WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Tuesday, January 16

Visitors and Oath Keepers open carry weapons at the state capitol on Jan. 31, 2020 during a rally. Legislation passed in 2021 now prohibits weapons within 250 feet of state capitol grounds and permitted demonstrations.

Guns would be prohibited in more WA public places under new bill proposed by lawmakers
Washington lawmakers are considering a new proposal to prohibit weapons, including firearms, in more public spaces in the state. Under the legislation, public libraries, zoos, aquariums, parks, transit stations and state or local public buildings would be added to the list of designated areas where weapons are prohibited. Senate Bill 5444 is sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, and co-sponsored by five other Senate Democrats. Valdez noted that he introduced the bill because he wanted to continue the work in the Legislature to keep communities as safe as possible and to reduce gun violence. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Shauna Sowersby)


State lawmakers hold press conference on Sea-Tac Airport noise, pollution bill
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is at the center of new legislation aimed at improving life for residents nearby. At 9 a.m. on Monday, State Senator Karen Keiser and Representative Tina Orwall held a press conference on House Bill 2103. It would require port districts to use levy money to mitigate noise, pollution, and adverse health impacts. A 2020 King County Department of Health study found people living within 10 miles of the airport have been greatly impacted. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)


An EpiPen epinephrine auto-injector, a Mylan product, delivers a measured dose of epinephrine to treat an allergic reaction.

Whidbey Island rep wants to reduce sky-high costs for EpiPens, inhalers
Rep. Dave Paul has seen the cost of his family’s life-saving medications skyrocket in recent years. Two of his four children live with asthma while another has food allergies, making inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors, or EpiPens, a must-have at all times. House Bill 1979, sponsored by Paul, would put a cap on the costs of inhalers and EpiPens so customers with insurance would only have to pay $35 out of pocket. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Mark Zaleski)


Print

Associated Press
Washington state sues to block proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons grocery chains

Auburn Reporter
State Senate bill would boost pay for school board members (Nguyen)

Axios
5 gun control bills to watch in Washington’s Legislature (Dhingra)

Bellingham Herald
Family whose son was hit by vehicle in Bellingham crosswalk sues city, federal agency
Home prices in Whatcom County decrease as Bellingham’s prices jump to average of $700k

Capital Press
Washington apple harvest second largest ever
Washington bill calls for review of whether turbines obstruct firefighting

Columbian
Seattle’s minimum-pay law for delivery-app drivers takes effect
New legislation would pave way to merge Washington carbon market with California’s (Nguyen)

Everett Herald
Whidbey Island rep wants to reduce sky-high costs for EpiPens, inhalers (Paul)

Kitsap Sun
Mental health providers connecting with homeless by meeting people where they area

News Tribune
Possible freezing rain anticipated in Pierce and Thurston counties on Tuesday

Olympian
WA Attorney General files lawsuit hoping to block Kroger-Albertsons merger
Guns would be prohibited in more WA public places under new bill proposed by lawmakers (Valdez)
Opinion: A year of housing columns. Do we agree more or less on how to house our community?

Peninsula Daily News
State officials turn to schools in opioid fight (Kuderer)
Design unveiled for Billy Frank Jr. statue at U.S. capitol

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing faces audit, class action lawsuit over 737 Max 9 incident

Seattle Times
‘Should Seattle remove encampments?’ Advocates debate
WA attorney general sues to block Kroger, Albertsons merger
U.S. Supreme Court won’t take up WA capital gains tax challenge
The Supreme Court declines to step into the fight over bathrooms for transgender students
Editorial: Stay focused on the road ahead in I-5 bridge megaproject
Opinion: My sons died in a Boeing 737 MAX crash. Not much has changed

South Whidbey Record
Commissioner Bacon urges lawmakers to prioritize ferry funding (Paul)

Spokesman Review
Proposed law would lower WA school bond election threshold to 55% (Stonier, Santos)
Getting There: Key northern Spokane County roadways set to receive much-needed attention

Tri-City Herald
Travel Alert | Snow for Tri-Cities. Heavy snow in mountains, ice storm in Columbia Gorge
Opinion: WA public records secrecy returns from the grave in Olympia

Washington Post
Where the world warmed the most in Earth’s hottest year

WA State Standard
WA lawmakers may end open carry in parks, require a permit to buy a gun (Valdez)
Ranchers and farmers would help state fight wildfires under proposal in Legislature (Springer)

Wenatchee World
Chelan County breaks record lows, high energy usage
Confirmed salmonella cases in Chelan and Douglas counties linked to statewide outbreak
Unemployment ticks upward in Chelan and Douglas counties, lowest reading since recording began

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle honors MLK Jr. Day with march, rally
Tacoma officers cleared of wrongdoing in Manuel Ellis’ death by internal affairs investigation
Kroger-Albertsons merger would hike grocery prices, create near monopolies in some Washington communities, AG says

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
State lawmakers hold press conference on Sea-Tac Airport noise, pollution bill (Keiser, Orwall)
From Sea-Tac to schools: Bursting pipes wreak havoc across Western Washington
‘One issue people agree on’: Bill to keep state in standard time comes up on first hurdle
Boeing will increase quality inspections on 737 Max aircraft following Alaska Airlines blowout

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Results of internal affairs investigation of 3 acquitted Tacoma officers expected Tuesday
Washington lawmakers push for training requirements for permanent cosmetic technicians (Ryu)

KUOW Public Radio
Airbnbs and other short-term rentals face scrutiny in Port Angeles
Amid long wait for new WA ferry, Bremerton leans on nimble passenger-only service

KXLY (ABC)
Washington Attorney General sues to block Kroger-Albertsons merger

NW Public Radio
Snake River toxic algal bloom warnings lifted
Late tribal leader, Billy Frank Jr., honored at Washington capitol
New technology helps forensic scientists, police do more with less DNA
Washington bill aims to reduce ‘fast fashion’ carbon emissions, pollution (Mena)

Web

B-Town Blog
Port of Seattle responds to proposed new legislation aimed at mitigating environmental/health impacts of Sea-Tac Airport (Keiser, Orwall)

Cascadia Daily News
Rent-cap bill gets second chance in Olympia (Ramel, Alvarado)
WA bill would support consumers, small businesses in repairing electronics, appliances (Ramel, Gregerson)

Crosscut
The seed vault holding Washington’s rarest plants
WA unions wary of proposed Kroger/Albertsons supermarket merger