Key health takeaways from WA’s 2024 legislative session
Health care affordability, workforce shortages and access to care remained top of mind for lawmakers during this year’s legislative session — and while several politicians and health care leaders say there’s still work to be done, they feel important gains were made in all three categories. Legislators spent the short 60-day session trying to figure out how to best help hospitals and providers out of these financial holes, debating how staffing, reimbursement rates for public health insurance plans and long-term impacts of health care consolidations, among other factors, play a part. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Lindsey Wasson)
Bill that protects peer support counseling for first responders heads to Gov. Inslee
A bill that aims to expand and strengthen peer support counseling services for first responders is on the governor’s desk after passing the Legislature on March 1. The bill’s introduction coincided with a recent Clark County court ruling that showed gaps in confidentiality protections for peer support counseling sessions. Lawmakers and law enforcement officials lauded House Bill 2311 as a needed boost for wellness services for those who frequently encounter the worst aspects of their communities. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team)
WA funds genetic testing for backlog of unidentified remains
The Legislature has approved $500,000 to fund genetic genealogy and DNA testing for the backlog of unidentified remains in Washington. Forensic genetic genealogy helps law enforcement solve cold cases by combining DNA testing with genealogical research, using publicly available ancestry data, authorities said. Cost is the main barrier for law enforcement agencies wanting to use DNA and forensic genetic genealogy testing to identify remains. Continue reading at The Yakima Herald-Republic. (Evan Abell)
Axios
IVF births in Washington outpace U.S. rate
Tourism is booming in Seattle, but downtown recovery lags
Bellingham Herald
Washington State Patrol issues alert for Bellingham woman last seen in January
Homeless, service providers protest impending clearing of Bellingham Walmart encampment
Whatcom County’s unemployment increases for the fourth month in a row, along with WA state
‘An absolute nightmare’: Bellingham family experienced repeated safety, health violations in rentals
Columbian
Bill that protects peer support counseling for first responders heads to Gov. Inslee (Davis)
Everett Herald
Antifreeze, batteries, cooking oil: All are recyclable — for free
Four Corners opens first building in 430-unit complex in Everett
Letter: Columbia Basin pact carries on work of Billy Frank Jr.
Peninsula Daily News
Millions allocated to Peninsula
New ferries to bolster fleet still years away (Liias)
Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry run is among state’s most challenging
Puget Sound Business Journal
Small businesses want more help with federal tax credits, loans
New incentives aim to jumpstart conversions of office buildings
Machinists seek safety concessions as Boeing contract talks begin
Alaska Airlines CEO: ‘Business travel finally starting to come back’
Seattle Medium
Seattle’s New CARE Workers Respond To Hundreds Of Events
Strickland Secures Over $13 Million For South Sound Community Projects
State Legislature Approves $500K To Fund Genetic Genealogy Testing For All Unidentified Remains In Washington
Seattle Times
Key health takeaways from WA’s 2024 legislative session (Cleveland, Riccelli)
As Seattle police applicants lag, City Hall looks to bureaucracy
Illustration: See obstacles migrating salmon face in urban streams
Washington Bar approves much lower caseloads for public defenders
Opinion: In 1995, TVW went live. So did more governmental transparency
Tri-City Herald
Major canal breach north of Tri-Cities puts damper on start to $2.7B growing season
Washington state has one of the biggest gender pay gaps in America. Here’s where it ranks
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Center for Children and Families to expand early learning services
Washington Post
Spring is coming earlier and earlier. See how your city has changed in our map.
WA State Standard
Longtime Washington state senator is leaving, but not right away (Keiser)
State will pay rebates to farmers hit with fuel surcharges under WA climate law (Nguyen)
Wenatchee World
Liquid assets: Malaga’s water district ramps up for Microsoft data center
Wenatchee Valley Islamic Center opens, provides new home for Muslim community
Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority consider consultants for strategic plan development
Yakima Herald-Republic
WA funds genetic testing for backlog of unidentified remains
Authorities investigating death of Yakima County jail inmate
Work on I-90 Vantage Bridge begins, with lanes reduced until November
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Vandals cut cables of newly installed EV charging stations in Sumner
$500,000 in funding set to clear backlog of unidentified remains in Washington
‘Rest easy, Chris’: Washington State Patrol trooper killed on job honored in memorial
King County to meet with City of Burien as camping ban amendment faces legal challenge
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Addressing officer recruitment concerns with the Seattle Police Department
Community honors fallen Washington State Patrol Trooper at public memorial
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Redmond PD receives new $31K drug analyzer system to help address opiate crisis
Boeing promises changes after getting poor grades in audit of manufacturing quality
IRS launches Direct File in Washington state, a pilot program for free online tax filing
KUOW Public Radio
As the Northwest spring arrives, so do anxieties over water for farming, and summer wildfires
KXLY (ABC)
Over a million Washingtonians eligible for free tax filing program
John Stockton’s lawyer claims first amendment violation as basis for COVID-19 lawsuit
NW Public Radio
Study shows short pesticide exposure harms fish
Samish Indian Nation cleans up over a million pounds of marine debris, more to go
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Federal spending bill includes funding for Whatcom, Skagit projects
Farm to food bank: An innovative plan that feeds and funds the Skagit community
Crosscut
How will Seattle’s $230M deficit influence the 2025 city budget?
MyNorthwest
Member of family-run fentanyl ring in Wash. sentenced to 15 years
The Stranger
King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion Wants to Weaken Protections for Strippers
West Seattle Blog
City councilmembers briefed on what SPD is doing to try to hire more officers