WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Thursday, June 16

Pharmacist administers COVID-19 vaccine to young child

FDA advisers back authorization of coronavirus vaccines for tots
Independent advisers to the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday recommended use of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccines for babies and young children, a milestone in the nation’s efforts to combat a wily pathogen that continues to infect tens of thousands of people a day and upend the lives of families across the country. The outside experts said the benefits of the vaccines outweighed the risks — the standard for an emergency use authorization. The vote was 21 to 0 for the vaccines from Moderna and from Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Hannah Beier)


A firefighting tanker aircraft making a fire retardant drop over the Grandview Fire in 2021

Report: Fires, heat waves cause ‘climate anxiety’ in youth
Oregon health officials say the impacts of climate change, including more devastating wildfires, heat waves, drought and poor air quality, are fueling “climate anxiety” among young people. Their findings have been published in a report that highlights youth feelings of distress, anger and frustration about perceived adult and government inaction. In a briefing on Tuesday hosted by the Oregon Health Authority, three young people spoke about how climate change has affected their mental health. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Oregon Dept. of Forestry)


Visitors walk outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.

Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge to controversial Washington tax on big banks
The U.S. Supreme Court Monday refused to hear a case challenging a controversial Washington tax law. The law, enacted in 2019, imposes a tax surcharge, in addition to other state taxes, on financial institutions with net income of $1 billion or more. Critics claimed the law was unconstitutional because it favored in-state banks at the expense of interstate banking companies. By refusing to hear the case, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a September ruling by the Washington Supreme Court, which upheld the law. Continue reading at The Center Square. (Patrick Semansky)


Print

Associated Press
Report: Fires, heat waves cause ‘climate anxiety’ in youth
Conservation groups sue feds to protect old-growth forests

Aberdeen Daily World
Washington state catalytic converter thefts highest in country

Bellingham Herald
Here’s how rising interest rates are impacting Whatcom’s housing market
After seven-hour hearing, here’s when there may be a Lighthouse Mission expansion decision

Capital Press
Wet, cold spring slows Washington agriculture

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: U.S. should follow Washington’s lead on guns

Everett Herald
Everett Starbucks workers go on strike after employee fired
On harm of Native mascots, Marysville has a homegrown expert
Property values soar 32% in Snohomish County due to hot housing market
Comment: Jan. 6 recorded testimony removes Trumpian artifice
Comment: The threat from all the presidents’ yes-men

High Country News
Yellowstone area flooding upends lives and portends a new climate reality

Indian Country Today
Supreme Court hands down another tribal sovereignty win
Native youth to be tapped for conservation projects

The Inlander
Salmon are at the forefront of calls to remove the four Lower Snake River dams, but the conversation is beginning to also focus on tribal justice

InvestigateWest
Growing Sprawl In WA Woods Comes With High Wildfire Risk

News Tribune
Message from city of Tacoma’s Juneteenth commemoration: ‘Carry what you heard today’
‘Attainable’ townhomes to replace ‘workforce housing’ project at Tacoma property
Tacoma plans to remove 2 more homeless encampments after increase in emergency calls

Olympian
‘It’s gonna take us a little time’: Labor market a challenge for infrastructure law
Price gouging on baby formula? WA senators Murray and Cantwell demand investigation
Suspects toss flare into lawmaker’s business. Was it a diversion for later burglary?

Puget Sound Business Journal
Investors are buying fewer homes than pandemic peak, but their share continues to grow amid changing housing market
Report: Universities nabbed higher government appropriations in 2021
Many companies already plan to tweak their remote work policies
How economic development is evolving in the Covid-19 era
Washington tech companies are mostly hiring out-of-state grads, study shows

Renton Reporter
Renton free Summer Meals program returns to feed the county’s youth

Seattle Medium
The Push To Make Juneteenth A Holiday In Washington State (Morgan, Lovick, Nobles, Taylor, Harris-Talley, Berg, Entenman, Hackney, Johnson)

Seattle Times
Retail slump hammers WA job market, even as Boeing and Amazon push hiring
Jury sides with Issaquah officers in lawsuit over man’s death after neck injury
WA donors gave $2.7M to Trump ‘defense fund’ that didn’t exist
WA gas prices jump to another record as Biden puts spotlight on soaring refiner profits
WA gun shops report increased sales ahead of state ban on high-capacity magazines
3 complaints against former Seattle police Chief Best from 2020 sat in limbo, are still pending

Skagit Valley Herald
Bird flu found in Skagit County
Skagit County to further study farmworker housing, other proposed policy changes

Washington Post
What will the Fed’s rate hike mean for consumers?
FDA advisers back authorization of coronavirus vaccines for tots
EPA warns toxic ‘forever chemicals’ more dangerous than once thought

Yakima Herald-Republic
Baby formula shortage, gas prices make things harder for Yakima Valley parents
Fentanyl persists as leading cause of overdose deaths in Yakima County, coroner says
Youth counseling program at CWU in Ellensburg helps alleviate shortage

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
New Washington gun laws set to take effect as federal measures debated
New research method expands kelp health monitoring in Puget Sound
Washington had the highest rate of catalytic converter thefts in the nation in 2021, report finds
How Washington is leading the way for electric boats in the US

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Waning police presence downtown? Not so, says Seattle Police
Pride flags torn down, set on fire outside Seattle cantina
Young kids could soon get COVID-19 shots; FDA advisers approve 2 vaccines
Tacoma plans to remove 2 more homeless encampments after increase in emergency calls
Complaints against former Seattle police chief still pending
Lynnwood to restart late fees, shut-offs and liens for utilities

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Gun stores report record sales as Washington state prepares to enact new firearm law
15-year-old suspect who opened fire outside Mariner High School arrested

KUOW Public Radio
How’s Tacoma’s guaranteed basic income program going?

KXLY (ABC)
New Yakima clinic to expand abortion access in Eastern Washington
This is the first year Washington will celebrate Juneteenth as an official state holiday (Morgan)

Q13 TV (FOX)
Communities across Puget Sound launch series of events to commemorate Juneteenth

Web

The Center Square
Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge to controversial Washington tax on big banks

The Stranger
Few Clues in Mystery of Burien’s Stolen Pride Flags
In a Seeming Twist, LIHI Endorses Social Housing Initiative
New Bill Would Update Seattle’s Process for Investigating Police Chiefs
Voters Could Change How And When We Vote This November