Democrat who called RFK Jr. a ‘charlatan’ says U.S. is vulnerable to next pandemic
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced fierce questioning from members of both parties during a Senate Finance Committee hearing Thursday, including sharp criticism from Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, who called him a “charlatan.” Cantwell criticized Kennedy’s decision to cancel hundreds of millions in research funding for future mRNA vaccines, saying the research was needed for future pandemic preparedness. Kennedy responded to Cantwell saying “I’m happy to have a detailed discussion with you about it. You’re so wrong on your facts.” Continue reading at KNKX. (Andrew Harnik)
Let’s Go Washington launches initiative campaign on trans youth sports, parental rights
Heywood’s organization achieved significant victories last year when voters supported initiatives restricting natural gas use and overturning state laws limiting police pursuits. The state Legislature also passed Let’s Go Washington-backed measures banning income taxes and guaranteeing parental rights to access school records. The success came after Heywood invested more than $5 million of his own money into seven initiatives. “Someone has to stand up and fight back. And what I think I’ve done is given the voice. I’ve given voice to 1.2 million people who signed at least one of our initiatives,” Heywood said. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)
While Seattle Population Spikes, Car Population Stalls Out
Seattle’s human population is growing fast, but its car population has stalled out. Between 2017 and 2023, Seattle added 35,000 households, but just 3,300 cars, new Census data has revealed — in news that is music to urbanist ears. Gene Balk broke down the data in his most recent “FYI Guy” column in the Seattle Times. “Census data shows the number of vehicles in the city has been effectively unchanged for years, even as the number of households has grown,” Balk wrote. “Because the number of cars has basically plateaued while the number of households has grown, the rate of car ownership has declined.” Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Peter Fitzgerald)
Bellingham Herald
Bellingham ceremony kicks off tribal-led effort to preserve ancient forests
Whatcom County is vacating some past drug convictions; here’s how it works
The drinking rate is declining in the US, study says. What about Washington?
Capital Press
Fire risk moderates but unknowns remain
Feds urged to stop setting wages for farmworkers
Trump asks Supreme Court for speedy ruling on tariffs
Columbian
No school Monday as Evergreen Public Schools strike enters third week
Courier-Herald
Western states form vaccine alliance as Florida plans to end vaccine mandates
Everett Herald
Arlington City Council argues over lodging tax funds
Snohomish County Elections awarded for “outstanding service”
Everett approves first project labor agreement with union groups
Comment: Governors should opt-in to school choice scholarships
Comment: RFK Jr.’s misguided science shapes a dangerous policy
Letter: Legislature should bar research of UW primate lab
Letter: Tribal ceremony spoke to Snake River’s sacred role
Kitsap Sun
Effort to preserve tree farm acreage west of Bremerton lands Forest Service grant
Marvin Williams Center in Bremerton becomes charter school’s high school space
Kitsap utilities could receive millions in funding to improve countywide internet access
Opinion: State can do more to support families going back to school (Nance)
News Tribune
UW Tacoma employee sentenced after domestic-violence order violation
Tacoma private school announces abrupt closure days before start of school
Local patients to see effects ‘starting now’ in federal cuts to pediatric brain cancer care
Opinion: Tacoma leaders: Workers must have majority on labor task force
Opinion: We know what the Second Amendment was meant to protect. Not this
Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle area’s wealthiest ZIP is not where you might expect
Seattle Medium
AI Expands Footprint with New Engineering Hub In Seattle Amidst Ongoing Legal Turmoil
Two Firefighters Arrested During Wildfire Response On Olympic Peninsula, Prompting Outcry Over Immigration Policy
Spokesman Review
How Seattle-area transit is pushing back against crime
Spokane air quality to improve next week as Tacoma Creek and Rattlesnake fires rage
Murray warns of looming government shutdown after top Republican calls Trump budget move ‘clear violation of the law’
Washington Post
Meta suppressed research on child safety, employees say
Supreme Court says Trump can resume immigration raids in L.A. area for now
WA State Standard
Debate on investing WA Cares funds in the stock market heats up (Hasegawa)
Trump floats Portland, Oregon, for next National Guard deployment
Coast Guard issues contract for major icebreaker port expansion in Seattle
Holding ground will be Washington Board of Education’s goal in 2026 session
Washington, in break with FDA rules, acts to assure wide access to COVID-19 vaccines
Many Black, Latino people can’t get opioid addiction med. Medicaid cuts may make it harder
Trump administration investigates Medicaid spending on immigrants in blue states, including WA
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
14 large wildfires burn across Washington as crews face rugged terrain, shifting weather
Let’s Go Washington launches initiative campaign on trans youth sports, parental rights
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Mount Rainier National Park forced to close trails due to wildfire threat
Lightning sparks three new fires in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Bear Gulch Fire tops 10,000 acres as crews focus on repairs near Lake Cushman
KNKX Public Radio
Democrat who called RFK Jr. a ‘charlatan’ says U.S. is vulnerable to next pandemic
NW Public Radio
Federal bill could ban breaching Lower Snake River dams
Fourth year of local campaign to feed young people doubles its reach
Oregon, Washington, California form health care alliance to protect vaccine access
Immigration policies and labor needs: A look at the growing reliance on H-2A workers in the Pacific Northwest
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Water rights court travels to Lynden to better help public
‘Hands Across the Water’ flotilla to celebrate friendship with Canada
‘We have a duty’: Saturday rally raises awareness about Roadless Rule change
Cascade PBS
Report: WA could lose $2B, thousands of jobs from Trump’s tariffs
The Newsfeed: Gov. Ferguson defies DOJ threats to sanctuary laws
What happens to money set aside for unused Democracy Vouchers?
DOH: WA residents can access COVID-19 vaccine without prescription
The Urbanist
While Seattle Population Spikes, Car Population Stalls Out
Seattle Community Councils Push Against Restoring Neighborhood Growth Centers
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Monday info