As omicron surges, frustrations and challenges mount in correction facilities
Omicron is ripping through state corrections facilities, forcing the suspension of visitation, mounting overtime for guards and deployment of managers to the front line as staffing shortages persist. There were 1,643 confirmed cases among those in custody Wednesday, with outbreaks of varying proportion at 11 of 12 prisons and nine of 11 work release facilities. Visitation is halted across the system until at least Feb. 3. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Sue Misao)
Lawmakers hit brakes on WA Cares payroll tax, plan big changes
Washington House lawmakers Wednesday approved a pair of key bills to delay the payroll tax collections for WA Cares until July 2023 and make broad changes to the first-of-its-kind long-term care program in the face of criticism. The votes come in the second week of the 60-day legislative session, with Democratic House lawmakers moving speedily to address critiques and concerns that have emerged over the program this past year. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ted S. Warren)
Thursday marks 2 years since first COVID-19 case reported in Washington
It has been two years since the United States was rattled by its first COVID-19 case, which was reported in western Washington. A man in Everett who had just returned home from a three-month trip visiting family in China was diagnosed with COVID-19. In the following months, the Seattle area became the epicenter of the early U.S. outbreak. At Life Care Center in Kirkland, 39 residents died from complications from the virus within a four-week span. Continue reading at KIRO 7.
Associated Press
State launching site for free at-home COVID-19 tests
Inslee issues emergency order over green crab infestation
Lawsuit says new majority Latino district in WA a ‘facade’ (Jinkins)
WA House passes pause to long-term care program and tax
Auburn Reporter
WA lawmakers propose making companies responsible for recycling improvements (Das, Kuderer, Nguyen, Pedersen, Saldaña, Stanford)
Bellevue Reporter
City of Bellevue officials are working to get Somerset Neighborhood residents displaced by landslide back into their homes
Bellingham Herald
COVID infection rates across Whatcom continue surge, as one region’s rate surpasses 3,000
Bellingham renews search for new police chief with these qualities
Here’s where a new hotel, more apartments are planned in Bellingham
Inslee issues emergency order addressing European Green Crab infestation at Lummi
Whatcom averages nearly 400 new COVID cases per day and adds a death over holiday weekend
Columbian
COVID keeps rising in Clark County schools
Opinion: In Our View: Robust minimum wage is an important tool
Everett Herald
Alaska Airlines to add Boeing 737s to the Paine Field fleet
As omicron surges, frustrations and challenges mount in correction facilities
Cornfield Report: Democrats ready to ditch the other ‘grand bargain’ of 2021 (Liias)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Editorial: Protect ballots, meetings from armed intimidation (Berg)
The Facts Newspaper
Mayor Bruce Harrell to Issue New Executive Order and Extend Eviction Moratorium for 30 Days
Mayor Bruce Harrell Announces New COVID Testing Site and Expanded Options
The Inlander
Spokane County and its small cities want to change state law to prevent utility tax from Spokane; plus, lawmakers push for safer staffing levels for hospitals (Riccelli, Kuderer)
Kent Reporter
Kent School District interim superintendent wants Kammezell to resign
Former Kent City Councilmember Higgins calls for Kammerzell’s resignation
News Tribune
Clover Park High School changes Native-related mascot to comply with state law
‘Shady’ search for execution drugs led Idaho DOC to Tacoma pharmacy, investigation shows
New York Times
‘Build Back Better’ Hit a Wall, but Climate Action Could Move Forward
After a day of debate, the voting rights bill is blocked in the Senate.
Efforts to Rein in Big Tech May Be Running Out of Time
In Rebuke to Trump, Supreme Court Allows Release of Jan. 6 Files
New Research Shows How Health Risks to Children Mount as Temperatures Rise
Olympian
Washington House passes changes to long-term care insurance program (Sullivan, Paul)
Inslee issues emergency order addressing European Green Crab infestation at Lummi
Peninsula Daily News
Peninsula awaits news on how to order federal masks
COVID-19 cases keep rising on Peninsula
Port Townsend Leader
New bill seeks to clarify use of force | 2022 Legislative Session (Van De Wege)
COVID cases jump by 100 in Jefferson County
Vaccination clinics planned for Saturday in PT, Brinnon
Puget Sound Business Journal
Colleges, take note: Students aren’t enrolling if they think their families can’t afford tuition
Starbucks drops Covid safety rules for baristas in wake of Supreme Court ruling
American Airlines cuts more than 10,000 March flights as Omicron clouds spring rebound
Seattle Medium
King County Land Swap
Seattle Times
WA House approves delaying payroll tax for WA Cares until July 2023 (Sullivan, Paul)
Five takeaways from Seattle’s red-hot 2021 housing market
Omicron flips ‘big switch’ at Seattle-area hospitals as ICUs are spared from COVID surge
Four ways lawmakers want to improve Washington’s mental health system (Callan, Orwall, Dhingra, Davis, Johnson)
New legislative maps illegally dilute Latino votes in Central Washington, lawsuit says (Billig, Jinkins)
Column: In Olympia, crashing school test scores barely make the agenda (Dhingra)
Skagit Valley Herald
Canada: No more mining threat for Skagit River headwaters
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Officials, legislators look for ferry fixes as woes mount (Cody, Fitzgibbon, Nguyen)
Washington Post
After one year in office, what has Biden done about the four crises he pledged to address?
Manchin, Sinema join with GOP in rejecting attempt to change filibuster rules, effectively killing Democratic voting bill
Explorers discover ‘unrivaled’ reef of rose-shaped corals that could hold lessons for warming oceans
U.S., European officials hold crisis talks as Ukraine standoff intensifies
Yakima Herald-Republic
Toppenish superintendent gets raise despite teachers union declarations of ‘no confidence’
Selah police text message investigation leads to effort to change culture, but no discipline
Yakima Valley voters, civil rights groups file lawsuit against state redistricting plan
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington state launching portal to deliver up to 5 free at-home COVID tests per household
Washington’s attorney general warns of at-home COVID-19 test price gouging
As COVID-19 cases level off, health officials are cautiously optimistic
If Seattle doesn’t crack down on crime, business owner says he’s ‘out of here’
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Thursday marks 2 years since first COVID-19 case reported in Washington
Free at-home COVID tests available from federal government, soon from the state
WA House passes pause to long-term care program and tax (Sullivan)
Supreme Court allows Jan. 6 committee to get Trump documents
Civil Rights activist reflects on fight for voting rights as Senate debates legislation
Free N95 masks: Federal government to distribute more than 400 million masks
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
State to soon launch new web portal to order at-home COVID-19 test kits
COVID self-testing could impact accuracy of statewide case counts
More teachers face burnout during pandemic because of mental health, staffing issues
KNKX Public Radio
Washington House votes to delay long-term care tax for 18 months
Biden acknowledges his team should have done more COVID testing earlier
KUOW Public Radio
Covid Cases Show ‘Signs of Slowing’ in Western Washington
Covid blog updates today: Price gouging on test kits
Syphilis infections on the rise in Seattle area
NW Public Radio
Washington House Votes To Delay Long-Term Care Tax For 18 Months
Web
Crosscut
What’s next for beleaguered WA long-term care program? (Paul, Rolfes)
Latino voters file lawsuit over Washington redistricting plan
Pickleball community rallies to make the game WA’s state sport (Lovick)
A year into Biden’s term, WA immigrants stay mired in uncertainty
Why the Build Back Better bill would fall flat for some WA immigrants
Washington Observer
A tax break for newspapers, but where would the money go? (Mullet)
West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit publishes Draft Environmental Impact Statement earlier than expected