Worry in WA as White House threatens — then restores — mental health funding
The proposed cuts sent shock waves through Washington state, with some organizations saying they would immediately have to suspend services for people with mental illness and substance use disorders. SAMHSA supplies grants to hundreds of organizations across the state — from large state and county agencies, such as Health Care Authority and King County Public Health, to private local and rural facilities. Funding cuts would have meant the abrupt end of programs for youth suicide prevention, addiction recovery services and peer support programs — services that directly help people who are struggling. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)
4 Washington school districts under federal investigation for transgender athlete policies
In total, 18 school districts across the U.S. are under investigation, including Cheney Public Schools, Sultan School District No. 311, Tacoma Public Schools and Vancouver Public Schools. The Department of Education claims the school districts’ policies allowing students to participate in sports based on gender identity, rather than biological sex, jeopardizes “the safety and the equal opportunities of women in educational programs and activities.” Continue reading at KING 5. (KING 5)
Washington may ban sales of farmed octopus
Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, authored the 2024 law and sponsored this year’s bill. It bars knowingly selling, possessing, transporting, or distributing “any species of octopus that is the result or product of aquaculture.” Violations carry a fine of up to $1,000. “We’re following other states and other countries in trying to protect a pretty unique creature,” he said. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Buena Vista Images/Getty Images)
Aberdeen Daily World
Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. hosts Coastal Caucus legislative send-off (Chapman, Bernbaum)
Axios
Pregnancy prosecutions are on the rise
Washington lawmakers look to limit ICE tactics, including mask use (Valdez, Hansen, Ortiz-Self)
Bellingham Herald
Whatcom Council affirms ‘civil rights for all’ in wake of MN ICE homicide
Should WA embrace nuclear to meet clean energy goals? There’s a bipartisan push (Fitzgibbon, Shewmake, Mena)
Capital Press
Interior launches consolidated U.S. Wildland Fire Service
9th Circuit refuses to revive Oregon timber antitrust lawsuit
The Daily News
Woodland City Council to vote on retail marijuana sales in January
Ban on commercial huckleberry harvest in Gifford Pinchot to be reviewed
Ferguson eyes limiting funding to property-poor schools. Here’s how Kelso would be affected.
Everett Herald
Editorial: Meeting needs for data centers, fair power rates
Letter: State must deliver on promises for state ferry system
Feds investigate Sultan School District over trans athlete policy
Edmonds approves 0.1% sales tax for street, sidewalk improvements
International Examiner
Families and supporters start aid and advocacy organization for Filipino migrants detained by ICE
Kitsap Sun
Simmons: Setting priorities for the legislative session ahead
WSF looks for riders to help reschedule Bremerton, Bainbridge routes
Students back after fire closed Green Mountain Elementary for a week
News Tribune
Opinion: One road funds Tacoma’s entire traffic cam contract. Is it a trap?
Feds to investigate Tacoma Public Schools over its policy on trans athletes
What should I do if I see ICE in my Washington city? Know these rights, resources
Peninsula Daily News
Superintendent says national park had more than 3.6M visitors in ’25
Puget Sound Business Journal
Employers are shifting gears on benefits in 2026
Microsoft pledges to pay its way amid concerns over AI power demand
Seattle Times
What’s ahead for WA education this legislative session
Opinion: AI can’t replace education of the whole person
WA has a housing crunch. Microsoft President Brad Smith has thoughts
Editorial: Turn to vacant strip malls to increase state’s housing supply (Alvarado)
Amid rising threats, WA lawmakers look to conceal addresses in public records (Berry)
Worry in WA as White House threatens — then restores — mental health funding
Skagit Valley Herald
La Conner swears in returning town councilmembers
Sedro-Woolley School Board fills leadership positions
Sol De Yakima
Legisladores de WA impulsan prohibir que fuerzas del orden se cubran su rostro (Valdez, Cortes)
Spokesman Review
HHS cuts $2 billion in mental health, addiction grants
Ferguson urges lawmakers to ban law enforcement from wearing masks (Dhingra)
Governor raises ‘12’ flag above state capitol, predicts Seahawks playoff victory
Washington lawmakers push competing bills to ban plastic bags, reduce bag fee (Bateman)
Budget, voter initiatives and artificial intelligence: Lawmakers ready for upcoming legislative session (Ormsby, Robinson, Jinkins, Pedersen)
Tri-City Herald
2 die from flu in Tri-Cities area. Infection rate higher than WA state
Washington Post
Trump promised a manufacturing boom. It’s a bust so far.
X to disable Grok tool in some areas after fury over sexualized images
Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act, deploy troops in Minnesota
More Americans experience ‘pre-bereavement’ as they care for aging spouses
WA State Standard
Washington may ban sales of farmed octopus (Bernbaum, Peterson)
How Washington state lawmakers want to regulate AI (Callan, Ryu)
Visa processing for immigrants from 75 nations frozen by Trump administration
Democrats shrug as Trump threatens ‘sanctuary’ cities again with February funding cutoff
Yakima Herald-Republic
Human trafficking is more prevalent than most realize, local advocates say
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Woman shot by Border Patrol in Portland recovering at Tacoma ICE facility
Fast-spreading flu strain pushes ER visits higher across western Washington
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson postpones Ballard encampment sweep, signals new strategy
4 Washington school districts under federal investigation for transgender athlete policies
‘We’re here to f— people up’: New video shows officer’s remarks before protest clash, arrests in Seattle
Trump threatens to use insurrection act, send troops into Minneapolis as protests erupt after second ICE shooting
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Survey identifies Washington’s most loathed taxes
4 Washington school districts face Title IX investigations
KUOW Public Radio
Feds launch investigations into four WA school districts over trans athletes
KXLY (ABC)
Lutheran Community Services faces major cuts to victim advocacy programs
NW Public Radio
Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Fest celebrates diversity in Wenatchee
Bateman Island causeway breached in the Tri-Cities, ‘a huge step’ for salmon
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom council voices support for immigrants in wake of Minnesota shooting
Opinion: Growth is coming to Anacortes, other communities; citizens must guide it
InvestigateWest
Washington scrambles to regulate license-plate cameras that could aid stalkers (Trudeau)
MyNorthwest
Proposed WA bill revises ‘Three Strikes Law’ (Wilson)
Flooding devastates nearly 400 homes in King County
Trump threatens to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities, putting billions of WA dollars at risk
Washington Observer
A different sort of speech entirely (Valdez, Leavitt, Peterson, Lovick, Reeves)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Thursday info