WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Monday, November 21

Law enforcement personnel stand outside of the scene of a mass shooting at Club Q, a gay bar in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. A 22-year-old gunman opened fire in the gay nightclub, killing at least five people and leaving multiple others injured before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons and arrested by police who were on the scene within minutes, authorities said Sunday.

Gay club shooting suspect evaded Colorado’s red flag gun law
A year and a half before he was arrested in the Colorado Springs gay nightclub shooting that left five people dead, Anderson Lee Aldrich allegedly threatened his mother with a homemade bomb. Yet despite that scare, there’s no record prosecutors ever moved forward with felony kidnapping and menacing charges against Aldrich, or that police or relatives tried to trigger Colorado’s “red flag” law that would have allowed authorities to seize the weapons and ammo the man’s mother says he had with him. Gun control advocates say Aldrich’s June 2021 threat is an example of a red flag law ignored, with potentially deadly consequences. El Paso County appears especially hostile to the law, joining nearly 2,000 counties nationwide in declaring themselves “Second Amendment Sanctuaries”. Continue reading at Associated Press. (Parker Seibold)


Traffic is lined up at the railroad crossing at Trent and Pines on Friday. A bipartisan infrastructure deal has provided $24.4 million so far to replace the at-grade crossing.

Getting There: A year later, bipartisan infrastructure law has sent $3.7 billion to Washington, $1.1 billion to Idaho
A year after Congress passed landmark bipartisan legislation to revamp the nation’s ailing infrastructure, the bill has delivered $3.7 billion in Washington state – including $51.5 million in Spokane County – according to figures from the White House. President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law Nov. 15, 2021, marking the culmination of years of bipartisan efforts to address one of the rare priorities on which Republicans and Democrats largely agreed. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and authored parts of the bill, celebrated the anniversary in a statement Tuesday. “This is a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure and it couldn’t have come at a more crucial time.” Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Kathy Plonka)


Democratic Rep. Sharon Shewmake narrowly defeated Republican Sen. Simon Sefzik in the Nov. 8 election to flip Sefzik’s 42nd Legislative District seat. Democrats won all three legislative seats in the swing district, which sprawls through Whatcom County.

Republicans hit blue wall in WA: Meet your new state Legislature
Republicans hit a blue wall in the Washington state Legislature election this month, repulsed by Democrats who continue to build power in Olympia. While Marie Gluesenkamp Perez made noise nationally with a U.S. House upset and Patty Murray silenced her doubters with her sixth straight U.S. Senate victory, Democrats lower down on the Nov. 8 ballot quietly bolstered their control over the Washington state Legislature, setting the stage for an action-packed lawmaking session that opens less than two months from now. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)


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Associated Press
US supply chain under threat as unions, railroads, clash
Oregon, California and Washington oppose natural gas pipeline expansion in Pacific Northwest
Gay club shooting suspect evaded Colorado’s red flag gun law

Bellingham Herald
As Bellingham expands EV charging stations, this is what drivers will pay. 
Rising number of kids missing school as respiratory illnesses continue to spread. 
Whatcom County could see major impacts amid potential grocery merger. 

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: Be cautious amid viruses this Thanksgiving
Editorial: In Our View: Support for light rail depends on transparency

The Daily News
Longview’s Lower Columbia College — like community colleges nationwide — sees enrollment drops
Comment: Election shows most parents content with child’s public school

Everett Herald
State’s Native American crisis hotline is first in the nation
Edmonds eyes speed cameras near three schools
Breaking it down: How consumers can cash in on federal climate bill
For beavers, tall dams don’t always make good neighbors
You’re in! With 3.0 GPA, many students can now punch ticket to college
Comment: Native American children again under threat
Editorial: Friction provides no warmth to homeless in county

News Tribune
Western State employees who got $2M for patient attacks sue again for records violations

Olympian
Rising numbers of kids missing school as respiratory illnesses continue to spread
At a pizza party for mental health, WA farmers find community amid stress
Friday’s I-5 carjacking suspect was fatally shot at the scene, Thurston Coroner says
Dry November, out of season fires in Western WA, and a burn ban. Rain coming, but not much
Dude, where’s my catalytic converter? Probably back in the supply chain

Puget Sound Business Journal
Why businesses should pay attention to the growing Latino market
Four-day workweeks becoming serious consideration

Seattle Medium
Facebook, Amazon Letting Seattle Workers Go

Seattle Times
Republicans hit blue wall in WA: Meet your new state Legislature (Lovick, Wilson, Randall, Shewmake, Rule, Lekanoff, Billig, Jinkins)
How a Kitsap County hospital illustrates WA’s emergency care crisis
Jury selection begins in trial of Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer

Spokesman Review
Getting There: A year later, bipartisan infrastructure law has sent $3.7 billion to Washington, $1.1 billion to Idaho
Spokane County commits $500,000 for Trent Avenue homeless shelter
Spokane City Council to consider a cap on what food delivery services can charge restaurants
Washington wildlife commission strikes down recreational spring bear hunt

Tri-City Herald
Monday morning commute may be icy. Tri-Cities under air stagnation advisory. 
WA pediatrician shares tips to battle child respiratory infection and stay out of ER. 
Dude, where’s my catalytic converter? Probably back in the supply chain. 

Washington Post
Officials probe whether Colorado Springs shooting was a hate crime

Yakima Herald-Republic
It Happened Here: WSDOT to rename I-90 rest areas near Cle Elum

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Meridian Elementary reopens with added safety measures following lockdown
November wildfires putting strain on state resources

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
4 dead after plane crashes, catches fire in field near Snohomish during test flight
Snohomish County PUD releases stats showing severity of early November storm

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
9-year-old shot in road-rage incident welcomed home; WSP says suspect vehicle was stolen
Enrollment stabilizing at community colleges after pandemic drop, reports show

Web

MyNorthwest
Ferry staff could have stopped deaths from DUI crash, lawsuit alleges
State commissioner of public lands Franz announces end to net pen aquaculture
Seattle-based tech companies continue layoffs, ‘adjustments will be made’

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Suspected local case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, and what you need to know about it
MONDAY: One more chance to speak out about city spending plan