Gov. Inslee asks White House to aid Spokane County wildfire survivors
In a letter to President Joe Biden, Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday asked for financial assistance and a major disaster declaration to help Spokane County wildfire survivors. The Gray and Oregon Road fires killed two people, destroyed 700 structures, and torched over 20,000 acres in August. Hundreds of people lost their homes, and Inslee declared a statewide emergency as thousands were forced to evacuate. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)
Washington may avoid child care cliff, but many providers are still struggling
Washington is unlikely to see a huge drop in child care services even as federal pandemic aid supporting providers dries up. Expiration of the funds led to nationwide concerns that millions of children could lose care. About $24 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act was distributed to states to help keep child care centers open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. That funding ran out on Saturday. Washington officials, however, say the state used most of its almost $390 million in federal child care stabilization funds, as well as new state revenue, to support child care centers beyond the pandemic. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)
Sen. Patty Murray now 2nd in line to be president after McCarthy’s dismissal
After Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s ouster from his position as speaker of the House, Washington’s U.S. Senator Patty Murray is now second in line to the presidency. Typically, the line of succession after the president is the vice president, then the speaker of the House, then the Senate Pro Tempore, which is the role Murray holds. Her office confirmed that with no leader in the House — just an “acting” speaker — Murray is now second in line to the presidency. This will be the case until the House elects a new speaker. Continue reading at KOMO.
Bellevue Reporter
Washington minimum wage to top $16 an hour next year
Bellingham Herald
Gas prices increase across Whatcom County and Bellingham, and they’ve hit a new threshold
Capital Press
Washington breaks biodiesel law for 14th straight year
Columbian
Clark County, La Center consider restricting camping on public property
WSU Vancouver relaunches on-campus child care to smiles for children and parents
Vancouver establishes affordable housing fund with money to come from developers that get tax exemption
Everett Herald
800K Washingtonians must restart student loan payments this month (Berg)
Comment: Companies eventually will have to track their emissions
Comment: Flood of misinformation isn’t the problem; demand is
Letter: Handicapped parking law should be better enforced
News Tribune
Where were Manuel Ellis’ hands during deadly encounter with Tacoma cops? Expert testifies
‘It’s unreal’: What recent vehicle thefts at the Tacoma Mall reveal about a broader problem
Opinion: It’s one of Pierce County’s unhealthiest places. A local man wants to change that
Olympian
Video played for jury shows part of Manuel Ellis’ encounter with police the night he died
Dad died after medics waited outside his home, lawsuit says. His son called 911 twice
Puget Sound Business Journal
Alaska Airlines launches startup incubator for aviation tech
Kaiser workers in SW Washington, Oregon join massive strike
IRS in lawmakers’ crosshairs over tax-credit moratorium
Seattle Times
New WA air-quality monitors draw critique from environmental justice advocates
Gov. Inslee asks White House to aid Spokane County wildfire survivors
As Seattle gas prices soar, so does interest in electric vehicles
Deadly bird flu jumps to harbor seals in Salish Sea, first for West Coast
Editorial: Seattle can’t enforce laws until King County fixes jail staffing
Skagit Valley Herald
La Conner School District puts mastery-based learning on display (Wellman)
Spokesman Review
Inslee asks Biden to declare Gray and Oregon Road fires ‘major disaster’ to unlock more federal aid
Tri-City Herald
Clean energy projects could cover 19K acres near Tri-Cities. Will they create enough jobs?
Washington Post
A coordinated ‘swatting’ effort may be behind school shooting hoaxes terrorizing kids across U.S.
WA State Standard
Washington may avoid child care cliff, but many providers are still struggling
First Amendment advocates fight growing number of U.S. book bans
Yakima Herald-Republic
Agreement will add personnel and negotiators to Yakima Valley SWAT team
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
New SeaTac minimum wage among highest in US
‘Week Without Driving’ challenge aims to make policymakers aware of public transit problems
Research uncovers new details on earthquake threats in western Washington
Gov. Inslee asking President Biden for federal aid amid Gray, Oregon Road fire recovery
600 employees have left, retired from Providence Everett since 2021, union says
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Sen. Patty Murray now 2nd in line to be president after McCarthy’s dismissal
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle mayor signs bill to increase downtown hotel fees, boosting revenue for tourism
Mother, sister of Manny Ellis expected to testify in trial of Tacoma police officers
KNKX Public Radio
Washington state’s efforts to trade timber revenue for carbon credits
KUOW Public Radio
NPR’s Climate Week: A spotlight on solutions
Push to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day continues in Congress
Bellevue leaders ‘not proud’ of delays to open parking lot for people living in vehicles
Freeze! Police! What happens when people get caught doing drugs in Seattle?
KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Police Department offering free theft de-escalation training to local businesses
City council wants to add crosswalks at E 29th Avenue for pedestrian safety
Q13 TV (FOX)
CDC has stopped printing COVID-19 vaccination cards
Snohomish County warns of increase in infant deaths over unsafe sleep environments
Web
Cascadia Daily News
President: WWU’s future is bright amid ‘crisis of confidence’ in higher ed
Crosscut
WA authors are teaching AI how to write — without their consent
The Stranger
A Militia Adopted Three Highways in Washington (Ramos, Berg)