Inslee signs Strippers’ Bill of Rights today. When booze will hit WA clubs is uncertain
Madison Zack-Wu, 25, championed Washington’s Strippers’ Bill of Rights, groundbreaking legislation designed to improve safety and workplace conditions for adult dancers across the state. On the last Tuesday of February, with just over a week left in the 2024 session, she received the news she’d been waiting for. The state House — where similar legislation had stalled the year prior — would bring the Strippers’ Bill of Rights to a vote. It had been approved in the Senate a few weeks prior. Continue reading at Tri-City Herald. (Psychi Media)
Legislature passes bills that may help King County’s budget crisis
Last fall, King County Executive Dow Constantine issued dire warnings about the county’s budget situation: Without help from the Legislature, it would be forced to shutter all or almost all of its 10 public health clinics. [This session] legislators passed two obscure bills that could help King County raise taxes to fill its budget gap. House Bill 2044 allows King County to run a voter-approved levy to help fill its general fund. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Greg Gilbert)
Extended foster care for young adults up to 21 set to expand in WA
Extended foster care is a voluntary program in Washington available to certain foster care youth ages 18-21 who are no longer eligible for the usual foster care program. The program is aimed at making sure young people in foster care have the skills to enter independent adulthood. But Washington lawmakers want to lower the barriers to accessing extended foster care by removing those federal requirements. Senate Bill 5908, which does that, passed both legislative chambers. It is now awaiting Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature to become law. Continue reading at The Columbian.
Axios
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun to step down in wake of safety issues
Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County Health to host monthly vaccine clinics beginning in April
WA’s unemployment rate at its highest point since COVID-19 spike. Here are the numbers
Capital Press
Western Innovator: Bigwig’s visit inspires a farm boy’s long career in ag policy
Columbian
10 years in, here’s what to know about WA charter schools
Extended foster care for young adults up to 21 set to expand in WA (Wilson)
Amazon reports ‘measurable progress’ on worker safety; critics object
Widow: ‘I lost my partner, my best friend and then my home all at the same time
Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here’s what you need to know
Evicted into the cold: Disabled Vancouver woman, son find selves on street, told no help available
Everett Herald
County plans $35M redevelopment of Arlington maintenance yard
Orange Line, a rapid bus service to Lynnwood light rail, opens Saturday
Comment: ‘Right to repair’ fine for phones, not medical devices
Comment: Timber sales in county would destroy mature forests
Comment: Work of police reforms needs a year-round conversation (Peterson)
Comment: Better planning by PUD could have avoided rate increase
Editorial: State of city address makes case for Everett’s future
News Tribune
Albertsons joins Kroger in adding a huge benefit to customers
It was planned as a psychiatric hospital in Tacoma. So why is the land headed for sale?
Olympian
New study ranks states with the most affordable healthcare. Washington places in top five
New Thurston County manager responds to past controversy in interview with The Olympian
Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles schools: State funding still short
Online learning keeps rising among state’s K-12 students
Puget Sound Business Journal
Sun Belt housing markets see high price-to-rent premiums
In a challenging year for startups, female-led ventures set a record
Amazon puts another $45 million toward Seattle-area affordable housing
737 Max safety crisis prompts Boeing CEO Calhoun, top Seattle exec to step down
Seattle Times
Legislature passes bills that may help King County’s budget crisis
How the drought hit WA’s farms, forests, fisheries and drinking water
As WA tackles PFAS pollution, some worry about ‘piecemeal’ approach (Lovelett)
Fentanyl crisis descends on jail in a small WA town short on treatment (Goodman)
Biden signs $1.2 trillion funding package after Senate’s early-morning passage ended shutdown threat
Editorial: As ferry system rebuilds, learn lessons of recent lapses
Opinion: Funding for WA schools is actually falling
Opinion: Seawalls offer a false sense of security as oceans rise
Opinion: Channeling old political spirits, Sen. Murray rains money on WA
Opinion: Rep. DelBene fights to prevent landslides and restore governance to House
Spokesman Review
Co-living residential housing is coming to Washington after Inslee signs bill into law (Gregerson)
Tri-City Herald
Inslee signs Strippers’ Bill of Rights today. When booze will hit WA clubs is uncertain (Saldaña, Trudeau)
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Lawmakers, candidates react to new WA district voting maps
Washington State Penitentiary inmate dies one week after assault
WA State Standard
Washington looks at new ways to clean up graffiti along state highways
‘Really troubling:’ Survey finds poor outcomes for students with disabilities after high school
Wenatchee World
Concerns voices at 1st hearing on Columbia Elementary closing
Yakima Herald-Republic
New voting map could mean new lawmakers in the Lower Yakima Valley
In basket: Yakima Valley Community Foundation board elects new officers
Yakima council reopens crime lab discussion, OKs funding for police equipment
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Teen crime rises sharply in Renton over one year period
Boeing CEO to step down after series of high-profile safety issues
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
FBI advises passengers onboard Alaska flight with doorplug blowout may be victims of criminal act
King County providing more business transparency to pet owners to make informed decisions about care
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Spring in western Washington could see above average temps, below normal rainfall
Boeing CEO to exit in management shakeup as manufacturing issues plague plane maker
KNKX Public Radio
Bird flu is decimating seal colonies. Scientists don’t know how to stop it
KUOW Public Radio
Week in Review: downtown Seattle, police, and landlines (Bateman)
Pickle-shaped sea creatures popping up along the NW coast, why it’s important
Put cops back in school and shut down the street, Garfield High parents say after another Seattle shooting
KXLY (ABC)
Spokane tourism buzzing from NCAA Tournament and other sports events
Mayor Brown proposes over $11 million investment in Spokane’s health and human services
Web
Crosscut
WA courts are meant to fine convicted sex buyers. Most don’t. (Orwall)
MyNorthwest
Pierce County Parks announces new scholarship program
Whatcom County agencies conduct major drug bust following dozens of overdoses