Long-term care takes a toll on caregivers. Will the WA Cares Fund help?
Angela Petersen always imagined spending her retirement traveling with her husband of over 30 years. But that changed nearly three years ago, when Chris Petersen had two strokes and was diagnosed with dementia. Now, the Tukwila resident’s life revolves around caring for her 63-year-old husband — from brushing his teeth, to putting on his sneakers, to making sure he drinks water and swallows his pills. It’s an extraordinary change for the couple, who met in high school, exercised daily and raised two college athletes. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)
Free N95 masks now available at some U.S. pharmacies; wider rollout expected soon
Free N95 masks are now available at some U.S. stores as part of the White House’s plan to hand out 400 million of them from the Strategic National Stockpile. Midwest grocer Meijer said Monday that it has received some 3 million N95 masks from the Health and Human Services Department and will hand out boxed sets of three to customers who want them. Another Midwest supermarket chain, Hy-Vee, said in a tweet that its pharmacies are now offering free N95 masks, as well. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Brendan McDermid)
New COVID-19 omicron subvariant BA.2 cases found in Washington state
A subvariant of the COVID-19 omicron variant was detected in two cases in Washington state earlier this month. BA.2 is a descendent of omicron, according to information from the World Health Organization. Recent evidence shows BA.2, which differs in some mutations, including the spike protein, is increasing in “many countries.” The difference between BA.1 and BA.2 is greater than that of the original variant and Alpha variant, according to research done by Statens Serum Institut in Denmark. Continue reading at KING 5.
Associated Press
University of Washington to return to in-person learning
SAT going digital in shifting college admissions landscape
Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen students heading back to classrooms
Auburn Reporter
American Rescue Plan Act funding approved for broadband investments in WA schools
Bellevue Reporter
King County Executive announces million in affordable housing funding for construction and preservation
Bellingham Herald
A busy year for Bellingham apartment construction, but will it help renters?
Whatcom’s foggy weather having an impact on travel at Bellingham International Airport
COVID infection rates drop among Whatcom’s fully vaccinated, but climbs among unvaccinated
Everett Herald
‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is no longer required reading in Mukilteo
$16M grant to speed up broadband to north Snohomish County
Everett council, mayor pick districting commission nominees
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Island County jail slammed with first COVID outbreak
Bloomberg Comment: Very few soon will have no covid immunity
Editorial: Nurses, health care workers need better support (Robinson)
Letter: Biden successfully addressed covid’s economic impacts
News Tribune
Homicide suspect found dead in Pierce County Jail
Fox Island residents call for more than just studies on failing bridge. ‘We want action’
Op-Ed: After last year’s noise, WA lawmakers go quiet on addressing racial disparity in prisons
New York Times
Anti-Abortion Marchers Gather With an Eye on the Supreme Court
U.S. Readies 8,500 Troops for Possible Deployment to Europe
Olympian
Who is Debbie Sullivan? The former ranked poker player is first female mayor of Tumwater
Thurston County confirms 10 deaths, record number of COVID-19 cases over past week
Port votes to investigate conflict of interest claims against Evans with outside help
Judge dismisses cases against 4 of 5 defendants charged in wind farm worker’s death
Fake COVID-19 vaccination cards would lead to hefty penalties under proposed WA law (Salomon)
Most Thurston County roads have reopened after floods, but some work still ahead
Peninsula Daily News
Peninsula reaches peak of omicron, but risk factors remain
Puget Sound Business Journal
Women-owned businesses caught between Omicron, labor shortage
Business travel’s comeback was gaining steam. Then Omicron hit.
Seattle Medium
Seattle Legalizes Psychedelics
Seattle Times
Research shows psychedelic mushrooms can help treat depression. Is legalization on the horizon for Washington? (Lovelett, Salomon)
Bills addressing college hazing in Washington moving through state Legislature
Washington state Sen. Reuven Carlyle will not seek reelection in 2022 (Carlyle, Frockt, Frame, Berry, Dhingra)
Redmond officer who killed woman had been fired from another agency for poor performance
Flight cancellations continue Tuesday at Paine Field as 5G restrictions, foggy weather persist
Long-term care takes a toll on caregivers. Will the WA Cares Fund help?
Opinion: Invest in the ferry service our communities need and deserve
Skagit Valley Herald
Hospitality industry affected by omicron surge
Skagit County’s COVID-19 rate takes a slight dip
Tri-City Herald
‘Struggling for relief.’ Tri-City schools scrambling as COVID surge knocks out staff
This test saved a Tri-Cities woman’s life. WA lawmakers may force insurance to pay for it
Connell prison sees spike in COVID cases. Benton jail ‘turning the corner’
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla police extend classes to address rift between public and law enforcement
Education levies on Walla Walla County special election ballots headed to voters
Washington Post
Free N95 masks now available at some U.S. pharmacies; wider rollout expected soon
Russia conducts new military exercises as Biden, Europeans intensify diplomacy on Ukraine
U.S. stocks slide as market volatility continues
Lab study shows omicron-blocking antibodies persist four months after a Pfizer-BioNTech booster
Supreme Court takes EPA case that could narrow Clean Water Act
Yakima Herald-Republic
Strained amid COVID surge, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital welcomes National Guard
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Bill to legalize psilocybin for therapeutic use introduced in Washington (Salomon)
Does a breakthrough COVID infection offer ‘super immunity?’
New COVID-19 omicron subvariant BA.2 cases found in Washington state
‘Out of our control’: 5G, weather blamed for potential flight cancellations out of Everett’s Paine Field
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Fog and 5G cancel air travel at Paine Field
3 Mason County schools closed for threats
‘Brutal,’ ‘crazy’ housing market has Seattle-area homes selling half-million over asking price
‘This is the year to do it’: Bill to reduce Washington sales tax garners bipartisan support (Das, Kuderer)
King County hospitals issue plea to public during ‘worst situation yet’
UW returning to in-person learning Jan. 31
“We can’t invent educators out of thin air” Teachers say staffing shortages remain high
US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
State bill seeks to criminalize use or sale of fake COVID vaccine cards in Washington (Salomon)
Catalytic converter bill to get public hearing in Legislature
FEMA disaster recovery center opens in Whatcom County for people affected by flooding
Washingtonians hope for more at-home COVID tests after state supply quickly runs out
UW researchers invent cheaper, more accurate and faster COVID-19 test
KNKX Public Radio
Homeless camps are often blamed for crime but experts say it’s not so simple
Firefighters hope Washington bill will help remove toxic chemicals from protective gear (Berry)
KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: Washington already ran out of free Covid tests
Pandemic updates: January 25, 2022
Pedestrian deaths climb in Seattle, despite city’s pledge to eliminate them
Smell that? Air stagnation advisory for western Washington
Students, staff became ill as this Monroe school let toxic chemicals go unchecked
Turmeric poisoned their kids. Four Seattle-area cases show gaps in lead testing
Pfizer and BioNTech begin testing an omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine
KXLY (ABC)
WA bill that would require kids to start school at 5 years old strikes nerve with homeschool families (Wellman)
NW Public Radio
Washington Commission To Reconsider 2022 Spring Bear Hunt
Showing Or Selling A Fake COVID-19 Vaccine Card Could Become A Crime In Washington (Salomon)
Q13 TV (FOX)
New Omicron subvariant BA.2 detected in Washington
UW researchers develop fast, highly-accurate COVID-19 test
Web
Crosscut
WA farmers markets may get displaced by obscure tax break expiring (Rolfes)
Why immigrant experiences were central to the latest Crosscut project
MyNorthwest
Washington hospitals likely too full to help COVID patients from Idaho
Washington ferry cancellations go ‘beyond COVID’: Report highlights systemic staffing issues
University of Washington returns to in-person learning Jan. 31
‘This is the year to do it’: Bill to reduce Washington sales tax garners bipartisan support
King County hospitals issue plea to public during ‘worst situation yet’
State Sen. Reuven Carlyle to step aside after 13 years in office
New bill has Washington tribes, farmers divided over salmon protective zones
Washington AG claims Google illegally tracks users in ‘dark’ pattern of behavior
Could be 3 weeks before Magnolia internet is restored after vandals undo repairs
Air Stagnation Advisory in effect for Western Washington to start the week
International coalition purchases mining rights to ‘ecologically sensitive’ Skagit River headwaters
West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: When it reopens – how best to celebrate?
CORONAVIRUS: New Seattle Public Schools cases this week down a third from last week