WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Thursday, April 24

Shawn Latham, policy coordinator for Self Advocates in Leadership, spoke in favor of HB 1472 during a hearing on March 19.
Washington must close this facility to protect our rights
I am a proud member of Self Advocates in Leadership (SAIL), People First of Washington, and Allies in Advocacy, three organizations with over 1,200 members and run by those with IDD. I stand with advocates with disabilities and encourage our state legislators to close Rainier School. We ask to be believed. We ask to be prioritized. We want Washington State to follow the example of 18 other states and give people the choice to move into the community. It’s where we belong. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (TNT)


Green Hill School in Chehalis. Bills that lawmakers hoped would stanch the heavy flow of youth to the state’s two juvenile detention centers and relieve overcrowding failed to pass out of the House last week. (Ivy Ceballo / The Seattle Times, 2024)
WA lawmakers fail to address overcrowding at youth detention centers
Juvenile rehabilitation leaders were banking on changes to state law to relieve an overcrowded and chaotic system that’s left youth and staff to fend for themselves. As the legislative session nears an end, those changes have largely failed to materialize. Bills that lawmakers hoped would stanch the heavy flow of youth to the state’s two juvenile detention centers and relieve overcrowding failed to pass out of the House last week. The fizzling out of major fixes to the system drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike, some of whom called the bills’ demise a “moral failure.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ivy Ceballo)


Pullman hospital first in state to provide sex change surgery
New Washington law removes medical debt from credit reports, offering relief to thousands
A new law in Washington state is bringing financial relief to thousands of residents by removing medical debt from credit reports, a change that could significantly improve their financial futures. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 30 percent of Washingtonians report living in households with medical debt. Continue reading at KXLY. (KXLY)


Print

Aberdeen Daily World
City of Ocean Shores accused of squelching free speech
Permit-to-purchase bill for gun buyers headed to governor’s desk (Berry)
 
Axios
Speed cameras debut in Washington work zones
Washington lawmakers approve gun permit bill, send it to governor (Berry)

Bellevue Reporter
6-cent gas tax hike central to new transportation deal in Legislature (Fey, Liias)

Capital Press
Reclamation confirms adequate water for Klamath Basin

The Daily News
Trump protesters in Longview aim to protect Medicaid, democracy, due process
Drug tests, behavioral health agency: Here are the draft proposals for HOPE village manager

Everett Herald
WA bill to keep medical debt off credit reports signed into law (Riccelli)
Commerce boss: How Washington state can make it easier for small businesses
Comment: What SAVE Act promotes is red tape, not elections
Editorial: Commonsense best shot at avoiding measles epidemic

The Inlander
Drones help with everything from real estate photography to protecting crops and tracking pygmy rabbits across the Inland Northwest

Kitsap Sun
PCHS clinic could open on Bainbridge next year, if state funding comes through
Bainbridge Island’s inaugural Korean heritage festival to connect culture and well-being
Letter: Bremerton must retain state boost for fast-ferry service
Letter: Protect, and improve, Washington state’s initiative process

News Tribune
Washington must close this facility to protect our rights
WA House advances ‘Tesla tax’ bill after tense late-night debate (Fitzgibbon)
Will WA lawmakers need a special session? And how much would that cost? (Riccelli)
Ex-Tacoma police official went to court over racial bias. City settles for $500K
Tax has raised $60M for Pierce County behavioral health. How’s it being spent?

Northwest Asian Weekly
Shanghai Garden says goodbye after 35 years

Olympian
Will WA lawmakers need a special session? And how much would that cost? (Riccelli)
WA Republicans walk out in protest after bill closing Rainier School advances (Farivar)
Here’s what Tacoma’s U.S. Rep. Emily Randall saw in tour of ICE detention center

Port Townsend Leader
Quilcene school board talks Bible curriculum, trans girls in sports

Puget Sound Business Journal
Airlines respond to softer travel demand
Alaska Airlines sees travel demand steady after price cuts
Boeing weighs its options as trade war disrupts deliveries to China
Opinion: Washington businesses don’t need a heavier tax burden

Renton Reporter
Renton School District cuts librarians from 8 schools

Seattle Medium
Seattle Officers Seek Anonymity in Supreme Court Over Capitol Rally Investigation
As Vaccinations Become A Political Talking Point, Health Officials Warn Of Measles Cases
Community Mourns Tragic Loss of Garfield High School Student in Easter Sunday Shooting

Seattle Times
Trump cuts have WA libraries, museums and tribes scrambling
WA lawmakers fail to address overcrowding at youth detention centers (Wilson, Bergquist)
Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump’s push to end DEI in K-12 public schools
Judge bars Trump from denying federal funds to ‘sanctuary’ cities that limit immigration cooperation

Spokesman Review
Facing Sunday deadline, lawmakers continue work to adopt Washington budget (Riccelli)
Got medical debt? New state law Riccelli sponsored will protect Washington residents from impacts to credit score (Riccelli)

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Demonstrators decry deportations

Washington Post
Elon Musk had the government in his grasp. Then it unraveled.
As Trump softens his tone on the trade war, China refuses to budge
Big Ten university faculties push for defense compact against Trump
Interior Dept. weighs opening 6 national monuments in the West to mining, drilling

WA State Standard
Democrats in Washington Legislature wrap up budget negotiations (Robinson, Tharinger)
Permit-to-purchase bill for gun buyers headed to WA governor’s desk (Berry)
Oregon Attorney General leads suit against Trump, administration to block tariffs
Republicans walk out after WA House committee votes to close center for people with disabilities (Farivar)

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee Downtown Association wraps up survey, eyes inclusive growth, public input
Eastmont open division proposal for transgender athletes fails during WIAA Representative Assembly


Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
DOGE cuts hit small farms in western Washington
Seattle U professor: Boeing’s year-over-year quarterly results are great
Backlog building at Washington licensing offices amid scramble to get REAL ID
Pattern of injury: 2 employees suffer severe injuries at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Pike Place Market goes car-free in pilot program
Seattle mayor announces new initiative to expand childcare, early learning

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Boeing doesn’t expect the US trade war with China to slow its recovery
Ballard Bridge to close this weekend for upgrades delayed by last fall’s rain
Seattle law firm to ask judges to permanently block Trump executive orders
Seattle parents demand changes to student enrollment system at school board meeting
Federal Way parents criticize school district’s emergency response to playground shooting

KUOW Public Radio
Tacoma ICE center detentions spike by nearly 50% since March, says U.S. Rep. Randall

KXLY (ABC)
Permit-to-purchase bill for gun buyers headed to WA governor’s desk (Berry)
Washington bill nicknamed ‘Tesla tax’ passes state house of representatives (Fitzgibbon)
New Washington law removes medical debt from credit reports, offering relief to thousands

NW Public Radio
Tacoma physicians are trying to unionize
Programas Head Start reabren en el centro de Washington
Cantwell, Schrier talk possible Medicaid cuts with local health care stakeholders


Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: NASA budget cuts would put local research in free fall

Cascade PBS
WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs (Fosse)

InvestigateWest
A 12-year-old killed herself at a Spokane hospital that recently closed its youth psychiatric unit

MyNorthwest
Keeping call centers local (Stanf0rd)
Keeping circus critters out of the ring (Liias)
A greener blueprint for affordable homes (Duerr)
Gun permit bill one step away from being law (Dhingra)
Republicans exit after bill closing disabled schools passes  
Sen. introduces bill to move incarcerated to ICE, calling WA ‘a sanctuary for felons’ 
With only days left, GOP accuses Dems of rushed budget, no transparency: ‘We have no idea who’s being taxed’ (Fitzgibbon)

The Stranger 
Slog AM: The Wealth Tax Makes a Comeback, Early Election Results Are in, and RFK Is Still Evil

The Urbanist
After a Baby Step Toward Housing Density, Edmonds Starts Backpedaling

Washington Observer
“Tesla tax” passes House (Fitzgibbon)
A politically dicey vote on the B&O tax
House Democrats narrowly advance big changes to education levies (Bergquist)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Thursday notes