The latest flare-up over Washington’s heat pump rules
Washington is aiming to reduce energy use in buildings by 70% compared to the levels envisioned with the 2006 edition of the state building code. And the building code council has a mandate to get it done by early next decade. Washington regulators derailed earlier this year when they tried to mandate electric heat pumps, rather than natural gas, be used to warm newly built homes and apartments. But now a path is emerging for them to offer builders incentives to choose heat pumps instead of gas. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)
WA foster parents say the state still hasn’t fixed its investigative system
The state has been aware for years that fears of retaliation and frustration around investigations have driven away some otherwise willing foster parents. CPS investigations of abuse or neglect allegations are high-stakes, often difficult processes — mishandling one could also leave a child in a dangerous household. But Silvia Zarate’s experience aligns with a pattern advocates describe of overly punitive treatment of foster parents by the Department of Children, Youth and Families when those caregivers face accusations of abuse, neglect or even lower-level licensing violations. In a 2018 report to the Legislature on the topic of foster parent complaints, the department said it would undertake “enhanced systemic monitoring of foster parent supports” to tackle the problem. DCYF did not respond to a question asking what specifically the department has done since then to address concerns about investigations. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jake Parrish)
VP Kamala Harris to visit Seattle to speak on inflation and climate crisis
Vice President Kamala Harris will speak in Seattle on President Joe Biden’s administration’s efforts to combat inflation and the climate crisis on Aug. 15. The vice president’s visit comes ahead of the one-year anniversary of Biden signing his landmark Inflation Reduction Act. Harris plans to discuss her administration’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis with what she believes is the urgency it demands while building a clean energy economy that creates good-paying jobs. Continue reading at KOMO4.
Axios
Sexual misconduct on airplanes is increasing, prosecutors warn
What it takes to be in the top 1% in Washington state
Bellingham Herald
Unpleasant reality: Whatcom County’s child abuse rates far exceed the statewide average
North Cascades Highway reopens as wildfire continues to advance in rural Whatcom County
Meridian School District shares plans to address child-care deserts in Whatcom County
Capital Press
Labor recruiter WAFLA offers money management classes for farmworkers
Columbian
Clark County projects it will add 73,500 jobs from 2025-2045
Vancouver eyes climate-adaptive trees for future
Everett Herald
Everett Transit seeks feds’ advice after Proterra bankruptcy
In Everett, ‘instead of helping us, they just want to put us in jail’
Editorial: Supreme Court left abortion decision to the people
The Inlander
A developer wants to build on one of the last untouched parts of Liberty Lake, raising environmental concerns
News Tribune
Farmers’ Almanac predicting an ‘unusually snowy’ winter in WA. Here’s the full forecast
Pierce County Executive vetoes council decision on controversial homeless village zoning
Report: More than a third of WA drivers canceled summer travel plans over high gas prices
Olympian
Olympic National Park reopens two trails after cougar attack, but others remain closed
Puget Sound Business Journal
Port of Seattle approves $33M for Maritime Innovation Center
WA agency acquires shuttered behavioral health hospital in Tukwila
Billions of SBA dollars in crosshairs after Supreme Court decision
Seattle Times
Early signs suggest WA could see a late-summer COVID wave
‘Disturbing uptick’ in sexual assaults on aircraft, officials say
Proposed San Juan Island trail divides farmers, recreation advocates
Port of Seattle approves $33 million Fishermen’s Terminal building renovation
Seattle City Council clears way for completion of $160 million aquarium expansion
Editorial: Free books for WA kids from a country music legend and literacy fairy godmother
Opinion: Modernize Columbia River Treaty to meet challenges ahead
Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County facility helping to turn used oil, beef fat into diesel fuel
Spokesman Review
2023 Washington apple harvest starts strong
Washington buys upgraded devices to help prevent wolf-livestock conflict
Tri-City Herald
2 Amazon centers have yet to open in Pasco. Is a safety dispute in Western WA to blame?
WA State Standard
The latest flare-up over Washington’s heat pump rules
Nearly 300,000 fentanyl pills seized in one of King County’s largest drug busts
Wenatchee World
Confluence Health CEO talks staffing, finances and future of Wenatchee’s hospital system
Yakima Herald-Republic
Retirement town hall meeting planned in Yakima on Aug. 17
Broadcast
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Vice President Kamala Harris returning to Seattle to discuss climate crisis
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
WSP warns of ‘rat-running’ trend in which drivers cut through lots to avoid backups
Seattle to save historic cedar tree in Wedgwood neighborhood
Overdose calls in King County have increased by 65% this year
North Cascades Highway reopens after closing due to 1,700-acre Sourdough Fire
Sexual abuse cases onboard flights rise; one woman’s fight for a conviction
VP Kamala Harris to visit Seattle to speak on inflation and climate crisis
KNKX Public Radio
Inflation got a little higher in July as prices for rent and gas spiked
KUOW Public Radio
New deal saves Seattle’s celebrity tree, ‘Luma’
Seattle lays out plan to uphold treaties and consider Indigenous concerns
Seattle strikes down its fee on arcade games, pinball, pool, and more fun
KXLY (ABC)
Paramedics ask for better solutions as fentanyl overdoses skyrocket
Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington AG cracks down on criminals who fail to submit DNA
Seattle City Council passes bill to protect app-based workers from ‘unreasonable deactivation’
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Family Care Network to drop insurer, could strand PeaceHealth employees
Crosscut
WA foster parents say the state still hasn’t fixed its investigative system
MyNorthwest
Frustration about upcoming Seattle Police contract emerges at city council meeting