WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Monday, October 31

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and state Democratic lawmakers revealed details in a news conference Friday in Federal Way

Gov. Jay Inslee, lawmakers aim to keep anti-abortion ‘tentacles’ out of WA
Gov. Jay Inslee and state Democratic lawmakers revealed details Friday about a push to enact a “shield law” that would protect abortion patients and providers from out-of-state legal action, and announced two more bills in the works designed to ensure reproductive health care access. One would indemnify Washington-based corporations helping employees in other states get abortions. Another bill would block hospital and health care organization mergers that would limit services such as abortion. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)


Kenneth Jim works with his classmates in a robotics class at White Swan High School

Yakima Valley schools look for ways to engage kids who regularly miss class
Regular attendance is connected to better academic performance and higher graduation rates, even in early grades, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Being present in class is the first step toward learning. The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction tracks attendance data each school year. It defines chronic absenteeism as missing two days of school a month on average. That may seem like a low bar, but across nine months of school that would add up to 10% of all instructional days. Continue reading at Yakima Herald-Republic. (Emree Weaver)


A masked Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Mayor-elect Bruce Harrell appear on a panel during a press conference

WA and Seattle ended their COVID states of emergency. What’s next?
Oct. 31, 2022 marked the end of those states of emergency at the state level and in the city of Seattle. Most restrictions had already been phased out, both because of improvements in pandemic conditions and political pressure to do so. Another 23 orders from the governor’s office ended this month. But COVID-19 remains a problem in Washington. There are still 600 new cases popping up every day and more than 40 deaths each week, according to state health department data. As we enter this next phase of the pandemic, here’s what you need to know. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Lindsey Wasson)


Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Quinault Indian Nation to close ‘digital gap’ with new cable landing station
Grays Harbor College going vertical

Columbian
I-5 span replacement chief Greg Johnson has history of building bridges
Editorial: In Our View: Update Electoral Count Act, protect democracy

Everett Herald
What Snohomish County officials learned from not driving (Robinson, Kloba)
Arlington agrees to purchase land for new park in Smokey Point
Countywide agency investigating Everett officers’ taser use

News Tribune
Staffing shortage is still hampering Pierce County Jail. Will bonuses bring more recruits?

Olympian
Olympia, Tumwater firefighters plead for creation of RFA before joint council meeting
Olympia residents voice support, concern about school board’s first Black member

Peninsula Daily News
Quilcene Bay now open for shellfish gathering

Seattle Times
Kent tightens homeless camping ban with new ordinance
How to help reduce flooding, stay safe during Seattle’s rainy season
Seattle Public Schools offers new Filipino American history class
Gov. Jay Inslee, lawmakers aim to keep anti-abortion ‘tentacles’ out of WA (Hansen, Simmons)

Skagit Valley Herald
Bad medicine: Inflation hitting health care

Spokesman Review
Some local, nonemergency 911 calls may be placed on hold starting Monday
Veteran of HUD, city of Spokane tapped as Woodward’s next leader of housing, homelessness initiatives

Tri-City Herald
Pasco says goodbye to its city manager. He ‘opened doors’ to rapid growth and diversity
5 more Tri-Cities COVID deaths. Hospitals admitting more children for RSV
One of Tri-Cities most congested areas to get $40M road revamp ahead of new development

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
‘Touchet Redhawks’ replace Indians logo, mascot
Body cameras not included in city of Walla Walla’s draft budget
Walla Walla Public Schools further scales back COVID-19 protocols, voluntarily keeps some precautions in place

Washington Post
Supreme Court hears arguments in Harvard, UNC affirmative action cases
How the Fed’s rate hikes slow the economy — and impact you
Elon Musk, right-wing figures push misinformation about Pelosi attack

Wenatchee World
Jobless rate trends down in September for Chelan and Douglas counties

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Valley schools look for ways engage kids who regularly miss class
Yakima Health District rescinds local health emergency
Economic leaders discuss post-pandemic economy in Yakima Valley

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington state’s COVID-19 state of emergency ends Monday
Skagit County Republicans claim ‘anomalies’ in voter rolls. Here’s what we found
Washington state’s art community to get $10M boost for post-pandemic recovery

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Gas prices drop in Seattle, across Washington state for third straight week
2022 fire season burns fewer acres than recent years, Washington fire officials say

KUOW Public Radio
Proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger under state scrutiny
Only 15% of Washingtonians have gotten the updated omicron booster

KXLY (ABC)
Washington’s COVID-19 emergency order ends Monday

Web

Crosscut
WA and Seattle ended their COVID states of emergency. What’s next?
How tribes, local organizations are bolstering food sovereignty

MyNorthwest
Use-of-force investigation in to Everett Police who fired Tasers during arrest
Last public emergency room in Bremerton closed for good
City of Everett fined after millions of gallons of wastewater discharged into river

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: More booster clinics scheduled in West Seattle