Washington’s Legislature has more Black members than ever
Having greater Black representation in the Legislature — coupled with greater diversity in general at the Capitol — “really just enhances the number of perspectives being brought to the public policy debate,” state Rep. Kristine Reeves (D-Federal Way), who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus, told Axios. Continue reading at Axios. (Chona Kasinger)
Editorial: Shut down flavored tobacco’s gateway to youths
That targeting of youths to find new consumers for tobacco has alarmed health and disease experts, parental groups and children’s advocates, coalitions of communities of color and others, who in recent years have sought restrictions on youths’ use of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Tony Dejak)
Sen. Patty Murray ‘deeply concerned’ over layoffs at Washington nuclear site
“These are everyone from safety inspectors to people who deal with cybersecurity across the board, and they basically were laying off the newest, latest employees that had only been there a year or two,” Murray told KING 5 on Monday. “These are often our best and brightest. They have the new technology, and this is a real safety concern, at Hanford, which is a nuclear waste clean-up site.” Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)
Axios
Seattle’s air quality is getting worse
FAA fires hundreds of staff amid Trump admin job cuts drive
Washington’s Legislature has more Black members than ever (Reeves, Scott, Thomas, Nobles, Entenman)
Bellingham Herald
Solemn gathering in support of Palestine draws hundreds to WA Capitol
Travel outlet names Bellingham the best solo travel destination for adventure in the US
Bellingham clears path to shared compost bins for some city residents as new policy looms
Capital Press
NW onion production value increased in 2024
DOGE makes cuts to USDA research positions in Oregon
Economist: Farm profit increases buoyed by government aid
Oregon may exempt H-2A employers from unemployment tax
The Daily News
Castle Rock finds elevated lead levels in intermediate, middle school water
Everett Herald
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park
Hundreds rally against Trump on Presidents Day in Everett
Editorial: Shut down flavored tobacco’s gateway to youths (Nobles, Reeves, Lovick)
High Country News
People brace for impacts on land, water and wildlife after feds fire thousands over holiday weekend
Kitsap Sun
Navy updates request to lease space near Bremerton for shipyard modernization
News Tribune
Spanaway homeless village breaks federal, county wetland rules but staves off appeal
Manager of 2nd-largest Pierce County city to retire. No immediate word on replacement
Olympian
Some 2,000 protesters blast Trump at President’s Day protest: ‘No billionaires, no kings’
Does WA need a new state flag? Proposed bill would create a state flag redesign committee (Peterson, Reed, Nance)
Seattle Medium
Seattle Protesters Join Nationwide Protests Against Elon Musk’s Government Role
King County Sees First Decline In Gun Violence Since 2018, But Challenges Remain
Seattle Times
Top Social Security official leaves after Musk team seeks data access
Republicans consider cuts and work requirements for Medicaid, jeopardizing care for millions
Editorial: Local issues need voters’ attention. Keep odd-year elections (Gregerson)
Spokesman Review
Washington-based federal judge block gender affirming care executive order
Tall towers would be allowed in much larger swathe of downtown Spokane under likely reform
What can Democrats do about Trump and Musk’s policy blitz? Here’s what Washington lawmakers say
Internal talking points reveal details about Community Library Network’s restrictive child library cards
A federal ‘clown show’: WSU board of regents warns of cuts to research amid Trump federal grant chaos
Washington lawmakers consider bill allowing people to sue cities over rules that restrict camping in public places (Gregerson, Ormsby, Hill)
Is burning trash worth the cash? Spokane to use $650,000 in grant funds to study incinerator as state cracks down on emissions (Riccelli)
Kootenai County libraries approved every relocation request for its mature collection with one notable exception: The Bible
Opinion: Legislature must fund supported living services
Opinion: Washington lawmakers can address revenue shortfall without cutting important services
Tri-City Herald
Trump’s initial federal layoffs hit Tri-Cities WA area. Here’s what we know so far
Washington Post
Inside the Trump administration’s error-plagued firing spree
DOGE sued by taxpayer groups and unions over access to IRS files
Top Social Security official exits after clash with Musk’s DOGE over data
Trump’s wind power restrictions put blue states’ climate goals out of reach
WA State Standard
Washington state bill would set new standards for wood stoves (Shewmake)
Educators and parents call on WA lawmakers to up school funding (Berg)
Billions of dollars at stake for farmers hit by Trump funding freeze, pause on foreign aid
U.S. Education Department threatens yanking funds for schools that use race in decisions
Push for inspections at Tacoma immigration detention center reemerges in WA Legislature (Ortiz-Self)
Wenatchee World
Wenatchee City Council approves Pioneer Park improvements
RiverCom designing new building, searching for state and federal funding
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Two people shot on Metro bus in Tukwila; police searching for 3 suspects
Sen. Patty Murray ‘deeply concerned’ over layoffs at Washington nuclear site
Seattle rallies join 50501 protests to reject Trump policies and Musk influence
Western Washington scrambles to adjust as egg prices surge amid supply shortage
Trump fires thousands of US Parks, Forest Service workers: ‘It’s like having the rug pulled out from under me’
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
State’s pay-by-mile program would require drivers to voluntarily opt-in (Fey)
Two shot on-board Metro bus in Southcenter, police search for suspects
Teachers, supporters rally at the capitol to demand more school funding (Krishnadasan)
Travelers, experts warn of risks as Trump, Musk push to slash FAA staff
Trump administration putting mental health drugs for kids under new microscope
Haphazardness of federal layoffs causes concern with Sen. Murray, Public Power Council
Seattle City Council talks security as another shooting highlights the dangers of public transit
Washington State Lawmakers want to crack down on bounty hunters acting as immigration agents (Trudeau)
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Cantwell criticizes FAA firings amid safety concerns
How WSDOT monitors avalanche threats across the Cascade pass
Seattle-area federal employees rally as Trump cuts national workforce
Audit: WA Commerce Department ‘not in compliance with state law’ on grant funding
Belltown residents demand accountability as drug trade impacts Seattle neighborhood
Trump administration cuts reach FDA employees in food safety, medical devices and tobacco
KUOW Public Radio
29-year-old dad believed to be among immigrants sent to Guantanamo Bay
Fearing deportation, Immigrants are missing appointments at Seattle-area clinics
In the Seattle area, DEI work was already declining before Trump’s vow to end programs
‘It’s a terror campaign.’ Federal workers in Seattle area describe snitching, secrecy under Trump
KXLY (ABC)
Spokane shelters struggling to meet demand amid extreme cold
What’s in a name? WA wants to officially be ‘The Evergreen State’
Federal funding freeze could cost WA billions amid budget crisis (Fitzgibbon, Pedersen, Dhingra, Robinson)
Lawmakers weigh increased penalties for people who try to elude police (Lovick)
Mayor Brown signs ordinances aimed at making downtown Spokane safer and cleaner
NW Public Radio
Exposición en Richland destaca contribuciones de latinos en Hanford
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Timber sale pause has small local impact, contributes to DNR’s funding uncertainty
Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County awarded $1M for infrastructure in Everson
Hundreds of demonstrators in Mount Vernon and Bellingham join nationwide Presidents Day protest
Cascade PBS
Why Seattle’s housing density plans are a disability rights issue
Can Washington’s agriculture industry survive on H-2A workers?
MyNorthwest
Teachers, supporters rally at the capitol to demand more school funding (Krishnadasan)
Local law enforcement can’t use dogs to find bad bears, wolves, cougars under new bill (Liias)
Second chances with strings attached: DUI record vacation bill clears key hurdle in Washington (Goodman, Ortiz-Self)
Washington State Lawmakers want to crack down on bounty hunters acting as immigration agents (Trudeau)
Opinion: Clearing the confusion on the pay-by-mile system
Washington Observer
More of Democrats’ plans to eat the rich (Doglio, Reed)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Post-holiday Tuesday notes