WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Tuesday, Feb. 1

COVID-19 tests stored in a pile of garbage bags

COVID testing company faked test results, lied to patients, WA lawsuit says
An Illinois-based coronavirus testing company with at least 13 sites in Washington, faked or delayed test results (or provided none at all), lied to patients and failed to properly store test samples, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, describes how the company, Center for COVID Control, expanded to about 300 U.S. locations and allegedly took advantage of residents at a time when frequent testing was in high demand as a “critical tool in the fight against COVID-19.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Washington state Attorney General’s Office)


Washington state lawmakers mull ‘sales tax holiday’
A proposal in Olympia would eliminate sales tax for three days in September to help people pay for back-to-school items and other necessities. House Bill 2018, authored by Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor), would create what is being called a “sales tax holiday” for Sept. 3-5 this year. It would include purchases of $1,000 or less on items such as clothing, computers, Energy Star appliances, health care equipment, over-the-counter drugs and school supplies. Continue reading at KING 5.


4.3 million Americans left their jobs in December as omicron variant disrupted everything
Some 4.3 million people quit or changed jobs in December — down from last month’s all-time high but still near record levels, as the labor market remained unsettled and the omicron variant swept through the United States. Employers reported some 10.9 million job openings in a survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, well above pre-pandemic averages. December proved to be an incredibly disruptive month for the labor market. Continue reading at The Washington Post.


Print

Associated Press
Deputy seeking suspect mistakenly shoots off-duty officer
Lawsuit accuses COVID-19 testing company of faking results
AP source: Pfizer to ask FDA to authorize COVID vaccine for kids under 5

Auburn Reporter
State Democrats push new round of open-carry gun restrictions (Berg, Kuderer)
After a record-breaking 2020, gun violence continues to increase in King County

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom Sheriff relocating inmates, halting visiting as jail elevators fail
‘It makes me mad, just like before,’ Whatcom fire chief says after second station burglary
Whatcom isn’t planning to intentionally send floodwater into B.C., Sidhu says
Bellingham school district received a third of COVID tests it needed from state last week
 
Capital Press
House panel endorses voluntary conservation in Washington (Springer)

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Doxxing legislation needs more time, discussion (Lovick)

The Daily News
Capitol Dispatch: Emergency power limits and election lies get major Senate hearing Jan. 28
City of Kalama accepting applications for pandemic relief funds from residents, businesses
City of Longview holding open houses on bicycle and pedestrian plan

Everett Herald
$20B order launches Boeing 777X freighter, a boost for Everett
Attorney General sues company behind ‘sham testing centers’
Cornfield Report: Cutoff countdown to punish lying politicians, curb governor (Robinson, Randall, Van De Wege, Mullet, Hunt, Ortiz-Self)
2022 real estate market: A reprieve for buyers is unlikely
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
UW’s ‘problematic’ word list: ‘crazy,’ ‘ninja’ — and ‘grandfather’?
WaPo Comment: A history of blaming teachers for schools’ problems
WaPo Comment: After 2 years of pandemic why aren’t we better at it?
Editorial: The importance of pickleball and a dinosaur bone  (Lovick, Morgan)

High Country News
A just transition for farmworkers

News Tribune
These new homes are first in Pierce County to be ‘permanently affordable’ under new model
Puyallup police say bomb squad safely detonates explosive downtown
Op-Ed: Pot industry lobbyist wrong about WA Liquor and Cannabis Board. Here’s the truth
Tacoma’s Lincoln District Lunar New Year block party is back and ready for the Tiger

New York Times
Despite Labor Shortages, Workers See Few Gains in Economic Security
Biden Administration to Reinstate Mercury Pollution Rules Weakened Under Trump
Judges Increasingly Demand Climate Analysis in Drilling Decisions

North American Post
80th Anniversary of E.O. 9066: Editorial

Olympian
Student walkout calls attention to racism at North Thurston Public Schools
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state
State reopens COVID-19 test ordering portal after successful launch two weeks ago
‘The time is now for the flood-control structure’: Congresswoman tours Centralia flood damage

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County man dies of COVID-19
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Puget Sound Business Journal
State bill would lengthen sentences for pot shop robberies
Boeing launches 777X freighter with giant order from Qatar Airways
T-Mobile issues vaccination ultimatum to office workers in an internal memo
State funding for higher education tops $100B for the first time

Seattle Medium
Seattle Office Of Labor Standards Secures Over $2 Million For Pizza Workers
AG Ferguson Files Lawsuit Against Center For COVID Control Over Invalid And False Test Results
State Re-Opens COVID-19 Test Portal After Successful January Launch
House Passes Bills To Clarify Police Reform Laws (Johnson, Bronoske)

Seattle Times
WA lawmakers debate limits to governor’s emergency powers after 2 years of COVID (Randall, Jinkins)
COVID testing company faked test results, lied to patients, WA lawsuit says
Off-duty Vancouver officer was shot by deputy pursuing robbery suspect, investigation finds
Opinion: Combating antisemitism and Holocaust denial is everyone’s fight

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Transit moves to improve service in Skagit County
Federal flood, weather recovery assistance expanded
Skagit County’s COVID-19 rate drops for second consecutive week

Sol De Yakima
WA reabre sitio de internet para solicitar pruebas gratis de COVID, una semana después que se agotaron
Yakima Herald-Republic: Área infantil de la tienda de segunda mano San Vicente intenta ayudar a madres, niños

South Seattle Emerald
Opinion: HB 1747 Offers a Pathway To Keeping Families  Together
The Fifth Annual Black Lives Matter At School Set To Start Monday

Spokesman Review
At long last, Spokane will decide if it will study costs of adding fluoride to city water
Spokane County commissioners could pick a naturopathic doctor for Board of Health
Bingle censured for violating mask mandate

Washington Post
4.3 million Americans left their jobs in December as omicron variant disrupted everything
Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children under 5 could be available by the end of February, people with knowledge say
When a sudden, small expense threatens an entire college career
Critics slam Cruz for saying Biden’s vow to nominate first Black woman to Supreme Court is ‘offensive’
How the falsehood of athletes dying from coronavirus vaccines spread

Yakima Herald-Republic
Bill seeking to remove drive-by shootings from aggravated murder dies; Yakima officials happy (Simmons)
City staff recommend against secure parking lot for people living in cars in Yakima
Washington attorney general sues company that ran COVID-19 test site in Yakima, other locations
Former Yakima area State Trooper who resigned over COVID vaccine has died
Letter: Don’t conform to state’s long term care plan
Letter: It’s about public safety, not self-expression

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington state lawmakers mull ‘sales tax holiday’ (Paul, Rule)
Washington attorney general sues Center for COVID Control over ‘sham testing centers’
120,000 more free at-home COVID test kits available in Washington
Anti-Semitic graffiti found near Jewish Family Service of Seattle
‘Unprecedented’ expedition to study oceanic habitat of salmon leaves Port Angeles

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
City of Bellevue suing landslide victims for not demolishing home
State reopens online portal to order at-home COVID-19 tests
FAA gives green light for jets flying out of Paine Field after 5G rollout
Graffiti near Jewish service agency followed rabbi’s op-ed
Students hold protest, walk out of Olympia high school

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
State lawmakers mull changes to police reform laws that some say has hindered response (Goodman)
Wash. State AG sues COVID-19 testing company over fake results, handling of tests
FAA lifts ban on use of Embraer E175 at Paine Field during bad weather despite 5G concerns

KNKX Public Radio
International expedition will explore mysterious life of salmon at sea
A torrent of support for curbing Inslee’s emergency powers as lawmakers take public testimony (Randall, Dhingra)

KUOW Public Radio
‘Forbidden Houses of Bothell’ Show How Multifamily Housing Fits Into Single-family Zones
Covid testing company sued by Washington AG over ‘inaccurate and deceptive’ test
Pandemic updates: More Covid tests arrive in Washington
Japanese Americans remember the legacy of ‘camp’ 80 years after their incarceration
Washington lawmakers are considering criminalizing fertility fraud — but what exactly is that?
Inslee has entered the 2022 session
Earthquake safety for Washington schools heading to the ballot (Frockt)

KXLY (ABC)
Another batch of free COVID tests now available for Washingtonians
State of Washington sues company accused of producing false COVID test results

Q13 TV (FOX)
WA Legislature considers curbing governor’s emergency powers
Washington state sues Center for COVID Control over ‘fake test’ allegations

Web

Crosscut
How many students did WA public schools lose during the pandemic?

My Edmonds News
Senate bill aims to protect communities from unplanned development (Salomon)

The Stranger
Washington Lawmakers Find Momentum in Push to End Apartment Bans (Bateman, Pollet, Das)