Friday, June 5

‘This place, I love it.’ Meet the LGBTQ+ people leaving red states for WA
LGBTQ+ people have been moving to Western Washington following the November 2024 election of President Donald Trump and the Republican takeover of the U.S. House and Senate. Olympia, the state’s capital, was the state’s first city to declare itself a sanctuary city for trans and queer people, joining only a handful across the country. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Liesbeth Powers)

What is cychlorphine? Synthetic opioid 10 times stronger than fentanyl popping up in multiple states
Cychlorphine has been linked to a growing number of fatal overdoses in several states. In one Tennessee county, the drug has been linked to 50 suspected overdose deaths in the last year, according to Knox County officials. The number of suspected overdose deaths linked to cychlorphine has risen rapidly in recent months. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

Republicans push $70B for immigration enforcement through US Senate, with no limits on ICE
The U.S. Senate approved a nearly $70 billion package early Friday, moving Republicans one step closer to funding immigration and deportation activities for the next three years without negotiating new constraints on federal agents with Democrats. The 52-47 mostly party-line vote sends the measure to the House, where GOP lawmakers could send it to President Donald Trump for his signature as soon as next week. Continue reading at WSS. (States Newsroom)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Op Ed: Why the data center explosion is a bad thing for Washington state

Axios
Seattle teacher’s death spotlights shelved bike lane plans
Senate advances ICE funding through Trump’s second term

Capital Press
Drought worsening in Oregon, rest of Pacific Northwest
Good news for Yakima basin irrigators — it’s not getting worse
Washington Supreme Court to hear Grant County farmer’s appeal

Everett Herald
Everett approves stricter regulations for massage parlors

Kitsap Sun
USS Abraham Lincoln could move to Kitsap, CNO says at Kitsap visit

News Tribune
$5.3 million Pierce County roundabout aims to improve traffic congestion
Controversial Pierce County homeless village gets ‘green light,’ will move ahead

Olympian
‘This place, I love it.’ Meet the LGBTQ+ people leaving red states for WA
Vandal allegedly causes $100K in damage at WA Capitol, drives over park bridge

Puget Sound Business Journal
As World Cup nears, Sea-Tac Airport anticipates fewer arrivals
Everett fusion energy company Helion raises $465 million as it races toward commercial deployment

Seattle Times
House bill rolls back WIC food aid for pregnant women, children
Editorial: Kids in trouble need follow-through, not just good intentions
Opinion: Motels where trafficking happens can be shut down. Where’s the political will?

Spokesman Review
Spokane 3 verdict shows erosion of First Amendment (Hill)
A U.S. reckoning over chemical pollution from military bases
Officials christen new county park in a rural but fast-growing corner of Spokane County
Reporting requirements of diseased monkeys used in state medical research under question
Opinion: Administrative change could save Washington $1 billion in health care costs

Tri-City Herald
State found $3.2M to clean up WA’s largest tire pile. What happens next?
Franklin sheriff makes decision on complying with court order or turning himself in

WA State Standard
Data centers are driving demand for gas from Northwest utilities, reports find
Republicans push $70B for immigration enforcement through US Senate, with no limits on ICE

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima City Council OKs new utility rates
Snowpack for water storage in Cascades down to zero; spring chinook coming in
Immigration attorney Alexandra Lozano’s resignation leaves Yakima Valley clients uncertain
Signs of progress noted during gathering on missing and murdered Indigenous people in Toppenish

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle elementary school teacher dies in bicycle accident
Lawmaker calls for answers, support after deadly Longview tank implosion
Federal investigators examining former Tukwila immigration lawyer Alexandra Lozano
‘This can’t be happening’: Motorcyclist struck, left on freeway calls out hit‑and‑run drivers
What is cychlorphine? Synthetic opioid 10 times stronger than fentanyl popping up in multiple states

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Bellevue man advocates for more AEDs in public spaces
Data center planned for downtown Seattle in spite of looming moratorium
Workers’ compensation fraud scheme targets Spanish-speaking employees
Seattle pays $2.6 million in former SPD leadership harassment settlement
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board at risk of losing funding after Longview implosion
21-year-old arrested for throwing rocks at WA Legislative Building, damaging 13 window sets, 2 doors

Web

Cascade PBS
Pride and resilience in Seattle’s LGBTQ+ spaces
A new ‘welcome figure’ holds Indigenous history in Pioneer Square

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Friday + weekend info + first last day of school

Thursday, June 4

WA mail-in voting would change this year under proposed USPS rule, officials say
Washington officials are condemning a proposed U.S. Postal Service mail-in ballot rule that would alter how federal elections are run in the state. Supporters argue the suggested change, which would include strict barcode requirements, is needed for federal-election security. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs says that it amounts to an effort by the Trump administration to force states to comply with a federal system “that is clearly unconstitutional.”
Continue reading at The Olympian. (The Olympian)

Ocean observatories go dark off Pacific Northwest coast
The Trump administration has quietly removed an array of floating ocean observatories from waters off the Washington coast, KUOW has learned. Their removal is part of a national dismantling of a network of sophisticated data buoys in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Continue reading at KUOW. (Courtesy Oregon State University)

Feds say they have way to clean up nuclear waste site faster. WA is skeptical
But in recent years DOE has been looking at ways to also turn some of the tank waste into a grout form and send it out of state for disposal. The less radioactive vitrified tank waste is being buried in a landfill in central Hanford. But because of Hanford’s geology, climate and groundwater that moves toward the Columbia River flowing through the site, Hanford is not considered a safe place to dispose of grouted waste.
Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Courtesy Hanford Tank Waste Operations and Closure)

Wednesday, June 3

How does WA’s economy compare to other states? New ranking shows where we stand
Washington is home to the second-best state economy in the nation, according to a new ranking…Washington enjoyed the second-highest share of professionals in the STEM field, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, the ranking shows. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Raimund Koch)

WA industrial spill leaves hundreds more fish dead
Emergency response crews retrieved another 337 dead fish Tuesday from around the Nippon Dynawave Packaging paper mill in Longview, where a chemical tank failed last week, killing 11 people…Tuesday’s dead fish count brings the total number recovered to 2,450, according to the state Department of Ecology. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Nick Wagner)

As businesses prep for the World Cup, some ask how many fans will show up
Initial projections predicted 750,000 soccer fans would visit Seattle during the tournament — which was good news for hotels and restaurants still recovering from the pandemic. But a recent survey taken by the American Hotel and Lodging Association showed that 80% of respondents reported hotel bookings were tracking below initial forecasts. Continue reading at KNKX. (Emil Moffat)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen launches mass notification system
Grays Harbor County Comprehensive Land Use Draft EIS open for comment

Axios
UW land acknowledgment parody wins protection
Seattle’s downtown ranks among nation’s “stickiest”

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham, Whatcom County median home prices saw a dramatic drop in April

Capital Press
Expert: Stripe rust may last whole wheat season
Northwest power plan to embrace more natural gas
USDA announces enrollment and payment details for specialty crop aid

Everett Herald
Federal deadline for flood relief funds looms

Kitsap Sun
Free downtown shuttle launching on Bainbridge Island
Seattle one of the best places to raise a family, new report finds
Fish kills, contaminated water part of Longview explosion’s impacts

News Tribune
He left WA on the ‘Seattle to Texas Express.’ Now he helps others do the same
Tacoma university students forfeited unspent meal funds. Did that break WA laws?

Olympian
How do incomes in Washington state compare to rest of US? What new study says

Port Townsend Leader
City CEO’s pay climbs 61%
Deadly mill blast sparks safety call
As seniors surge, county’s workforce pool is going gray

Puget Sound Business Journal
Business Journal unveils the 100 best workplaces in WA for 2026
Blackstone subsidiary proposes large redevelopment project in Kent
Unsettled housing market is playing out in purchasers’ down payments
UW Tacoma selects developer for $115 million student housing expansion
Allen Institute launches brain health program with $400 million in funding

Seattle Times
WA industrial spill leaves hundreds more fish dead
U.S. Chemical Safety Board faces steep cuts during Longview probe
Opinion: WA is about to face even more of a shortage of family medicine doctors

Spokesman Review
Canada had a positive meeting with the U.S. on free trade talks, Canadian minister says
AI changed the world while the class of 2026 moved through high school. Here’s what they think of their new future

Washington Post
Americans face fresh price hikes as oil supplies hit historic lows
Trump to impose tariffs on 60 nations, citing claims they allow forced labor
Trump diverts millions from national park visitor fees to D.C. fountains and fireworks
An America 250 celebration with a Trump coin, Trump passport, Trump rally and more

WA State Standard
WA urges US Supreme Court to take redistricting case

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle hotel workers could go on strike right before World Cup
Final victim recovered as Longview mourns 11 killed at Nippon Dynawave
Revive I-5: Weekend closures planned for northbound I-5 through Seattle
‘Pay to play’: Washington families struggle with steep new immigration court fees

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Inquest into Seattle police shooting death of Derek Hayden begins
Census 2025: Seattle the only West Coast city in the Top 10 for population growth
Seattle mayor wants to double the city’s transit sales tax, and not everyone’s on board
Congresswoman demands written pay guarantee for workers after deadly implosion in Longview
Seattle council gives mayor until August 1 to recommend future of King County homelessness agency

KNKX Public Radio
As businesses prep for the World Cup, some ask how many fans will show up

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham wins federal funding for Pine Street railroad crossing upgrade
What graduating high school seniors think about today’s world, in their own words

Cascade PBS
WATCH: 50 years of vital work and advocacy at the Seattle Gay News

The Stranger
ICE Retaliates Against Hunger Strikers at NWDC

The Urbanist
Op-Ed: It’s Time for Vending in Link Stations

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Cooler Wednesday

Tuesday, June 2

Battles over energy projects are erupting across Western WA
Puget Sound Energy, which plans to lease the Snoqualmie battery facility, said many people opposed to battery projects supported policies that made them necessary. Now, the utility said, those communities must accept new infrastructure or face the rising risk of outages at the worst possible times. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Menopausal, perimenopausal women to get new workplace support in WA executive order
Ferguson said he’s directing the state’s women’s commission to work with cabinet agencies to update or adopt policies to support menopausal workers, and to identify best practices. The commission will also be tasked with devising training materials focused on accommodations. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (TVW)

Nearly half of King County households don’t have AC
The big picture: Seattle no longer ranks as the least air-conditioned major city in the U.S. — that title goes to San Francisco — but the Puget Sound region still has some of the lowest rates of air conditioning in the country. Continue reading at Axios. (Axios Visuals)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Westport gets birdseye view of tsunami tower plans
Quinault launch Shoalwater and Willapa bays takeover bid
What’s new to see at Ocean Shores Coastal Interpretive Center
WA centrists are ‘politically homeless.’ Nirvana co-founder wants to change that

Auburn Reporter
Local businesses urged to apply for federal flood funds by June 10

Axios
Nearly half of King County households don’t have AC

Bellingham Herald
Menopausal, perimenopausal women to get new workplace support in WA executive order

Capital Press
WDFW suspends effort to remove wolf in Stevens County
Klamath no and low irrigation programs see strong interest
USDA announces enrollment and payment details for specialty crop aid

Everett Herald
Monroe schools to provide free summer lunches to kids
Lynnwood cuts ribbon on Crisis Care Center after 5 years of uncertainty (Davis)

Kitsap Sun
Navy releases documents on homeporting Columbia-class subs at Bangor

News Tribune
Menopausal, perimenopausal women to get new workplace support in WA executive order

New York Times
Congress to Consider Restricting How the Military Uses A.I.
Trump Administration Announces Stricter Rules for Medicaid Work Requirement

Seattle Times
Battles over energy projects are erupting across Western WA
WA executive order aims to shore up menopause resources for workers
Editorial: Congress must put guardrails on Trump’s vanity projects, spending
Opinion: WA child welfare providers are forced to make impossible decisions

Spokesman Review
Ferguson directs commission to develop training, resources for working women experiencing menopause

Tri-City Herald
ICE arrest trends in Tri-Cities area: What families need to know

Washington Post
Courts may deliver the anti-vaccine movement’s biggest win
Trump administration retreated on payout fund, but some in GOP want proof it’s dead

WA State Standard
Ferguson rebuffs GOP lawmaker’s call to pause WA climate law

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
No food, no timeline, no answers: Whidbey Island food pantry in limbo after flood
Seattle public restroom pilot faces first test after window shattered near Lumen Field
SEA Airport moves step closer to second terminal, releases fresh details on expansion
Pierce Transit offering free rides to cooling centers, shelters as temps reach upper 80s
Seattle posts nation’s fifth-largest population gain; international migration fuels growth
Around 2,000 dead fish collected as crew contains environmental impact of Longview tank implosion

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Attorney says Longview victim’s families deserve to know who is at fault
WA metro area among the 10 most dangerous in the U.S. for spring driving
Fatal pellet gun shooting highlights gap in how state law treats BB guns v. firearms
Neighbors awoken by gunfire Sunday morning after SDOT removes makeshift barrier off Aurora Ave.

KUOW Public Radio
Longview families, community come together after 11 killed in paper mill disaster
Ferguson signs executive order to support working women experiencing menopause in WA

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Affordable Care Act coverage drops most in state’s rural areas
Skagit County temporarily bans data centers to protect farmland, water
Next phase of cleanup to begin at Georgia-Pacific site on Bellingham Bay

InvestigateWest
‘Something dramatically wrong’: Questions but few answers after Longview mill tragedy

MyNorthwest
Congresswoman demands written pay guarantee for workers after deadly Nippon Dynawave implosion in Longview

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Tuesday info
FOLLOW UP: Morgan Junction EV-charging lot opening delayed again

Monday, June 1

Where Affordable Care Act insurance coverage has dropped most in WA
Washington’s rural counties saw the largest drops in insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act after the Republican-controlled Congress failed to extend subsidies that helped consumers afford the plans…Garfield, San Juan, Franklin, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Asotin counties all saw drops above 20%. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty)

Final 2 victims recovered from site of southwest Washington mill implosion
The victims who died at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility are: Gilbert Bernal, 52; brothers Tyler Covington and Brad Covington, 29 and 27; Robert Wilson, 48; Dale Miller, 54; Jared Ammons, 35; Braydon Finkas, 38; Clinton, or CJ, Doran, 26; John Forsberg, 51; Norman Barlow, 58 and Dillon Miller, whose age was not identified in the press conference. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland)

Their families helped the US fight a ‘secret war’ against communism in Laos. Now ICE is deporting them
Washington state is home to one of the largest communities of Laos refugees in the country. Under the Trump administration, many are facing new scrutiny from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. For decades, people from Laos who got a deportation order were able to stay and work in the U.S. That’s because Laos wouldn’t take them back. Under pressure from the Trump administration, those deportation flights have picked up. Continue reading at KUOW. (Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez)