Transgender people in WA brace for second Trump presidency
In Washington state and across the United States, transgender and gender-diverse people are wrestling with the reality that millions of Americans voted for a presidential candidate who has vowed to strip them of their rights. While Washington offers a number of protections for trans people, advocates note that some parts of the state remain hostile toward gender-diverse people. And those state rights could prove vulnerable against a Trump administration armed with a conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court and a Republican-controlled Congress. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Jennifer Buchanan)
King County grapples with Public Defender crisis
Public defenders are warning that public defense as we know it is on course to collapse in King County and across the state if officials do not intervene. From public hearings at the Washington State Supreme Court to King County Council meetings about the 2025 budget, those most intimately involved with our criminal legal system are discussing new caseload standards for public defenders: what they should look like, why they’re important, how much they’ll cost, and who is going to foot the bill. Across the board, policymakers agree there’s a crisis in public defense, both in King County and statewide. Where they don’t necessarily agree is on what to do about it. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Evan Didier)
Car thefts down 30% in Washington state in 2024, officials say
The rate of car thefts in Washington state has dropped significantly in 2024, according to new data released by the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force (PSATTF). There have been 24,290 vehicles stolen in the state so far this year, which PSATTF says is a 30% reduction from a year ago. Per a chart included in the release showing the trend of statewide car thefts through October in years past, both 2022 and 2023 saw well over 30,000 car thefts in that period. After hitting record highs in each of the last two years, data shows that the numbers are on the decline for car thefts in Washington. Continue reading at King 5.
Associated Press
Democratic state leaders prepare for a tougher time countering Trump
Axios
Plan to close 4 Seattle schools prompts pushback
Capital Press
Editorial: The good news for U.S. energy
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Everett Herald
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Audit questions hiring practices in Snohomish County exec’s office
International Examiner
New report confirms that fighting Islamophobia is vital to intersectional liberation
Kitsap Sun
Hood Canal Bridge repair project gets $51M federal grant
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Mercer Island Reporter
City receives grant for electric vehicle charging plan
News Tribune
‘Extremely rare’ dedication honors Puyallup WWII soldier awarded the Medal of Honor
Opinion: You’ve likely met a nonbinary or transgender person. All they ask is not to be harmed
New York Times
A Big Climate Goal Is Getting Further Out of Reach
Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing lands new 737 Max order as machinists return after strike
King County Council passes plan to create $1 billion workforce housing initiative
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Seattle Times
Many online court services remain inaccessible in WA
Transgender people in WA brace for second Trump presidency
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Spokane Valley sawmill fined $126,000 for workplace safety, health violations
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Washington Post
Heat pumps used to struggle in the cold. Not anymore.
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WA State Standard
Four areas where Trump’s policies and WA’s priorities could clash
WA Supreme Court weighs controversial step to solve public defense crisis
Wenatchee World
Amazon opens 45,000-square-foot ‘last mile’ distribution center in NCW
Yakima Herald-Republic
WA voter turnout appears to be lowest since 2000
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Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Car thefts down 30% in Washington state in 2024, officials say
Seattle is among 5 healthiest major cities in US per Forbes study
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KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Boeing employees brace for impact amidst first day of layoffs
FBI offers $25K reward to help find culprit in WA, OR ballot box fires
Thurston County corrections deputy in training resigns after making ‘discriminatory remarks’
Misdemeanor booking changes at King County Jail changes how Seattle officers can make arrests
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
King County braces for leadership change as Constantine announces exit
Seattle students demand more mental health resources, funding for schools
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KNKX Public Radio
A mysterious, rare bog is full of surprises on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
KUOW Public Radio
As strike ends, layoffs begin at Boeing
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KXLY (ABC)
Historic buildings could hold the key to downtown Spokane revitalization
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Web
Cascadia Daily News
Levy money could fund child care subsidies for parents and providers
Crosscut
WA voter turnout dropped for all ages — especially young people
King County Executive Dow Constantine won’t run for reelection
MyNorthwest
SPD regains authority to book misdemeanor offenses in King County Jail
The Urbanist
King County Grapples with Public Defender Crisis
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