WA families lose safety nets as pandemic, inflation persist
As COVID-19 numbers continue to fluctuate, some federal relief programs supporting families and children have started to disappear. This includes the child tax credit payments, universal free school meals and additional food assistance. State lawmakers have worked to partly replace some aid, but many families who relied on the expanded social safety net still struggle to get by with less help at a time when food and gas prices continue to surge amid the protracted pandemic. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Lizz Giordano)
More states are embracing pay transparency. Experts say businesses should take note
Colorado passed legislation in 2021 requiring employers to include pay range and benefits in every job listing. Washington state became the most recent to require salary information in job postings, a change set to take effect in 2022. Washington’s law is notable because it would require some of the biggest tech giants, including Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc., to list their pay ranges, potentially having a domino effect. Continue reading at Puget Sound Business Journal. (Alexsl)
Pandemic, protests leave indelible mark on high school grads
What’s typically a cliche heard at graduation ceremonies landed with more gravity this year, as students reflected on coming of age in the midst of a global pandemic and several local, student-led walkouts and rallies. For many, the senior year was punctuated with protests centered on social issues that mattered to them. They conducted walkouts to bring awareness to the prevalence of sexual assault and marches to celebrate Juneteenth. They joined local protests against gun violence and pride rallies in support of LGBTQ+ youth. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry)
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Crosscut
WA families lose safety nets as pandemic, inflation persist (Berg)
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