Rifle ban, housing bills and more advance in the WA Legislature
Housing, firearms and drug-possession laws have all kept Washington lawmakers busy during the first half of the 2023 legislative session, with some surprising results so far. Washington may soon do away with some single-family zoning in cities to push back against the deepening housing-affordability crisis. The House has passed a ban on the sale of many semi-automatic rifles, in a historic first for advocates of tighter firearms restrictions. And the Democratic-controlled Senate advanced controversial proposals to reshape Washington’s drug-possession law and ease restrictions on when law enforcement can engage in vehicle pursuits. Washington’s 105-day scheduled legislative session is just past its midpoint, with a lot of big proposals in play. These and other big-ticket bills have survived a trio of deadlines that put them on a path toward Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Amanda Snyder)
Rep. Duerr: Sprawl is cheap for developers and costly for everyone else. This would help fight it
If we don’t change things, new homes and strip malls will replace farms and forests. People will spend more time sitting in traffic to get to work. Suburban sprawl is cheap for developers — and expensive for everyone else. It’s expensive for taxpayers who will pay more to build roads, schools, fire stations and other services where none exist today. It’s expensive for families and businesses rebuilding after wildfires, floods and rising sea levels. And it’s expensive in terms of our quality of life. Where we live, how we build and how far we drive are all related to climate change. In the last few years, our state withstood a catastrophic heat dome, aggressive wildfires, devastating flooding and a debilitating drought. That extreme weather will only get worse as the climate warms. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Washington House Democrats)
Biden budget has $250M for Lynnwood light rail
President Joe Biden’s proposed budget includes a potential windfall for light rail projects in Snohomish County. The budget includes $250 million for the Lynnwood Link light rail expansion from Northgate to Lynnwood. It would accelerate funding and could mean the project can shave $40 million in borrowed money when combined with last year’s federal boost for the Federal Way extension, according to Sound Transit. The federal infusion coming earlier would mean less money paid for other loans on the project, leading to the potential $40 million in savings. That cash could go toward other light rail extensions in development across the Sound Transit system in Ballard, Everett, Issaquah, Kirkland, Tacoma and West Seattle. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)
Associated Press
Washington state House votes to ban assault weapons (Farivar)
Washington Senate OKs bill to change police pursuit law (Dhingra, Lovick)
Aberdeen Daily World
Grays Harbor jumps to 8.8 percent unemployment; 7th highest statewide
Axios
Ban on selling assault weapons clears state House (Berry)
Capital Press
La Nina steps aside after three-year run; El Nino on horizon
Columbian
Former state, Vancouver political leader Jim Moeller dies (Wylie)
Washington’s at-home COVID-19 testing program to end May 11
Everett Herald
Push to lower legal limit to 0.05 for driving drunk falls short (Lovick, Liias, Billig)
House Democrats push Washington closer to assault weapons ban (Peterson)
Biden budget has $250M for Lynnwood light rail
News Tribune
Rep. Duerr: Sprawl is cheap for developers and costly for everyone else. This would help fight it
Peninsula Daily News
Death with Dignity waiting period shortened in proposed bill (Pederson)
Swap in Lost Mountain Land Exchange increases access to DNR-managed lands
Puget Sound Business Journal
WA homeowners had nation’s 2nd-steepest equity loss last year
Seattle Medium
Tacoma To Seattle Light Rail Project Delayed Again
House Passes Entenman’s Student Basic Needs Act (Entenman)
Seattle Times
WA Legislature forges ahead on assault weapons ban, new drug law (Jinkins)
The Skanner
Washington House OKs Bill Requiring 10-day Wait for Guns (Berry)
Spokesman Review
Republican Legislators say assault weapons ban won’t hold up in court if passed (Billig)
Tri-City Herald
Walla Walla schools host Spanish book fairs
Survey: Walla Walla residents want glass recycling, retail options and more
Yakima Herald-Republic
State Senate approves bill to increase Astria Toppenish Hospital funding
Opinion: Attorney shortage poses serious risks for Yakima County
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Gov. Inslee, police organizations hope pursuit bill will become law (Jinkins)
Where Washington stands on making Daylight Saving Time permanent
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Inslee points to housing plans as solution to immediate and long-term homelessness issues
KNKX Public Radio
Citing wildfire risk, Spokane to thin 1,000 acres of urban forest
KXLY (ABC)
90 Central Valley School District teachers facing layoffs due to low enrollment
‘Going to at least boost them’: What you need to qualify for the Working Families Tax Credit
NW Public Radio
Washington’s McMorris Rodgers pushing for more hydropower, questioning ‘Big Tech’
Electron Hydro dam could face largest fine for environmental crime in Washington history
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Rent cap bill dies, housing density lives on in Legislature (Ramel, Lekanoff, Shewmake, Lovelett, Timmons)
Opinion: Go figure: A dam removal, followed by clearcut?
Crosscut
Rifle ban, housing bills and more advance in the WA legislature (Bateman, Peterson, Berry, Lovick, Robinson, Jinkins, Pederson, Paul, Hansen, Riccelli, Morgan, Saldana, Dhingra, Leavitt, Wellman, Ramel)
MyNorthwest
Stine challenges success of WA’s first ever carbon emission auction
Bellevue School District revise consolidation plans, only closing 2 schools
New mental health center announced by Governor in Kirkland