WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Monday, Feb. 14

A circle of chairs set up for a student and parent workshop

Keeping kids in school during the pandemic has been tough. In WA, at least 29,000 can’t be found.
Around the state and country, school districts have grappled with big enrollment drops and high numbers of disengaged students during the pandemic — to the extent that some, as far as educators know, have gone missing. They are not going to school anywhere at all. “Disengagement isn’t a new problem, but this is a different kind of magnitude,” said Krissy Johnson, assistant director of attendance and engagement for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Stephani Espinoza)


Jorge and Maria Nuñez, seen on the roof of their apartment complex

‘Survival mode’: Inflation falls hardest on low-income Americans
After 15 years, Jacqueline Rodriguez had almost saved enough for a down payment on a house. Then the pandemic hit. Rodriguez was laid off from her job and dug into her savings to cover the rising costs of everything, including her 18-year-old son’s pre-med textbooks. If Rodriguez had been able to buy a house and lock in a mortgage, it would have helped shield her from the highest inflation she has seen in her adult life. Instead, her landlord recently hiked her monthly rent from $1,200 to $1,500. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Mark Abramson)


State House passes safe staffing standards bill for hospitals
A bill to improve worker safety and patient care at health care facilities passed in the state House with a 55-43 vote Saturday. House Bill 1868, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane), addresses staffing needs, overtime, meal and rest breaks, and enforcement, making Washington the second state to mandate safe staffing standards for hospitals. “Nurses and healthcare workers have moved mountains over the last two years, but they are burning out,” said Riccelli. Continue reading at KIRO 7.


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Bainbridge Island Review
BI on the move to finalize transportation plan

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom’s not alone in high gasoline prices. Check out this interactive map
Can a Salish Sea snail return from the brink of extinction? Whatcom scientists, tribe hope so
Whatcom businesses fined more than $200,000 for pandemic rules violations
State may have more than $9 million for Whatcom transportation. Here’s how it would be used
Bail set at $5 million for Whatcom attempted murder suspect who allegedly shot 2 deputies
Whatcom County finishes week with 769 new COVID-19 cases and 6 related deaths reported

Capital Press
Washington Democrats boost transportation plan with higher taxes
One year later, Simpson dam removal proposal remains a threat, ag groups say

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Get moving on state transportation package (Fey, Wylie, Liias)
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: COVID rate falls; foul flyer

The Daily News
Capitol Dispatch: Transportation package largely ignores Southwest Washington, rankles reps
Cowlitz County commissioners discuss, add tiny homes to hosted homeless site plan

Everett Herald
3,500 households seek rental assistance
Transportation package could bring $600M to Snohomish County (Fey, Liias)
Fare is fair? Everett bus rider’s case en route to state Supreme Court
Ecology again fines boat owner $70K for fuel spill in river
Families: Loved ones behind bars are not ‘in good spirits’
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: Mask mandates were a good idea that didn’t work
WaPo Comment: We may not wait for covid numbers to call ‘all clear’
Comment: State must join work against domestic terrorism
Comment: More funding can boost good work of family centers
Sen. Liias: Teams improving on-time grad rates for 9th graders
Editorial: Transportation plan can move Washington ahead (Liias, Fey)
Letter: Is current arrangement what founders intended?
Letter: House bill wouldn’t deny restitution to victims

News Tribune
Pierce County property tax ‘valentines’ are coming your way; rates to hop modestly in 2022
Opinion: Enough with the Rambo cosplay. It’s time for WA to finally ban high-capacity magazines (Jinkins)
Opinion: Critical race theory to sex ed: WA parents deserve easy access to school board meetings
Op-Ed: Don’t listen to management posing as bedside nurses. WA hospitals need safe staffing law

New York Times
Pedestrian Deaths Spike in U.S. as Reckless Driving Surges
How Bad Is the Western Drought? Worst in 12 Centuries, Study Finds
Wolves Will Regain Federal Protection in Much of the U.S.
How Billions in Infrastructure Funding Could Worsen Global Warming

North American Post
Seattle Public Schools Japanese Immersion

Olympian
Thurston County may spend $9.9 million remodeling its ballot processing complex
‘We have to do more,’ Capital High principal says about addressing racism, discrimination
$75M proposed to address I-5 flood risk in Nisqually basin. Here’s what it would pay for
Confused by COVID guidance? Here’s what Thurston’s Health Officer recommends
Editorial: It may be the little things that determine whether whales and salmon survive

Peninsula Daily News
Bill would ban sales of high-capacity gun clips (Van De Wege, Chapman, Tharinger)
New site for Clallam County Emergency Operations Center considered
State health officers weigh metrics for lifting mask mandates
Residents want Miller Peninsula in its natural state
Senate OKs school seismic safety bill (Tharinger, Van De Wege, Chapman)

Port Townsend Leader
Gov. Inslee urges action on plan on homelessness
Police restraint gets clarification in House bill

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle ranks near bottom in percentage of Black-owned businesses, study finds
Community college chancellor on the role of 2-year schools in addressing labor shortage
U.S. foreclosure activity at highest since pandemic in January
‘Gainful employment’ regulations to improve college accountability are back on the table
Federal cannabis legalization effort to ‘tear down the walls’ gains momentum
Regulations could be biggest competitive threat to Washington’s cannabis industry
How much do the striking Teamsters make? The two sides don’t agree on even that.
Opinion: An equitable society demands an inclusive approach

Seattle Medium
Challenging Seattle Communities To Address Reparations
Johnson Bill Creating A New Tax Break To Help Homeless Youth Passes House (Johnson)
Senn Bill Preventing Youth Homelessness Passes House (Senn)

Seattle Times
Keeping kids in school during the pandemic has been tough. In WA, at least 29,000 can’t be found.
Gov. Inslee’s $7,500 electric car rebate remains uncertain in WA Legislature (Fitzgibbon, Das)
WA House bill would expand outdoor education statewide (Hunt, Rule)
Drugs on buses have become an everyday hazard, Seattle-area transit workers say
Drivers are getting fewer tickets even as WA traffic goes back to normal. Why? (Nguyen)

Skagit Valley Herald
Lifting of trade ban a plus for Taylor Shellfish Farms

The Skanner
Seattle’s Eviction Moratorium Will Expire at the End of February

South Seattle Emerald
Seattle’s Eviction Moratorium To Expire At The End Of February

Tri-City Herald
Kennewick, Finley and Prosser school levies fail. One is losing by 5 votes
Fake contractor scammed Tri-Cities couple, others out of thousands, says WA state
COVID cases on decline in Tri-Cities. But 9 more people died

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla-area fire departments build new tower for drills
Flood recovery cases nearly closed as Walla Walla Valley finishes disaster cleanup from 2020
Walla Walla Valley florists get creative this Valentine’s Day amid supply chain issues

Washington Post
Texas patients are rushing to get abortions before the state’s six-week limit. Clinics are struggling to keep up.
Vital U.S.-Canada border crossing reopens, but ‘Freedom Convoy’ trucker protests continue in Ottawa
Putin leaves a door to diplomacy open, as European, U.S. leaders race to defuse Ukraine crisis
Biden’s free covid tests plan shortchanges Americans of color and hardest-hit communities, say health workers and activists
‘Survival mode’: Inflation falls hardest on low-income Americans

Yakima Herald-Republic
‘Students supporting students’ — Yakima Valley College opens food pantries on both campuses
Column: Biden’s border surveillance empire should scare you regardless of politics
LA Times: Yakima health board to send letter encouraging end to Washington’s mask mandate
Omicron numbers on downturn in Yakima County, with deaths still high

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington hospitals stuck in staffing crisis
Eastside parents vow to fight conversion of hotel to permanent supportive housing
Senate passes bill banning sale of high-capacity firearm magazines; now goes to House (Liias)
Canadian protest impacts border north of Blaine
Seattle business owners looking to city to help stem violence
Police use-of-force bill clears state House (Goodman)
State House passes safe staffing standards bill for hospitals (Riccelli, Sells)
COVID-19 pandemic becoming endemic
$75M proposed to address I-5 flood risk in Nisqually basin. Here’s what it would pay for (Fey, Liias)
DOL estimates around 650,000 individuals affected in data breach
Chinese Americans march in remembrance of immigrants’ expulsion

KNKX Public Radio
Thieves got access to 650K individuals’ info on WA database

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates for Seattle: How sewage can help track Covid outbreaks
It’s not just home prices. Rents rise sharply across the U.S.
Pandemic updates for Seattle: Monday, February 14, 2022
Biden speaks with Ukraine’s leader as U.S. officials warn of imminent Russian attack
Week in Review: Mask mandates, Mazdas stuck on KUOW, and the concrete workers strike

KXLY (ABC)
Move Ahead WA package to provide $16B for state’s transportation (Riccelli)
Riccelli bill to expand number of schools offering free meals heads to Senate (Riccelli)
Bill to ease patient loads for healthcare workers advances to Senate

Web

Crosscut
Adding pot shops to improve social equity hits snag in WA Legislature (Wicks)

MyNorthwest
‘30 truckloads from the finish line’: West Seattle Bridge reopening jeopardized by concrete strike
Doctors, hospital leaders: WA not ready to end indoor mask mandate
UW researchers: ‘The pandemic phase of COVID-19 is gone’
Mayor Harrell to end Seattle eviction moratorium on Feb. 28
Washington ranks 6th in US for SIM card swapping scam

Patch
WA Legislative Roundup: Police Reform, Insulin Caps, Salary Laws (Randall, Keiser, Frockt, Riccelli)

The Stranger
Boy I Sure Hope Lawmakers Don’t Weaken Another Bill to Protect Renters (Macri, Peterson, Leavitt, Paul, Chapman, Rule, Trudeau)

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: City Council briefing Tuesday
CORONAVIRUS: City’s West Seattle vaccination clinic to close at month’s end