WA Senate panel OKs assault weapon ban, a day after Nashville shooting
A bill outlawing sale of assault weapons passed a critical test in the state Senate on Tuesday, moving a step closer to becoming law this year. The Democrat-sponsored legislation banning the manufacture, distribution and sale of certain semiautomatic firearms passed the Senate Law and Justice Committee on a party line vote. In passing House Bill 1240, Democrats cited Monday’s slaying of three students and three adults at a school in Nashville, Tennessee, as a reason to impose the prohibition. “One thing constant in all of the tragedies is the gun,” said Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue. “This is a step forward for public safety. It’s a step where we are going to put kids before killers.” Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, read the names of the three children and three adults and noted two guns used in the shooting — which were legally purchased — are banned by the bill. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Elaine Thompson)
Editorial: Isolation and restraint of students is abuse
Listening to legislative testimony about a 7-year-old boy in crisis who was restrained face down on a school floor tests the heart. Watching a grown man choke up at his memory of being dragged through a hallway and locked in a barren isolation room would lead any feeling person to wonder why Washington state continues these practices. Sadly, a bill that would have prohibited these practices, House Bill 1479, died in the Senate this week. Supporters of the bill are not wasting time bemoaning its failure. They have already pivoted toward pushing for a budget proviso that would create a demonstration site showing how no-restraint, no-isolation policies can look in practice. That way, they’ll have more data to present next year, when they vow to try again. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)
Sen. Cleveland: Invest to support post-acute health care system
If you have needed to visit an emergency room lately, you have likely experienced the overwhelming number of patients. It is a problem evident in hospitals across the state. In every corner of Washington, patients are waking up in hospital beds ready to be discharged. They no longer meet the clinical criteria to be hospitalized and are ready to be transferred to post-acute care facilities, but that transfer is delayed or, too often, never comes. We must make long-term investments in supporting our post-acute health care system to ensure people have access to the services they need in the right setting. We have proudly voted for legislation that will reinforce safe-staffing standards, improve workers’ compensation benefits for nurses, have Washington join the Nurse Licensure Compact and remove barriers for retired nurses wanting to return to patient care. Continue reading at Columbian.
Aberdeen Daily World
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Bellingham Herald
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Capital Press
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Columbian
Washington House budget backs housing (Tharinger)
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Everett Herald
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News Tribune
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Thurston County homeless census counts more people in 2023 with extended survey
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Seattle Times
WA lawmakers advance bill to block some public employee info from view (Hunt, Kuderer)
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Editorial: Isolation and restraint of students is abuse (Wellman)
Spokesman Review
Washington assault weapons ban one step closer to reality after passing Senate committee (Kuderer)
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Walla Walla Union Bulletin
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Wenatchee World
East Wenatchee gets grant from Department of Ecology for Grant Road
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Senate committee passes bill banning sale of assault weapons in Washington (Dhingra)
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Seattle becomes first city to ensure permanent paid sick leave for gig workers
KNKX Public Radio
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KUOW Public Radio
Attack ads challenge property sales tax proposal in Washington state
One WA police chief’s argument for changing state vehicle pursuits law (Lovick)
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WA Attorney General speaks on access to abortion medication in Spokane
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Cascadia Daily News
US treasurer visits, discusses Lummi business development
Crosscut
How racism reshaped the Civilian Conservation Corps
Seattle passes first-in-the-nation paid sick leave for gig workers
MyNorthwest
King County Metro installs air monitors to study effects of fentanyl