Commissioner Franz & Rep. Chapman: Allow sale of credits for carbon stored in WA-owned lands
Since we became a state in 1889, Washington has used our working forests and farms and other public lands to build up and support our communities. These lands have produced billions of dollars of revenue that have built our schools, hospitals, universities, fire stations, libraries and even our Capitol dome itself. But we no longer live in 1889, and the model by which we manage our public lands needs to be updated to reflect the tremendous advances we have made in understanding the full value of our forests, farms and aquatic lands. Indeed, these lands provide the most valuable tools we have to address the challenges climate change poses for everyone in our state. And it’s past time we capitalize on that value to increase revenues for our schools and communities, reduce costs to taxpayers, and improve the health of our forests, farms and aquatic lands. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Washington State Department of Natural Resources)
State Senate passes safe staffing standard, in compromise between hospitals, unions
Hospitals may soon have to follow safe staffing standards, including staff-patient ratios, if a bill that passed the state Senate on Tuesday becomes law. The bill reflects a compromise between hospitals and nurse unions across the state that have long disagreed over the best way to address workforce shortages. Nurses have pushed for staff-to-patient ratios, while hospitals have said they don’t have the staff to follow the ratios. The proposal, which passed the state Senate 35-15, is one of many being discussed in the Legislature this year to help address workforce shortages in health care. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (David Ryder)
WA bill aims to increase access to Death with Dignity Act
In 2008, Washington voters passed the Death with Dignity Act, a measure allowing terminally ill patients to seek physician-guided assistance with ending their lives. Under the current law, only physicians can carry out a dying patient’s request. A proposed bill making its way through Olympia, ESSB 5179, would allow nurse practitioners to become more involved in the process. Washington is among nine states, along with the District of Columbia, that have enacted a death with dignity statute. Continue reading at KUOW. (Charles Lenhart)
Aberdeen Daily World
County testing “ombud” model to help veterans
Axios
Black homeowners gain less ground in Seattle than elsewhere
Capital Press
Washington’s first cap-and-trade auction collects more than forecast
Columbian
Clark County gains 1,600 jobs in January
Editorial: State must continue to protect abortion rights
Everett Herald
State eyes $300M haul from first-ever carbon emission auction
A handshake, a deal then hospital staffing bill emerges from Senate (Mullet, Robinson, Riccelli)
Mental health evaluation delays preceded Lake Stevens police killing
A presidential visit and a Blake bill passes in the Senate (Liias, Robinson)
The Facts Newspaper
Washington state receives $163.4 million to fund innovative small business loan programs
Kent Reporter
State of the County: Constantine discusses homelessness, environment, cameras for deputies
News Tribune
‘He wanted to die.’ Pierce County deputy lawfully shot armed 70-year-old, prosecutor says
Tacoma motel row on Hosmer next to I-5 could see another property turned into apartments
Opinion: I’m a renter in Puyallup. But without help, I won’t be able to afford it for long
New York Times
Five Women Sue Texas Over the State’s Abortion Ban
The Abortion Pill Fight
Olympian
Cold cases involving Indigenous people would get special team under WA legislation (Reeves)
Olympia elementary school closures on the table due to budget deficit, officials say
Peninsula Daily News
Bridge closures prompt Port Townsend letter
Proposal aims to keep power on during extreme heat (Mena)
Puget Sound Business Journal
WA House passes bill nixing single-family zones in much of the state (Bateman)
Homeownership gap between Black, white Americans continues to widen
Constantine proposes redeveloping King County’s Seattle campus
Seattle Times
Seattle is now building more ADUs than single houses (Gregerson, Senn)
Rep. Chapman & Commissioner Franz: Allow sale of credits for carbon stored in WA-owned lands
Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County considers changes to homeless aid application program
Sauk-Suiattle lawsuit against Seattle City Light headed back to trial court
Spokesman Review
Spokane International Airport receives $15 million grant to help expansion
Bill to limit single-family housing in Washington picks up steam with House passage (Bateman)
State Senate passes safe staffing standard, in compromise between hospitals, unions (Mullet, Riccelli)
Column: Probe details extensive communications, favors between police chief and business group
Suburban Times
Bronoske bill to require AEDs for lineworkers passes House (Bronoske)
Yakima Herald-Republic
Program aims to make college acceptance process easier in Washington
Editorial: State’s taking a wrong turn with misguided public records legislation
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
More University of Washington students are in need of food assistance
For workers on H-1B visas and their families, more tech layoffs threaten a future in the United States
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Bill to amend police pursuit bill on life support; must pass legislative session by Wednesday
WA House passes bill to aid in protection of domestic violence victims
KNKX Public Radio
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warns inflation fight will be long and bumpy
KUOW Public Radio
WA bill aims to increase access to Death with Dignity Act
KXLY (ABC)
From Camp Hope to the classroom
Washington’s unemployment report for January released
Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington House passes bill that would legalize duplexes, fourplexes (Bateman)