As Washington rents go up, up, up, the air gets thin for tenants
Washington will need 1.1 million homes over the next 20 years to keep pace with the expected population growth, according to projections from the state Department of Commerce. More than half of those new units need to be “affordable for residents at the lowest income levels,” the report stated. Yet in Everett, for example, some of the biggest recent housing developments offer few or no units below market rate. State legislators were discussing a buffet of options to boost housing stock this year: zoning changes, subsidized housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), permitting reform, rent increase caps and transit-oriented development. Roughly 30 bills about housing and homelessness were still in play as of Friday. “What’s really exciting about this (legislative) session is we have a bipartisan and bicameral effort to tackle this issue head on,” Rep. Strom Peterson said. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)
More than 150 years after slavery was outlawed, a debt is still unpaid
I would imagine if you asked most people if there should be repair for harm, damage or injury, they would say yes. But if you bring up the topic of reparations for African Americans, it’s a very different story. The list of ways the U.S. has denied Black Americans access to justice, housing, education and wealth creation could fill multiple books you would not be allowed to read today in Florida. In Washington’s 2023 legislative session, some lawmakers are working to repair the racial injustice of our own state’s racially restrictive housing covenants. House Bill 1474 would create down payment and closing cost assistance for those directly affected or descended from those affected by restrictive covenants. In Washington, 34% of Black families own homes, compared with 68% of white families. In King County, median income for white households is nearly twice that of Black households. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)
Injured workers push for recording exams they say are stacked against them
On Tuesday the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony from injured workers pushing for the right to record state-mandated medical exams. When workers in the state of Washington become injured on the job, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) typically orders the worker to undergo an exam by a state-paid doctor, in what are known as Independent Medical Exams (IMEs). But for years, workers and their attorneys have complained the exams are unfair, lack transparency, and are used to cut off worker compensation benefits. Allowing recordings, according to those in favor of House Bill 1068, sponsored by Rep. Dan Bronoske (D-Lakewood), would level the playing field, and would eliminate discrepancies about what actually happened during exams. Continue reading at KING5.
Columbian
Washington may boost 988 hotline funding as demand grows (Orwall)
Editorial: In Our View: Allowing enforcement upholds social structure
Editorial: In Our View: Drawbridge, tunnel miss mark for I-5 Bridge
The Daily News
LCC Foundation scholarship fund helps Woodland man pursue dreams of auto mechanics
Everett Herald
As Washington rents go up, up, up, the air gets thin for tenants (Peterson)
Comment: Keep state’s working forests in climate change fight
Comment: Real estate tax boost could hurt affordable housing
Editorial: Indifference risks loss of access to public records
Indian Country Today
BNSF fuel train derails on Swinomish Reservation
News Tribune
Safe parking site will be a first for Tacoma. Here’s how the homeless shelter will work
City of Lakewood considers ordinances banning public drug use, overnight camping
WA had third-highest rate for vehicle theft in 2022. Pierce County numbers remain high
Comment: Seattle or Vancouver? Only 1 city has an effective response to homelessness and drugs
Olympian
Olympia eyes property tax increase as potential source for climate response funding
Fentanyl drives worsening trend of overdoses, deaths, Thurston County officials say
Marked or unmarked, Washington drivers are required to yield these rights-of-way
WA state’s annual report on public marine beach safety is in. How did Thurston County do?
Comment: Who’s homeless in Thurston County and why? The answer must drive solutions
Editorial: Remembering Gladys Burns, who provided the vision for Thurston County’s social safety net
Peninsula Daily News
Special ed funding boost moves forward (Van De Wege, Tharinger, Chapman)
Education-related bills in state Legislature
Seattle Times
Southern resident orcas are too inbred. Will the population survive?
More than 150 years after slavery was outlawed, a debt is still unpaid
How a mom fought Washington’s special education system — and won
Foster, homeless college students in WA could get more housing support (Trudeau, Ortiz-Self)
Editorial: Abandoning WA students to learn in cold, leaky schools is disgraceful (Mullet)
Skagit Valley Herald
Senior meal bill passed by state House of Representatives
Spokesman Review
Washington’s DNR wants to take part in carbon-credit markets (Lovelett)
Spin Control: Cute kids, a would-be state dinosaur and willing Legislators – only one thing is missing (Morgan)
Pair of special education bills in Washington Legislature would increase funding for local districts (Pollet)
Yakima Herald-Republic
Police pursuit bill faces tough path ahead in Legislature
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Injured workers push for recording exams they say are stacked against them (Bronoske)
‘We’re small but mighty:’ Locals discuss Black experience in Pacific Northwest
Kent School District announces impending teacher, staff cuts due to enrollment decline
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Amazon to lay off 9,000 more workers
KNKX Public Radio
Cut emissions quickly to save lives, scientists warn in a new U.N. report
Rich countries export twice as much plastic waste to the developing world as previously thought
‘Back to one meal a day’: SNAP benefits drop as food prices climb
KUOW Public Radio
Week in Review: Legislature, COVID, and transit fare enforcement
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Democrats meet constituents at Ferndale town hall (Timmons, Rule, Shewmake)
BP Cherry Point mulling green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel
My Edmonds News
21st District legislators respond to questions on single-family housing, gun control and more at Saturday town hall (Ortiz-Self, Peterson, Liias)