WA Supreme Court to consider Let’s Go Washington lawsuit challenging ‘millionaires tax’
Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, who sponsored the tax, said the inclusion of a clause to bar a referendum isn’t unusual for legislation that involves taxes, and wasn’t put in to try to dampen voter participation. Many revenue-related bills often include a clause that prevents a referendum from being brought against them, because in the state constitution, revenue-generating bills are necessary to the functioning of government. “That’s not some special measure to try to block public involvement in the process,” Pedersen said. “That is just a statement of fact under the Constitution, that this is a revenue measure and it’s not subject to referendum.” Continue reading at KUOW. (Joshua McNichols)
How the I-5 bridge saga led to a $14B price tag
The soaring price tag for a new Interstate 5 bridge connecting Washington and Oregon is only the latest stumble in a decades-long effort to replace the aging crossing. Why it matters: The total project cost has more than quadrupled since an earlier replacement plan fell apart in 2013, now topping $14 billion — all while the bridge continues to snarl traffic and could collapse in a major earthquake. Continue reading at Axios. (Meira Gebel)
Feds rescinds settlement with Fife School District supporting trans students
The U.S. Department of Education is no longer requiring the Fife School District to maintain certain protections for transgender students…Fife is one of six educational institutions with which the Department of Education is rescinding settlement agreements, and the only Washington-based institution on the list. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (The News Tribune)
Aberdeen Daily World
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Axios
How the I-5 bridge saga led to a $14B price tag
Bellingham Herald
WSDOT crews continue to stabilize northbound I-5 slope at site of landslide
Capital Press
Washington Fish and Wildlife commissioner sues department director
Trump administration revises lawsuit against California chicken rules after dismissal
Everett Herald
Snohomish County Health Department braces for state funding reductions
News Tribune
Feds rescind settlement supporting trans students in Fife
New York Times
Forest Service Will Close Research Stations That Study Wildfire Risk
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Idaho Cut Services for People With Schizophrenia. Then the Deaths Began.
Northwest Asian Weekly
Seattle Japanese Garden to close temporarily
Peninsula Daily News
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Puget Sound Business Journal
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Seattle Times
Charter schools say budget cut endangers basic education
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Trump administration terminates agreements to protect transgender students in several schools
South Seattle Emerald
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Washington Post
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Trump administration’s secrecy on health deals alarms experts, governments
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WA State Standard
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Birthright case forces US Supreme Court to confront prospect of Americans losing citizenship
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
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Gas Tax Holiday? Don’t hold your breath in Washington
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KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
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Mother who was supervised by DCYF charged with manslaughter for baby’s overdose death
KUOW Public Radio
WA Supreme Court to consider Let’s Go Washington lawsuit challenging ‘millionaires tax’ (Pedersen)
KXLY (ABC)
Eastern Washington sheriffs sue state over new law enforcement standards
Tuesday morning house fire displaces 5 people, closes road near Jack & Dan’s
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Domestic violence assault suspect dies in crash following police pursuit in Spokane
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Expect nighttime I-5 lane reductions near Lake Samish through April
US scientists sequence 1,000 genomes from measles, a disease long eliminated with vaccines
Cascade PBS
WATCH: REI Union threatens boycott after retailer claims impasse
The Urbanist
U District’s Ave Going Carfree for Three Saturdays in May, June
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Tuesday notes
Here’s how SDOT says it spent Transportation Levy money in year one