WSDOT to launch first work zone speed camera to protect road construction workers
Washington’s first Work Zone Speed Camera begins enforcement on Wednesday in what’s been considered a “bold step” to protect road construction workers and drivers. The new trailer-mounted camera will be placed near Joint Base Lewis-McChord to capture photographs of vehicles speeding through active work zones. Officials decided to place the first camera there because of ongoing safety concerns with people speeding through that Interstate 5 work zone. Continue reading at KOMO. (KOMO)
Op-Ed: Anti-Speeding Technology Could Have Saved My Son
“Your son is in the ICU and he’s not going to make it,” they told me. I was stunned and devastated. My son, Josh, a Seattle native, was only 27 and making a name for himself as a musician, when he was struck by an intoxicated driver traveling 100 miles per hour on a residential street. None of us is immune to this kind of random tragedy. But we can do much more to prevent this kind of senseless loss of life. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Doug Trumm)
Seattle watchdog urges police to set AI policy
Seattle’s police watchdog is urging the department to create a clear policy for the use of artificial intelligence following a complaint about a sergeant using tools like ChatGPT to help write emails and internal reports. Why it matters: SPD has no department-specific policy governing AI use, per the Office of Police Accountability, creating a gray area for officers as generative tools become more common. Continue reading at Axios. (Allie Carl)
Auburn Reporter
FEMA denies funds to WA for damage caused by 2024 ‘bomb cyclone’
Axios
Seattle’s tiny apartments get tinier
Seattle watchdog urges police to set AI policy
Capital Press
Self-deportation seen as snag in Trump’s plan for farmworkers
Groundwater pollution bill would allow government septic inspections
Everett Herald
Policing from above: Everett launches drones as first responders
FEMA denies Washington state’s request for bomb cyclone disaster aid
Lawsuit against Northshore School District reaches $500,000 settlement
Letter: Governor should work with lawmakers on revenue
Letter: Speak out; you could be next for arrest, deportation
Editorial: Lawmakers should seek deal to keep rent cap at 7% (Shewmake, Alvarado, Peterson, Macri, Liias)
Islands’ Weekly
National IMLS funding cuts Have impacts on island libraries
Daily passenger-only boats, free emergency water taxis and barge services beginning soon for the San Juan Islands
Journal of the San Juan Islands
Senate approves $7.3 billion capital budget (Trudeau)
Kitsap Sun
Funding for children’s reading program, Speakers Bureau cultural events canceled
Column: How new DoD guidelines could make or break Kitsap’s economy
News Tribune
‘My color inspired me to get here.’ Black Tacoma detective speaks on diversity
Are police departments in Tacoma, Pierce County as diverse as their communities?
Tri-Cities lawmaker’s bill to make financing manufactured homes easier is now law
WA Senate honors missing & murdered indigenous women: ‘No more stolen sisters’ (Dhingra)
New York Times
Inside Trump’s Plan to Halt Hundreds of Regulations
Trump’s Tariff Threat for Imported Medicines Poses Political Risks
Northwest Asian Weekly
Tariff uncertainty hangs over CID: Businesses prepare for all scenarios
Olympian
Gov. Ferguson signs into law a bill to make financing manufactured homes easier
Gov. Ferguson says WA will appeal after FEMA denies state’s disaster-relief request
Seattle Times
FEMA denies disaster relief for bomb cyclone; WA to appeal
WA Senate OKs new permit requirement for firearm purchases (Liias, Berry, Krishnadasan)
After 10 years and $31M, WA workers’ comp upgrade has little to show
WA House OKs unemployment benefits for striking workers — with a limit (Doglio, Berg, Reeves)
Core Democratic groups are preparing to be targeted by the Trump administration
Skagit Valley Herald
City of Mount Vernon implements hiring freeze amid budget woes
Spokesman Review
Washington launches online tariff guide to help businesses
St. Maries School District will allow staff to carry concealed firearms
City of Spokane approves another $100,000 in legal fees to fight Shea lawsuit
Unaccompanied minors, organizations in Washington face challenges after Trump cuts legal aid
‘Social Security is not an entitlement’: Protesters rally in Vancouver over sudden changes, staff cuts at federal agency
ICE agents stop by unaccompanied minor’s home in Spokane Valley for ‘welfare check,’ ICE states it’s part of new policy
Washington Post
These laid-off autoworkers hope Trump’s tariffs bring back jobs
DOGE is collecting federal data to remove immigrants from housing, jobs
Harvard hit with $2.2 billion funding freeze after rejecting Trump’s demands
WA State Standard
FEMA denies WA request for bomb cyclone disaster aid
Rewrite of parental rights law passes Washington House (Richards, Santos, Stonier, Wilson)
Feds to investigate WA schools agency over gender inclusivity conflict
Long to-do list confronts Washington lawmakers, as session nears its end
Wenatchee World
Legislative Watch: Week of April 14
Manson School District considers 4-day school week
112-lot development near Fancher Heights headed to hearing examiner
Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County represents breaking point in state’s public defender crisis
Broadcast
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
King County hate crimes involving gender identity, sexual orientation trend upwards
FEMA denies Washington’s request for November storm disaster aid; Ferguson pledges appeal
China halts all Boeing jet orders
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
State Senate passes bill requiring gun buyers to get permit, take live fire training
Fairfax Bridge closed indefinitely as deterioration discovery raises safety concerns
WSDOT to launch first work zone speed camera to protect road construction workers
Washington to appeal FEMA’s refusal of $34M in disaster aid after severe November storms
KNKX Public Radio
Legal aid nonprofit for migrant children closing its Seattle office
KUOW Public Radio
Trump’s FEMA denies Washington disaster relief for ‘bomb cyclone’ windstorm
Clergy members to become mandatory child abuse reporters in Washington state (Frame, Stonier)
Washington ‘sanctuary law’ allows ICE to pick up people leaving prison. They often don’t
KXLY (ABC)
Roadblocks to removing abandoned RVs on Spokane streets
Spokane-based company expands U.S. manufacturing, expects to create more local jobs
Moses Lake School District cancels two school bus routes Tuesday for insufficient staffing
Web
Cascadia Daily News
FEMA denies WA request for bomb cyclone disaster aid
Cascade PBS
Columbia River spill to help salmon faces murky political waters
MyNorthwest
New bill brings DOGE to Washington state
Seattle apartments shrink in size, yet soar in rent price
Trump admin. investigates WA over La Center’s pronoun policy
WA lawmakers eyeing capital gains tax hike amid $16B budget deficit
‘Sickening’: Democrats invoke new rule to cut debate on Parents’ Bill of Rights amendment, passing House (Pedersen)
The Urbanist
Seattle’s Scooter and Bikeshare Boom Reaches New Heights
Op-Ed: Anti-Speeding Technology Could Have Saved My Son
Washington Observer
The parking wars come to a head (Bateman, Duerr, Pollet, Springer)
Shorter UI benefits for striking workers (Riccelli, Reeves, Bernbaum, Entenman, Reed, Springer, Walen)
Senate adopts the Student Bill of Rights (Stonier, Nobles)
Money and muscle for a fight on new taxes
Lawmakers make clergy mandatory reporters of abuse (Frame)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Spring-break Tuesday
FERRIES: Date set for return of 3-boat service on Triangle Route. Comments sought on what’ll become backup 2-boat schedule