WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Monday, November 4

A state program launched Friday to help reduce the number of asylum-seekers who are living homeless or in piecemeal housing throughout the state. (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)

WA’s asylum-seeker response arrives months overdue
Washington’s aid network for the thousands of asylum-seekers who have moved to the state in recent years launched Friday after a two-month delay. About $25 million from the state Legislature will be distributed among nonprofits, cities and other entities involved in providing housing, shelter and legal help for people seeking to stay in the U.S. — most of whom are fleeing Venezuela, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Continue reading at the Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)


Ballot envelopes sit in the Thurston County elections center. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

What happens to Washington ballots after they’re turned in?
So, you turned in your ballot for Tuesday’s election. Now what happens? Before it’s officially counted, a Washington ballot makes multiple stops on the road to acceptance. The state’s elections system is a large operation with thousands of workers and volunteers sorting mail, verifying signatures and counting ballots for weeks surrounding Election Day. As of Friday morning, 43.6% of ballots had been returned and were going through that process. That’s down from 61.4% at this time in the 2020 election, though election officials anticipate this year’s number to jump over the weekend and into early next week. Continue reading at the WA State Standard. (Laurel Demkovich)


Patti Chang, who is blind, uses headphones and audio along with an electronic controller outfitted with braille to vote in the Chicago mayoral runoff election at the Roden Branch of the Chicago Public Library on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Washington voters who are visually impaired use a similar system for in-person voting. (AP photo Erin Hooley)

Visually impaired Washingtonians face unique obstacles to voting
Of 1.4 million registered voters in Washington, about half wait until Election Day, or the days before, to cast their ballots in person, according to Julie Wise, King County Director of Elections. Those with disabilities, including those with seeing and hearing impairments, are often among this group, as accessible early voting can be difficult. King County Elections offers a couple accessible voting options. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Erin Hooley)


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Axios
Why ballot counting takes so long in Washington state

Capital Press
Washington fines farm labor contractor
Inslee OKs Horse Heaven; admonishes EFSEC
Cattlemen sue USDA over mandatory electronic ear tags
Barred owl removal strategy accused of interfering with ‘evolutionary paths’

Columbian
One person dead, two injured in shooting at Vancouver Mall food court

Everett Herald
Boeing: Strike vote will have no effect on planned layoffs
Darrington, Marysville tackle wood smoke to address poor air quality

News Tribune
Half of homeless people contacted by Tacoma outreach team refuse help. Why is that?
Rules of the Road: What are the laws regarding riding bikes in the dark? Are they enforced?

Puget Sound Business Journal
King County weighs 49% hike in development permit fees

Seattle Times
WA’s asylum-seeker response arrives months overdue
Washington public college tuition is declining. Here’s why
Influx of mobile methadone clinics bring treatment to the streets
WA, OR ballot drop box makers, officials explore changes after fires
176 more people allege sex abuse at WA youth detention centers in suit
Boeing Machinists head to the polls in decisive vote that could end strike

Skagit Valley Herald
Port of Anacortes receives electric conversion grant

Washington Post
Scientists may have solved the mystery of sky-high methane emissions
Medicare Advantage insurers fear losing millions over a few bad phone calls

WA State Standard
What happens to Washington ballots after they’re turned in?
Inslee activates Washington National Guard ahead of Election Day

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee schools emphasize biliteracy: ‘No child should lose a language to gain a language.”

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Yes, it’s normal for official results to come in after election night
Washington governor activates National Guard ahead of Election Day
Nail products, jewelry among priority products that contain chemicals Ecology may regulate

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Boeing machinists to vote on new contract Monday
Why call? 911 calls in recent street takeover released
Gov. Inslee activates National Guard to prevent election-related unrest
Landslides in consecutive weekends continue to block Washington roads
Pierce County Human Services awarded $3.5M to end youth homelessness
Washington governor OKs massive new wind farm and urges swift turbine approvals
Tacoma man dead, three others injured in separate shootings tied to South Hill party

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Growth at JBLM spurs regional collaboration, enhancing community support
Boeing machinists are holding a contract vote that could end their 7-week strike

KNKX Public Radio
What to expect in Washington on Election Day – and how to tune in

KXLY (ABC)
How the Spokane County Elections Office handles multiple ballot submissions
Spokane County urges people to use service centers over elections office for help, questions
Mayor Brown proposes City of Spokane’s 2025-2026 budget, addresses public safety and ‘fiscal sustainability’

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Downstream impacts: Stakes are high in Skagit dam dispute
In-person visits to Whatcom County Jail to resume in December
Chuckanut Drive reopened near Larrabee State Park after rockslide

Crosscut
Visually impaired Washingtonians face unique obstacles to voting (Farivar)

MyNorthwest
Gov. Inslee approves huge wind turbine farm south of the Tri-Cities
Gov. Inslee activates National Guard to prevent election-related unrest

The Urbanist
Sleepy Bainbridge Island decides how to grow up
Sunday video: replacing I-5 Lanes with Cascadia high speed rail