WA unemployment agency to cut nearly 800 staff
Washington’s unemployment agency is sending out layoff notices to a quarter of its own staff, due to the loss of temporary federal money. That’s renewing questions about the state’s capacity to promptly process claims and pay benefits. Officials at the Employment Security Department say losing the 769 temporary workers, brought on to help with heavier claims volumes earlier in the pandemic, won’t bring back problems from that period, when claimants sometimes waited months for benefits and spent hours on hold with agency’s call centers. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)
WA Health Department recommends 4 vaccine shots for those with weakened immune systems
A fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine can help some people with weakened immune systems fend off severe illness with COVID-19, the Washington Department of Health said in a news release Thursday. Certain individuals who are immunocompromised should receive four doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which includes two primary doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, an additional primary dose, and a booster dose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people ages 5 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an additional primary shot (third dose) of a vaccine 28 days after receiving their second dose. Continue reading at The Olympian.
Inslee-backed bill would target homeless encampments in public right-of-way
Gov. Jay Inslee is pushing the legislature to pass Senate Bill 5662, which would create a new state office dedicated to transitioning people living in homeless encampments on the “public right of way” into permanent housing. The public right of way includes encampments along sidewalks, below overpasses and bridges, alongside I-5 and state highways, and any other right-of-way under the control of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The state estimates there are more than 1,750 unsanctioned homeless camps on public rights-of-way managed by state agencies. Continue reading at KING 5.
Associated Press
Insurer groups sue over state limit on use of credit scoring
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Senate approves bill increasing redistricting plan transparency (Pedersen)
250K steelhead fish missing from Washington state hatchery
Aberdeen Daily World
Ocosta students crafted trailers to help South Beach area during pandemic
Auburn Reporter
WIAA launches bias reporting form in response to discriminatory incidents
Bellingham Herald
United Nations experts call on U.S. to halt Nooksack evictions
Bellingham’s St. Joe’s receives a $50 million donation. Here’s how it will be used
Four new COVID-related deaths reported in Whatcom, as county sees 532 more cases Wednesday
Columbian
Clark County reports 30 new COVID-19 deaths, a record number
Opinion: In Our View: Community colleges offer paths to success
Covington-Maple Valley Reporter
State bill would help high school students pay for college courses (Mullet)
The Daily News
Planning commission starts review of downtown Longview zoning
Everett Herald
Cornfield Report: Redistricting nearly done; a big reveal on transpo spending (Fey, Liias, Sells, Kirby, Frockt, Carlyle)
Corrections officers, inmates frustrated and fatigued by COVID
Lake Stevens redacts entire 60-page report on public works director
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Refusing teach about racism prolonged it during ’60s
WaPo Comment: Zucker’s legacy defined by his promotion of Trump
Letter: ‘Mockingbird’ should be left on students’ reading list
High Country News
The beauty and complexity of farm work in Washington
News Tribune
Sens. Trudeau and Nobles: Ranked choice got a bad rap in Pierce County. Here’s why WA voters deserve chance to try it
Being a Black business owner is difficult in Pierce County. Here’s the biggest reason
Black businesses feel shorted in COVID relief
Snoqualmie Tribe acquires 12,000 acres of this ancestral forestland
Pierce County health officials say more money needed for COVID response. Who will pay?
Tacoma looks at lowering speed limits as part of plan to eliminate traffic fatalities
New York Times
Strong Jobs Report Shows Resilience of Economic Recovery
Lawmakers Press Amazon on Sales of Chemical Used in Suicides
House Passes Bill Adding Billions to Research to Compete With China
Olympian
WA Health Department recommends 4 vaccine shots for those with weakened immune systems
‘My heart goes out to everyone involved,’ says Lacey mayor about area school district
Peninsula Daily News
Bill could set up Blue Economy hub at Sequim Bay
Fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine authorized for some
Mandate still in effect after lawsuit settled
Puget Sound Business Journal
Covid-19 employer lawsuits accelerated in 2021. New pain points are on the horizon.
State hospitality group hopeful that Covid restrictions will ease in coming months
Seattle Times
As book ban efforts spread across country, controversy erupts at King County middle school
WA unemployment agency to cut nearly 800 staff
WA lawmakers advance bill to create office to address homeless encampments near highways (Kuderer)
Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit 911 planning to ask voters for tax increase
Sol De Yakima
Decepcionados ante falta de soluciones migratorias
South Seattle Emerald
State Outlook Improves for Covid-19, Urges Vaccination, Boosters, and Masking
Abortion Bill Would Recognize More Providers, Shiled Pprgnant People From Prosecution
Black History Today: Eddie Francis, Humbly Chasing His Dreams to New Heights
Spokesman Review
Legislature hears proposal to legalize psychedelic mushrooms (Salomon, Billig)
Inslee, joined by Wilkerson, proposes special office to get people living in encampments into permanent housing
YMCA in Spokane buys 15-acre parcel for new South Hill location
Certain immunocompromised patients now eligible to get fourth dose of COVID vaccine
State Parks permanently closes access to parts of Palouse Falls
Tri-City Herald
Franklin County rejected highest percent of 2020 election ballots in WA state
‘Monumental step.’ Industrial-scale processing of Hanford radioactive tank waste begins
2 Franklin commissioners dismissed warnings about $4,000 overpaid to officials
Franklin’s COVID rate now 2nd highest in nation. Benton County not far behind
Washington Post
U.S. added 467,000 jobs in January despite omicron variant surge
Travis McMichael withdraws plea admitting guilt to federal hate crime charges in murder of Ahmaud Arbery
Yakima Herald-Republic
Omicron wave levels off in parts of Washington; hospitalizations still high in Yakima County
Insurer groups sue over Washington state credit scoring ban
Spokesman-Review: What would ranked-choice look like in Washington? The Legislature’s hoping to find out (Trudeau)
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Inslee-backed bill would target homeless encampments in public right-of-way
Washington’s rural communities eager for improved broadband
4 flights leaving Sea-Tac hit with laser strikes
Yes, the free N95 masks from the federal government are made in the US
‘Same day delivery’: Parents warn of fentanyl dealers targeting kids on Snapchat
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
$815M bill would tackle explosion of homeless camps along state highways
Local developer donates $50M to Bellingham hospital
Lawmakers take steps to roll back reform measures that some say interfered with policing (Goodman)
New COVID-19 cases declining in King County
Amazon raising price of Prime membership to $139 per year
Security changes coming to Snoqualmie detention center where teens escaped
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Gov. Jay Inslee discusses state’s homeless crisis with Washington leaders
Washington state legislators take up police reform measures — again (Hackney, Goodman)
Mayor Bruce Harrell to lay out public safety plans amid downtown Seattle crime surge
Experts urge early intervention amid increase in threats of violence at Seattle schools
Statewide car theft frustrations turning some victims into vigilantes
Echo Glen starts making security changes after five child inmates escaped
Violent crime doubles near Queen Anne homeless shelter
Tacoma mayor unveils initiatives to aid frustrated businesses targeted by criminals
KNKX Public Radio
Tribes: Settlement in opioids case will foster healing
KPQ
Police Reform Bill in State Senate Gets Backing from Law Enforcement, Resistance from Public Interest Groups (Van De Wege)
KUOW Public Radio
Whatcom County, in Recovery, Braces for More Floods
At-home Covid test, check. Adequate telehealth response, not yet
Covid updates today: Cases fall and we wonder, are we nearing the end?
Over-the-counter Covid tests will soon be free for Medicare recipients
Too soon to update Washington’s voting laws?: Today So Far
KXLY (ABC)
Gov. Inslee plans for $494M to go towards solving the homeless crisis
Q13 TV (FOX)
Tacoma looks to invest $650K toward biz impacted by crime and COVID
Web
CNBC
Payrolls show surprisingly powerful gain of 467,000 in January despite omicron surge
Crosscut
WA wind power farms may conflict with habitat preservation projects
MyNorthwest
Legal battle over capital gains tax kicks off in Douglas County court
Homeless response, housing density take center stage in state Legislature
Senate Dems bring back bill that creates early release path for aggravated murderers, others (Dhingra)
Whatcom County mayors send letter asking for drought, flood help
Washington ranks highest in the nation for pothole related web searches
Washington Rep. Larsen ‘frustrated’ with lack of coordination for 5G rollout
Fight over homeless hotel shelters arrives in Kirkland
The Stranger
State Democrats Want Fewer Elections for Better Voter Turnout (Gregerson, Pedersen)
Governor’s “Missing Middle” Housing Bill Carves Out Exemptions for Rich People
West Seattle Blog
Comment time for next phase of 1.25-million-gallon overflow-storage tank plan near Duwamish River