A costly cool: Seattle residents turn to AC during heat wave
With Puget Sound region temperatures in the 90s, box fans aren’t cutting it. Residents are turning to something that was once as un-Seattle as umbrellas and honking in traffic: air conditioning. But the cost of cooling can run into the thousands of dollars for installation, and it comes with higher electricity bills. In recent years, thousands of low-income Washington residents have received free air conditioners or energy assistance through city and state programs. Government incentives have also been made available for heat pumps, which can cool homes as well as heat them but cost anywhere from $8,000 to more than $40,000 to install. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Audrey Richardson)
Scammers are at work again, WA state officials say. Here’s what you need to know
A new scam is targeting area residents, the state Department of Transportation announced via social media on Monday. The scam, apparently sent by text and email, asks those who received it to pay an unpaid balance tied to the Good to Go! program, which is a pass used by commuters who regularly cross the Tacoma Narrows bridge. WSDOT officials urge residents to not click on unknown links in emails or texts. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Getty Images)
Union votes herald a new era for workers in Washington Legislature
The stage is set for the first-ever contract negotiations between Washington state lawmakers and some of their most trusted employees. Democratic staff in the state House and Senate voted overwhelmingly to unionize Monday, joining their Republican peers in both chambers who elected to form bargaining units last month. Conversations about collective bargaining for legislative employees date back more than a decade. But it wasn’t until a 2022 law that Washington joined Oregon and Maine in offering legislative staff the opportunity to unionize. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)
Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen city council unanimously extends homeless notice to vacate to 30 days
Axios
Seattle heat waves are longer, hotter and more frequent
Biden-era worker protections are on shakier ground after Supreme Court ruling
Bellingham Herald
Power supplier asks customers to limit use of electricity from 4-8 p.m. today due to heat
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Capital Press
Wildfire season off to a fast start in hot weather
EPA, DOJ sue three Lower Yakima Valley dairies
Federal heat rule mulled to better protect workers
Company proposes to put batteries on farmland in Western Washington
Columbian
New Woodland Community Library nears completion
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City removes racist graffiti from Bellingham elementary school known for diverse enrollment
Everett Herald
Everett edges 14-year-old unofficial temperature record
One of Snohomish County’s most popular trails to close for 3 months
Boeing agrees to plead guilty to felony in deal with Justice Department
Federal Way Mirror
Investigation reviews FWPD’s crime reporting
International Examiner
Japanese Americans angered by decision to approve wind farm at Minidoka
News Tribune
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Olympian
Scammers are at work again, WA state officials say. Here’s what you need to know
Puget Sound Business Journal
FTC noncompete ban suffers setback
Boeing to plead guilty to fraud charges, pay $244M fine
Seattle Times
A costly cool: Seattle residents turn to AC during heat wave
Pierce County Council member won’t sit in chambers over pride flag
Bellevue middle schoolers over the moon about winning NASA challenge
Skagit Valley Herald
Concrete Town Council agrees to settle long-running dispute
Spokesman Review
Seniors and unhoused people are most at risk during heat wave
Spokane City Council approves local gun control, expanding on state law
Tri-City Herald
West Nile virus is back in Eastern WA. People and horses should take these precautions
One of the worst invasive species threatens WA waters. Here’s what to do if you see it
Washington Post
U.S. officials plan to kill 450K invasive owls that are endangering native owls
WA State Standard
WA suspends intakes at two youth detention centers
Union votes herald a new era for workers in Washington Legislature
Wenatchee World
Authority eyes $3.8M annual infrastructure boost
Confluence Parkway project open house next week
Douglas County faces $20.5M revenue reduction over 25 years amid tense TIF discussions, while Port
Wildfire Roundup | Fires in Wenatchee Valley contained, Pioneer Fire grows, ODESZA show sparks fire
Yakima Herald-Republic
West Nile virus found in mosquito pool in Lower Yakima Valley
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington snowpack already mostly melted heading into heat wave
Mercer Island says mandatory water restrictions could be enacted if use doesn’t decrease
The challenges people of color face in accessing mental healthcare during, after pregnancy
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KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Residents asked to conserve power in extreme heat
Spikes in water usage, Mercer Island calls for immediate conservation
Tacoma attorney who represents victims’ families reacts to Boeing settlement
House to consider GOP backed bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote
Washington families to receive millions in settlement from chicken price-fixing scandal
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle’s air conditioning usage rises amid escalating ‘heat island’ effect
Mercer Island urges immediate water conservation as reservoir levels drop swiftly
KXLY (ABC)
Spokane City Council approves early retirement plan for police
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Campfires banned in North Cascades National Park starting Friday
Crosscut
It’s getting harder for PNW residents to access public records
MyNorthwest
Stretch of SR 11 Highway buckles under extreme heat
‘Very concerning position’: Mercer Island nears crisis with water shortage
Alaska Airlines flight attendants win big contract; Vote to ratify set for August