Substitute teachers vanished, so WA schools turned to new ideas
[Nathan] Roberts represents one example of how the recent coronavirus wave prompted school districts to reconsider their relationship with — and reliance on — substitute teachers. Much like bus drivers and custodians, substitutes have long been among the lowest-paid workers in education but remain critical to keeping schools open day to day. And they have a significant impact on student learning: Studies have linked teacher absences and uncertified, less trained subs to declines in student achievement. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Nathan Roberts)
Microplastics. It’s what’s for dinner
Microplastics seem to be in everything, everywhere, all at once. The tiny pieces of plastic are two-tenths of an inch or smaller and have been found in the ocean and our bodies. That’s right, microplastics have been found in poop and even our blood. But how do we fix that? Lawmakers here in Washington are moving to reduce the overall amount of plastic in our packaging. Of course, laws take time to enact, especially complicated regulations. So in the meantime, what should we be doing and thinking about now? Continue reading at KUOW. (Flickr/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Record inflation puts crunch on Snohomish County farms
Hay farmer Andrew Albert is paying twice as much for fertilizer as he did last year. It’s just one example of steep price increases farmers in Snohomish County are facing as they get ready for spring planting. The cost of farm equipment, animal feed and gas are also up significantly. “I’m considering what’s coming a survival year,” said Albert, a third-generation farmer in Arlington. “Already in farming, you don’t make money every year. This is definitely one of those bad years.” Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry)
Associated Press
Supreme Court tackles case about praying football coach
Bellingham Herald
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Chronicle
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Everett Herald
Record inflation puts crunch on Snohomish County farms
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Indian Country Today
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New York Times
New Details Underscore House G.O.P. Role in Jan. 6 Planning
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Seattle Times
Substitute teachers vanished, so WA schools turned to new ideas
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Skagit Valley Herald
Number of new COVID-19 cases in Skagit County remains low
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Gas Heating in New Commercial Buildings Restricted in WA
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South Whidbey Record
Lawmakers tour preservation projects (Paul)
Spokesman Review
A new crisis hotline, 988, is coming this summer
Tri-City Herald
Small Tri-Cities company wins another Hanford contract. This one is worth $4.8 million
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
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Washington Post
Twitter workers face a reality they’ve long feared: Elon Musk as owner
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Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle Police Department losing more officers than it’s hiring
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Rising COVID cases push King County to “medium” levels, sparking renewed warnings
Supreme Court tackles case about praying football coach
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Supreme Court tackles case about former praying Bremerton High football coach
University of Washington develops COVID-19 vaccine, South Korea to order 10M doses
KUOW Public Radio
Microplastics. It’s what’s for dinner
KXLY (ABC)
COVID-19 vaccine made at UW School of Medicine seeking international approval
City Council to vote on homeless shelter resolution, mayor moves forward with plans
NW Public Radio
Washington Seafood Company Fined Following COVID Death
Washington Lawmakers Of Color Announce Departures, One Calls The Work Environment ‘Toxic’ (Harris-Talley, Johnson, Das, Jinkins, Taylor)
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‘Tiny home’ village sits empty until operating funds surface
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Web
Crosscut
This King County initiative wants to prevent further gentrification
Family access to interpreters in schools expands under new WA laws
A whistleblower reflects after 30 years on the Hanford watch
U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in WA school prayer case
From WA to Alaska, coastal tribes face displacement with insufficient financial help
MyNorthwest
COVID hospitalization rise in King County but ‘remain at stable, low levels,’ says health officer
Pandemic hardships prompt Western WA grocery workers to bargain for improved store safety
State suggests cashless apps for cannabis stores to avoid robbery
The Stranger
King County’s COVID-19 Situation Hits a “Yellow Light”
West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: Fauntleroy/Fontanelle tree gets root exam as advocates watch