Daily E-Clips

Thursday, October 1

Thousands in WA lose Apple Health coverage as Trump’s changes take effect
The result, local providers and health leaders say, will likely be sicker patients, higher out-of-pocket costs and an enormous weight on an already overburdened healthcare system. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (David Goldman)

Changes to SNAP benefits begin Oct. 1 for millions of Americans
Critics say the new requirements will reduce the number of people each state can provide SNAP benefits to, adding to food insecurity among the most vulnerable. Continue reading at KING 5. (KING 5)

Seattle police have more surveillance cameras than previously reported
The 1,320 cameras registered with or integrated into the Real Time Crime Center represent a far higher number than ever reported by the city or police officials. … The number of cameras installed by Seattle police is also five times higher than the 62 previously reported. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

Wednesday, September 30

Ferguson launches council to boost WA’s commercial space industry
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson hopes the state’s space entrepreneurs can pilot their industry to infinity and beyond. To that end, Ferguson signed an executive order Monday night launching the 23-person Washington Space Council. Its mission is to come up with bold ideas to propel Washington’s commercial space industry to new heights — and possibly development of a launch facility somewhere in the state. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty)

Puget Sound Energy customers pack hearing to voice concerns over proposed rate hikes
A public hearing ran long Tuesday night as more than 100 PSE customers spoke out against steep energy rate hikes proposed to take effect next year. Continue reading at KING 5. (KING 5)

Protesters call for end to shackling on ICE flights out of King County
A group tried to deliver a petition with nearly 1,000 signatures to the FAA, citing safety concerns and federal regulations. Continue reading at KING 5. (KING 5)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Opinion: Why Medicare for All is now possible
Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force hosts tour of completed projects

Axios
Americans have never trusted the Supreme Court less
Trump and top AI leaders agree to voluntary AI standards
Supreme Court green-lights Trump’s third-country deportations

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham mayor to address ICE actions, arrests during upcoming public forum

Capital Press
WDFW to try to kill second wolf in Couse pack
Corteva to pay $35 million to settle suit over rebates to pesticide distributors

Everett Herald
Lynnwood adds penalties for exposing children to drugs
Community Transit offers one week of fare-free rides to mark anniversary

Kent Reporter
Renton City Council looking to ban ICE activity on city property

Kitsap Sun
Black bears reported on Bainbridge, which state has attempted to trap

News Tribune
Did you feel it? 4.2 magnitude earthquake shakes South Sound
More tenants are unionizing in Tacoma. What does it mean for the city?
These are top 10 school districts in Washington state. Did yours make the list?
Where are the Flock cameras in Pierce County? Which cities stopped using them?

New York Times
The Coal Industry Asked for a Rescue. Trump Obliged.
Trump Sharply Scales Back Fuel Economy Rules for New Cars
How Meta Uses A.I. Data Centers to Avoid Billions in Federal Taxes
Trump Launches Government Chatbot That Contradicts Some of His Claims

Port Townsend Leader
State hits paper mill with $734,000 pollution fine
City carries costly growth plan fight into $2.5M budget hole
County schools among awardees to help meet Clean Buildings Performance Standard

Puget Sound Business Journal
Lime CEO on Seattle dominance: ‘When Lime does well, the city does well’
Woodland Park Zoo edges Seattle Aquarium for top spot in annual ranking
JPMorgan Chase expands Seattle tech center as bank targets AI and cloud talent

Seattle Times
Pinehurst light rail station opens in North Seattle
Audit scrutinizes SPD’s use of traffic cameras for surveillance
WA’s statewide burn ban lifted; Seattle, King County bans still in place
Opinion: How the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit would help WA students
As larch season draws big crowds, what can WA learn from B.C. on trail traffic?
AI is ‘better informed’ than doctors, Kennedy tells industry-backed MAHA summit
Editorial: After debacle that followed Bite of Seattle mass shooting, city must set a new course

Spokesman Review
Low risk of mudslides in Old Trails fire burn area, geologists find
Spokane nonprofits turn to faith groups as refugees face Medicaid cuts
Comments on Spokane’s plans for next 20 years of development due by Friday

WA State Standard
Ferguson launches council to boost WA’s commercial space industry
PacifiCorp’s sale of Washington assets may not be in Utah’s public interest, experts say
Congressional watchdog says Trump administration can’t defy lawmakers to revoke $810M
Some Idaho officials say proposed nuclear waste shipments could threaten Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Protesters call for end to shackling on ICE flights out of King County
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake strikes on Kitsap Peninsula, USGS reports
New California law bans officers from using gloves that deliver electric shocks
Boeing whistleblower alleges retaliation after reporting aircraft safety concerns
Puget Sound Energy customers pack hearing to voice concerns over proposed rate hikes

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Amtrak’s new Airo trains begin service on Cascades route
Pinehurst Station opens 5 years early, adding new Link light rail stop in North Seattle
Seattle firefighters union says Mayor’s budget proposal will make response times longer

KNKX Public Radio
Yakima River Basin offers a model of resilience in an unprecedented drought

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Police leadership promises ‘proactive’ efforts on gun violence
Could an old anti-parasite drug be repurposed for treating endometriosis? Study finds early evidence

KXLY (ABC)
State fire assistance mobilized for Hatch Grade Fire near Touchet

NW Public Radio
In Tacoma, a state-funded inpatient treatment center for children is set to close

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Columbia, Carl Cozier elementaries will close, pending school board vote
Court rules against Bellingham’s short-term rental ban on detached units

Geekwire
Fresh figures suggest Washington’s space industry has doubled its economic impact … again

InvestigateWest
The Trump Administration’s Critical Minerals Agenda Comes for America’s ‘Forgotten Wildlife Corridor’
An Oregon Christian ranch promises refuge to people in crisis. Former residents say they were harmed instead

The Urbanist
Seattle as the Fourth Best Global City? Oxford Economics Says So

Washington Observer
Big Hospitals v. nurses redux
A TV salvo from the tax repeal campaign
New polling on the income tax repeal – the impact statement matters

Tuesday, September 29

What does Washington get for its education spending?
As spending increased, test scores in reading and math — the most visible measure of student performance — inched up then largely flatlined, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which tests students nationwide. Washington’s latest numbers from 2025 state assessments show 32% of the state’s fourth graders were not consistently reading at or above grade level. Nearly 30% of 8th graders weren’t hitting that benchmark either. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Andrew Burke-Stevenson)

WA wildfire home damage totals at least $188M, Ferguson says
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday asked President Donald Trump for tens of millions of dollars in federal aid to help communities recover from devastating wildfires this summer. Across the state, 649 primary residences were destroyed, mostly in Spokane County, according to the governor’s office. More than 2,500 more were damaged to some extent. The financial toll of this damage exceeds $188 million, Ferguson said. In all, the total damage is estimated to be hundreds of millions dollars more. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Courtesy of Spokane Valley Fire Department)

With copper theft surging, King County prosecutor wants lawmakers to make selling it harder
The high price of copper has made it more lucrative to steal, so public officials want to make stolen copper harder to sell. … But under the Prosecutor’s Office’s proposal, recyclers would have to take a photo of sellers, their copper, and their IDs. Continue reading at KUOW. (KUOW)

Print

Axios
Senate passes sweeping college sports package
Seattle ranks No. 4 among America’s fittest cities
Seattleites walk and bike less than you might think
Nvidia says new tool can contain rogue AI agents in “milliseconds”

Capital Press
BLM burns planned in central, eastern Idaho
Pacific Northwest drought recedes with autumn’s arrival

The Daily News
Longview Rotary raises over $1M for Martin Dock updates
One reader’s view | Congress must OK dredging for Cowlitz River before emergency

Everett Herald
Boeing finds software glitch in 737 MAX

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap Regional Library director faces calls for removal
Bainbridge school bond proposal seeks mix of district campus projects

News Tribune
Caught on camera: The debate over Flock Safety hits the streets of Pierce County

Northwest Asian Weekly
South Seattle residents tell city what they value in next police chief

Seattle Times
What does Washington get for its education spending?
WA submits federal disaster declaration for summer wildfires
How King County is preparing for Capitol Hill crisis center’s 2027 opening

South Seattle Emerald
What Does South Seattle Want in a New Police Chief?

Spokesman Review
‘Eastern Washington solutions for Eastern Washington problems’: Ferguson backs sales tax rebate, energy flexibility for those rebuilding from Spokane fires (Riccelli)

Washington Post
How Trump’s sweeping changes are remaking Washington
Trump will pitch an AI ‘golden age’ to a wary nation, flanked by industry leaders
Jack Smith clashes with senators over Trump probes, says he will not be silenced
This U.S. city is spending five times more on homelessness. Is it too little or too much?

WA State Standard
WA state worker union OKs new contract with no pay hike
WA wildfire home damage totals at least $188M, Ferguson says
Major bill to set standards for college athletes’ pay passes US Senate
Data centers proposed on federal land in eastern Oregon, western states

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Here’s how to weigh in on Seattle’s next police chief
King County prosecutor rallies coalition to curb copper theft costing region millions
Seattle report reveals conflicting camera use policies between transportation and police departments

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Experts warn of bee colony decline, economic impacts
Ferguson seeks major disaster declaration after Spokane wildfires
King County Prosecutors renew push for legislation to deal with copper wire theft
Three Seattle Starbucks locations closing, including one 8-month old Ballard location

KUOW Public Radio
Puget Sound Energy seeks $1.5B rate increase
With copper theft surging, King County prosecutor wants lawmakers to make selling it harder

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane County could close Geiger Corrections Center in 2027
Washington State University releases statement on passage of Protecting College Sports Act

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Feds using Whatcom County voting rolls to ramp up deportation efforts
Residents turn to prayer, baptisms in Nooksack River as flood season looms
Mayor: Bellingham’s financial stability hinges on voters approving regional fire authority

Geekwire
Washington governor sets up space council to boost business ventures targeting the final frontier
Seattle outranks major global cities to land at No. 4 in report that cites economy, quality of life, and more

The Urbanist
Katie Wilson’s City-Centered Anti-Fascist Playbook Emerges at Author Talk

West Seattle Blog
ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Tuesday notes

Monday, September 28

With tax receipts flat, budget hurdles remain for WA leaders
The latest forecast of state tax collections released Friday did nothing to brighten Washington’s budget outlook. But it does predict the state’s new income tax will gross hundreds of millions of dollars more than prior projections — if it survives challenges on the ballot and in court. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

Questions remain around WA rollout of new flu vaccine
Last season, a new strain of influenza A emerged, known as subclade K, proving hardy against last year’s influenza vaccine, which was not as effective against the virus compared with past versions. More than 250 people in Washington also died from the flu. The flu season before that was the state’s deadliest in over a decade, killing more than 500. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ivy Ceballo)

Seattle earns 4th-highest ranking in the world in new study of 1,000 cities
Seattle’s economic ranking spearheaded its favorable spot on the list, claiming a score of 89.8 out of 100, where only New York, Los Angeles, and San Jose bested the city in this regard. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Donald Miralle)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Opinion: YouTube and other alternatives to the vast wasteland
Opinion: A court cannot serve the public without adequate staff
Grays Harbor, Pacific counties unemployment rates rise in August
HRH awarded $2M for CT Scanner, patient care equipment and facility

Axios
Seattle-area Helion quietly moves goalpost on fusion
Seattle targets “AI-assisted price gouging” at grocery stores
Florida asks for emergency order to halt ChatGPT development

Capital Press
USDA forecasts third-smallest pear harvest in 50 years
Washington lands commissioner pleads for alternatives to logging
Farm Bureau: More beef imports haven’t provided consumer price relief

The Daily News
Hobbs says WA won’t use Trump’s ‘flawed’ SAVE voter database
Longview district fights release of school board member’s emails
CSB continues to review why Nippon kept deteriorated tank in service

Everett Herald
Alaska Airlines expands its Paine Field flights
Edmonds extends interim tree code for six more months
Comment: Rutledge: ICE showed up. A real immigration system didn’t.

International Examiner
Governor Ferguson signs order as “The Big Bad Betrayal Bill,” threatens Apple Health

Kitsap Sun
ICE detains 1 person near Port Orchard park, police confirm

News Tribune
Rules of the Road: What happens when you cycle while impaired?
Are the robots coming for Washington state’s historic fire lookouts?
Opinion: 988 is a start. Now we need a place for people in crisis to go

Puget Sound Business Journal
Frontier Airlines pulls back on some Sea-Tac routes

Seattle Medium
12-Year-Olds With Smartphones Are More Likely To Develop Eating Disorders By 14

Seattle Times
Questions remain around WA rollout of new flu vaccine

South Seattle Emerald
The Graham Street Station Is Fully Funded. Now Comes a Block Party

Spokesman Review
Mead School District on the hook for another $1.4 million in attorney’s fees in hazing lawsuit payout

Washington Post
White House expands taxpayer-paid ad campaign boosting Trump
Lawmakers slam Trump’s move to cancel $810M in funding approved by Congress
Data centers are altering the landscape. One planned site is larger than Central Park.

WA State Standard
With tax receipts flat, budget hurdles remain for WA leaders (Robinson)
Brown eyes utility costs, tort liability as 2027 legislative priorities
Washington is fighting to limit its duty to protect vulnerable adults
In nuclear campus talks, Idaho Gov. Brad Little says protecting Snake aquifer is ‘nonnegotiable’

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle’s minimum wage to increase to over $22 in 2027
Two major train upgrades arrive in the Puget Sound region this week

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle’s minimum wage is increasing in 2027
Reports: FAA finds glitch in Boeing software, landing concerns
One dead in Tacoma officer-involved shooting, state to investigate
Trump’s mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he’s ‘not political’

KNKX Public Radio
Pierce County invests $300k in training programs at technical college

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Starbucks location among 250 nationwide that closed this week

NW Public Radio
Numerous children exposed to rabid bat at Asotin school
Toxic algae is showing up in the Snake River for the fourth year in a row

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Owner of downtown Colombian coffeeshop Cof& detained by ICE
Backers of controversial Oculis Lodge project can join lawsuit against developer
Opinion: Increase in rejected ballots in Skagit County raises questions for post office

MyNorthwest
Seattle earns 4th-highest ranking in the world in new study of 1,000 cities

The Urbanist
A First Look at the New Amtrak Cascades Fleet

Washington Observer
… and still more cash for the mystery PAC
Another $1.5M plus against the income tax repeal
PDC takes a pass on the who’s-a-journalist thing

West Seattle Blog
ROAD. WORK, WEATHER, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: First Monday of fall

Friday, September 25

WA public lands commissioner scales back order protecting older forests
Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove is scaling back an order to set aside 77,000 acres of older forests, citing financial strain and a lack of authority to carry out his vision. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

WA toxicology labs see progress on backlog, but evidence delays continue
The Washington State Patrol reported that its toxicology division has experienced a 59% increase in forensic casework submissions since 2015, but staffing levels didn’t keep pace. Lawmakers stepped in with additional funding, and in 2023 the Washington State Patrol opened a second toxicology lab in Federal Way. State lab administrators believe they are now turning the tide, but say there’s a long way to go. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Mario Tama)

Wash. AG Nick Brown calls for checks on AI development from Congress
The statement said the attorneys general are asking Congress for federal oversight on safety testing and standards for models, a standard incident response, and both federal and international agreements to enforce those standards. The letter comes after leaders in AI development, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, have called for federal regulation of AI models, citing the potential dangers of an unrestricted future model. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (Julia Dallas)