Indigenous people in WA incarcerated at higher rates than any other group, data show
Washington in recent years imprisoned Indigenous people at more than six times the rate of white people. That’s according to U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics data that the Prison Policy Initiative assembled and released last month. The disparity between Indigenous and white incarceration in Washington has roughly doubled over the past decade, based on statistics for 2010 that the Prison Policy Initiative released. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Brian Lyman)
WA spent $500M to help small, minority businesses. Did it work?
Since 2020, the state Department of Commerce has funneled close to a half-billion dollars in federal aid directly to more than 25,000 businesses across Washington. State lawmakers and finance officials positioned the Working Washington stimulus program as plugging a gap for small businesses passed over by federal relief efforts and still struggling amid COVID-19 restrictions, some of which continued into 2021. In addition to capping the size of businesses eligible to apply, officials also directed the Department of Commerce to prioritize “historically disadvantaged” businesses as well as those owned by Black and Indigenous people and people of color. Whether the program succeeded in targeting small or disadvantaged businesses remains unclear, in part due to inconsistent tracking of recipient data by Commerce. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jason Redmond)
Cities in Washington can no longer make vague promises to build enough ‘affordable housing’
Cities in Washington can no longer make vague promises to build enough affordable housing for the people moving into this region. That’s the aim of a new state law, HB 1220, giving cities specific goals around how many homes they’ll accommodate, and who should be able to afford them. Washington cities are currently in the process of updating their comprehensive plans, which will guide how they grow over the next 20-plus years. The new housing goals for each city will become part of those plans, which are due in December 2024. Continue reading at KUOW. (Joshua McNichols)
Associated Press
Tokitae the orca died from old age and multiple chronic illnesses, necropsy finds
Capital Press
Washington crushes record for farm production
Columbian
Clark County grape harvest strong despite delay
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Everett Herald
Snohomish County gets ‘D+’ in overall health surveys
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Comment: Telehealth has been a boon to teens’ mental health
News Tribune
Number of times Manuel Ellis told Tacoma police he couldn’t breathe becomes trial issue
Olympian
WA Attorney General’s Office must pay $4.2M in Value Village lawsuit
Port Townsend Leader
The hidden factors of affordable housing
Puget Sound Business Journal
No CRE sector ‘will be spared’ as banks pull back on lending
These are the top concerns for small businesses as 2024 approaches
Seattle Times
King County to start Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Express-lane tolls on two WA highways could soon rise to $12 or $15
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Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County residents to prepare for earthquake
Snoqualmie Valley Record
WSDOT opposes taking over Snoqualmie Parkway, has concerns with road’s design
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‘Unusually large’ toxic algal bloom covers 30-mile stretch of the Lower Snake River
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Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla residents can ask questions, give input at community land trust forum
Washington Post
One potential step toward climate goals? Banning new gas lines.
EPA finds small planes’ lead pollution threatens human health
WA State Standard
Long-snubbed by Washington lawmakers, sunshine panel not ready to surrender
Indigenous people in WA incarcerated at higher rates than any other group, data show
Wenatchee World
Students in Wenatchee receive virtual therapy with new district partnership
Yakima Herald-Republic
Editorial: Patients paying the price for hospital financial troubles
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Amazon will start testing drones that will drop prescriptions on your doorstep, literally
Snoqualmie woman shares warning after dog ingested meth while on a walk
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King County hosting second Gift Cards for Guns event this weekend
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Toll increases to I-405, SR 167 for western Washington drivers could be coming soon
King County deputy charged with assault for alleged excessive force on handcuffed suspect
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Seattle parents demand answers from district over recent classroom shuffling, size miscalculations
KNKX Public Radio
Cowlitz social programs, drug court in limbo as officials eye tax cuts
Washington State Ferries canceled 1,145 sailings this summer, with outsized impact on the San Juans
KUOW Public Radio
Another flower saved in the Northwest
Judge approves protections for trans people in WA prisons
How WA cities define ‘affordable housing’ just got a lot more particular
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Conservative groups push SCOTUS to tackle Washington state’s capital gains tax
KXLY (ABC)
Elk community members converting large containers into tiny homes for wildfire victims
Q13 TV (FOX)
‘This is a preventable disaster’; King County launches gun violence office
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Almost 2 years after historic event, county projects reduce community flood risk (Shewmake)
Crosscut
WA spent $500M to help small, minority businesses. Did it work?
MyNorthwest
WA to participate in IRS free tax filing pilot program
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King County Executive Constantine creates new group to combat gun violence
West Seattle Blog
BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Here’s the ‘initial’ list of stores Rite Aid plans to close or sell