; these Whatcom schools resume classes late after winter break
Whatcom officials in ‘uncharted territory’ after facility accused of unpermitted expansion
Whatcom’s gross domestic product dipped, but Safran, Intalco show this promise
Capital Press
Biden sets agenda for boosting meat processing competition
Heavy snow closes highways in Washington and Oregon
Everett Herald
Everett swears in first City Council with women in majority
Overnight snow, rain close many Snohomish County schools
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: America’s hunger pandemic is getting worse
Bloomberg Comment: Medicare needs to conduct own Alzheimer’s drug trial
Comment: In cutting health care costs don’t limit patient care
Editorial: Too few have internet access; that’s set to change
Federal Way Mirror
Kent Police assistant chief suspended for displaying Nazi insignia
High Country News
‘Cultural resources are not a renewable thing for us.’
News Tribune
You’ll soon need to ask if you want plastic cutlery with your takeout in WA. Here’s why
COVID test demand in Pierce County soars as sites overrun following holidays
Crews cut through fence to reach fatal train-strike victim on new route through Lakewood
New York Times
In the Capitol’s Shadow, the Jan. 6 Panel Quietly Ramps Up Its Inquiry
‘Insurmountable’: Parents Grapple With Omicron’s Upending Force in Schools
Olympian
An Olympia nonprofit took a stand against anti-camping laws. It cost them $1,700
South Sound school districts announce delays, closures for Tuesday, Jan. 4
COVID-19 case numbers explode in WA, according to data released Monday by DOH
Country’s first alert system for missing and murdered Indigenous people proposed in WA (Lekanoff)
Peninsula Daily News
Port of Port Angeles agrees to pay $67,000 fine
Clallam County’s COVID-19 case rate jumps, likely due to omicron variant
COVID in the house for the holidays
Washington reports record number of new COVID cases in one day
Broadband to expand west of Port Angeles
Puget Sound Business Journal
Playbook for 2022: How businesses can approach PPP forgiveness, appeals
Starbucks explains how it will enforce the federal workplace vaccine mandate
UW Medicine delays elective surgeries as Covid cases surge
Y2K22? Microsoft issues customer fix for bug causing emails to go missing
SBA’s EIDL program is closed to new applicants. Here are other options for small-business owners
Seattle Times
Hoping for recovery, Boeing bosses look to the future, deflect questions on the MAX crashes
Jailed for 9 years, man acquitted of 2008 slaying sues King County, Redmond for ‘malicious prosecution’
Kent assistant police chief disciplined for posting Nazi insignia, joking about Holocaust
Seattle City Councilmember Sara Nelson takes office, looking for improvements for businesses, public safety
Washington House to hold remote legislative sessions as COVID’s omicron surge continues
When utilities spark wildfires in Washington, they can ‘burn down your house and get away with it’
Editorials: Ban high-capacity magazines and assault weapons
Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County approves higher rates for ambulance service
Program set up to reimburse legal fees in voided drug cases
New COVID-19 cases in Skagit County again climb above 300 for the week
Mental health professional partners with east county deputies
Tri-City Herald
Taxpayers paid for Tri-Cities lawmaker’s trip to controversial ‘stop the steal’ conference
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla open to emergency, essential services only
Washington Post
Facebook groups topped 10,000 daily attacks on election before Jan. 6, analysis shows
More than 103,000 Americans hospitalized with covid, matching worst of summer surge
A record 4.5 million workers quit or changed jobs in November
The Jan. 6 committee: What it has done and where it is headed
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
King County jail system faces largest COVID-19 outbreak of pandemic
State fines Ellensburg doctor for COVID-19 mask violations after KING 5 investigation
Tell first responders your medical condition with new symbols on your state ID
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Icy conditions on roads causing crashes, concerns
Snoqualmie Pass reopens after being closed for heavy snow, avalanche danger
Latest snow brings power outages to thousands
Urban flooding possible as rain returns, thaw underway
Capital gains tax, minimum wage increase among new laws taking effect in 2022
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Passes reach highest snow total in 20 years, more incoming
Parents, students concerned Omicron surge will affect in-person learning
Hundreds line up for Pierce County’s new temporary COVID-19 test site
Catalytic converter thieves open fire when car owner confronts them
KNKX Public Radio
Omicron scrambles plans for start of Washington’s legislative session
KUOW Public Radio
Covid blog: Omicron dominates Washington state
WA taxpayers paid for three state lawmakers to attend election conspiracy event
Congress’ doctor urges lawmakers to work remotely and upgrade masks as omicron rages
Officials are determined to keep schools open, despite omicron
Q13 TV (FOX)
Some COVID testing sites close Monday due to full capacity
Web
Crosscut
The Snoqualmie Tribe asks for support to protect their most sacred site
MyNorthwest
Washington AG Bob Ferguson says it’s been a ‘slow recovery’ from COVID
Missing Indigenous women ‘crisis’ the target of new alert system proposal
‘Schools should be the last to close’: local lawmaker advocates for rapid tests rather than K-12 closures
UW Medicine postpones non-urgent surgeries over rise in COVID cases
The Stranger
UW Researchers Begin the Fight to Organize