WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Wednesday, October 1

Senate Majority Leader John Thune holds a funding bill after meeting with the current president and congressional Democrats on a shutdown deal. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
How the government shutdown could disrupt daily life
The government shutdown is underway — and it could disrupt your daily life. The big picture: Millions of people won’t get paid during the shutdown, and federal agencies may slow down, disrupting daily life. The first shutdown since 2019 could be unusually disruptive if President Trump and budget director Russ Vought use it to reshape the federal workforce. Generally, federal functions deemed “essential” — including health programs, new Social Security and Medicare actions, SNAP benefits, FDA inspections and small business support — don’t pause during a shutdown. Continue reading at Axios. (Win McNamee)


APTOPIX Pentagon Commanders Meeting - U.S. military senior leadership listen as President Donald Trump speaks at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 in Quantico, Va. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via AP)
Trump calls for using US cities as a ‘training ground’ for military in unusual speech to generals
President Donald Trump on Tuesday proposed using American cities as training grounds for the armed forces and spoke of needing U.S. military might to combat what he called the “invasion from within.” Addressing an audience of military brass abruptly summoned to Virginia, Trump outlined a muscular and at times norm-shattering view of the military’s role in domestic affairs. He was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who declared an end to “woke” culture and announced new directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness. Continue reading at KIRO. (AP)


A 2.25-millimeter thick reusable plastic grocery bag. Each bag is intended to last up to 125 uses. (Photo by Emily Fitzgerald/Washington State Standard.)
Lawmakers revisit WA’s plastic bag restrictions
Washington shoppers will pay 4 cents more per plastic grocery bag starting in January. But the bags themselves won’t get any thicker for at least another two years as lawmakers fine-tune the state’s single-use plastic bag restrictions. The price increase is a part of a law passed in 2020 banning some thinner, single-use plastic bags statewide and creating regulations for retailers offering carryout bags to customers. Approximately 80,000 Washington businesses are affected by the law, according to the state Department of Commerce. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Emily Fitzgerald)


Print

Axios
How the government shutdown could disrupt daily life
Trump’s MAGA-fied military prepares for “war from within”

Bellingham Herald
WA Discover Pass price to increase 50% Oct. 1. Here’s what else is rising
Bellingham summit explores intersection of addiction, mental health, justice

Capital Press
Land use ruling approves home sites in Oregon big game habitat 

The Daily News

Nearly 4K without power in Cowlitz County as rain, wind cause outages
Faulty bay doors, unreliable alert system at Longview Fire. Will $100K PR plan help?
Trump suggests military use American cities as ‘training grounds’ and local officials are pushing back

Everett Herald
Curriculum that students can really dig
Public invited to food and farm center open houses
Everett shares info on draft five-year housing affordability plan
Law enforcement warns of scam using Snohomish County Jail inmates
Comment: Latest shutdown theatrics making same mistakes
Comment: Republicans argue to keep government open but won’t talk with Democrats focused on health care costs.

News Tribune
Is Tacoma’s ‘services first’ approach to homelessness gaining momentum?
Opinion: Washington’s digital ad tax is unwise, discriminatory and illegal

New York Times
Spam and Scams Proliferate in Facebook’s Political Ads
How Shutdown Gridlock Could Impede Disaster Preparedness
Trump Administration Moves to Relax Rules on Climate Super Pollutants

Northwest Asian Weekly
Stacey Abrams draws standing ovation at Seattle Town Hall event

Olympian
Washington minimum wage to rise above $17 in 2026
WA sues Trump admin after Homeland Security cuts funding ‘for political purposes’

Port Townsend Leader
Mill leaked 114,000 gallons of untreated water, fined $20,000
Washington State raises Discover Pass fee for first time in over a decade
Jefferson County’s drug and alcohol use sees shift in the wake of the pandemic

Puget Sound Business Journal
Report: Boeing explores options to replace 737 Max
Executives see the economy rebounding but concerns remain
Businesses face ‘upheaval’ over rapid shifts in union organizing rules

Seattle Medium
Building Stronger Futures: Verity Expands Financial Literacy Programs
Critics Claim Supreme Court Ruling Opens Door To Profiling Of Americans
Harrell Announces Major Investments To Support Seattle Small Businesses
Strickland, Smith Introduce Bill To Boost Investment In Minority-Owned Businesses

Seattle Times
What the partial federal shutdown could mean for WA
What happens at national parks with government shutdown?
Here’s how much minimum wage will increase in WA, Seattle
How Social Security will be affected by a government shutdown
Judge halts Trump administration cuts to aid for ‘sanctuary’ states
Editorial: Hastily passed tax will haunt WA lawmakers (Berg)

Spokesman Review
‘It’s been a little confusing’: WA businesses look to navigate new sales tax law (Berg)
Northwest Democrats and Republicans dig in for messaging battle as government shutdown begins
Broad, bipartisan task force hopes compromise criminal justice tax could succeed where jail tax failed
Security guard shot and killed at Eastern State Hospital remembered as ‘tenacious’ roller derby player, kind soul

Washington Post
Shutdown begins amid blame, acrimony
Trump has warned that he’ll fire federal employees
Supreme Court allows Lisa Cook to remain on Fed board for now

WA State Standard
Federal government shutdown begins
Lawmakers revisit WA’s plastic bag restrictions
Washington’s minimum wage to top $17 in 2026
ICE is transferring people in its custody away from family, lawyers


Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
What government shutdown means for Washington state
Sweeping sales tax expansion hits Washington nonprofits
Trump suggests U.S. cities be ‘training grounds’ for troops, points to Seattle with false claim
Washington has one of the highest minimum wages in the country. It’s going up again in 2026

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Price of Discover Pass increasing starting today
How does a government shutdown impact places like SEA Airport?
Federal HUD website blames ‘the Radical Left’ for government shutdown
Thurston County sheriff warns of ‘largest setback’ in county history amid budget cuts
Trump calls for using US cities as a ‘training ground’ for military in unusual speech to generals

KNKX Public Radio
Olympia renovating Armory building to house local nonprofits
At least 166 Oregon National Guard members have volunteered for Trump deployment

KUOW Public Radio
Washington Discover Pass price going up $15 on Oct. 1
What happened to nearly $1 million of pandemic assistance in Thurston County?
Washington won’t have any free Covid shots for the uninsured until mid-October
As government shutdown approaches, Rep. DelBene reflects on “pivotal” hours ahead

KXLY (ABC)
Volunteer policing organization to merge with Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Eastern Washington Congressman Michael Baumgartner calls government shutdown ‘reckless course’
Government shutdown threatens to furlough hundreds of workers, disrupt services across Spokane region

NW Public Radio
Tacoma Parks lays off staff, freezes open positions
Unpacked: Hanford site prepares to process radioactive waste
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center buying Catalyst Medical Group


Web

Cascadia Daily News
Dropping off multiple ballots is ‘OK’

Cascade PBS
Olympia ‘Diaper Guy’ named in $940K rent aid fraud investigation
Whatcom Council eyes closing legal loophole that hid $225K payout

MyNorthwest
Seattle’s minimum wage to rise to $21.30 in 2026

The Stranger
Cascade PBS Newsroom Axing Preventable, Union Says

The Urbanist
What’s Easier than Adding a Bus Lane in Seattle? Deleting One

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: October begins
CLOSURE ALERT: Dates set for first South Park Bridge closures during Duwamish River in-water cleanup season