Seattle police ‘failed to de-escalate’ before shooting man to death on waterfront, SPD watchdog says
Two officers who shot and killed a man who was carrying a knife as he walked along Seattle’s waterfront last year failed to first try to defuse the situation or use other defensive strategies before resorting to using deadly force, Seattle’s police watchdog announced Tuesday. In turn, the Office of Police Accountability recommended suspensions for each officer — identified by the Police Department as Cassidy Butler and Willard Jared — for violating the department’s “de-escalation” policy during the fatal encounter in February 2021 with 44-year-old Derek Hayden along Alaskan Way. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Alan Burns)
Pfizer and BioNTech seek emergency use authorization of the first coronavirus vaccine for children under 5
Pfizer and BioNTech said Tuesday that they were seeking emergency-use authorization for the first coronavirus vaccine for children younger than 5 and have begun submitting data on the safety and efficacy of the first two doses of a planned three-dose regimen. The Food and Drug Administration asked the companies to apply for authorization of their vaccine, and in an email, FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Caccomo said the omicron surge had generated new data “impacting the potential benefit-risk profile of a vaccine for the youngest children.” Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Matt Roth)
Washington insurance commissioner adopts credit scoring ban
Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has adopted a rule prohibiting insurers from using credit scoring to set rates for auto, homeowner and renter insurance for three years after the end of pandemic-related federal and state emergency financial protections, whichever is longer. The rule was announced Tuesday and takes effect March 4. Kreidler’s office said it started the process of implementing a permanent rule after an emergency rule the commissioner issued last year was struck down by a court. The court found there was no justification to bypass normal rulemaking procedures. Continue reading at The Associated Press.
Associated Press
Washington insurance commissioner adopts credit scoring ban
Deal seeks to revive last aluminum smelter in PNW, cut waste (Frockt)
Aberdeen Daily World
Shortage of nurses at Harbor Regional Health
Auburn Reporter
Attorney General files lawsuit against COVID testing company
Bellevue Reporter
Federal investigation finds that multiple Menchie’s location failed to pay workers, stole tips
Bellingham Herald
Bellingham’s St. Joe’s hospital moving forward with these plans on major expansion
Feel the shaking? This small earthquake just struck near Whatcom County
How big is omicron’s impact? Whatcom’s COVID pandemic case total jumped by 66% in January
Parts of Whatcom County see snow. Here’s when more is in the forecast
Whatcom Sheriff relocating inmates, halting visiting as jail elevators fail
Capital Press
Cool, wet spring in store for much of Pacific Northwest
Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Congress key to getting cash out of cannabis
Everett Herald
It’s time: Rep. Mike Sells says he won’t seek re-election (Sells, Wicks, Robinson)
Snohomish County turns a corner on omicron, but it’s not over
Can fusion-powered Helion Energy change the world — from Everett?
Workers at an Everett Starbucks seek a unionization vote
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg: Supreme Court picks long used to promote diversity
WaPo Comment: Black women jurists’ history justifies Supreme Court
High Country News
Wildfires’ unequal impacts on pregnant people
Mercer Island Reporter
Rep. Senn: Protecting our communities from hatred
News Tribune
City leaders propose paying for smashed windows, increasing security at Tacoma businesses
Pierce County Superior Court’s first Latino judge has died
Editorial: WA state House adds a 2nd way to speak on Gov. Inslee’s COVID mandates
Op-Ed: The far right is substituting ideology for data, and replacing analysis with name-calling
North American Post
New Film “Paper Chase” Tells the Story of Japanese American Media
Olympian
Active shooter drills cause depression, anxiety in students. Lawmakers want to change that (Walen)
20 more Thurston residents die of COVID-19 as virus activity remains high
Coroner identifies man shot, killed by Lacey police after he fired on officers
Peninsula Daily News
Clallam OKs federal funds for food programs
COVID-19 vaccine in works for children under 5
Lawsuit accuses COVID-19 testing company of faking results
Seattle Times
3 WA cities will pay $3 million to settle lawsuit after man is killed in SWAT-like assault
Didn’t WA just vote in November? Why is there another election already? (Gregerson)
One month in, it’s already past time for the new Seattle City Hall to jump on crime
King County homeless shelters left to deal with omicron mostly on their own
Seattle police ‘failed to de-escalate’ before shooting man to death on waterfront, SPD watchdog says
Officials ask for fewer bookings as COVID, staffing shortages worsen King County jail conditions
WA lawmakers advance proposals to allow duplexes, fourplexes in some single-family neighborhoods (Bateman, Pollet, Das)
Opinion: Invest in complete and accessible sidewalks in every community
Skagit Valley Herald
Navy releases technical report from jet noise study
Snoqualmie Valley Record
Snoqualmie police look to hire behavioral health specialist (Callan)
South Seattle Emerald
Black History Today: In Community, the Power of ‘I am’ Becomes ‘we are’
Opinion: Lunar New Year in the Seattle Asian American Diaspora
Tri-City Herald
DOE estimates $100s of billions needed to finish Hanford nuclear waste cleanup
Here’s why ‘ghost-cattle’ fraudster Easterday isn’t starting his federal prison term yet
Post urging school levy ‘no’ vote pulled from Kennewick councilman’s site
Amazon will put 2,800 trucks, cars a day on Tri-Cities roads. But where?
Two dozen Richland students walk out of classes over WA COVID mask rules
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Man fleeing on bicycle from Walla Walla officers struck by police car, later jailed
Walla Walla Valley Transit bus routes hindered by staffing shortages
Washington Post
Biden dispatching additional U.S. troops to Eastern Europe
WHO urges caution as countries begin to loosen restrictions
Fear, anxiety follow third wave of bomb threats targeting HBCUs
Black History Month founder showed how schools should teach about race
Pfizer and BioNTech seek emergency use authorization of the first coronavirus vaccine for children under 5
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Man shot near the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle
Thieves are stealing copper wire along Washington’s highways
Washington state lawmakers consider limitations on active shooter drills in schools (Walen)
Important context left out of COVID-19 natural immunity claims after CDC study release
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
King County to consider booking fewer suspects during latest COVID-19 spike
Déjà vu: Commissioner bans credit-based insurance scores, again
‘We can’t keep up’: Copper wire thieves plague roadways, shut down I-5 express ramp
Fire stations burglarized in Skagit, Whatcom counties
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Council hears proposal aimed at keeping non-violent offenders out of King County jails
Coalition wants officers to stop jailing those arrested for non-violent crimes
Downtown Seattle Association hires private security guards amid police staffing issues
Bellingham Public Schools receives fewer COVID tests because of supply chain issues
KNKX Public Radio
Tax reform discussion, bill deadline on the horizon in Olympia
KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Is a guaranteed income program right for Washington? Lawmakers are considering it (Berry)
‘Forbidden housing’ or ‘speakeasy housing?’: Today So Far
Think 85,000 invasive crabs is a lot? Wait ’til you see Vancouver Island
KXLY (ABC)
Washington Department of Transportation ranks Latah Creek Bridge ‘poor’
Washington Board of Health survey for requiring COVID vaccine for students closes Wednesday
Q13 TV (FOX)
2 bills call for higher penalties for hazing after death of WSU fraternity pledge
State licensing, renewal website down causing delays for business owners
King County jails consider releasing non-violent suspects due to staffing shortages, ‘inhumane conditions’
Scientists deploy buoy in Puget Sound to measure noise, risks to orcas
Web
Civic Skunk Works
Opinion: Two Bold Bills Under Discussion Would Combat Washington State’s Growing Inequality
MyNorthwest
Fourth Echo Glen inmate arrested as county files felony charges stemming from escape
‘Outdoor dining is part of the fabric of our city:’ Seattle council moves on free street use
Washington’s Unemployment Trust Fund starting to bounce back in 2022 (Keiser)
Bill to rework Washington’s single-family zoning advances ahead of deadline
Washington Attorney General files lawsuit against COVID testing company
‘Significant amount of wire theft’ shuts down Seattle I-5 express lane ramp
City of Bellevue sues owners of home that slid off foundations in landslide
FAA gives green light for jets flying out of Paine Field after 5G rollout
Downtown Seattle group spends $564,000 on private security, more to come for 3rd Avenue
‘Extraordinary rise in gun violence in King County’ in 2021, says county prosecutor
Gov. Inslee ‘not excited’ about emergency powers reform, thousands voice support
‘High’ frequency in armed robberies at pot shops in Puget Sound region
State reopens COVID test portal with more free at-home tests available
The best car theft prevention methods, according to local insurance agents
The Stranger
The Council Will Let SPD Spearhead Changes to Its Ruse Policy
West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: Fewer suspects are booked into jail because of pandemic restrictions. Now there’s a call to further reduce the number.
CITY CHANGES: Mayor Harrell’s new Department of Neighborhoods director, and 2 other new department leaders