‘We affirm you.’ Transgender pride flag flies over Tacoma Dome for first time
In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility, for the first time a blue, pink and white trans pride flag was flown over the Tacoma Dome on Monday. Similar flags were raised above the Tacoma Municipal Building, Tacoma Police Department headquarters and the Tacoma Fire Department, according to the city. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Brian Hayes)
Washington House passes budget, clearing way for talks with Senate
The Washington state House passed its budget just after midnight on Tuesday, setting the stage for negotiations with the Senate and the governor on a spending blueprint to address a looming multi-billion dollar shortfall. The House approved the two-year $77.8 billion operating budget on a 54-44 vote in which five Democrats joined all Republicans in opposition. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)
Senate passes Transportation budget that increases gas tax, funds major projects
The Washington State Senate adopted a bipartisan transportation package on Saturday that would raise billions of dollars through higher gas taxes and some car registration fees, close a deficit in the transportation budget and fund the completion of the North Spokane Corridor. “Washington faces some serious transportation problems, from unsafe roads that contribute to a high number of traffic fatalities, to highway projects that are far from being completed, to a failing ferry system,” said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, the ranking Republican on the Transportation Committee. “The transportation budget passed by the Senate today reflects the collaboration and compromises from both sides as we try to fix our state’s transportation problems.” Continue reading at Spokesman-Review. (WSDOT)
Axios
King County’s health wins come with affordability tradeoffs
Bellingham Herald
As Trump squeezes the immigrant workforce, employers seek relief
March 31 was Transgender Day of Visibility: About the history and celebration in WA state
Capital Press
USDA scientist asks bigger weed questions
Meat sales hit record high in 2024
The Daily News
RiverCities mulls bus service in Rainier
Pause in Columbia River Treaty talks stokes worry for flood control
Children’s Justice and Advocacy Center hosts child abuse awareness events
Columbia Theatre plans for another century in Longview with $3.5M donation campaign
High Country News
Is a nuclear renaissance coming?
Bird flu finds its way into Western wildlife
Islands’ Weekly
Debate continues on fund to aid journalism (Kaiser)
Journal of the San Juan Islands
Rent cap law continues to move despite objections
Kitsap Sun
Poulsbo announces new municipal court judge following previous judge’s 31-year tenure
News Tribune
‘We affirm you.’ Transgender pride flag flies over Tacoma Dome for first time
Tacoma deputy police chief Paul Junger fired following workplace investigation
March 31 was Transgender Day of Visibility: About the history and celebration in WA state
Opinion: Rainier School is a home, not just a facility. WA lawmakers’ proposed closure cruel
New York Times
Millions of Women Will Lose Access to Contraception as a Result of Trump Aid Cuts
Northwest Asian Weekly
Bellevue student participates in state page program (Walen)
Olympian
WA mayors urge state leaders to avoid more taxes for businesses: ‘Crisis is existential’
‘Remove, Reverse, Reclaim’ protest on Saturday could bring thousands to Capitol Campus
March 31 was Transgender Day of Visibility: About the history and celebration in WA state
Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA issues new fees on popular lending programs
Seattle Medium
How Inflation Of 10 Items In Seattle Compares To The Rest Of The Us
Trump And DOGE Target 14 Federal Buildings In Washington State For Lease Termination
A Good Care Team Makes A Significant Difference On The Road From Kidney Dialysis To Transplant
Seattle Times
WA may be getting new highways — for cyclists (Liias)
House Judiciary Committee investigating WA sanctuary policy
School district files federal complaint over WA policy on trans athletes
$5B proposal for salmon restoration aimed at addressing tribal lawsuit (Trudeau, Tharinger)
WA schools served food from local farms. Then Trump cut the program
Supreme Court seems likely to side with Catholic Charities in religious-rights case
Supreme Court weighs whether states can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood
Layoffs begin at US health agencies responsible for research, tracking disease and regulating food
Opinion: Rep. Frank Chopp was a champion of housing equality (Lovick)
Editorial: Cutting aid now for struggling students will cost a lot more later
Spokesman Review
Winter sea ice in the Arctic just hit a record low
Gov. Ferguson visits Spokane Veterans Home as state plans replacement project
Senate passes Transportation budget that increases gas tax, funds major projects (Liias, Fey)
Baumgartner and House Judiciary Committee investigating Washington AG, state’s sanctuary policies
Spokane Valley City Council considering reiterating it’s ‘not a sanctuary city’; resolution would carry no practical weight
Opinion: Spokane is not represented for 911 (Ormsby, Hill)
Washington Post
Massive layoffs, purge of leadership underway at U.S. health agencies
Where days of flooding rains, tornadoes and heavy snow will hit hardest
Trump aides draft universal tariff plans as some experts warn of economic havoc
WA State Standard
Washington Democrats divided on school funding plans
Washington House passes budget, clearing way for talks with Senate (Ormsby, Gregerson)
Wenatchee World
‘A humanitarian crisis’: Legal aid for unaccompanied minors slashed in Washington state
Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima City Council could approve $1 million fund to help bring in new flights at airport
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tesla drivers in King County are seeking other EV options
Transgender hate crime in Seattle sparks outrage, calls for justice
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
KIRO 7 Investigates: License plate readers going in on SR-167
Social Security Administration implementing in-person ID checks
Docs: Man accused of impersonating ICE says he did it for a YouTube video
Teamsters not ‘giving up:’ Why Seattle school bus drivers may strike this week
WA sees uptick in opioid-related deaths, while nation sees first overall decline since 2018
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington hospitals brace for financial strain as Medicaid cuts could bring layoffs
New Seattle legislation reinforces protection for gender-affirming, reproductive care
Highway dangers escalate as road crew incidents rise sharply in western Washington
Auditor urges King County to reassess waste projects to curb rising trash service costs
Community urges tighter security for late-night venues following Rainier Beach tragedy
KUOW Public Radio
As Utah bans fluoride, two Washington cities consider the same
Tax the rich? Not so fast, say Microsoft, other Washington state businesses (Frame)
A stop-work notice for lawyers aiding unaccompanied minors hits close to home
Proposal to limit transgender athletes’ participation in sports blocked in Washington state
KXLY (ABC)
Concerns rise around proposed funding cuts for homeless services
Washington state lawmakers consider tax increases that could raise costs at the gas pump (Liias)
City Council votes to send letter to WA lawmakers urging them not to pause funding for North Spokane Corridor
NW Public Radio
United Farms Workers call for boycott of Windmill Farms products at Tacoma rally
Web
Cascadia Daily News
NWYS Skagit facility closed abruptly for safety and health concerns
Bellingham Public Library seeks donations to upgrade children’s department
Cascade PBS
Canada, U.S. Columbia River Treaty negotiations in jeopardy
WA lawmakers’ capital budgets boost housing, school & environment (Trudeau)
MyNorthwest
WA State Senate passes bill to hike gas tax (Liias)
Feds v. WA: Lawmakers challenge state’s sanctuary law thwarting immigration enforcement
The Urbanist
Seattle Police Department Is “Increasingly Unstable,” Email from Top Official Claims
Washington Observer
Senate boosts, inflation-proofs gas-tax (Krishnadasan, Cortes)
Transit-oriented housing takes a dicey turn (Reed, Liias, Bateman)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Welcome to April
TUESDAY: City Council’s Transportation Committee focuses on existing traffic-safety cameras