Inslee wants WA to borrow $4B to build housing and shelter. How would that work?
It’s the centerpiece of Gov. Jay Inslee’s 2023-25 budget proposal: a plan to borrow $4 billion to fund an aggressive push to build affordable housing and shelters in Washington. A few weeks into the 2023 legislative session, it’s not clear whether Inslee’s proposal will get the necessary support from lawmakers to pass. In its current form, the unprecedented effort to address homelessness and the dearth of affordable housing would also need approval from Washington voters. “Until we fix our housing crisis, thousands of people will remain homeless,” Inslee told a joint session of the Legislature on Jan. 10. “And we need a fix that provides a level of speed and scale beyond anything we’ve done in the past.” Here’s how state officials say it would work. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)
Washington Legislature considers a bill that would prevent pre-employment cannabis testing
More than a decade after voters legalized marijuana under Washington law, some state lawmakers hope to end the use of testing for the drug as a condition for getting hired. Recreational use of marijuana is legal under state law for adults over the age of 21 in Washington, but legalization hasn’t stopped some employers from making hiring decisions based on the results of drug testing for cannabis . A bill sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, would prevent testing for cannabis for pre-employment, though employers still would be able to test workers while they are employed. “I think that it is discrimination at this point, to discriminate against someone for the use of a legal substance just in terms of being hired,” Keiser said. “We really need to open our doors and not close them. It’s both a fairness issue and a workforce issue.” Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Jesse Tinsley)
Bill introduced to broaden access to music therapy in Washington
A dim prognosis, a motor skills disorder, grief or just stress and anxiety: no matter what the case may be, a quickly growing form of therapy could have you singing a new tune. Currently in Washington, music therapists are not eligible for state licensure. But on Thursday, Senate Bill 5214 was introduced and there is a new push in the legislature to change that. Music therapy is defined by using music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of a patient. Treatment can cost anywhere from $50 to $250 dollars per session, but the bill would allow music therapists to begin accepting insurance. The bill would make music therapist services more affordable and accessible for every Washington resident. Continue reading at KING5.
Associated Press
Seattle could broaden anti-discrimination law to add caste
Aberdeen Daily World
Fish and houseguests: Shoalwater Bay Tribe pushes back against green crab
Columbian
‘Slipping through the cracks’: From foster care to homelessness
Hundreds in Washington go missing from foster care
Everett Herald
Democrats advance assault weapons ban, new rules for gun buyers (Peterson, Hansen)
COVID still ‘simmering’ in the county, while booster uptake remains low
A move to require voting and a bicameral chasm on vehicle pursuits (Dhingra)
Editorial: Don’t let fear foil answers to opioid, other crises
News Tribune
Tacoma council considers stance on WA drug-possession bills. Here’s where it is leaning (Salomon, Robinson)
What would an airport in the shadow of Mount Rainier mean for the park and its visitors?
Editorial: First responders need stroke training. The Puyallup DUI story is a perfect example
New York Times
6th Memphis Police Officer Suspended in Tyre Nichols Death
Olympian
The City of Tumwater wants to turn this motel into affordable housing for seniors
Washington’s first residential treatment facility to welcome patients in February
Peninsula Daily News
Legislature aims to protect tenants (Tharinger)
Status of rental legislation outlined
Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing fully staffed in Renton as expectations loom over 737 line
Restaurants that missed out on Covid relief fund could catch a break
Seattle Times
Inslee wants WA to borrow $4B to build housing and shelter. How would that work? (Billig)
WA bills seek to cap rent hikes and register rentals, landlords object (Peterson, Macri, Ramel, Thai, Kuderer)
Judge dismisses lawsuit from protester who claimed she was denied medication in jail
Tyre Nichols’ brutal beating by police shown on video
Opinion: Support new effort to end homeownership disparities
Editorial: WA should fund unit to investigate missing Indigenous people
Editorial: Serve the people, not developers: Amend WA ‘middle housing’ bill (Bateman, Pollet)
Sequim Gazette
Constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights stirs support, protest (Keiser, Kuderer, Jinkins, Trudeau, Mena, Riccelli, Farivar, Randall, Slatter, Dhingra)
Spokesman Review
Legislature has options for addressing drug possession law. Here’s a look at some of them (Billig, Jinkins, Dhingra, Robinson, Salomon, Rule, Simmons)
Washington Legislature considers a bill that would prevent pre-employment cannabis testing (Keiser)
Proposal to expand free lunch to all public school students in Washington gains bipartisan support (Riccelli, Stonier)
Assault weapons ban advances out of state House committee (Peterson)
Washington Post
Black Memphis police spark dialogue on systemic racism in the U.S.
How liberal states are shoring up abortion rights
Wenatchee World
Retail theft on the rise, attorney general tells industry reps and law enforcement
Opinion: WA’s ‘Death with Dignity’ law failed my wife
Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County’s 2022 jobless rate ties for lowest since 2010, but recent numbers rising
Editorial: Proposed wealth tax is worth a look (Frame)
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Lawmakers debate tax, abortion, road safety measures in week 3: In Session (Lovick)
Elected officials respond to Bellevue School District’s 3-school consolidation (Slatter, Thai)
New online tool launches to help survivors of sexual assault in King County
Bill introduced to broaden access to music therapy in Washington (Frame, Cleveland, Conway, Hasegawa, Lovelett, Nobles, and C. Wilson)
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Controversial opioid treatment center opens in Lynnwood Monday
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Sound Transit, Washington State Ferries receive millions in federal funding
Doctors from UW Medicine encouraging boosters for pregnancy
KUOW Public Radio
Can Washington’s capital gains tax survive the Supreme Court?: Today So Far
WSU removing Covid vaccine requirement for most students
Roadway carnage has lawmakers pitching everything from more photo radar to fewer right turns on red (Lovick, Fey)
WHO: COVID still an emergency but nearing ‘inflection’ point
Web
MyNorthwest
Lake Stevens HS employee arrested for alleged sexual misconduct
Providence rated worst nonprofit hospital in country regarding consumer practices
Multiple rent stabilization bills aim to control extreme increases (Ramel)