WA Legislature kicks off short session with optimism, lengthy agenda
Monday’s opening ceremonies kicked off what is expected to be an active two months. Lawmakers will pass an updated budget, including untangling the mathematical knot caused by a massive increase in the cost of transportation projects. They will also work on some of the biggest issues facing Washington: homelessness, the lack of affordable child care and the quest to provide more treatment for people with substance use disorders amid record overdose deaths. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Lindsey Wasson)
Bill to ban child marriage gets unanimous support in Washington House, moves to Senate.
Child marriage is still legal in Washington, and on Monday state lawmakers moved along a proposed law to ban it. Today, children of any age can get married in the state. If they’re 17, they need parental consent. If they’re younger than that, they need approval from a judge. State law currently says a judge may grant permission for a child younger than 17 to get married “out of necessity.” But the law doesn’t outline what that so-called necessity looks like. On the first day of the 2024 legislative session, the state House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill to ban marriages of anyone under the age of 18. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Ellen Dennis)
Washington Bill Would Allow People to Sue for Stealthing
Washington could become one of the few states to make stealthing, the act of secretly removing a condom or some other sexual barrier during sex, explicitly illegal. House Bill 1958 would add a new chapter to the Revised Code of Washington describing civil penalties for this form of sexual assault. Bill sponsor Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle) wrote the bill after a friend shared their story of being stealthed. Continue reading at The Stranger. (Lester Black)
Associated Press
Busy Washington state legislative session kicks off with a focus on the housing crisis (Jinkins, Ramos)
New labor rules aim to offer gig workers more security, though some employers won’t likely be happy
Axios
Boeing faces fresh scrutiny over 737 MAX planes
Bellingham Herald
Large-scale Bellingham housing projects coming online in 2024
City settles accident-related lawsuit involving fired Bellingham Police detective
‘Bomb cyclone’ throws a roundhouse punch at Whatcom County. Here’s what to expect
Columbian
‘Forever chemicals’ decline in Vancouver water but officials unsure why
Labor shortages in construction cause delays, drive up costs in Clark County
Clark County Commission on Aging tackles emergency preparedness in 2024
Everett Herald
Bill would rename curriculum to honor late Tulalip lawmaker (Lekanoff, Cortes)
Editorial: A few bills worth attention in a short session (Lekanoff, Ryu, Salomon, Orwall, Ortiz-Self, Fosse)
Olympian
Bill to prohibit child marriages passes House on first day of session. Here’s what else happened (Nance, Hansen, Jinkins, Leavitt, Stonier, Peterson)
Puget Sound Business Journal
Inspections turn up more Boeing 737 Max 9s with door problems
Seattle Times
WA Legislature kicks off short session with optimism, lengthy agenda (Nance, Jinkins)
Editorial: Leaders must step up to dissuade dangerous freeway protests
Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County District Court with judge vacancy
Spokesman Review
Bill to ban child marriage gets unanimous support in Washington House, moves to Senate (Stonier)
Spokane Airport sees handful of flight cancellations as FAA grounds all Boeing 737 Max 9s
Patty Murray pledges to work ‘around the clock’ to fund government after congressional leaders reach $1.6 trillion deal
Opinion: Spokane needs to look beyond the known and commit to solving homelessness
Tri-City Herald
Pasco schools buy up another $4M in farmland near new high school. What we know
Blizzard warning issued for I-90, I-84 passes. Tri-City wind gusts near 50 mph forecast
Washington Post
Millions of gig workers could qualify as employees under new Biden-era rule
WA State Standard
2024 Washington state legislative session gets underway (Jinkins)
Washington House passes bill to allow splitting of residential lots (Peterson)
State lawmakers consider blocking Washington police from lying during interrogations (Peterson)
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Ukrainian refugees get job training in Snohomish County
Rebate checks could be part of Washington’s 2023 legislative session (Jinkins, Mullet, Nance)
Downed trees, high winds leave tens of thousands without power in Puget Sound area
After-action report details protest that closed NB I-5 in Seattle, created gridlock for hours
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
United Airlines finds loose bolts on door plugs in grounded 737 MAX 9 planes
Frustrations continue after another day of canceled Alaska flights at Sea-Tac Airport
After years of delays, mayor vows to deliver on promise of affordable housing at Fort Lawton
Washington AG sues Michigan company accused of defrauding thousands of small businesses
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
No word on Tacoma on if officers cleared in Manny Ellis’ death will be disciplined
Busy Washington state legislative session kicks off with a focus on the housing crisis (Jinkins)
Thousands in western Washington lose power as winter storms sweeps through region
Washington State Patrol ‘did their best’ to handle protest that shut down I-5, chief says
KUOW Public Radio
Seattle mayor wants more housing at Fort Lawton
Should school meals be free for all at Washington elementary schools?
Should Washington stay in standard time? These lawmakers say ‘yes’ (Dhingra)
‘From the Central to the south,’ Seattle neighborhoods ask for an engaged police force
KXLY (ABC)
Family Promise expecting to be at capacity ahead of winter weather
Progress in reducing crime visible at Second and Division, but challenges remain for local
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom council may ask governor, president to declare fentanyl emergency
Crosscut
Yakama Nation’s new public safety campus gives justice room to grow
The Stranger
Washington Bill Would Allow People to Sue for Stealthing (Berry)
West Seattle Blog
Sound Transit, Rethink The Link, Duwamish Tribe guests @ District 1 Community Network’s first 2024 meeting