Daily E-Clips

Wednesday, October 28

WA advocates renew calls for state to limit feds’ access to license data
Washington is one of 19 states that offer driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status. Others require warrants or court orders for federal agencies to access state-held license and vehicle data for immigration purposes, according to the UW researchers. Washington does not. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Nicole Neri)

Jury awards $52M to people who got tuberculosis in WA prisons
The outbreak caused “catastrophic damage” in 2021, when 244 people contracted latent tuberculosis and 27 people contracted active tuberculosis in the Clallam Bay and Stafford Creek corrections centers. It was the largest tuberculosis outbreak in the state in 20 years. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Dolores Huerta, influential labor leader, feminist and civil rights icon, dies at 96
Huerta’s resolve cemented her place in history as one of the nation’s most influential labor leaders, civil rights icons and feminist activists. Her three-word Spanish-language slogan — which translates to “Yes, it can be done” — was grounded in the belief that people who take action can affect change. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Rachel La Corte)

Tuesday, October 27

Washington 9th graders perform better with new program, but funding isn’t guaranteed
In the Ninth Grade Success initiative, teachers and other school support staff pair up with students dealing with low grades, truancy, poor behavior and more. A recent state evaluation shows it’s working: More students pass their classes and stay on track to graduate, a report for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction shows. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Nuria Martinez-Keel)

WA costs more, but residents are less likely to be in debt
Washington is an expensive place to live. That’s not news to anyone who has bought groceries, filled a tank or paid a daycare bill here lately. What may surprise you: Washingtonians are less likely than Americans overall to fall behind on their debts. In Seattle, they’re even less likely. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Feds allege 400 illegal WA state voters. Timing suspect, says WA voting official
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said late Friday afternoon that his office had received a letter from the Department of Justice requesting information about individuals on the state’s voter rolls. It will not release information that is protected under state and federal law, Hobbs said. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Dean Rutz)

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Associated Press
Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to more than 25% of its workforce

Aberdeen Daily World
Witnessing the return of salmon at Schafer State Park
Grays Harbor, Pacific county unemployment rates fall
FEMA launches option to buy flood insurance policy online

Axios
Microsoft offers buyouts to roughly a quarter of its workforce

Bellingham Herald
High inflation to persist globally into next year, Reuters poll shows
FTC, 20 states sue Dollar General for allegedly overcharging shoppers
‘Sharp glass fragments’ found in grocery staple sold in WA, prompting big recall
Dollar firms ahead of central bank meetings, steadier stocks stall safe haven play

Capital Press
El Niño warms into strongest-ever territory
Bird flu in dairy cattle spreads to second Washington county
New WSU small grains economist helps wheat farmers navigate ‘squeeze’
Pro-dam advocate: WSDOT draft study shows removing dams ‘bad for ag, taxpayers, climate’

The Daily News
Kelso weighs property tax increase amid projected $900K deficit

Everett Herald
Mill Creek bridge to receive emergency repairs
Everett unveils AI program to speed up ADU permits
UnitedHealthcare directory inaccurate amid open enrollment

Kitsap Sun
Apartments complete in Silverdale, with other business coming along

News Tribune
Pierce Co. island ‘in the dark’ after ferry outage enters third day, locals say
Feds allege 400 illegal WA state voters. Timing suspect, says WA voting official
Email signed ‘Love, Mom’ cited in fraud case against federal worker hired at Washington nuclear site

New York Times
U.S. Pensions Are Riding the A.I. Wave. For Better or Worse.
How Health Experts Are Working to Keep Older Gun Owners Safe
The New Worst-Case Scenario for Election Officials: Federal Interference
A Damning Account Alleges Jared Kushner Conducted Diplomacy for Profit

Puget Sound Business Journal
Microsoft offers buyouts to 60,000 employees

Seattle Times
WA costs more, but residents are less likely to be in debt
Seattle Public Schools considers closing, merging schools
Drinking water may have much more ‘forever chemicals’ than EPA reports
Trump’s DOJ demands WA set aside ballots of 400-plus alleged noncitizens
Opinion: Ferguson’s stance against early release from prison is confounding

South Seattle Emerald
King County Council Committee Reviews Plan to Replace Route 7 With RapidRide

Spokesman Review
Getting There: Spokane moves forward with connecting 27 miles of cycling routes by 2027
Feds probe 30 years of Washington elections as state officials say allegation casts ‘unfounded suspicion’

Washington Post
CDC’s deputy director to leave after six months
The FDA rarely inspects much of the produce Americans eat
There’s not enough money in the world to pay for the AI boom
Trump administration asks Washington state to hold more than 400 people’s ballots

WA State Standard
The percentage of people without health insurance is growing
Rising prices squeeze more Americans ahead of pivotal midterm elections
Washington 9th graders perform better with new program, but funding isn’t guaranteed

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Northshore families fight to keep elementary schools open as district weighs closures
Top election officials address public concerns about ballot security and election integrity
Acting U.S. Attorney claims 405 noncitizens voted in Washington, but offers no charges or records
ICE officer seen carrying rifle during South Seattle arrest; observer says another officer pointed handgun at him the next day

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
KIRO 7 Investigates: Who is profiting off your power bill?
Seattle Public Schools considers mergers as enrollment declines
Snohomish County urges residents to prepare for winter flooding
Kratom-related calls surge in Washington amid push for regulations (Reeves)
Weather Advisory Issued: Winter travel arrives in the mountain passes tonight
King County launches online portal to give crime victims easier access to case updates
Index resident attacked by mother bear and cub, locals react to ongoing wildlife issues
DOJ says more than 400 WA voters may be illegally registered, asks state to set ballots aside
Voicemail shows Seattle mayor’s aide asked police to delay Bite of Seattle shooting briefing
Families sue Longview paper mill, claiming company ignored warning signs before tank implosion

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Public Schools weighs mergers for at least 6 schools
ICE arrests surge at Seattle-area Home Depot parking lots. Neighbors are on the lookout

KXLY (ABC)
Non-emergency calls transition from Crime Check to 311 in Spokane
Hundreds of non-citizens registered to vote in Washington, DOJ says

NW Public Radio
How an internship program is connecting disconnected young people in Pierce County to jobs

Web

Cascade PBS
El Centro Skate Rink rolls out drive for young voters

Geekwire
AI optimism meets data center backlash as protesters disrupt Seattle AI Week kickoff

MyNorthwest
Seattle budget: Rob Saka proposes $14 million for traffic safety, restores pothole funding
Families sue Longview paper mill, alleging company ignored warning signs tank could fail

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Tuesday info
UPDATE: Hazardous materials response along West Marginal Way SW

Monday, October 26

Most Puget Sound Cities Aren’t Keeping Up With Housing Growth Targets
Of the 40 cities across King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap Counties that are expected to accommodate the largest share of regional housing growth through 2044, just 14 are on track and many are significantly behind. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Courtesy of City of Edmonds)

DOJ sending election monitors to WA’s King County
It’s unclear what role federal election monitors will play or how many there will be in King County on Election Day. Continue reading at KUOW. (Ted S. Warren)

Microsoft makes new ‘voluntary exit’ offer to about a quarter of its workforce, including some execs
Microsoft cut 4,800 jobs in July, about 2% of its global workforce, including about 600 in Washington state, followed by hundreds more across the company in September. The company cut more than 15,000 jobs in 2025. The company said the new offer is not a replacement for layoffs, which will remain part of the company’s approach depending on business conditions. Continue reading at Geekwire. (Dasharath Sunar)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Pump prices remain at record highs for autumn
Opinion: Pretending Trump is on the ballot is a great idea
Task force targets road safety with community engagement

Axios
Downtown Seattle’s office market shows signs of recovery
Amtrak opens new Seattle maintenance digs for Airo trains
Trump’s DOJ barrels into midterms with lawsuits, raids and arrests

Bellingham Herald
FEMA approves $21 million for communities recovering from disasters
Most beautiful college campuses? WA school lands on US list for the second time

Capital Press
Utility: $15 million spent to study Snake River dam breaching
Labor Department tells judge it’s striving to set wages by deadline

Everett Herald
Snohomish County first responders receive $90K in new equipment
AG gathers local law enforcement, lawmakers for forum on police use of force (Lovick, Robinson, Cortes, J.)

Journal of the San Juan Islands
San Juan County receives $660K public safety grant

Kitsap Sun
Bainbridge considering traffic cams for speed enforcement
Land sale for North Kitsap rec complex moving ahead after donations

News Tribune
State had complaints about Puyallup rail crossing before wheelchair user’s death
Fed worker hired at Hanford nuclear site charged with theft of government money

Seattle Medium
Covid Launched A New Era Of Technology-Led Learning. Now, Some Parents And School Districts Are Ready To Toss Devices

Seattle Times
Point Roberts woman dies after fearing detention if she crossed border

Spokesman Review
Fire displaces all residents at Donna Hanson Haven
Getting There: Spokane moves forward with connecting 27 miles of cycling routes by 2027

Washington Post
Powerful executives cozied up to Trump. Now they fear a reckoning.
Trump administration faces record vacancies in Senate-confirmed posts
Why more than half the world has likely breathed unhealthy air this year
Trump’s D.C. hotel is gone. Republicans still pay millions to his businesses.
Anthropic reveals $80 billion loss, surging revenue as it prepares to go public
White House is sued again over media bans as press groups seek wider injunction

WA State Standard
Birth centers are linked to better health outcomes, research shows, but 10 states have none
Nuclear waste made workers sick. Despite a law meant to help, the DOE keeps fighting their claims.

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Black bear attacks resident in rural Snohomish County

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Microsoft offers mass buyouts for thousands of employees
Mechanical issue disrupts some ferry service in Pierce County
Oak Harbor High School student trapped under car after being hit in marked crosswalk
Sheriff says ‘communication breakdown’ delayed arrest of teen suspect in Friday shooting threat

KNKX Public Radio
‘I’m just a carpenter from Bend’: Father who killed Silver Rail school shooter grapples with the aftermath

KUOW Public Radio
DOJ sending election monitors to WA’s King County
Washington school safety experts talk about mission, funding, challenges

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Last 3 miles to Artist Point closed for winter
She reported rape and abuse. She felt betrayed by the prosecutor’s office
Lynden’s pursuit of Homestead water rights prompts action from new owner
Opinion: When camps are cleared, where are those without homes supposed to go?

Cascade PBS
WATCH: Brain damage, bankruptcy, 20 appeals: A Hanford worker’s fight

Geekwire
Microsoft makes new ‘voluntary exit’ offer to about a quarter of its workforce, including some execs

MyNorthwest
Microsoft announces ‘Voluntary Exit Offer’ reportedly covering 60,000 employees

The Urbanist
Most Puget Sound Cities Aren’t Keeping Up With Housing Growth Targets

Washington Observer
You’re fired, you’re hired

West Seattle Blog
TRANSIT, WEATHER, TRAFFIC: Monday info, with bridge crashes, Highland Park Way hill truck trouble

Friday, October 23

How often are Washington police shooting people? New database tracks use-of-force incidents
The database, officially known as the Washington Data Exchange for Public Safety, or WADEPS, grew out of the George Floyd protests in 2020. Those protests led to a realization that Washington had no state-level database tracking how police use force, including how often officers shoot people. So far in 2026, the numbers show more than 1,200 uses of force state wide, from police shootings to officers releasing a police dog on a suspect. That’s out of 2.6 million calls for service. Continue reading at KING 5. (KING 5)

Thurston County food pantries hit record attendance amid SNAP cuts
Since the Trump Administration’s changes to SNAP benefits and other social services took effect, thousands across Washington have lost access to food assistance programs. As a result, experts and advocates say, demand on local food assistance programs is higher than ever. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (LM Otero)

Whatcom County ‘unequivocally’ underprepared for jump in deportation efforts
In the crossfire are U.S. permanent residents. One woman, a 61-year-old Canadian citizen and U.S. permanent resident, was held and questioned by U.S. border agents for six hours in September about whether or not she had ever voted in a U.S. election. (Paige Adamson, who — fearing deportation, declined to seek medical care in Bellingham — died Oct. 18 in Point Roberts.) Attorneys have heard from others, including a disabled truck driver who has lived in Washington alongside his American spouse for decades, and a Filipino woman with a green card in Point Roberts who now worries about being effectively trapped in the exclave. Continue reading at Cascadia Daily News. (Santiago Ochoa)

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Axios
Airlines’ new normal: Higher fares, fewer flights
Robots are coming to Washington’s apple orchards
Seattle’s missing October rain has forecasters spooked
Judge curbs Trump administration’s noncitizen voting probes

Capital Press
Post-harvest, wheat industry ponders low protein, price dockage
Washington farmworkers report drought, heat, smoke affecting field work

The Daily News
Kalama man arrested after Longview School Board meeting alleges rights violations

Everett Herald
Arlington bans the sale and distribution of kratom
Lynnwood discusses new jail medical provider contract
Everett mayor proposes sales tax hike to help balance 2027 budget
Everett adds two new “no sit, no lie” buffer zones, removes another

Kitsap Sun
Private ferry line will run Seattle to Poulsbo route during holidays
USS Abraham Lincoln sailors prepare for permanent move to Bremerton
USS Abraham Lincoln move will make Bremerton a two-carrier homeport again

News Tribune
Swank-Robnett dispute argued before state’s high court. Here’s what happened
Why do commuter buses between Pierce County and Seattle keep getting canceled?

New York Times
Americans Are Struggling to Pay Rising Medical Costs
Hegseth Barred Trans Troops. Military Boards Are Rejecting Those Orders.

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA clarifies its loan programs for influencers
Why prices are spiking at America’s public universities

Seattle Times
Editorial: WA, school district failed teen who was starved to death
WA officials split on easing energy codes for homes rebuilt after wildfires
Opinion: Confusing vaccine policies put burden on parents, medical providers

Spokesman Review
Cloud seeding proposed to help drought-stricken farmers in Tri-Cities area
Gonzaga University launches ‘one-stop’ reporting hub following last school year’s controversies

Washington Post
The financial divide reshaping life for millennials
Breakthrough vaccine for the deadliest skin cancer cut risk by almost half
Amazon cancels plan for data centers in Virginia’s Loudoun County, donates land

WA State Standard
WA officials urge leaders not to spend $51 million Meta fine yet
Cost of employer-sponsored health insurance plans rises again, nonpartisan survey finds
Largest gas pipeline network in Northwest could grow as Oklahoma-based owners pursue expansion

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
92 undelivered ballots found in dumpster at Golden Gardens Park
Amtrak to cut ribbon on $250M Seattle maintenance facility for new Airo train fleet
How often are Washington police shooting people? New database tracks use-of-force incidents
Washington background check delays leave job seekers waiting weeks, raising questions about court records

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Get ready, drivers: Puyallup to Lynnwood could cost $54 in tolls
Thurston County food pantries hit record attendance amid SNAP cuts
DHS barred from Election Day voter fraud field operations in nine states
Conway man detained by ICE in July still in custody; WA Rep trying to help
Everett establishes new ‘buffer zones’ where camping and loitering are banned
Revive I-5 on Ship Canal Bridge to end following almost 10 months of construction
$23M settlement reached in child molestation case against Peninsula School District
USPS bins with elections ballots discovered in dumpsters at Seattle’s Golden Gardens
Witnesses recount heroic attempts to save man whose wheelchair got stuck on Puyallup train tracks

KNKX Public Radio
Bite of Seattle shooting suspect returns home under monitoring

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Expansion projects stalled at Sumas, Lynden border crossings
Whatcom County ‘unequivocally’ underprepared for jump in deportation efforts

Cascade PBS
Mossback’s Northwest: When Seattle Quakes
Despite a WA law meant to help, the DOE keeps fighting Hanford workers’ comp claims

InvestigateWest
Mercer Island School District settles sex abuse claim for $1.5M

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Friday info

Thursday, October 22

Judge blocks Homeland Security from conducting election-related sweeps in 9 states
The injunction bars operations in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin until polls close on Election Day, though the administration may appeal in the coming days. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Ross Williams)

As kratom proliferates in legal gray area, WA lawmakers eye drug ban
Washington lawmakers will look at regulating the herbal drug kratom and its synthetic versions, after some cities in the state have moved to ban sales. It’s the latest dance in the spotlight for an unregulated substance that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration tried to broadly restrict a decade ago, before reversing course after outcry from its proponents. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

People aren’t drinking like they used to. Can WA beer, wine industries adapt?
Washington’s wine and beer industries are staring down a sobering reality. Drinking culture is changing, tariffs and inflation are squeezing businesses and consumers, and local producers are making more booze than the market demands. That’s forcing two of Washington’s most iconic industries to adapt to a new era of imbibing. Continue reading at KUOW. (Monica Nickelsburg)