WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Wednesday, September 10

Gov. Bob Ferguson discusses a plan to backfill lost federal funding for Planned Parenthood with state funds during a press conference in Seattle on Wednesday, July 9. (Mitchell Roland/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
State lawmakers call for legislature to restore funding for Abortion Access Project
Nearly 60 Democratic legislators have signed an open letter calling on Washington lawmakers to restore funding to a state program that helps clinics and patients pay for abortion services after lawmakers cut its funding by 55% during the 2025 legislative session. According to the letter, cuts in state and federal funding will also reduce Planned Parenthood’s clinical services budget by 33%. “Safety net family planning providers cannot continue to serve patients at present levels without state investment, and if Washington does not take action to restore funding, health outcomes in our state will plummet and the state will ultimately pay the price tag,” the letter states. Continue reading at Spokesman-Review. (Mitchell Roland)


Laurie Dawson organizes a pile of ballots during primary election day, Aug. 5, in Bellingham. (Santiago Ochoa/Cascadia Daily News)
Do you plan to vote by mail? Experts say it’s safe and secure
Washington voters have been dropping their ballots in mailboxes for more than two decades and the process has proven to be accurate and secure, experts say. Whatcom County was one of the first counties in Washington to allow vote-by-mail when the state Legislature established it as a permanent part of the election process in 2005, explained Whatcom County Chief Deputy Auditor Amy Grasher, who was previously the elections supervisor for 12 years. Continue reading at Cascadia Daily News. (Santiago Ochoa)


With the long-awaited
Powered Link Train Crosses I-90 for First Time in Pivotal Test
As Monday night stretched into Tuesday morning, Sound Transit celebrated a critical milestone as a powered light rail vehicle crossed the I-90 bridge between Seattle and the Eastside for the first time. The successful test, which followed an unpowered tow across the bridge in May, marks the start of the next phase of major prep work that will keep the full 2 Line on track for a grand opening next spring. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Sound Transit)


Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Op Ed: Reps. Abbarno and Waters: Forest lockup is harmful

Bellingham Herald
Analysis details racial disparities among Whatcom County Jail inmate population

Capital Press
MAHA strategy for children includes deregulating agriculture
Proposed ‘critical mineral’ listing of potash may speed extraction
Washington state agencies miss biodiesel mandate by wide margin

Columbian
Jobless claims on the rise in Clark County as the labor market cools

The Daily News
Longview says sole applicant does not qualify to take over HOPE Village

Everett Herald
North Middle School to celebrate 100 years in Everett
A road rage incident escalated when bystander displayed firearm outside Arlington School District office
Comment: Crackdown on cities risks making them less safe
Comment: Breathtaking $1.1T in U.S. wages lost to wildfire smoke

International Examiner
Delays, uncertainty, and opportunity as plans for CID Sound Transit station continue to be in flux
Kitsap Sun
Traffic delays expected as work to relieve downtown Kingston congestion starts
How many wildfires are active in Washington? 23,000+ acres burned so far this month

News Tribune
Teen charged with school shooting threat in Pierce County
Why are WA school districts facing budget woes, and what can be done to fix it?
Opinion: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ puts health care, seniors in Washington at risk 

New York Times
Climate ‘Ideology’ Hurts Prosperity, Top U.S. Officials Tell Europeans
How Lutnick Is Using Government Power to Pressure Private Companies
Employers Added Nearly a Million Fewer Jobs Than Believed, Data Shows
Vaccines and C.D.C. Chaos Expose Tensions Between Trump and Kennedy
​Anger Mounts in Korea as Release of Workers Detained in Georgia Is Delayed

Olympian
WA Supreme Court hears case on Amazon’s alleged role in chemical suicides
Why are WA school districts facing budget woes, and what can be done to fix it? (Santos)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Is downtown Seattle improving? Harrell makes his case.

Seattle Medium
Seattle Parents’ Efforts To Exempt Children From LGBTQ+ Lessons Denied
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Connects Students With Careers On Draft Day
Community Carrot Seattle Names Chris Rhodes As Its First Executive Director
xAI Expands Footprint with New Engineering Hub In Seattle Amidst Ongoing Legal Turmoil

Seattle Times
Trump’s DOJ requests WA voter data, including personal info
Seattle’s city parks and trails just got (somewhat) easier to navigate
Disabled U.S. Army veteran in ‘limbo’ at Tacoma ICE detention center
CVS takeover of Rite Aid, Bartell stores makes some med refills painful
Study links more frequent and severe heat waves to pollution from major fossil fuel producers
Editorial: Cashless bail has a place in our judicial system
Opinion: When it comes to DUI prevention, checkpoints aren’t the answer

Skagit Valley Herald
County commissioners respond to concerns about programs for seniors

Spokesman Review
State lawmakers call for legislature to restore funding for Abortion Access Project (Hill, Ormsby, Riccelli)
Increased odds of lightning-caused fires expected in the near future, according to new study from WSU researchers

Washington Post
On the brink of devastating canal collapse, GOP district waits for Trump’s help
Texas A&M instructor fired after student in viral video calls gender lesson illegal
Trump administration asks Congress for extra funding in talks to dodge shutdown

WA State Standard
Backlash mounts over proposed repeal of protections for 2M acres of forest in WA
Oregon leaders prepare court, legislative action after Trump floats National Guard in Portland


Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Here is why flags will be at half-staff Thursday in Washington state
Iranian legal permanent resident released from ICE custody after 7 months
Sound Transit eyes game-changing expansion with eight new light rail miles
Washington Supreme Court to decide if Amazon can be held liable for suicides
Seattle council OKs expansion of surveillance cameras despite community pushback

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington ranks high for vaccination rates
Seattle City Council approves expansion of street camera program
AP finds major disaster declarations are taking longer under Trump
Microsoft announces in-office mandate for Puget Sound employees in 2026

KXLY (ABC)
Fire at Avista Stadium concession stand ruled accidental
Spokane groups unite to combat extreme weather threats
Avista customers could soon see a change to their monthly bill
New dashboard shows daily overview of Spokane County Jail demographics

NW Public Radio
Future ‘sew’ bright for first class in Kennewick
Local grocers’ union, advocacy groups sue Tacoma over workers’ rights initiative


 

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Do you plan to vote by mail? Experts say it’s safe and secure

Cascade PBS
Murray seeks to block Trump nominee for Eastern WA U.S. Attorney
A guide to navigating the immigration court system in WA state

InvestigateWest
Oregon regulators fine polluting wood treater $1 million, allow it to keep operating

The Urbanist
Powered Link Train Crosses I-90 for First Time in Pivotal Test

Washington Observer
The war on gas heads to the Supremes

West Seattle Blog
City Council votes to expand surveillance-camera network for SPD’s Real-Time Crime Center
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Wednesday watch