Daily E-Clips

Friday, September 4

Medicaid cuts are looming. Washington state is trying to help
At the press conference, Ferguson signed an executive order establishing a committee that will coordinate efforts to keep as many Washingtonians insured as possible. The order also directs the state health agency to document and track how many people are losing their insurance coverage. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Trump tariffs have cost Washington importers $7.1 billion
That’s the equivalent of $2,257 per household. Cars and trucks were by far the state’s largest tariff-hit category, followed by toys and games. Continue reading at Axios. (Brad Jennings)

Wildfire risks are driving up costs for Northwest utilities
Washington is in the early phase of trying to limit rate hikes caused by a utility’s spending on wildfire projects. A law that took effect in 2025 requires utilities to submit plans that outline such projects to the Utilities and Transportation Commission. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Washington State Standard)

Thursday, September 3

Record number of WA mail-in ballots uncounted after primary election, report finds
The biggest increases in disqualified ballots were concentrated in more rural regions, like Mason and Stevens counties. In those areas, the rate of ballots disqualified as late quadrupled from the past election year. In 17 other counties, like Yakima, Okanogan, and Franklin, the rate of rejected ballots doubled. Continue reading at KUOW. (Ted S. Warren)

Tacoma has strong renter protections. Some say they’re not enough
But tenant advocates say the city has issued only one fine in the nearly three years since those rules went into effect. Instead, government staff in Tacoma often negotiate with landlords, prioritizing getting the issues repaired rather than issuing fines. Other cities, including Seattle, take a similar approach. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

AI wealth fuels San Francisco’s housing boom while tech layoffs weigh down Seattle
The shift is also severing a key migration pipeline that long fueled Seattle’s housing boom. While high-earning Bay Area transplants historically moved north to stretch their tech compensation, Redfin migration data shows the net inflow of home shoppers moving from San Francisco to Seattle plummeted to just 369 people in the first quarter — down from over 5,100 five years ago. Continue reading at Geekwire. (Geekwire)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Grays Harbor Drug Task Force search and seizure leads to arrest

Axios
Seattle science powerhouses bet big on AI-designed biology
Seattle pledges communication overhaul after Bite shooting
89% of Americans say government corruption is widespread

Everett Herald
Snohomish County students return for another school year
Somers presents his recommended 2027-28 budget address
Inspection report alleges safety concerns, hostility at Fire District 19
South County Fire approves new district map, placing Edmonds in vacant district

Kitsap Sun
7 fast ferry sailings from Bremerton eliminated in September
Kitsap County Superior Court announces second early departure of ’26

News Tribune
Tacoma mayor calls James Center Fred Meyer closure a ‘gut punch’
JBLM launches $169.1M pilot project to upgrade housing, infrastructure
Pierce Co. principal quits after investigation shows students held in ‘Red Room’
Lakewood waste service fined $1 million for improper hazardous material handling

New York Times
U.S. Trade Gap Ballooned in July
A $480,000-a-Year Pill Reflects a New Normal for Cancer Drugs
Justice Department Sues Kansas City Schools Over Gender Policy
Judge Blocks Trump’s Second Try to Restrict Birthright Citizenship
ICE Skipped Basic Checks in Rush for Recruits, Whistle-Blower Says
C.D.C. Director Challenges Pennsylvania’s Report of Two Measles Deaths
Trump Moves to Strip Tax Exemption From Schools That Aid Minority Students

Puget Sound Business Journal
Qualtrics cuts 117 jobs tied to Seattle headquarters
Fred Meyer departure leaves Tacoma shopping center with big hole to fill

Seattle Times
ICE releases WA man detained in Colorado for months
How Seattle Schools got the deal done to avert a teachers strike
Tacoma has strong renter protections. Some say they’re not enough
WA Supreme Court to decide if lawmakers have privilege to withhold public records

Spokesman Review
Opinion: A dry Spokane River demands a more resilient flow rule
Spokane to implement direct assistance program for those without indoor cooling
State board recommends transferring Latah Valley property to Spokane for city park
A bankruptcy and big business takeover signal change in Washington’s apple industry
Spokane council again extends waiver on height restrictions for downtown high-rises, expecting to make change permanent

WA State Standard
Trump’s newest order on birthright citizenship blocked in federal court
Why the rushed Postal Service plan for mail-in voting has states in a panic
Penalty for ethics violations rises to $52K for WA state Rep. Tarra Simmons
Legal aid for immigrant kids remains in question after Trump administration pulls contract

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Gunfire damages 5 homes, 3 vehicles in South Seattle
Northwest Response: Help residents impacted by Washington wildfires
New Jackson Elementary building opens in Everett after $54.4 million replacement project
‘We definitely need to do better’: Mayor Wilson addresses North Seattle crime at community meeting

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Uber to cut 10% of staff, including some jobs in Seattle
North Seattle neighbors air out crime concerns, questions to Mayor Katie Wilson
King County Assessor John Wilson violated ethics code 4 times, ombuds report finds
Tentative SPS deal reached, but SPS superintendent says there’s still more work to be done
Thousands of WA ballots were late in August. Here’s what’s changing for the November election

KNKX Public Radio
Tacoma renter sues landlord over allegations of unsafe conditions

KUOW Public Radio
The Pacific Northwest has a copper theft problem
Record number of WA mail-in ballots uncounted after primary election, report finds

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Immigration detainments spiked in June for Whatcom, Skagit counties
In challenging fiscal environment, Whatcom executive delivers ‘disciplined’ budget

Cascade PBS
As SPS teacher strike looms, a look at the history of school strikes

Geekwire
How a new $7.5M UW facility aims to spark U.S. battery innovation
Qualtrics cut 117 jobs tied to Seattle headquarters, new filing shows
AI wealth fuels San Francisco’s housing boom while tech layoffs weigh down Seattle
Uber laying off 93 Washington state workers, hitting engineer and management roles at Seattle office

InvestigateWest
She brought fentanyl to the hospital to save her son. Idaho treated him as a trafficker.

MyNorthwest
Qualtrics laying off 117 Seattle employees following $6.75B Press Ganey acquisition
Uber laying off nearly 100 Washington workers as part of company’s largest cuts since 2020
Tacoma loses 120 jobs as Georgia-Pacific shuts down manufacturing plant, citing housing slump

The Urbanist
BNSF Demands Cloud Seattle’s Path to Replacing Aging Jackson Street Bridges
Opinion: Seattle Press Are Concocting a False Narrative to Undermine Mayor Wilson

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Thursday notes, as back-to-school week continues

Wednesday, September 2

Report: WA targeted by DHS voter-fraud investigation ‘surge’
The probe, first reported by CNN, is a further escalation of the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on instances of voting by noncitizens and other ineligible voters — despite evidence such cases are vanishingly rare. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

After Seattle Center shooting, Mayor Wilson says police will update the public faster
Going forward, Wilson said she expects police to update the media “within one hour of a significant incident,” and the public even sooner via social media or AlertSeattle, the city’s text alert service. Continue reading at KUOW. (Lindsey Wasson)

AI’s growing role in wildfire response
AI is already helping detect and monitor wildfires. Now, researchers are exploring how it could help fire officials decide where to deploy crews across multiple fires. Why it matters: Studies show climate change is contributing to longer, more intense wildfire seasons, forcing officials to make high-stakes decisions about how to prioritize limited resources. Continue reading at Axios. (Gina Ferazzi)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Unemployment drops in Grays Harbor, Pacific counties
Port of Grays Harbor earns clean audit from State Auditor

Axios
AI’s growing role in wildfire response
Former Seattle police chief breaks silence on ouster

Bellevue Reporter
DOJ attacks King County for release of Mexican citizen from jail

Capital Press
Beekeeper denies Labor Department allegations but agrees to conditions

The Daily News
Cowlitz County Tourism says Mount St. Helens is a priority. The chamber says otherwise

Everett Herald
Hop on Port of Everett’s free shuttle
PUD to celebrate opening of south Everett solar project

Kitsap Sun
Small fire ignites at Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office on Monday
Wrongful death lawsuit filed after Olalla woman killed in WSP crash
Labor Day 2026: Ferry congestion expected ahead of holiday weekend

News Tribune
You’re back on camera when you drive through this east Pierce County city
Lakewood fires police chief. He says the decision is about department culture
Tacoma mayor, shopping center landlord speak out about Fred Meyer departure

New York Times
Employer Health Costs Are Expected to Spike in 2027
In a Big Win, Google Avoids a Breakup of Its Ad Tech Business
Allies Grumble That U.S. Is Hindering Global Economic Growth

Olympian
Olympia mayor asks WA to help speed up Jungle closure, build emergency housing

Port Townsend Leader
Old airstrip gives way to 138 homes
Maritime industry charts course for next generation
Legal fight escalates as city appeals state land-use ruling
City waives $120K in penalties to preserve affordable housing

Puget Sound Business Journal
More than $1B in tariff refunds are in limbo. Here’s why.

Seattle Times
Teacher strike averted; Seattle schools will start Wednesday
Report: WA targeted by DHS voter-fraud investigation ‘surge’
Opinion: Who will build those AI data centers? People in the trades
Editorial: Illegal vending clogs Seattle streets. Everett has a solution
Opinion: Seattle deserves a better city government. Here’s how to do it
How Seattle’s communication during mass shooting compares to other cities’
Global warming will exceed limit, UN says in a report that maps path to get back below danger zone

Spokesman Review
Spokane City Council to receive major pay raises next year
Spokane council considers creating eviction protections after disasters
WSU cleared to sell beer and wine at football games with added safety measures
Do you live near an alluvial fan? Geologists weigh prospect of mudslides after Spokane fires

Washington Post
U.S. Mint puts golden $1 coin with Trump’s image into circulation
Fall vaccine guide: What to know about covid, flu and RSV shots this year
Using legal loopholes and executive power, Trump is remaking Washington
Social Security could face cuts in 2032. This is who experts think would be most affected.

WA State Standard
9 justices on the Supreme Court or 13? Numbers battle revived in Congress
Judge blocks New York’s ‘climate Superfund’ law as other states watch closely
Ferguson won’t try to oust WA wildlife commissioners at center of misconduct probe

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Whistleblower: Postal Service work to comply with Trump’s mail voting order is rushed, sloppy

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
New pancreatic cancer drug brings hope at Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Deal reached: Seattle students go back to class Wednesday as planned
Bite of Seattle shooting: Judge orders 15-year-old suspect to remain in custody
Interim chief has not decided if he’ll apply for the permanent role as applications start
Seattle mayor rolling out new communication protocols for major events, safety incidents
UW looking into new student conduct policy changes, already raising concerns for students and staff

KNKX Public Radio
New Olympia pilot program allows people to live in vehicles

KUOW Public Radio
15-year-old Seattle Center shooting suspect denied home release
Strike averted: Seattle schools to start Wednesday morning as planned
Seattle’s overdose recovery center connects hundreds to medication in first year
After Seattle Center shooting, Mayor Wilson says police will update the public faster

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Skagit County reduces burning restrictions to allow recreational fires
Opinion: Lummi Nation offers model for county’s path to behavioral health, justice
No more failing grades, skipping school: Ferndale raises academic standards for athletes

Cascade PBS
WATCH: Understanding Uber lawsuits in Washington

MyNorthwest
Seattle police ‘closing in’ on two people of interest in Bite of Seattle Shooting
Bite of Seattle shooting: Judge orders 15-year-old suspect to remain in custody
No Seattle Teachers Strike: 50,000 Students Head Back to School Wednesday as Planned
After Bite of Seattle shooting, SPD must now update media within 1 hour of any major incident

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Back-to-school Wednesday notes
BULLETIN: Tentative contract agreement reached, so Seattle Public Schools WILL start Wednesday

Tuesday, September 1

WA state workers stage walkout amid clash over pay demands
The negotiations have led to rising friction between union workers and Ferguson, a Democrat heading toward the third year of his first term, and the third consecutive session where he and legislators will have to navigate a budget shortfall. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Aspen Ford)

Trump plan puts 2 million acres of Washington forests at risk
The Trump administration is moving to scrap a 25-year-old rule that limits roadbuilding and logging, potentially opening Washington’s national forests to development. … The protections also extend beyond recreation: Leavenworth, Kittitas County and other Washington communities rely on drinking water from forests protected by the rule. Continue reading at Axios. (Greg Vaughn)

FTC, WA sue Amazon, alleging it duped advertisers
The FTC said in its lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, that Amazon used an auction system for its advertising customers to manipulate and inflate the price for the highest bidders. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Chinook Indian Nation is still fighting for federal recognition

Axios
Washington’s roadless forests face new threat
USPS whistleblower warns new ballot system could fail

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham’s Sun House to shutter shelter services amid funding loss

Capital Press
USDA’s Ranchers First Program focuses on herds, processing
Tribes seek new timber opportunities with $1.7 million project
U.S. gets second guilty plea in scheme that victimized 518 farmworkers

The Daily News
Workplace safety expert reacts to federal report on Nippon
Cowlitz County seeks comment on comprehensive plan update

Everett Herald
PUD to celebrate opening of south Everett solar project
Snohomish drug task force seizes guns, cars and nearly $150K
Snohomish County’s 10th annual addiction vigil is a ‘night to remember’
Comment: Washington, D.C. is retreating from tobacco control. Washington state cannot afford to follow.

Kitsap Sun
Puget Sound shipyard dry dock plan gets dedicated Navy command

News Tribune
Tacoma set to lose another Fred Meyer, this time in West End shopping center
Pierce County judge calls imprisoned man’s firefighting ‘remarkable,’ sets him free
H-1B visa: Trump administration proposes new rule to strip right to work from visa holders’ spouses

New York Times
Canada Hires 48 Scholars Away From Top U.S. Universities
Whistle-Blower Says Trump Officials Are Defying Court Orders on Voting by Mail

Olympian
Washington state employees walked out of Olympia offices on Monday. Here’s why

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon lays off more Seattle-area workers

Seattle Times
FTC, WA sue Amazon, alleging it duped advertisers
More mail ballots arriving late this cycle and getting tossed
Opinion: Extreme heat is making it harder for kids to learn
With teachers strike looming, SPS details bargaining proposals
Editorial: Don’t fall for the hype. SPS teachers do not need to strike
UW’s proposed changes to misconduct policy spur community concern
WA state workers stage walkout to protest pay proposals from Ferguson
How Seattle’s communication during mass shooting compares to other cities’
Airman’s ‘contemptuous’ words for Trump lead to high-stakes military charges
Opinion: Drop barriers to people with disabilities, and the whole workplace wins

South Whidbey Record
Federal funding to support Whidbey ferry route

Spokesman Review
Thousands of state employees temporarily walk off the job as contract negotiations continue
Board considers extending alcohol pilot program at WSU’s Martin Stadium with stricter enforcement
Kalshi claims ‘selective-nonenforcement’ in Washington as federal court finds states can regulate prediction markets

Tri-City Herald
Benton, 4 more WA counties will get wildfire emergency declaration help

Washington Post
As more colleges surpass $100,000 price tag, here’s the true cost
Trump’s oil deal with Venezuela won’t bring quick relief at the pump
Amazon secretly inflated ad prices, the FTC and 22 states allege in a lawsuit
Judge rebukes HHS over AI use in cutting teen pregnancy prevention grants
Postal Service plans may keep voters from getting ballots, whistleblower says

WA State Standard
WA state workers stage walkout amid clash over pay demands
A summer of recalls exposes holes in the nation’s food safety net
Feds and 22 states sue Amazon, alleging deceptive advertising scheme
Judge calls Trump mail ballot rule ‘substantively unconstitutional’ as court battle extends

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Fred Meyer to close Tacoma store, union says jobs will be impacted
Amazon to lay off over 100 workers across Seattle, Bellevue and Sumner
Florida starts pulling the plug on license plate readers, including Flock cameras
Seattle teachers, district remain in talks with first day of school less than 24 hours away

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
State employees stage walkouts in fight for new contract
WA joins lawsuit against Amazon alleging inflated ad pricing
Lake Washington students go back to school with major changes
Amazon laying off 121 Washington employees in Seattle, Bellevue, and Sumner
Still no deal between SPS & the teachers’ union; what childcare options do you have?
Washington opposes the Trump Administration’s demand for drivers’ license information

KNKX Public Radio
Washington state workers stage walkout over proposed agency cuts

KUOW Public Radio
Prescribed burns in Roslyn ‘move the needle’ against wildfires
Washington state workers stage walkouts over proposed agency cuts
24 hours remain: Seattle teachers, district still bargaining to avoid strike
‘We’re broke.’ Seattle schools superintendent pleads with teachers union for school to start on time

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Legal battle between Skagit County and Guemes islanders continues
Last-minute donations restore second teacher at Lummi Island school
Blaine Harbor cleanup on pause after state Ecology denies fund shifting
Cash-strapped Burlington-Edison School District to see increased state oversight

Cascade PBS
WATCH: What WA’s insurance mandate means for ridesharing

Geekwire
Amazon lays off 121 workers across corporate and fulfillment jobs in Washington state
Amazon accused of rigging ad auctions to inflate prices in new suit filed by FTC and 22 states

MyNorthwest
86 of 114 King County juvenile cases diverted in July
Amazon laying off 121 Washington employees in Seattle, Bellevue, and Sumner
UW looking into new student conduct policy changes, already raising concerns for students and staff

The Urbanist
Opinion: Seattle Press Are Concocting a False Narrative to Undermine Mayor Wilson

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: First day of September
FOLLOW UP: New date for Fauntleroy ferry-terminal traffic signal
TEACHER TALKS: Union reports ‘promising progress’ in marathon negotiations
VIDEO: Will Seattle Public Schools start on time? Superintendent briefs media, says mediated talks ongoing

Monday, August 31

Are WA millionaires really leaving to avoid tax?
Research suggests most rich people stay put for the same reason everyone does: They don’t want to lose family, social and professional connections they’ve spent decades cultivating. … The reality, Cornell’s Young argues, is that while a small number of high earners do decamp to lower-tax states, the vast majority try to minimize their taxes by hiring accountants, not movers. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

New records detail ICE arrests in WA during summer surge. Yakima, Seattle top the list
Washington hasn’t seen a day without an ICE arrest since late March, according to ICE records. In Seattle, fewer and fewer days also go by without an arrest, often only pausing on the weekend … Unlike previous and highly visible ICE operations in other states, much of enforcement in Washington is often discreetly happening early in the morning or in the evening hours. Continue reading at KUOW. (Courtesy of Carmen Rivera)

Washington’s state and local governments are paying more for lawsuits
The debate centers on how to slow the growth of settlements while maintaining a system that allows citizens to hold governments accountable for wrongdoing. Among the options discussed last week are limiting the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, modifying the standard of care to narrow when the state can be held liable and limiting what percentage of payments attorneys can receive. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Jesse TInsley)