WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Tuesday, May 31

A woman in a light pink coat looks off to the left as she stands in front of an apartment building

Blurry laws lead to steep damage charges for WA renters
As a single mother of four kids, losing their apartment was hard enough for Natasha Pabon. But then came another brutal blow: $3,500 in charges from the property manager for damages and other fees. It was a cost that 35-year-old Pabon — evicted over a conflict her daughter had with a neighbor — could not afford. Not only was she having to forfeit her $1,155 security deposit, but the property manager at Fern Ridge apartments in Olympia was charging her for things she didn’t think she should have to cover, like replacing blinds and painting cabinets. Continue reading at InvestigateWest. (Dan Delong)


A teacher raises her hands as she leads a morning greeting circle for 3- to 5-year-olds at an education center.

WA preschools could expand, but they are struggling to find teachers
Washington’s state-funded preschool program is one of only a handful in the country that increased available slots during the pandemic. But there’s a difference between having the funding to help a child and actually being able to do it. Thousands of the state’s most in-need families are struggling to get their children into an early learning program, and a big part of the problem is the same thing hitting everything from airlines to restaurants — a lack of available workers. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)


Students line up to enter an elementary school

Schools are struggling to meet rising mental health needs, data shows
Ask most teachers or principals about the mental health of their students this year, and they will tell you stories of how much worse things are than normal: More fights in the hallway. Students unable to focus in class. Depression and sadness. New federal data helps quantify just how much worse. A survey released Tuesday documents the toll the pandemic has taken on students’ mental health, with 7 in 10 public schools seeing a rise in the number of children seeking services. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Seth Wenig)


Print

Associated Press
Officials confirm monkeypox infection in King County man
Washington courts clearing drug convictions, refunding fines
Washington State Patrol says drivers are increasingly refusing to stop for troopers (Johnson)
Seattle considers measures to address gig worker pay, rights

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen and Hoquiam flood protection project moves forward

Bellingham Herald
Decades of data show big shifts in Whatcom logging. What happened?
Gathering of the Eagles ends canoe journey
He bought land 25 years ago to ‘putter around in.’ Now, it’s a haven for this rare species
This suspect arrested for making the text threat that locked down Whatcom school
These restaurants and bakeries are coming to Whatcom County
Bellingham neighbors wanted quick action to stop speeding. So they went rogue
This interactive chart shows price increases for gas, food, housing near Whatcom County
One Whatcom region would be in CDC’s ‘high’ COVID community level, while 3 others ‘medium’

Capital Press
Anticipating a small crop, Washington Apple Commission tightens budget
Methow Valley land in Washington returned to Colville Tribes
Washington rancher in wolf country wonders what else he must do

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Better policing, COVID still here

Everett Herald
Criminal court cases languish as a pandemic backlog lingers
Duwamish recognition fight underscores plight of treaty tribes
‘Is this the Interurban?’ Trail advocates seek federal money
New plan would merge Snohomish Health District with county
Would Marysville’s school-clubs proposal be unconstitutional?
Snohomish County, cities await their shares of big opioid settlement
Sultan gets a boost from remote-work newcomers — and growing pains
Bird flu comes to Snohomish County, via backyard flock
‘(Expletive) idiot’: Scathing report paints Monroe schools supe as bully
Everett and Community transits eye fare-free rides for youths
Firm calls rules for expanded composting near Stanwood ‘unlawful’
Apparent threat at Cascade High turned out to be airsoft gun
Comment: Health district, county merger can aid public health
Comment: Progressives contradict themselves on guns, policing
Comment: Uvalde police failed kids; our inaction does, too
Letter: Greed is foiling sensible policy on guns, ammo
Letter: Local taxpayers need to pay for school safety measures
Comment: Our sadness, outrage lasts only briefly, just 4 days
Comment: County mayors urge attention to public safety crisis
Editorial: A mindless loyalty holds back action on gun deaths
Sullivan: Reckoning with racism must be focus for local media
Opinion: Until we stop gun deaths, we must mourn them
Comment: Americans welcoming Ukrainians; America isn’t

The Inlander
Washington state prepares for an influx of patients if abortion regulation is handed over to the states

News Tribune
School at Point Defiance briefly locked down after reports of shots fired in park
Hepatitis A outbreak could be tied to organic strawberries, FDA says. What to know
Open house to discuss ways to keep popular Pierce County reservoir clean and thriving
‘Addicted to being feared.’ Film examines Tacoma gangs, high price they exacted in ’90s
The Lushootseed language exists today, attesting to ‘uninterrupted love’

New York Times
During the Omicron Wave, Death Rates Soared for Older People
In the Senate, Chasing an Ever-Elusive Gun Law Deal
States Rush Toward New Gun Restrictions as Congress Remains Gridlocked
Uvalde Had Prepared for School Shootings. It Did Not Stop the Rampage.
Trump Policies Sent U.S. Tumbling in a Climate Ranking

Olympian
Lacey parks commissioner resigns after speaking out on Meridian Market & Gas plan
Here’s how Washington has benefited from the economic resurgence of Tribes
‘Making our lives better’: Community gathers on Capitol Campus for Memorial Day service
Two months in, Thurston’s new rent assistance provider still grapples with backlog
City of Tumwater moves ahead on new operations center, park on former horse arena site
Exclusive: Local law enforcement officials urge Senate to confirm Biden’s ATF director

Peninsula Daily News
Allocation will fund housing support
State Department of Transportation plans repair of Big Quilcene River Bridge
COVID cases rise but most mild

Port Townsend Leader
COVID death rate in JeffCo well below national average

Seattle Times
Seattle to increase parking enforcement aimed at RV dwellers
Rising number of suicide attempts among young children worries NW physicians, poison centers
WA preschools could expand, but they are struggling to find teachers
How a Sound Transit contractor is trying to make light-rail construction easier on the environment
Group doorbells WA homes, searching for illegal voters and drawing complaints
‘Real’ Duwamish: Seattle’s first people and the bitter fight over federal recognition
Column: Our children demand protection. Why do we refuse them?

Washington Post
Oil prices surge, gas hits new high after E.U. cracks down on Russia
U.S. marks Memorial Day weekend with at least 12 mass shootings
Schools are struggling to meet rising mental health needs, data shows
Covid was vanishing last Memorial Day. Cases are five times higher now.

Yakima Herald-Republic
Gov. Inslee says White House must do more to avoid radioactive ‘calamity’ at Hanford

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington clears convictions for drug possession after statute ruling
Seattle mayor to reveal homelessness plan in upcoming address
Uptick in trailhead thefts expected this summer in western Washington
Canada to ‘freeze’ handgun sales, buy back military-style assault weapons

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Bellingham man forms citizens brigade to stop trail break-ins
Speeds reach 90 mph during truck pursuit in Federal Way
Seattle considers measures to address gig worker pay, rights
Prowler near Volunteer Park arrested after shooting at officers
Thousands of flights canceled worldwide amid busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2019
SPU board maintains decision to prohibit employees from same-sex sexual activity

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to detail city’s new plan to address homelessness
Seattle police investigating 10 shootings from Memorial Day weekend
Struggles with crime, encampments continue in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood

KNKX Public Radio
Nearly extinct 30 years ago, Washington’s western pond turtles are slowly recovering  

KUOW Public Radio
Fentanyl is a great drug for cartels. But those blue pills are killing King County
Monkeypox confirmed in King County, but this isn’t like Covid-19

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington surpasses key COVID-19 metric that could trigger indoor mask mandate

Web

Crosscut
How Gov. Inslee hopes to strengthen WA’s abortion rights
7 factors driving electric vehicle policy forward
Blurry laws lead to steep damage charges for WA renters (Thai)

The Stranger
Rep. Berry: Until Congress Finds the Courage, States Must Lead the Way on Gun Safety
New Hope for People with a Criminal Record in Washington