WA voter turnout appears to be lowest since 2000
Fewer than 78% of the state’s 5 million registered voters cast ballots in the Nov. 5 election, the lowest turnout since 2000, when just 75.5% participated. Washington has gone to great lengths to make it easy to vote. Every registered voter is sent a ballot, which can be mailed in postage free or deposited by Election Day in a secure drop box. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)
Bob Ferguson continues fight against abortion pill restrictions
Donald Trump’s reelection could bring new energy to a Washington state fight for abortion access begun in the courts last year. Earlier this month, Bob Ferguson — then attorney general, now governor-elect — filed a summary judgment motion requesting that an ongoing case challenging restrictions on the common abortion drug mifepristone be decided without a trial. If the judge sides with Ferguson, the Food and Drug Administration could be obligated to revisit their policies on the drug used in more than half of all abortions. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Charlie Neibergall)
Washington voters stand up for climate action
This election season, Washington voters overwhelmingly rejected an initiative that sought to repeal the state’s landmark climate law. In a landslide victory, 62% of voters elected to save the Climate Commitment Act. The 2021 law established Washington’s cap-and-trade program, the state’s primary tool to slash carbon emissions to 95% below 1990 levels by 2050 and thereby prevent the worst impacts of climate chaos. Continue reading at High Country News. (Stuart Westmorland)
Axios
Blue state resistance builds against Trump
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Seattle biotech aims to cure hep B with breakthrough gene therapy
Bellingham Herald
National Weather Service issues high-wind warning for midweek in Whatcom County lowlands
Capital Press
USDA to begin testing bulk milk for avian flu
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Everett Herald
Orca family returns to Penn Cove after 50 years
Big changes ahead as Community Transit mulls $254M budget
High Country News
Washington voters stand up for climate action
New York Times
Trump’s Immigration Plans Could Bring an Economic Toll
Trump’s Middle East Picks Signal Staunch Pro-Israel Policy
Trump Taps Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to Slash Government
Trump Transition Live Updates: President-Elect Visits Biden After Meeting With Republicans
Port Townsend Leader
Jefferson County sees unusually low election turnout
Department of Fish and Wildlife to host steelhead town hall
Inslee says state not going back on climate after 1-2117 defeat
Puget Sound Business Journal
How business owners can prepare for potential tariff hikes in 2025
New overtime rule boosting pay to millions could be ‘moot’ in 2025
Seattle council member proposes retiring South Lake Union streetcar
Seattle Times
WA voter turnout appears to be lowest since 2000
Balance of power in WA Legislature still in question
Trump’s defense choice stuns the Pentagon and raises questions about the Fox News host’s experience
Skagit Valley Herald
Many Skagit County ballots remain challenged
Port of Skagit swears in commissioner, approves budget
Spokesman Review
Central Valley School Board decides not to send letter on transgender students in sports
Colville residents rally against plans to upgrade behavioral health facility, saying ‘small, conservative town’ isn’t the right fit
Washington Post
Oil companies face a new fine for methane. Trump could scrap it.
Trump pledged to close the Education Department. What would that mean?
How to save money with the Inflation Reduction Act before it might disappear
WA State Standard
Newhouse holds onto seat after defeating Trump-backed challenger
With WA courts’ online systems down, thousands of firearm sales on hold
Ferguson names 53-person team to assist with transition into governor’s office
Wenatchee World
Firearm background checks down as part of WA courts outage
WA courts outage prompts emergency changes to Douglas County District Court cases
Yakima Herald-Republic
House race between Manjarrez and Kennedy tightens; Gloria Mendoza wins seat
Broadcast
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Pierce County officials get bigger raises than initially approved
UW Medicine study highlights patient safety risks with late-career doctors
K Pod orca may be dead even as Southern Residents hang out in Puget Sound
Survey: Veteran homelessness at record lows, 48,000 veterans permanently housed
Boeing says it will take several weeks to resume production of planes after the strike
WDFW is holding public comment on 20 proposed land acquisitions across Washington
Old hospital site to be revived as a residential substance use treatment facility in Kennewick
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
SPS parents confront district leaders over potential school closures
Boeing announces 10% workforce layoff amid major financial struggles
King County jail resumes booking for low-level crimes after 4-year hiatus
US inflation rose slightly last month after 2 years of steady cooling but remained low
KXLY (ABC)
Whooping cough outbreak declared in Spokane County
Spokane’s scattered shelter system receives mixed responses
Spokane Valley proposes ordinance to make sleeping in parks a misdemeanor
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown part of Governor-Elect Bob Ferguson’s transition team (Billig)
Man who threatened Spokane City Hall has history of making threats toward city officials and police
Central Valley School District holds off on sending letter urging WIAA to review policy on transgender athletes
Web
Cascadia Daily News
A Bellingham housing program was preparing to shut down — then Opportunity Council stepped up
Crosscut
Bob Ferguson continues fight against abortion pill restrictions