WA House votes to keep drug possession a misdemeanor
The Washington House passed legislation early Wednesday that if passed into law would keep drug possession as a misdemeanor in the state. The policy differs from the version passed by the Washington Senate last month, so its passage in the House isn’t the final word, but it is a milestone as the Legislature nears the end of its session. “Incarceration never did anything for me except add another layer of trauma to my life and to the lives of my children,” said Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton. Simmons said the bill was “very hard” for her to vote on but that the bill would help build “a system that has multiple pathways to recovery.” Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)
Idaho bans abortion ‘trafficking’ for minors. What it means for WA residents, caregivers
A law recently passed in Idaho aims to curb Idahoans from searching for reproductive care out of state. This could spell trouble for Washington state health care providers. Although abortion is legal in Washington, Idaho’s law, in a way, is challenging the freedoms of the Evergreen State. In March, Idaho’s attorney general, Raúl Labrador, indicated on several occasions he intends to prosecute anyone who disregards Idaho’s recent abortion statute. There are three bills currently in the Washington Legislature that aim to protect Washington state health care providers. Continue reading at Olympian. (Sarah A. Miller)
Duplex influx? Middle housing passes hurdle in Washington Senate
A slimmed version of a bill to allow more duplexes or fourplexes in cities across Washington is on its way to becoming law. The “middle housing” proposal passed the state Senate 35-14 on Tuesday. It previously passed 75-21 in the state House of Representatives, where it must receive one more approval before heading to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk. Most cities across the state would be required to allow denser types of housing on lots – an attempt to shift zoning laws away from decades of only allowing single-family homes. It’s one of a number of proposals making its way through the Legislature this year as lawmakers attempt to address the state’s growing housing and homelessness crisis. “This bill is a direct response to a problem we have all recognized over and over again,” Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, said on the floor. “We simply don’t have enough housing.” Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Jesse Tinsley)
Axios
King County’s population is growing again
Pet insurance will have to abide by new rules in Washington (Stanford)
Columbian
Lower taxes lure business from Portland to Clark County
Report underscores need for affordable housing in Vancouver
City of Vancouver finds 3 wells exceed state levels for PFAS
Opinion: In Our View: Congress should codify abortion policy
The Daily News
Bill would let more WA homeowners qualify for property tax breaks
Everett Herald
Forest Service wins Stillaguamish logging suit over conservation group
House passes bill giving police greater ability to undertake pursuits (Peterson, Farivar)
Paine Field, housing crunch are hot-button issues at annual update
Comment: In normal times, we can argue gray areas; now isn’t normal
Comment: State’s decade of retail cannabis a work in progress
News Tribune
State Attorney General’s Office sues puppy retailer in Pierce County for deception
Northwest Asian Weekly
WA state recognizing Ramadan will help connect Muslims and non-Muslims
Olympian
Idaho bans abortion ‘trafficking’ for minors. What it means for WA residents, caregivers
WA Senate passes reproductive ‘shield law.’ Bill now heads for the governor’s desk (Hansen, Trudeau)
Peninsula Daily News
Police gain greater ability for pursuit in House bill (Van De Wege, Chapman)
Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle mayor proposes zoning changes to boost industrial areas
Boeing beats Airbus on orders and deliveries in March
Why employers hold a critical key to the future of cities
SBA’s final rule will end longtime moratorium on new lenders
Design flaws at Sea-Tac’s new arrivals facility prompt legal battle
Seattle Medium
Inslee Appoints Eric Pettigrew As New Director Of The Washington State Lottery Commission
Seattle Times
Veterans program shows way to reducing all homelessness
Amazon warehouse work is getting safer but still more dangerous than 2020
Amid post-Roe landscape, WA lawmakers pass abortion ‘shield law’ (Hansen)
AG sues Puppyland over alleged false health guarantees, predatory loans
Laid-back Bellingham gets tough on drugs? It’s a sign for the rest of WA
WA House votes to keep drug possession a misdemeanor (Simmons, Goodman)
Lawmakers pass bill to change how WA cares for youth stuck in hospitals (Wilson C., Callan)
WA Senate passes bill allowing duplexes, fourplexes in single-family zones (Trudeau, Bateman, Mullet)
Opinion: WA’s capital gains tax will have unintended consequences
Sol De Yakima
Fundación UFW continúa asistencia a trabajadores agrícolas
Spokesman Review
Duplex influx? Middle housing passes hurdle in Washington Senate (Trudeau, Billig)
Change to Washington’s police pursuits law one step closer to reality with House approval (Goodman, Entenman, Hackney)
Opinion: Trans youth deserve to be seen, heard and cared for
Yakima Herald-Republic
YVC faculty and students call on Legislature to fully fund community colleges
Ecology: No water contamination detected around Rocky Top landfill west of Yakima, air monitoring continues
Broadcast
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Bill to loosen restrictions on police pursuits passes Washington state House (Fitzgibbon)
Washington sues Puppyland over alleged false health guarantees, predatory loans
KNKX Public Radio
Inflation eased in March but prices are still climbing too fast to get comfortable
Advocates push WA lawmakers to help undocumented immigrants cover health insurance premiums
KUOW Public Radio
WA Legislature passes bill aimed at reducing single-use plastics
2 words to understand amid abortion drug headlines: Today So Far
KXLY (ABC)
WA Senate passes “missing middle” bill to increase housing density (Bateman)
WA House passes bill to lower threshold for police pursuits (Hackney)
NW Public Radio
Drag show protests throughout Tri-Cities lead to death threat, vandalism — Part Three
Q13 TV (FOX)
Inslee signs bill to strengthen prosecution of hate crimes (Dhingra)
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Walmart stores in Whatcom and Skagit to drop single-use bags
Crosscut
WA Senate passes “missing middle” bill to increase housing density (Bateman)
MyNorthwest
National SNAP benefit reduction squeezing local food banks