5 major things the Washington Legislature approved in 2022
Election years mean short, 60-day sessions at the Washington State Legislature. And, while sometimes that means lawmakers don’t do all that much, in 2022, they broke that pattern by approving several major pieces of legislation and a big increase in state spending. Before adjourning Thursday, Washington’s Legislature approved a ban on selling large-capacity magazines for firearms, a proposal that had languished in Olympia since 2017. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Ted S. Warren)
Highways, transit, bikes and more: What’s in the new $17B WA transportation package
The Washington state House and Senate both passed a new 16-year, nearly $17 billion transportation funding package Thursday, sending the legislation to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature with just hours remaining in the short 2022 legislative session. The final product promises large-scale investments in highways, ferries, and bike and pedestrian corridors. It goes beyond the traditional list of members’ favorite road projects to provide $6 billion for transit and preservation needs all over the state, to be chosen throughout the 16 years. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)
‘It’s a huge impact’: New law will offer more Washington students free meals at school
When students get a free meal at school, a big load is lifted off some family’s shoulders. A new Washington law will help more students eat for free. A federal program run by the USDA pays for free meals for certain schools. The program is called the Community Eligibility Provisions. “How it affects East Valley is that seven out of our eight schools now qualify for CEP, which means over 3,000 students will be able to access free lunch starting next school year,” said Jennifer Witting, the East Valley School District Nutrition Services Director. Continue reading at KXLY.
Associated Press
What lived, died during legislative session (Jinkins)
Congress approves money for Hanford nuclear cleanup
Legislature OKs $64.1B supplemental budget, adjourns (Rolfes)
Aberdeen Daily World
Kilmer locks down $9.95 million in federal funding for Aberdeen, Hoquiam levee projects
Bainbridge Island Review
Law returns to police more power
Bellingham Herald
Yes, even a baby counts in car-pool lane. Take the win, parents, and teach along the way
COVID provided this ultra-busy Bellingham teen an opportunity to accomplish a rare feat
Funding to improve Intalco finalized, but can it get a power agreement and reopen? (Rule, Shewmake)
Capital Press
Washington gets a new state veterinarian
Incident meteorologists get ready for wildfire season
Washington health board backs off regulating farms
Columbian
Gun measures resonate as Washington legislative session ends (Liias, Berry)
I-5 Bridge project funding back to $1B in transportation package (Cleveland, Fey)
Opinion: In Our View: State mask mandate ends, but COVID endures
Opinion: In Our View: Talk is cheap; action needed vs. climate change
Opinion: In Our View: Close the book on school virus-shot mandate
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Thanks, Russell; fentanyl fears (Wylie)
The Facts Newspaper
Transformational investments in transportation, housing, climate lead as Legislature adjourns 2022 (Fey, Liias)
High Country News
Whales and fishers compete for what’s on the line
News Tribune
Tacoma mayor’s State of the City highlights housing crisis, rising crime amid pandemic
‘Unacceptable.’ For Tacoma, a difficult State of the City address for a difficult time
Auto theft task force recovers 11 stolen vehicles in Pierce County
Gig Harbor has new city administrator. She has 27 years of local government experience
New York Times
As a Crisis Hotline Grows, So Do Fears It Won’t Be Ready
Surge of Omicron Infections Prompts Lockdowns in China
After 2 Years of Pandemic Life, Turn Toward Normalcy Is a Shake-Up
Which Coronavirus Vaccine Will Work in the Youngest Children?
North American Post
Farewell Pike Street Cherry Trees?
Olympian
Here’s a look at legislation that passed, and failed, this session in the legislature
Man arrested after he hits car near Yelm Highway, then tries to flee, Lacey police say
WA Legislature adjourns, passing $64B operating budget and $17B transportation package (Billig)
Thurston Thrives gets another chance after County Commission approves funding
Democratic lawmakers agree to $64 billion operating budget 1 day before session adjourns (Robinson, Rolfes, Ormsby)
Washington state Democrats agree on $17 billion in transportation funding (Fey)
Food waste is a climate change solution some WA Republicans and Democrats can agree on (Fitzgibbon)
The Evergreen State College approves new school, will invest up to $2.1 million
Peninsula Daily News
In-person public meetings to return
Lawmakers OK planning funds for mental crisis center (Tharinger, Van De Wege)
Peninsula case rates reach mandate-lifting benchmark
Vaccine proof, masking mandates lifted this weekend
Masking optional in classes
24th District capital projects approved
EYE ON CLALLAM: County considers setting hearing on tax increase for housing funds
FEMA continues to provide assistance to homeowners, renters
Runta News
Wadajir Market & Other Local Community Organizations Receive $9 Million
Seattle Times
The marvel of old-growth forests that once cloaked the Pacific Northwest
Woman who says Seattle officer raped her more than 40 years ago finds unusual ally: a genealogy site
Congressional spending bill will fund more than $200 million in projects for Washington state
Highways, transit, bikes and more: What’s in the new $17B WA transportation package (Liias, Ramos, Fey)
Hospital staff shortages, health equity, pandemic response among issues tackled by WA legislators (Cody)
Masks off? Not everyone will be baring their faces as Seattle area drops the mandate
How Washington lawmakers did — and didn’t — boost mental health care this year (Dhingra)
Opinion: Why I resigned as chair of the redistricting commission
Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County ready to take off masks as state mandate ends Saturday
La Conner Town Council lifts masks and pledges support for Ukraine
Protestors gather in support of family of man shot by Sedro-Woolley police officer
South Seattle Emerald
Annual Free Clinic at Climate Pledge Arena Canceled for Scheduled Concerts
Seward Park Neighbors Come Together to Save an ‘Exceptional’ Tree
Opinion: Mayors’ Coalition for Community Safety Should Examine Own Police Departments
Opinion: Police-Led Mental Health Welfare Checks — Getting to the Root of the Issue
Tri-City Herald
Congress adopts record high budget to clean up Hanford, WA nuclear contamination
Does Pasco’s Road 100 interchange need a $40M transformation? Here are some choices
Will fireworks be banned in Benton County next year? Commissioners have a plan
Richland, WA astronaut ready for her 2nd spacewalk. 1st was ‘awesome’
Health officials see promising COVID trends in Tri-Cities. But deaths still high
WA restaurants are worried about salmon. But is breaching Snake River dams the solution?
Ex-Pasco mayor at the Ukraine border, helping war refugees as they flee bombing
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Construction work continues at Walla Walla High School, officials say in latest update
American flag retirement drop box installed at College Place City Hall
College Place authorizes nearly $220,000 for summer youth recreation programs
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library available free to area youngsters birth to 5
Walla Walla Valley homemade mask businesses reflect on two years of service as mandate lifts
Walla Walla approves $14.5 million for reconstruction projects on Alder, Poplar streets
Walla Walla names four police chief finalists
Washington Post
Sides talk as crisis grows; Zelensky to address U.S. Congress Wednesday
‘Gutted’: What happened when a Georgia elections office was targeted for takeover by those who claim the 2020 election was a fraud
Congress urges DOJ, Treasury to examine drug companies aiming to turn opioid settlements into tax breaks
Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima City Council to consider plan for RV parking and tiny homes at Camp Hope
Freedom Kits help girls in developing countries stay in school
Bellingham Herald: Food waste is a climate change solution some WA Republicans and Democrats can agree on (Fitzgibbon, Das)
Wapato family celebrates homecoming after 3-year-old girl’s harrowing battle with COVID-19
Vaccines, testing and masks: Two years of COVID-19 in Yakima County
Bill approved to simplify farm accounting, limit worker check cashing fees
Valley’s creative minds returning to Yakima Maker Space as pandemic wanes
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Some Seattle parents worry about new COVID variants as schools drop mask mandate
Here’s where masks will still be required in Washington starting March 12
Proposals for gas tax ‘holiday’ gets pushback at state, national level
Pot shop protection bill fails to clear Washington Legislature (Hackney)
‘The state of the city is unacceptable’: Tacoma mayor comments on public safety in yearly address
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Mixed emotions from parents, teachers and students as masks now optional in Seattle schools
4th Avenue encampments cleared out in time for St. Patrick’s Day Parade
South Sound businessman says uptick in crime is keeping him up at night
Pierce County, Tacoma opt not to cover health department’s $15M COVID-response request
To mask or not to mask? Indoor mask mandate ends, but not everywhere
Citing safety concerns, Amazon allows employees to relocate out of downtown Seattle office
Companies use ‘ghost truck’ workaround to move concrete during strike
Rainier Connect making major changes to Click cable TV service. Some folks are unhappy
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
King County presiding judge explains why some defendants go free after arrest
High gas prices in Washington state affecting ride share drivers
Business owner pleads for help due to crime near Georgetown homeless camp
KNKX Public Radio
What passed? What died? Washington’s 2022 legislative session wrap up (Senn, Valdez, Entenman, Saldaña, Riccelli, Salomon, Pedersen)
Some Seattle students upset about district lifting mask mandate
KUOW Public Radio
New Bridges and Ferries, Wider Highways, and Free Fares in Freshly Passed Wa Transportation Package (Saldaña)
Seattle removes two downtown homeless tent encampments in one week
Pandemic updates for Seattle: Sick with Covid? Washington has a hotline to help
Stroke rates are increasing among young people. Here’s what you need to know
China battles multiple COVID-19 outbreaks, driven by stealth omicron
What will you do as masking indoors becomes optional?
Week in Review: Ukraine, Mask Mandates, and Russell Wilson
Coastal tribes may soon have more money to move to higher ground in Washington state
TSA extends travel mask mandate through April 18
KXLY (ABC)
‘It’s a huge impact’: New law will offer more Washington students free meals at school (Riccelli)
Spring rains already close to passing arid 2021 season
What’s changing for schools when Washington’s mask mandate lifts?
Web
Crosscut
Rural WA agencies seek federal support to fortify against cyberattacks
5 major things the Washington Legislature approved in 2022 (Rolfes, Jinkins)
The Dales Report
Washington Initiative Proposes Legalization Of Psilocybin Use (Salomon)
MyNorthwest
As legislative session ends, Gov. Inslee applauds victories on transportation, homelessness (Fey, Liias)
Seattle proceeds with second homeless camp removal this week
Flush with state dollars, Seattle’s Aurora redesign emerges: potentially lower speeds, more bike paths
Seattle entrepreneurs are saving forests one square of toilet paper at a time
Seattle Public Schools appoint interim superintendent to permanent role
‘Unlike Russell Wilson, COVID is not going away’: Forecasting future of post-mandate pandemic
With COVID on the descent, travel at Sea-Tac Airport takes off
The masks come off: What you need to know with statewide mandate ending March 12
Worst likely yet to come for rising inflation, gas prices across Seattle area
Heated exchange over COVID rules between state lawmaker, security leads to conduct probe
Concrete strike negotiations worsen as supplier offers terms that penalize picket lines
High-capacity magazine ban headlines series of victories for state gun safety advocates
Sweep of homeless camp outside Seattle City Hall draws criticism from activists, local leaders
Indigenous relics evoke questions of ownership amid Skagit dam relicensing
Washington cities with Russian sister cities faced with decision
Washington Legislature passes bill to limit catalytic converter theft (Ryu, Wilson)
The Stranger
A “Dream Come True” for Washington’s Film Industry (Riccelli, Wellman, Frockt, Robinson)
Slog PM: Legislature Closes Up Shop, Cherry Blossoms Peak Next Week, Ukraine Still Going Through Hell (Van De Wege, Sheldon, Johnson)
Washington State Drops Major Coin on Affordable Housing (Macri, Robinson, Chopp)
West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Comment countdown continues with city observations, ‘deep dive’ info, and how to see what it’ll look like
CORONAVIRUS: Mid-March check of West Seattle and countywide trends/stats
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Ferry dock, police updates, 2 big spring events
WEEKEND SCENE: Paddlers’ Duwamish River competitive cleanup nets almost a ton and a half of trash
COUNTDOWN: 6 days to West Seattle recycle/reuse/shredding event