Daily E-Clips

Thursday, July 2

More states try to give patients relief from medical debt
Many Americans are struggling to afford healthcare. A recent survey found that 46% of adults, regardless of their health care insurance status, reported struggling to pay for medical care last year…Under Washington’s new law, unpaid medical bills can’t be assigned to a debt collector for at least 120 days after the first billing statement in situations where the patient is a pedestrian or bicyclist who has been struck by a motor vehicle. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Whitney Downard)

After damning audit, officials yank most funding from King County Regional Homelessness Authority
Seattle and King County officials announced Wednesday they intend to downsize the scope and responsibilities of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. The five-year-old agency has faced heavy scrutiny following a damning financial audit. Officials said the agency’s response has been “insufficient” to correct the recent findings of mismanagement. Continue reading at KUOW. (Lindsey Wasson)

Pioneer Square is booming during World Cup. Seattle’s CID, not so much. Advocates demand city help
Business owners in south Seattle say the lack of World Cup impact, or the negative impact, is part of an ongoing trend — a major event comes to Seattle, but the CID doesn’t reap any benefits, oftentimes being worse off. It’s a hard pill to swallow for those who live and work in a neighborhood that is bearing the brunt of problems not of its own making: historically harmed by a highway cutting through it and more recently, becoming a hot spot where people dealing with addiction openly use drugs and the crime that often arises as part of drug addiction and use. Continue reading at KUOW. (Juan Pablo Chiquiza)

Wednesday, July 1

Supreme Court trans athlete ruling: What it means for WA
The Supreme Court ruling does not change Washington’s existing protections for transgender people, experts note. The Washington Law Against Discrimination — the state’s broad antidiscrimination statute — still prohibits discrimination based on sex, gender identity and gender expression in public facilities, in the workplace and while seeking housing, among other situations. State law also shields Washington public school students from similar forms of discrimination. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Allison Robbert)

Nation’s first state-run long-term care insurance program about to launch in WA
It’s a landmark moment for the endeavor known as WA Cares, envisioned as a means to help Washington’s workforce afford long-term care and services as they age. Starting Wednesday, insurance coverage through the state-run program will begin. Dozens of applications for benefits have already rolled in…Eligible individuals will be able to use their benefits to obtain services like in-home caretaking, equipment to help with getting around, medications, and meal delivery. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

Census data shows graying WA with a boom in boomers, drop in kids
Over the five years, the state’s 65-and-older population grew by 200,000 — a 16% increase. At the same time, the under-18 population declined by 55,000, a 3% drop. The older-adult population increased in all 39 counties of Washington. The number of children fell in 26 of them. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
From Elma to Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor shows its Pride
A new location decided for Elma High School’s Davis Field

Bainbridge Island Review
A look at where WSF stands in electrifying its fleet, terminals

Bellingham Herald
Cleanup efforts at this Bellingham toxic site make way for new marine activity
Isolated Point Roberts in Whatcom County divided over public campground proposal

Capital Press
House Republicans roll out ag workforce legislation
Trump lifts anti-dumping tariff on Moroccan fertilizer

Everett Herald
Edmonds celebrates New Start Center with ribbon cutting

Kitsap Sun
Bainbridge down to 1 candidate for city manager job
Highway 3 near Gorst reopens to traffic after 2-week closure
With no new pennies being made, Washington has issued a new law on use

Olympian
These 5 new laws take effect today in Washington state. What they mean for you

Port Townsend Leader
Free pre-K now $500 per month
S’Klallam chairman pushes for control over Protection Island
From Puget Sound to the Pacific, trail advocates push to connect the final gaps

Puget Sound Business Journal
Community Transit ends contracts as light rail reshapes service

Seattle Times
Supreme Court trans athlete ruling: What it means for WA
WA workers can start receiving long-term care funds this week
Census data shows graying WA with a boom in boomers, drop in kids
After bold pledge, EPA shelves microplastics testing in U.S. drinking water
Opinion: Birthright citizenship ruling: Fight goes on for fundamental rights
Despite Some Losses for Trump, Supreme Court Delivers Enduring Conservative Wins

Washington Post
President calls on Congress to end birthright citizenship after court defeat
Trump’s income topped $2 billion in 2025, boosted by crypto, coin ventures
Fate of $2 trillion North American trade deal in doubt as July 1 deadline passes
Critics question trans rights movement’s strategies after a string of Supreme Court setbacks

WA State Standard
Wildfire near Hoh River in Olympic National Park still burning after rain
Nation’s first state-run long-term care insurance program about to launch in WA (Jinkins)
25 Democratic-led states sue Trump administration over Medicaid work requirements
Western governors establish multi-state task force to update the region’s transmission lines

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington’s population growth slows but remains among fastest-growing in nation
Washington State Ferries expects 400,000 riders over Fourth of July holiday weekend
Washington families at center of birthright citizenship challenge celebrate Supreme Court ruling

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
WA Cares program to begin paying long-term care benefits
Pump the brakes! Speed camera fines are increasing in WA work zones
Seattle City Council gives city more power to close streets for safety reasons
Dept. of Social and Health Services announces massive data breach involving personal information

KUOW Public Radio
How the SCOTUS trans athlete ruling affects WA

Web

Cascadia Daily News
World Cup not causing border delays, officials say
First Amendment’s freedom of assembly becomes ‘corporeal politics,’ activist says

MyNorthwest
WA Cares program to begin paying long-term care benefits
Seattle Dog beats Chicago, New York styles for best hot dog in America

The Urbanist
Seattle Is Winning at Hosting the World Cup

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: July begins, with Seattle’s second-to-last World Cup match

Tuesday, June 30

These 10 laws just took effect in Washington state. Here’s what you need to know
A new set of Washington state laws took effect June 11, bringing changes that affect everything from grocery shopping trips and rental properties to sports betting and traffic stops. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (TVW)

WA leads nation in economic growth as tech sector fuels GDP surge
Washington posted the fastest economic growth in the nation during the first quarter of 2026, driven largely by its outsized technology sector, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Evergreen State’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annualized rate of 4.5% during the first three months of the year, more than double the national average of 2.1%. Continue reading at Puget Sound Business Journal. (Lindsey Wasson)

5 years after the dome: Washington remains vulnerable to extreme heat
Five years after a record-shattering heat wave hit the Pacific Northwest, killing an estimated 1,200 people in British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington, the region is somewhat more prepared to handle extreme heat. But a million people in the Seattle metropolitan area alone may remain vulnerable to lethal temperatures at home or at work. Extreme heat kills more Americans each year than any other natural disaster. Continue reading at KUOW. (John Ryan)

Print

Associated Press
Supreme Court upholds state laws banning transgender girls and women from school athletic teams

Axios
Democratic states sue over Medicaid work rules
Supreme Court strikes down party spending limits
SCOTUS rejects Trump’s birthright citizenship policy
Supreme Court lets states ban trans girls from girls’ sports

Capital Press
Idaho is American ag’s bird flu hotspot
With $2 billion plan, Canada looks to grow more, reduce food imports

Kitsap Sun
Supreme Court decisions: Trump reacts after Lisa Cook ruling
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s birthright citizenship order in major blow

News Tribune
Speed camera fines are going up in WA work zones. 85,000 infractions so far
U.S. Supreme Court rules on mail-in voting law. Here’s what that means for WA
$20M childcare center opens, new state laws take effect among TNT’s top stories
These 10 laws just took effect in Washington state. Here’s what you need to know (A. Cortes)

New York Times
Supreme Court Live Updates: Justices Reject Trump’s Effort to End Birthright Citizenship

Olympian
Speed camera fines are going up in WA work zones. 85,000 infractions so far
U.S. Supreme Court rules on mail-in voting law. Here’s what that means for WA

Puget Sound Business Journal
WA leads nation in economic growth to start year

Seattle Times
Wildfire in Eastern WA’s Walla Walla County causes evacuations
The funding challenge stalling mental health crisis centers across WA
U.S. Supreme Court to review WA law meant to protect runaway trans teens

Spokesman Review
Washington Democrats back reparations in party platform
CHAS and Frontier Behavioral Health break ground on one-stop shop clinic
Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship in rebuke to Trump administration
Judge declares Al Merkel’s Nextdoor posts to be public records subject to release
Burn ban takes effect in Spokane County, some exceptions could mean semiquincentennial smores

Washington Post
Justices uphold birthright citizenship
Justices allow bans on trans women in female athletics
Court sides with GOP, loosens campaign spending rules
Trump is using a $500M no-bid contract to build his ballroom
NPR retracts story reporting Justice Alito is retiring from Supreme Court
Congress considers sidestepping filibuster to pass Trump’s voting restrictions

WA State Standard
Work zone speed camera fines in WA rise to $125 on July 1
US Supreme Court will hear challenge to WA runaway youth law
US Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump order
As firefighters mourn 3 of their own, concerns grow about this season’s risks
US Supreme Court upholds transgender athlete bans in Idaho, West Virginia

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Man dies in custody of Federal Way police
Six WA state laws — and one new traffic ticket — going into effect July 1
Court orders competency restoration for man charged in UW student’s murder
Rare fox tapeworm detected in PNW for first time, can spread to humans and dogs
Olympia’s ‘Jungle’ encampment is a long-standing public safety concern, locals say
Prosecutors decline to file charges against drivers involved in WSP Trooper Guting’s death

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Supreme Court: Justices uphold transgender athlete ban
WA leaders respond to SCOTUS birthright citizenship ruling
Viral video shows weekend attack at Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park
SCOTUS ruling keeps Washington’s vote-by-mail postmark rule in place
SCOTUS upholds birthright citizenship, strikes down Trump’s executive order
$1B spent on King Co. homelessness organization as unhoused population grows
AG Brown joins 23-state coalition suing Trump administration over Medicaid rule
Man charged with UW murder found unfit to stand trial, case delayed until September
Supreme Court taking up case challenging Washington’s youth shelter, gender-affirming care law

KNKX Public Radio
Oregon and Washington can continue to accept late-arriving ballots under Supreme Court ruling

KUOW Public Radio
How late can mail-in ballots be counted in Washington, other states?
5 years after the dome: Washington remains vulnerable to extreme heat
LISTEN: What the bipartisan housing bill might do for WA and why it’s not law — yet

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: ‘There is no democracy without journalism’
Religious freedom not just a constitutional right, but a core faith for Sikh leader

MyNorthwest
AG Brown joins 23-state coalition suing Trump administration over Medicaid rule
Lambdin Fire grows to 13,300 acres, “Go Now” evacuations in effect in Walla Walla
Supreme Court taking up case challenging Washington’s youth shelter, gender-affirming care law

The Urbanist
King County Council Searches for Footing with a New Executive

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Last day of June

Monday, June 29

US Supreme Court deals blow to Trump, ruling states can accept ballots after Election Day
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that states can count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, a blow to the Trump administration and some Republican states that had urged the justices to require all ballots to arrive by the close of polls…The ruling is a victory for Democrats and voting rights advocates, who had said setting a hard, Election Day deadline for ballot arrival would risk disenfranchising voters amid fears of deteriorating mail service. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Michael Achterling)

State-funded pre-k program grows by 2,500 slots ahead of new school year
Washington’s state-funded pre-K program is set to expand by an additional 2,500 slots for the upcoming school year. The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program currently serves 14,000 families across 463 locations. The 2,500 new slots will be spread out across 54 of those locations in the 2026-27 school year, the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families announced in a news release. Exactly where these locations are has yet to be announced. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Tribune News Service)

Capital gains tax surge eases but doesn’t solve WA budget woes
A windfall of capital gains tax payments is providing temporary relief for Washington’s budget, but other collections are down, and lawmakers still expect to face financial difficulties next year. A revenue forecast released Friday shows Washington hauled in $1.5 billion from the capital gains tax. Those collections are roughly twice what was expected in February. They offset a $423 million drop from other tax sources since the forecast adopted by the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council four months ago. Legislative members on the council welcomed the news, saying it pretty much wipes out a projected $878 million deficit in the 2028 fiscal year. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Courtesy Legislative Support Services)

Print

Associated Press
Supreme Court rules states can count late-arriving mailed ballots, rejecting Trump-led challenge

Axios
World Cup crowds boost Seattle restaurant sales
Supreme Court upholds grace period for mail-in ballots
Seattle tests looser alcohol rules for World Cup and Beyond
Rare U.S. founding documents are coming to Seattle this summer
Supreme Court rules Trump can fire independent agency heads, with Federal Reserve exception

Capital Press
Supreme Court: State pesticide warnings pre-empted by federal law
Louisiana senator to propose hiking tariffs on imported beef, live cattle

Everett Herald
Officials: 17,000 people went to Everett FIFA Fan Zones
As Everett weighs transit merger, paratransit riders want same service
Snohomish County accepting applications for $9M in conservation futures funds
Comment: Forum: State’s L&I tools can help reduce anxiety among immigrant workers

Kitsap Sun
Column: How language about disabilities begins to change policy
Supreme Court decisions on mail-in ballots, Lisa Cook deal losses to Trump

News Tribune
Long-awaited, $20M childcare facility opens in Tacoma. Have a look inside
‘Likely thousands’ of Pierce County inmates now part of jail sewage class action

New York Times
Trump Cut a Billion-Dollar Mining Deal. His Sons Stand to Profit.

Puget Sound Business Journal
The housing market’s ‘lock-in effect’ is taking a turn
Governor recruits business leaders to evaluate WA competitiveness

Seattle Times
Why are electric bills so high at this WA utility?
Editorial: Keep government in WA transparent, as voters intended
Editorial: WA lawmakers should regulate AI data center development (Doglio)
Could initiative to kill WA ‘millionaires tax’ also kill capital gains tax?
Opinion: Seattle’s data center moratorium: symbolic politics, real costs
Facing cooling WA economy, Gov. Ferguson turns to state business leaders
Millions drop Obamacare health coverage after subsidies expire and costs rise
Supreme Court rules states can count late-arriving mailed ballots, rejecting Trump-led challenge

Spokesman Review
Not enough fish: Washington cancels sockeye season on upper Columbia
State-funded pre-k program grows by 2,500 slots ahead of new school year
U.S. Supreme Court allows ballots received after election day to be counted

Washington Post
Housing bill that Trump refuses to sign heads to his desk
Supreme Court expands Trump’s power over independent agencies
Medicare is about to unleash an explosion in weight-loss prescriptions
Mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day can be counted, justices say
Court, for now, blocks Trump from firing Fed board member Lisa Cook
Electric vehicle sales have collapsed, but hybrid vehicles are quietly taking over

WA State Standard
Capital gains tax surge eases but doesn’t solve WA budget woes (Robinson, Trudeau)
Oregon lawsuit could upend federal management of public lands
Trying to prevent a catastrophic blaze in a fire-prone part of Washington
Get ready for the semiquincentennial: Americans celebrate a 250th anniversary
2 years after Grants Pass, 14 states, 350 cities have tougher laws on street homelessness
US Supreme Court deals blow to Trump, ruling states can accept ballots after Election Day

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Court records: WSP sergeant charged with felony stalking, domestic violence
Seattle Pride Parade fills downtown with thousands of stories of love and identity
Washington State Fire Marshal sends reminder about legal sale and use of fireworks

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Inmate dies at King County Correctional Facility
Supreme Court allows for mail-in ballot grace period
More kids across Washington can now get free preschool
Seattle sees second-largest home price drop in the country as spring market fizzles, Redfin reports

KNKX Public Radio
Washington agrees to join carbon market with California and Quebec

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle homeowners who don’t want to sell may get relief from predatory calls
Washington state communities put their distinctive spin on nation’s 250th anniversary

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Diving into strengths, weaknesses of Washington’s public records act
The First Amendment: Guide to our continuing democratic revolution
Transportation advocates demand safer streets from City of Bellingham
Local ProPublica journalist: You don’t need your own press to enjoy First Amendment

Cascade PBS
The Newsfeed asks: What does patriotism mean to you?

InvestigateWest
Some states offer domestic violence defenses to parents charged with failing to prevent child abuse. Should Oregon?

MyNorthwest
Washington among 10 best states to have a baby, new study finds

The Stranger
King County’s Homelessness Crisis Worsens, But at a Slower Pace
Slog AM: Supreme Court Saves Mail-In Voting, Europeans Love Seattle, and We Have Budget Holes Everywhere

The Urbanist
The Good, the Bad, and the UGA-ly as WA Growth Management Act Turns 35

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: June’s final Monday
Seattle City Light pole, line replacement project starting in Gatewood, with ‘planned outages’ ahead

Friday, June 26

Washington agrees to join carbon market with California and Quebec
House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, a strong advocate of the program, called on other jurisdictions to join the carbon market. “We know that no matter how much Washington, California and Quebec do together, we’re only going to solve the climate crisis with more partners,” he said. Fitzgibbon said that once the markets are joined, allowance prices are expected to fall, but it’s up to fuel suppliers to determine how much the costs will be passed on to consumers. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Aspen Ford)

Prosecutors are declining to charge more felony domestic violence cases
Spokane County has one of the highest reported rates of domestic violence in the state. But under Prosecuting Attorney Preston McCollam — up for election this year after being appointed to the position in July — the county has seen a surge in domestic violence cases being declined, the office’s data shows. While McCollam, Spokane police and survivor advocates point to differing reasons for the case refusals, they agree that the county’s legal system is at capacity — and that consequently, some cases must take priority over others. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erick Doxey)

More than a quarter of Spokane Haitians at risk of deportation after Supreme Court allows repeal of Temporary Protection Status
The U.S. Supreme Court had voted to allow the Trump administration to end the legal protections awarded to Haitian and Syrian migrants who fled from violence and natural disaster in their home countries, Williams told Jasmin on the phone. With the community of Spokane Haitians tallying around 500, Jasmin said the news means about 150 Haitians could be at risk of losing work authorization and protection from deportation. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Carl Juste)