Lawmakers again trying to lower legal alcohol limit for drivers in Washington
If passed, Washington would join Utah as the only state with a 0.05% blood alcohol concentration limit. Other states have considered similar legislation, but haven’t passed it. Utah made the move in 2018. The state was also the first to lower the limit from 0.1% to 0.08% in the 1980s. After the switch from 0.08% to 0.05%, Utah saw a 20% drop in fatal crashes, but that figure crept back up during the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with national trends. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Klaus Vedfelt)
Washington Legislature weighs limiting rent increases
Washington state lawmakers are again considering legislation that would limit many tenants’ rent increases to no more than 7% per year. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that nearly 280,000 people in Washington state — about 15% of the state’s renters — saw their monthly rent rise by $250 or more in the past 12 months, per a survey taken last August and September. Continue reading at Axios. (Annelise Capossela)
WA advocates sue ICE over release of detention center records
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, a Seattle-based human rights group, filed a lawsuit against U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in federal court on Tuesday, alleging violations of the Freedom of Information Act. The complaint, filed in the Western District of Washington, challenges ICE’s failure to turn over public records relating to sexual abuse incidents at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, which is run by the GEO Group, a private detention services company. Continue reading at Cascade PBS.
Auburn Reporter
Funds are running out to help vacate drug possession charges
Axios
Washington Legislature weighs limiting rent increases (Alvarado, Jinkins, Pedersen)
Bellingham Herald
Washington cities expanding home-rental protections as efforts at state level have stalled
Capital Press
On way out, Inslee offers $15 million to help Danish firm’s energy project
Oregon bill would hold landowners liable for farmworker camp violations
Columbian
Two Clark County school districts receive Energy Efficiency Retrofits grants
The Daily News
Homeless transgender women in Pacific Northwest face greater risk of violence
On brink of homelessness, Pacific Northwest women left alone to face abusers, survey shows
Everett Herald
Snohomish County delays decision on changes to habitat ordinance
Stanwood student’s online threats under investigation from sheriff’s office
Edmonds police serve warrant, sending nearby school into precautionary lockdown
Journal of the San Juan Islands
New Apple Health birth doula benefit
News Tribune
Lakewood Towne Center apartment project is focus of public hearing this month
Puyallup car dealer had license revoked. Now AG accuses manager of stealing tax money
How Washington’s education department is gearing up for the new Trump administration
Tacoma City Manager Elizabeth Pauli is retiring. Now, the city will work to find a new leader
New York Times
More Americans, Risking Ruin, Drop Their Home Insurance
Biden Will Commute Sentences of Nearly 2,500 Drug Offenders
Senate Pushes Bill to Deport Migrants Charged With Crimes Past a Key Hurdle
State Attorneys General Ask Courts to Preserve Biden-era Gun Control Measures
Northwest Asian Weekly
Three AAPI candidates vie for open seat on Seattle City Council
Five indicted in CID, encampments drug bust, following wiretap
Olympian
How Washington’s education department is gearing up for the new Trump administration
Puget Sound Business Journal
Property insurance crisis isn’t expected to improve
AI is shaping hiring decisions as more workers start looking for jobs
Seattle Times
UW agrees to federal terms to address discrimination claims
FDA floats plan to make cigarettes nonaddictive, but its fate rests with Trump
FDA OKs sales of Zyn nicotine pouches, citing health benefits for adult smokers
Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Transit approves capital budget
Spokesman Review
Washington state House lawmakers again push cap on rent increases (Alvarado, Hill, Pederson)
Regional dispatch system kicks out Spokane Fire Department as talks on taking police calls collapse
Tri-City Herald
Richland asks WA state for ‘emergency’ $13.5M advance to cover school district bills
Tiny burrowing owls ‘evicted’ to make room for Pasco water plant. What happened next
Washington Post
Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban-or-sale law slated to start Sunday
Antiabortion advocates look for men to report their partners’ abortions
WA State Standard
Reykdal says Washington risks lawsuit if school funding isn’t hiked
Trump nominee for housing chief calls for building ‘millions more homes’
Lawmakers again trying to lower legal alcohol limit for drivers in Washington (Lovick, Liias, Dhingra)
New WA lands commissioner orders pause on logging sales for some older forests
Wenatchee World
Leavenworth council, PUD approve land study
Wenatchee School District considers moving Valley Academy into Columbia Elementary
Yakima Herald-Republic
Judge rules in favor of petitioners in case on city advisory committees
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
How a second Trump presidency could impact Washington state
Art installation honoring the Northwest’s Indigenous history to open on Seattle waterfront
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Handcuffs used in brutal assault during juvenile detention escape attempt in Chehalis
FBI holds news conference on ballot box fires in Pacific Northwest during 2024 election
WA reps seek aid, disaster declaration from federal government for bomb cyclone recovery
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
How a TikTok ban may adversely affect local businesses in Washington
Everett police use license plate reader to recover stolen car, seize illegal drugs
Measles case confirmed in Alaska resident who traveled through Sea-Tac airport
Gov. Ferguson pushes for free meals for all Washington K-12 students (Berg, Riccelli)
FBI releases new information on devices used in Portland, Vancouver ballot box arsons
Gov. Ferguson signs executive orders on housing, reproductive rights and permitting reform
KNKX Public Radio
Biden says the Equal Rights Amendment is law. What happens next is unclear
Food pantries are bracing for more demand if the Trump administration cuts food aid
KUOW Public Radio
In era of budget cuts, Washington schools chief calls for more ed funding
Democrats pour into Washington state as Republicans leave, analysis shows
KXLY (ABC)
New early learning center to provide 170 childcare spots in Spokane
‘Disagreeable and unwilling’; City, SREC end negotiations for regionalization
NW Public Radio
Unpacking Senate Bill 5041: Unemployment benefits for striking workers (Conway)
Some retirees could see thousands in back pay following new Social Security Fairness Act
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Should public transit prioritize more riders or broader access? WTA to decide
Cascade PBS
WA advocates sue ICE over release of detention center records
WA pharmacists turn to telehealth to prescribe abortion medication
MyNorthwest
State Senate bill with new gun-free zones in parks, where kids are present moves ahead (Valdez)
The Stranger
Rent Fixing in The Emerald City
The Urbanist
Homebuilders Warn Seattle’s Planned MFTE Changes Threaten to Kill Affordability Program
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Friday watch
FERRIES: Annual report shows Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ridership rose, as did systemwide use