New WA financial aid program will offer low-interest loans for graduate students, not just undergrads
Washington is developing a new low-interest loan program to make it cheaper for college students to borrow money for school — and in an unusual move, the state is making it available to some graduate students, too. The program will provide low-interest loans to low-income undergraduates and graduate students in high-demand fields of study, with an interest rate target of 1%. That’s much lower than what’s typically offered; current federal direct loan interest rates sit at 3.73% for undergraduates and 5.28% for graduate students, while some private student loans charge an interest rate of 10% or higher. Continue reading at The Seattle Times.
Police agencies here lag in diversity and want to change that
With few exceptions, police departments in Snohomish County are disproportionately made up of white officers and support staff, even as the communities they cover continue to diversify, according to an analysis by The Daily Herald. In Mountlake Terrace, for example, 35 of 38 police department employees reported they were white. The city is under 70% white, according to Census estimates. And in Everett, over 82% of the department was white, underrepresenting Black, Asian, Latinx and multiracial communities. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.
Biden visits WA state, signs order protecting forests, discusses health care costs
President Joe Biden made an appearance at Green River College in Auburn on Friday, speaking to a closed room of press, local elected officials and several other individuals about growing the nation’s economy, lowering the cost of health care and his administration’s attempts to help American families burdened by the costs of rising inflation. Biden opened by talking about the importance of community colleges such as Green River and the one where his wife and first lady Jill Biden teaches in Virginia. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Cheyenne Boone)
Bellingham Herald
Here’s how Bellingham plans to fight crime, graffiti and litter downtown
Youth speakers lead this Mother Earth Day celebration in Bellingham
A half-million tires in Puget Sound are leaching harmful substances. Here’s how to help
Are COVID community levels remaining low in all seven Whatcom County regions?
Capital Press
Inslee goes full throttle against natural gas
Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Light rail on I-5 Bridge right for today, tomorrow
Everett Herald
Lake Stevens uses eminent domain to build new Powerline Trail
In dire search for housing, mother asks: ‘How much worse can it get?’
Police agencies here lag in diversity and want to change that
Elected leaders narrow options for Everett light rail stations, tracks
Snohomish County early learning centers receive $4M to expand
Officer shoots person in Edmonds after domestic violence call
‘Cohousing’ group plans community of 32 cottages in Marysville
Letter: Congress must resume Child Tax Credit immediately
Letter: State has enough money for schools; levies aren’t needed
Letter: Swing pendulum on police reforms back to center
Comment: Allowing some to police others reverses civil rights
Comment: Using forests for carbon credits may defeat purpose
Editorial: The future’s riding on wheels of a bus
Letter: Protecting state forestlands will store more carbon
Comment: Oil — and its inflation — touches much in our lives
High Country News
What does it mean to live well on an overheating planet?
Why rural communities struggle to bring in much-needed federal grants
Indian Country Today
Indigenous leaders convene at UN, push for human rights protections
The Wrap: ‘This is the moment to change it all’
The Inlander
Sixteen young Montanans will be first in the nation to take their climate change case to trial
International Examiner
Opinion: Opportunity for AANHPI small businesses greater than ever in WA state
News Tribune
A new child care center coming to Pierce County will have a barn, livestock, 200 spots
Two Tacoma apartment projects bringing 438 market-rate units approved for tax breaks
Does Pierce County want to end homelessness? Decision by Dammeier next week will tell
A half-million tires in Puget Sound are leaching harmful substances. Here’s how to help
New York Times
Wildfires Burn More Than 150,000 Acres in Three States
Coach’s Prayers Prompt Supreme Court Test of Religious Freedom
Olympian
Port to discuss option agreement for 130 acres of land near Olympia Regional Airport
Here’s part of the story behind the Olympia police chief finalist withdrawing from process
Olympia and Tumwater are proposing a joint fire authority. What does that mean for you?
Editorial: Whew! Thurston County’s Habitat Conservation Plan will make permits more predictable
Biden visits WA state, signs order protecting forests, discusses health care costs
Thurston County correctional deputy arrested, fired for using job to solicit sex
Peninsula Daily News
Biden order to protect old-growth forests
COVID cases rise; face masks are urged
Study: Olympic glaciers doomed
Puget Sound Business Journal
SpaceX, Amazon’s Project Kuiper land NASA funding for satellite communications
Is your pay structure fair? How to approach a pay equity audit.
$58M deal shows healthy investor appetite for West Seattle apartments, bridge or not
Amazon one-fifth of the way to its HQ2 hiring goal
Union efforts are on the rise. Here’s what businesses need to know
Seattle Times
Washington is offering more college aid than ever, plus new admission guarantees. Will students buy in? (Hansen)
New WA financial aid program will offer low-interest loans for graduate students, not just undergrads (Sullivan)
Nurses suing King County, Pioneer Human Services after alleged sexual assaults by clients
The myth of ‘pregnancy glow,’ and what expectant parents need to know about mental health
‘It’s a feud’: Brand new homeless shelter sits empty as leaders squabble (Chopp)
Police misconduct is costing Washington taxpayers millions.
Where you live in WA may determine whether you get stuck in jail before trial (Goodman)
Biden’s executive order in Seattle spotlights importance of old-growth forests in fight against climate change
‘It’s unconscionable’: Biden attacks drug prices at speech at Green River College
Column: Crime is up in Seattle. So why are city residents less fearful?
Skagit Valley Herald
Sedro-Woolley park site of Earth Day celebration
South Seattle Emerald
Environmental activists hold Earth Day protest as Biden visits Seward Park
Rainier Beach Iftar meal focuses on Ramadan and stewardship
Duwamish alive! Coalition: Stewards of the river
Weekend reads: up in smoke
Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities scientists ‘magically’ mining metals from water to power cellphones to cars
‘Empty-gesture theatrics.’ Pasco firm to pay $125K in alleged illegal Snake River water case
After 675 Tri-Cities area COVID deaths, some good news this week
Tri-City high schools are overcrowded. 2 districts will ask voters to fix that next February
Benton County sued for millions. Deputies claim ex-sheriff harassed and retaliated
Officials dig in on $75M national clean energy research lab in Tri-Cities
National center in Richland, WA, to speed transition to clean energy future
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Long-term care program in Walla Walla in need of advocates amid shortage
Retiring Walla Walla Police Chief Scott Bieber says goodbye to department, not to Walla Walla
Complaint yields deeper look into neurosurgery issues at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla
Washington Post
U.S. says Russia ‘failing’ in war aims; Biden taps Bridget Brink as Ukraine envoy
France’s Macron wins presidency, holding off Le Pen’s far-right threat to upend Europe and relations with Russia
Twitter shares jump on reports a deal with Musk could come as soon as Monday
Dow sinks 400 points, oil prices slide amid fears of economic slowdown
Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Valley leaders discuss role of transportation system in region’s economy
Efforts to build the East-West Corridor move forward in Yakima
Efforts gain momentum to add back a missing piece of Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Yakima
With Yakima Valley’s abundant sunshine, more homeowners turning to solar energy
Daily Record: National publication highlights CWU Police Department
KUOW: Olympic Peninsula glaciers expected to disappear in 50 years
Broadcast
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Former Bremerton football coach who lost job for postgame prayers takes case to Supreme Court
Hundreds march through downtown Seattle to support newly unionized Starbucks employees
Teen arrested for allegedly organizing street races in Pierce, King counties
Lawmakers strike the word ‘marijuana’ from all state laws, calling term racist (Morgan)
KUOW Public Radio
NLRB sues Starbucks for retaliating against 3 workers involved in unionizing
Biden unveils protection plan for old-growth forest during Seattle visit
Olympic Peninsula glaciers expected to disappear in the next 50 years
KXLY (ABC)
Cheney Public Schools names new superintendent
NW Public Radio
What The ‘Bring Them Home’ Law Means For MMIP
Web
Crosscut
U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in WA school prayer case
From WA to Alaska, coastal tribes face displacement with insufficient financial help
How rent relief fraud allegations left Thurston County tenants hanging
MyNorthwest
Supreme Court tackling case about praying football coach
Hundreds march through Downtown Seattle to support newly unionized Starbucks employees
Puget Sound orca whales struggle with inbreeding as scientists search for answers
Biden: ‘No one should suffer or die because they cannot afford insulin’
Report: SPD flouting of mask mandates throughout pandemic ‘indicative of a serious culture issue’
King County turning former homeless hotel into temporary housing for refugees
Starbucks Seattle’s Reserve Roastery votes to unionize as CEO labels organizers ‘vocal minority’
Washington Supreme Court rules against Edmonds gun storage law
Seattle schools to relax physical distancing requirements for students, staff
Tacoma City Council unanimously passes ‘spectator ordinance’ to reduce street racing
The Stranger
Seattle Can Have More Trees and More Housing at the Same Time
How to Get Banned from Public Comment at Seattle City Council
West Seattle Blog
SCHOOL START TIMES: Proposed changes dominate discussion at community meeting with Seattle Public Schools board members
CORONAVIRUS: Here’s how local trends are going
FOLLOWUP: Rally planned Monday to urge city to save threatened tree