Opinion: Anger over WA assault weapon ban isn’t just about gun rights — it’s about selfishness
After years of failed attempts and squandered opportunities, the state did something it should have done long ago: banning the sale, manufacture, transfer and importation of more than 50 assault-style weapons, the kind of guns capable of quickly turning a violent crime into a mass murder. Governor Jay Inslee, flanked by a team of beaming liberal lawmakers and supporters, signed the historic bill into law, making Washington the 10th state to implement such a ban, effectively immediately. Continue reading at News Tribune. (Lindsey Wasson)
How the implosion of WA’s drug possession law could spell disaster for addiction support services
The Washington Legislature adjourned Sunday without passing House Bill 5536. The bill would have replaced the state’s sunsetting drug possession law, making possession a gross misdemeanor. Now the legal status of drug possession is in limbo – along with $270 million worth of services that the bill would have put into place for people with addictions.Continue reading at KUOW. (U.S. Attorneys Office for Utah via AP)
Washington’s 68th Legislative Session is officially over. Here’s a recap of what ended up passing – or not
A lightsaber, beads, a gong, at least two wigs, custom T-shirts and a cowbell were among the unusual objects Washington Legislators brought to the floor to ring in the last day of the session on Sunday. Just after 10 p.m., House of Representatives Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, and President of the Senate Denny Heck struck their gavels in the same moment to signify Sine Die, the conclusion of the 68th Legislative session marked by policy on healthcare, public safety and housing. This session was the Legislature’s first return in person since COVID-19 restrictions required remote participation for the previous two sessions. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Elena Perry)
Associated Press
Gov. Inslee signs three gun bills into law
Microsoft Activision merger blocked over competition fears
Washington State Officially Abolishes Death Penalty
New Washington gun law already faces federal court challenges (Peterson, Berry)
Washington becomes 10th state to enact semi-automatic rifle ban, law effective immediately (Peterson, Berry)
Aberdeen Daily World
Initial vote returns lean against creation of new RFA
Axios
Murray and Schrier seek to protect abortion doctors in blue states
Bellingham Herald
Bellingham officials disclose results of citywide rental inspections
Teacher reductions, larger classes likely at Bellingham Schools due to $16M budget cut
WA becomes 10th state in the U.S. to ban assault weapons after Inslee signs bill into law (Peterson, Berry, Pederson)
Capital Press
Washington lawmakers budget cap-and-trade funds
Washington lawmakers adjourn, in some cases without action (Chapman, Keiser)
Columbian
Clark County sheriff, prosecutor named in suit over Washington gun law
Vancouver adopts relaxed environmental standards to speed housing construction
Opinion: Legislators must compromise to pass drug law
The Daily News
With funding on the horizon, Longview schools look to improve special education services
Everett Herald
Edmonds mayor delivers stern warning after spate of violence
Snohomish County receives an F on air quality report card
Comment: Increasing flood of guns isn’t making anyone feel safe
Indian Country Today
Deb Haaland visits Tulalip to hear from boarding school survivors
News Tribune
Tacoma’s new safe parking site has served only 2 people — but one is already housed
Editorial: Anger over WA assault weapon ban isn’t just about gun rights — it’s about selfishness
Olympian
Got COVID-19? Starting May 11, you can’t rely on WA state to notify people of exposure
Olympia, Tumwater voters defeat RFA plan by a wide margin. Here’s what happens now
Peninsula Daily News
Special legislative session in works (Tharinger, Van De Wege, Chapman)
New Washington gun law already faces federal court challenge
Closures, other DOT projects upcoming
Puget Sound Business Journal
Washington state to pull plug on Covid notification app
Seattle Medium
Two Seattle Public School Principals Awarded $25,000 For Advancing Educational Justice
Seattle Office of Inspector General Releases Recommendations For Improving SPD’s Response To Protests
Seattle Times
WA Democrats, you had one job (Jinkins, Mullet)
WA ferry reservation system hit with delays
Transparency advocates sue WA over ‘legislative privilege’ exemption (Jinkins)
School closures, cuts to clubs and music possible as WA schools face ‘cliff’
WA bans sale of AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles, effective immediately (Peterson, Pedersen, Hackney, Berry)
The Skanner
Semi-Automatic Rifle Ban Passes Washington State Legislature
Spokesman Review
Inslee signs Washington’s ban on new assault weapons
Murray’s 10,000th vote marks a new era for women in the Senate
Washington’s 68th Legislative Session is officially over. Here’s a recap of what ended up passing – or not (Jinkins, Heck, Nobles, Trudeau, Taylor)
Opinion: Accountability requires answers, not slogans
Tri-City Herald
‘Very little faith.’ Pasco wants a plan in case WA lawmakers can’t fix drug laws
Wenatchee World
New bill set to make changes in permit processing, Chelan County not worried
Yakima Herald-Republic
Ceremony welcomes Jared Boswell as new Yakima County Superior Court Judge
$5 million in state funding will help propel PNWU’s new dental school in Yakima
Report finds more WA kids enter preschool developmentally behind due to pandemic
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
King County cities Auburn, Maple Valley scramble to ban drug use
First lawsuit filed against Washington’s assault weapons ban, AG Ferguson confident ban will survive
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
What’s next for drug laws in Washington state? (Jinkins)
Why isn’t Washington State Ferries building new vessels?
Inslee signs 3 bills into law aimed at preventing gun violence in Washington state (Peterson, Berry)
KNKX Public Radio
Washington state Legislature adjourns without a new drug possession law on the books (Jinkins)
KUOW Public Radio
Gun rights groups sue to stop WA ban on semi-automatic rifle sales
Washington governor signs new gun bills into law, including “assault weapons” ban (Peterson)
How the implosion of WA’s drug possession law could spell disaster for addiction support services
KXLY (ABC)
WA lawmakers reject drug possession bill, cities to make own ordinances
Radio Pacific
Drug Possession And Use Will Be Legal In Washington Without Quick Action
Web
Cascadia Daily News
State funds $9M crisis center for Whatcom (Rule, Shewmake)
Bellingham Public Schools to reduce 80 certificated staff
MyNorthwest
5-1-1 traveler alert number will soon be a thing of the past
West Seattle Blog
LEGISLATURE: West Seattle’s State House reps split on drug-law vote (Fitzgibbon, Alvarado, Nguyen)