WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Monday, October 28

A flyer detailing buprenorphine, a drug that treats opiate use disorder, sits on a table at STEP Clinic in Seattle. (Daniel Kim / The Seattle Times, 2022)

Seattle becomes first U.S. city where EMTs can administer buprenorphine
Starting November, Seattle will become the first U.S. city where emergency medical technicians and firefighters in the field can use buprenorphine to treat people who have overdosed on fentanyl, according to city officials. The announcement follows the success the city has had with its paramedics administering the medication since February. If used regularly, experts say, buprenorphine can reduce fatal overdoses by nearly 70% and help people recover from opioid use disorder. The Washington Department of Health is collaborating on the pilot and granted approval to administer the drug. Continue reading at the Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)


Stack of books in front of a chalkboard with a bowl on top filled with quarters and a yellow slip of paper with the word education written on it.

How much does your school district spend on special education per student?
The amount of money spent on special education students in Washington varies widely by district. That’s according to a new analysis of state data from July 2022 to June 2023 of Washington districts where there are over 2,500 students. According to the data, the amount each district spends per special education student ranges from $8,708 in Goldendale School District to $33,056 in Bellevue School District. Washington has steadily increased its cap on the percentage of a district’s population that can receive special education funding. Some lawmakers and advocates have pushed for the Legislature to end the cap entirely, as many districts have identified more special education students than they’re funded for. Continue reading at the WA State Standard. (Getty Images)


New police recruits practice traffic stop arrests at Washington’s Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien, April 2, 2024. Washington provides police officers with just one hour of training on handling hate crimes throughout their 720-hour basic police academy training despite recent rises in hate crimes or acts of discrimination. (Genna Martin/Cascade PBS)

WA police get one hour of hate-crime training despite rising cases
Training records show the state’s Criminal Justice Training Commission requires just one hour of hate-crime-specific training as part of the 720-hour basic law enforcement academy that every officer must complete for certification. Experts argue more in-depth training could help officers better identify bias-motivated crimes and work more effectively with marginalized communities. In 2020, the state Office of the Attorney General released an advisory report recommending police departments adopt periodic training as part of their standard in-service requirements. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Genna Martin)


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Axios
Loneliness looms for Seattle’s remote workers

Bellingham Herald
Update: Interstate 5 in Bellingham opens after landslide is cleared
Bellingham will have a new public beach area next spring. Here’s what the city is planning

Capital Press
Washington case tests timberland owner’s immunity

Columbian
Washougal schools transportation director says school year off to a smooth start
Why don’t many WA highways have reflectors if the state gets so much rain? We asked WSDOT
Ballot drop boxes in Vancouver and Portland targeted by arson this morning, hundreds of ballots damaged
Electricity equilibrium? Finding power for the Pacific Northwest in the future ‘will be a significant challenge’

Everett Herald
Marysville schools HR director resigns, second since June

Kitsap Sun
Sedative now seen in East Coast fentanyl supply still rare in Kitsap

News Tribune
WA retailers lose $3 billion to theft each year. Here’s what Gig Harbor does to stop it

Seattle Times
Here’s how you can register online to vote Nov. 5 in WA
Seattle becomes first U.S. city where EMTs can administer buprenorphine

Skagit Valley Herald
PSE awarded $45 million for Skagit Valley project

Spokesman Review
Some snow forecast for mountain passes, but it won’t linger
Economists: Higher tariffs would hurt Washington farmers, consumers
Former Spokane HR director accused city leadership of racism and demanded a better payout. Now he wants $50 million

Washington Post
Supreme Court ignites wave of lawsuits against federal regulations
Many older Americans don’t trust AI-generated health information
The surprising winners — and losers — of America’s clean energy boom

WA State Standard
How much does your school district spend on special education per student?

Wenatchee World
WSU Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center to build $18M plant growth facility

Whidbey News-Times
State Ferries plans for charging infrastructure

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Ballot boxes in Portland and Vancouver lit on fire
Microsoft fires employees who organized vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza
Boeing, in need of cash, looking to raise up to approximately $19B in offering
Care from medical staff who lack training, authority puts WA inmates at risk of injury, death, KING 5 investigation finds

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Massive landslide shuts down I-5 in Bellingham for hours
Ballot boxes in Vancouver, Portland set on fire Monday morning
Street chaos: Police battle a weekend of street takeovers in Tukwila, Seattle
Microsoft fires employees who organized vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza
‘She tried to punch me’: Tenant accused of stabbing landlord to death over rent in White Center

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
School districts face closure amid significant budget crises
Washington sees 65% increase in car thefts, among highest in nation
Boeing, in need of cash, looks to raise up to approximately $19B in offering
Microsoft fires employees who organized vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza

KNKX Public Radio
Commercial salmon fishers struggle with low prices

KUOW Public Radio
Mudslide shuts down I-5 North in Bellingham following extreme rain
Her journey through addiction and recovery came full circle in drug court
At the heart of the Boeing strike, an emotional fight over a lost pension plan

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Rep. Rick Larsen touts opioid-related legislation at Bellingham forum

Crosscut
WA police get one hour of hate-crime training despite rising cases

MyNorthwest
Street takeovers run rampant over weekend in multiple cities