Landlords fined for first time under WA’s new rent cap law
For the first time, Washington’s attorney general has enforced the state’s new cap on rent hikes, fining eight landlords $2,000 each for violating the law. House Bill 1217 took effect in early May. The landlords told tenants before that time about rent increases that would exceed the new maximums. But these increases were tied to leases that renewed after the law took effect, according to the attorney general’s office. For example, one rent increase for a tenant in Lakewood would have begun June 22. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)
Washington state braces for ‘Inevitable’ Megafire. Climate change may bring it sooner.
Western Washington is one of the wettest places in the country. In the North Cascade mountains and on the Olympic Peninsula, lush cedars, ferns and mosses form classic Pacific Northwest rainforests. But even here, climate change is making wildfires more likely. And the state is figuring out how to respond. “It used to be that it really wasn’t until mid-August that fuels dried out in Western Washington,” said Derek Churchill, a forest health scientist at the Washington Department of Natural Resources. “Now it’s July or earlier.” In fact, last month human activity started a wildfire in the Olympic national forest. As of Tuesday, it had grown to more than 5,100 acres and some campgrounds were under evacuation orders. Continue reading at New York Times. (Ruth Fremson)
Parts of rural WA pinched by lapse in federal payments to offset lost logging revenue
Washington’s rural counties and school districts are preparing to start the school year without millions of dollars from a program meant to offset reduced revenue from logging on federal lands. The Secure Rural Schools program expired at the end of 2023 after Congress failed to renew it. Democratic and Republican lawmakers, along with local officials, are pushing U.S. House leadership to bring a bill renewing the program to the floor. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Washington State Department of Natural Resources)
Aberdeen Daily World
Washington state braces for ‘inevitable’ megafire
Grays Harbor County Public Health seeks focus group participants
Bellingham Herald
WA reports case of dangerous mosquito-born disease. Know the symptoms
Watch as a boat is dismantled in Bellingham as part of derelict vessel program
Capital Press
Trump raises tariffs on India, rivaling India’s tariffs on U.S.
Wireworm problem greatly reduced, longtime WSU researcher says
No viable quagga mussels found so far in ISDA Mid-Snake sampling
Courier-Herald
Enumclaw approves auto license plate reader policy
‘Advanced corrosion’ closes Green River/Kummer Bridge
Everett Herald
State commission approves rate hike for ferry trips
The Inlander
Op-Ed: Washington state and the federal government are in alignment on the development and adoption of an alternative to jet fuel
Journal of the San Juan Islands
San Juan Library Board meeting
Kitsap Sun
Kitsap animal shelter enters August at full capacity
Kitsap Health District names interim officer after Morrow’s departure
Bremerton’s red light cameras are gone. But new ones are coming back
2nd roundabout likely coming along Highway 3 in Gorst, at Division Avenue
Three Washington state schools rank among best global universities for 2026
News Tribune
Tacoma to use AI cameras to check your recycling bin. Here’s why
WA reports case of dangerous mosquito-born disease. Know the symptoms
New York Times
Trump Delayed a Medicare Change After Health Companies’ Donations
Trump Demands New U.S. Census That Excludes Undocumented Immigrants
Puget Sound Business Journal
Universities face new headwinds
After losing state ferry bid, WA-based shipbuilder shifts focus
New law aims to stamp out one growing headache for homebuyers
Seattle Times
WA to increase ferry prices, with new fees for credit cards
Landlords fined for first time under WA’s new rent cap law (Peterson)
Data show how Trump has changed WA immigration enforcement
Trump seeks to change how census collects data and wants to exclude immigrants in US illegally
Editorial: Federal budget cuts are hurting WA food banks. Time to step up
Spokesman Review
Judge orders feds to reconsider Endangered Species Act protections for wolves
Washington state braces for ‘Inevitable’ Megafire. Climate change may bring it sooner.
From Rome to D.C. to New York City, Gonzaga president Katia Passerini lands in Spokane with high hopes for school’s future amid higher ed challenges
WA State Standard
Get ready to pay more for a Washington state ferry ride
Federal court overturns decision denying Endangered Species protections to wolves
Parts of rural WA pinched by lapse in federal payments to offset lost logging revenue
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
King County cracks down on illegal food carts
Eight landlords penalized for violating rent cap law
Is Seattle’s political pendulum swinging once again?
Seattle braces for $143 million shortfall amid new tariffs
Washington residents urged to claim share of billions in unclaimed cash, property
King County halts felony referrals to youth diversion program amid high repeat offense rates
KUOW Public Radio
Get ready to pay more for a Washington state ferry ride
KXLY (ABC)
Idaho State Police arrest man for shooting at vehicles including Washington trooper
Web
MyNorthwest
Premera Blue Cross fined for mental health coverage violations
The Stranger
Why Aren’t We Using All of Our Waterways to Move People?
The Urbanist
Op-Ed: Closing Seattle Schools Is Still a Bad Idea
Washington Observer
Early primary takeaways (Slatter, Walen, Obras, Krishnadasan, Hunt)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Thursday info
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