Daily E-Clips

Wednesday, October 7

Amazon’s Walla Walla data center plan sparks tension between protesters, local officials
More than four hundred Washingtonians across 19 locations took to the streets Sunday to demand a statewide moratorium on data centers. In Walla Walla, where a $4.8 billion Amazon data center project is planned, the tension among opponents and local officials was palpable. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Aspen Ford)

Sen. Maria Cantwell outlines six-point plan to regulate frontier AI as concerns escalate
Last month, Cantwell took to the Senate floor to demand urgent federal regulations and mandatory independent safety testing for frontier AI models before their release. She warned that recent incidents in which autonomous AI agents carried out unauthorized cyberattacks show that dangerous threats are already here, well before the arrival of superintelligence. The framework proposed Wednesday includes six principles for regulating frontier AI development and deployment. Continue reading at GeekWire. (Dan DeLong)

Another grieving orca mom carries dead calf on her nose off Washington state
The female, a 31-year-old known as J31 or Tsuchi, had previously been photographed carrying a dead newborn on her nose in 2016. J31 has one living offspring, a 7-year-old daughter, but has lost at least eight other calves before or just after birth. Continue reading at KUOW. (Courtesy of Center for Whale Research)

Washington Observer
Deep cuts loom for human services (Farivar, Wilson)

West Seattle Blog
TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC: Wednesday watch

Tuesday, October 6

Puget Sound ferry service returns after Monday shut down
The disruption was the result of 23 engine room employees calling in sick. According to Washington State Ferries, dispatchers attempted to call substitutes, but any employees qualified to step in for the day declined to do so. The result was the cancelation of various sailings and entire routes across the system. Continue reading at KUOW. (Casey Martin)

Washington lawmakers look to close ‘gaps’ in state arson laws
State and local officials are working to close “gaps” in Washington’s arson law that punishes offenders the same even when their fires are drastically bigger or more destructive. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Tyler Tjomsland)

US Supreme Court orders another look at how WA political maps are drawn
On the first day of its new session, the court accepted a legal challenge to the boundaries, then remanded it to a lower court to determine if the way a federal judge drew the lines in 2024 complies with a ruling earlier this year in a Louisiana redistricting case. Monday’s action will not affect next month’s election. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Ashley Murray)

Print

Axios
13 of 18 Washington ferries sidelined after workers call out sick

Bainbridge Island Review
WSF routes facing cancelled, reduced service due to crew shortages

The Daily News
LCC officials say Head Start rewrite could hurt families
School vaccination rates reveal hidden measles outbreak risks. But access depends on where you live.

Islands’ Weekly
Washington, multistate coalition victory protects social services for low-income families

Kitsap Sun
WSF service back on most routes after series of cancellations
Union representing ferry workers says it didn’t coordinate absences
Thune says no ‘path forward’ for permanent daylight saving time bill

News Tribune
South Sound ferries canceled. ‘Major service disruptions’ across the region
Walmart delivery drones coming to Federal Way. What’s up with Tacoma project?

New York Times
U.S. Trade Deficit Hits 17-Month High Despite Trump’s Tariffs

Northwest Asian Weekly
12th and Jackson among hot spots for felony drug cases in Seattle

Olympian
WSF service back on most routes after series of cancellations

Puget Sound Business Journal
These are the most selective schools in WA
UW tops ranking of WA universities with the most staffers
Why ‘serious’ delinquencies are spiking for a vulnerable class of homebuyers

Seattle Times
New Skagit Valley flood maps show worsening conditions
Most Washington State Ferries routes back to regular service Tuesday
Opinion: More transparency needed around latest King County sales tax increase
U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Snohomish firefighters’ COVID vaccine appeal
Alito says Supreme Court can’t stem emergency appeals and voices concern over Trump’s rhetoric

South Seattle Emerald
Neighbors Seek to Save a South Brandon Street Willow From Proposed Development

Spokesman Review
Washington lawmakers look to close ‘gaps’ in state arson laws (Riccelli)
Spokane Housing Authority grants available for Spokane Complex, Upriver fire victims
Fire investigators unable to determine cause of Upriver fire, but they believe it started in a vacant home

Washington Post
Paramount closes deal with Warner Bros. Discovery after months of wrangling

WA State Standard
Democrats more trusted on healthcare costs, survey shows
Prediction markets spend millions to influence state, federal governments
US Supreme Court orders another look at how WA political maps are drawn
Nonprofit recruits volunteers to help track wildlife impacted by Oregon’s roads
Sickout devastates WA ferry system; Ferguson urges workers to return Tuesday

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Passengers scramble to make backup plans Monday after ferry disruptions halt service
Closer to normal operations expected after ‘sick-out’ disrupts Washington State Ferries
Over half of illegal drone flights near wildfires nationwide occurred in Washington state
‘Taxes are going one way, jobs are going the other,’ Seattle business leader says of new analysis

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Ferry worker call-outs lead to continued cancellations, delays Tuesday
Seattle residents have a chance to weigh in on Mayor Katie Wilson’s proposed $9.1 billion budget

KUOW Public Radio
Puget Sound ferry service back after Monday shut down

KXLY (ABC)
Stricter rules on foreign-mailed medications starting October 22
Lincoln County holds public hearing after a 6-month emergency moratorium pauses data center permits

NW Public Radio
Student dental clinics help bridge cost gap for patients on a budget

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham police drones will assess emergencies before humans arrive on scene

Geekwire
Seattle’s tax burden shifted to business as jobs slipped away, new report finds

InvestigateWest
Prison overcrowding is keeping Idaho women behind bars even after they’re granted parole

MyNorthwest
Seattle Mayor Wilson signs first-of-its-kind grocery pricing law
Seattle taxes grew 172% since 2013, far outpacing jobs and population, report finds
Washington State Ferries still face lingering disruptions after 23 engineers call out sick
Seattle mayor says city is ‘absolutely aiming’ to recover $13.1 million in police overpayments

Monday, October 5

Judge permanently blocks WA sheriff standards law
The decision from Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christine Schaller permanently blocks the most controversial pieces of the Democrat-sponsored policy, pending an appeal by the state. A formal court order outlining the ruling is expected later this month. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jake Goldstein-Street)

WA pays record sums to pricey private lawyers amid lawsuit explosion
Over the past fiscal year, the state spent $43.6 million for outside legal help. The tab for such contracts has quintupled since 2023, when it totaled $8.7 million. In 2020, the state paid just $283,000, public records show. Those private lawyers bill at rates that in some cases exceed $300 an hour, making them far more costly than the assistant attorneys general employed directly by the state, who do essentially the same work. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Washington nonprofit that runs ICE reporting hotline lays off more than half its staff
The staff and funding cuts come at a time when immigration arrests across Washington and the country are facing new highs, with more calls coming into the hotline. Former employees report receiving a thousand calls a week. Continue reading at KUOW. (Jenny Kane)

Print

Auburn Reporter
DOE rescinds Title IX protections for LGBTQ students

Capital Press
Ag 250: Northwest tribes practiced a different ‘agriculture’
9th Circuit: U.S. government not immune to water rights enforcement

The Daily News
Cloninger says she reported Mark Morris misconduct to police

Everett Herald
Community Transit finalizes contract with union through 2027
Community Transit, Everett set dates for public hearings on merger
Opinion: Trump’s AI experiment is coming for seniors’ cancer treatments

Kitsap Sun
KRL board says investigation shows no violations by library director
Four-story apartment project seen from 305 adding 44 units in Poulsbo
WA woman, Navy officer is headed back to space on NASA’s next mission

News Tribune
UW Tacoma OK’s $375K payout after former assistant professor sues
Rules of the Road: What’s the best way to get around cyclists on narrow roads?

New York Times
States Sue Over Trump’s Repeal of Climate Rules for Power Plants
U.C.L.A. Says Justice Department Is ‘Weaponizing’ Civil Rights Laws
High Interest Rates Aren’t Slowing the A.I. Boom. That’s a Problem for the Fed.
Live Updates: Justices Grapple With Questions of Jurisdiction in Case Against Oil Companies

Northwest Asian Weekly
Seattle police surveillance program under the microscope
Community leaders urge action as healthcare cuts threaten thousands of AANHPI, immigrants

Puget Sound Business Journal
Enrollment increases at WA’s largest community colleges

Seattle Medium
The Midterm Maps Changed. So Could Black Political Power

Seattle Times
Washington State Ferries routes out of service
Judge blocks key parts of WA sheriff standards law
Protests in Seattle, across WA call for pause on AI data center boom
WA pays record sums to pricey private lawyers amid lawsuit explosion
WA Immigrant Solidarity Network gutted by mass layoffs as ICE surges
Homelessness agency’s public records officer quit, says she couldn’t do job
A new Supreme Court term begins with cases on climate change, immigration and gun rights

South Seattle Emerald
Rainier Beach Businesses Address Safety While Helping Their Shops Thrive

Spokesman Review
Most workers to return to Longview mill months after fatal spill
Spokane Public Schools approves $627 million operating budget for the school year

Washington Post
With threats to midterms, states say Trump administration isn’t helping
Why your health insurance problem might not be over when you turn 65
Thousands of public servants are stuck waiting for student loan forgiveness
The Supreme Court begins a new term today. Here are 6 things to watch for.

WA State Standard
Comment: Artificial intelligence in the classroom
Hiring slows in September with job growth of 29K
Judge permanently blocks WA sheriff standards law
Washington needs this aging state ferry to keep running and running
WA governor ‘disappointed’ Canada is fast-tracking new oil pipeline to B.C.
Federal funds for local police enforcement accelerated Trump immigration crackdown

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Many Washington State Ferries routes canceled Monday due to lack of crew

KNKX Public Radio
Flu cases are peaking early in the Pacific Northwest

KUOW Public Radio
Washington nonprofit that runs ICE reporting hotline lays off more than half its staff
Seattle University latest school to drop diversity question from admissions application

NW Public Radio
Washington state leaders raise alarm over plans to fast-track oil pipeline to Canada’s West Coast

Web

Cascadia Daily News
More early learning seats in Whatcom, Skagit, thanks to philanthropy
Opinion: You’re probably paying for WA Cares; here’s what that can mean for you

MyNorthwest
Judge permanently blocks new Washington sheriff standards law
Washington State Ferries cancel major sailings amid apparent engineer sick-out

The Urbanist
Paid Parking Could Expand to West Seattle, Upper Queen Anne

West Seattle Blog
ROAD WORK, WEATHER, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Monday info, with Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route out of service

Friday, October 2

As immigrant Medicaid cuts take effect, some in WA can keep their coverage
Roughly 3,000 other lawfully present immigrants would have lost their coverage if not for efforts by state officials who updated their immigration information to enable them to keep their Apple Health, the state’s low-income insurance program. Initial projections showed 14,000 noncitizens losing coverage. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Thomas Barkwick)

Amazon pledges $1B to data center communities, warns that local opposition threatens U.S. AI lead
Amazon says it will spend more than $1 billion over five years in the U.S. communities where it builds and operates data centers, responding to a growing backlash across the country against the tech industry’s massive AI infrastructure buildout. Continue reading at GeekWire. (Noah Berger)

More than half of Washington homeowners dropped by insurers in five years; Spokane County hit hard
Hundreds of Spokane-area homeowners have lost their insurance coverage in recent years, and the threat of more cancellations looms as wildfire seasons intensify across the region. Continue reading at KXLY. (KXLY)

Print

Capital Press
WDFW kills second wolf in Couse pack in southeast Washington
WA Supreme Court presses Ecology to defend fine against farmer

The Daily News
Media outlets battle Longview district over release of Cloninger records

Everett Herald
State audit finds SnoCo financial reporting vulnerabilities
Boeing union accepts latest contract offers and avoids strike
Esperance residents discuss potential annexation into Edmonds

Kitsap Sun
Washington’s burn ban ends this week. Here’s what to know
Bainbridge Island unveils its longest cross-island hiking route
Research station will explore how Bloedel’s nature affects our health
Plans for a Stephenson Canyon dog park moving ahead in Bremerton
Tennessee botched the execution of Christa Pike. Where does Washington stand on the death penalty?

News Tribune
Trump fired Tacoma’s top federal prosecutor. Why a judge reinstated him

New York Times
The Rich People Democrats Aren’t Talking About
U.S. and Allies Agree to Release Diesel Reserves as Prices Soar
Live Updates: Job Growth Cools and Unemployment Ticks Higher
The Powerful Yet Fragile Force Propping Up Stocks and the Economy
China Resumes Curbs on Fuel Exports, Tightening Global Energy Markets
America Wants to Make More Generic Drugs. India Shows Why That’s Hard.

Northwest Asian Weekly
Seattle police surveillance program under the microscope

Puget Sound Business Journal
UW endowment easily tops all other WA universities
Defense tech company picks Des Moines for AI fighter jet plant
$229 million mixed-use development nears opening in Stanwood
Higher education institutions faced dire warnings in 2025. Today, they remain in limbo.

Seattle Medium
I Wanted to Save Black Students. Then I Became a Teacher

Seattle Times
Opinion: What the ‘Medicaid cliff’ meant in WA
G7 nations will release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel fuel after prices soar
Most American children are being auto-enrolled in Trump accounts. What to know
Amazon to invest $1B into data center communities amid backlash against data center rollouts

Spokesman Review
Spokane council defers permit fees for rebuilding homes lost in August fires

Tri-City Herald
Economic prosperity is tied to housing affordability, WA Lt. Gov. says
Radioactive waste tank being emptied at Hanford. It will be the last for years

WA State Standard
WA’s nation-high minimum wage rising to nearly $18 an hour in 2027
Feds provide guidance on new federal K-12 scholarship tax credit program
As immigrant Medicaid cuts take effect, some in WA can keep their coverage
Korean officials confirm no deal exists to invest in Alaska natural gas pipeline

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Thousands in Washington to lose Medicaid coverage as federal cuts take effect
Texts show US representative question mayor’s handling of Bite of Seattle shooting
‘I never thought I would have to’: Burien gas station adds bulletproof glass after 3 robberies

KNKX Public Radio
Amid trade dispute, Canada continues business relationship with Washington state

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle lost 18,000 jobs last year as labor force in Tacoma, Bellevue grew
Federal judge in Seattle reinstates fired U.S. attorney in rebuke to Trump administration
How free is speech at the University of Washington?

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane trades companies tackle workforce shortage with hands-on event
Changes starting in October regarding SNAP eligibility and work requirements
More than half of Washington homeowners dropped by insurers in five years; Spokane County hit hard

Web

Cascadia Daily News
More early learning seats in Whatcom, Skagit, thanks to philanthropy

Geekwire
Amazon pledges $1B to data center communities, warns that local opposition threatens U.S. AI lead
Seattle software engineer turned general contractor built an AI guide to the patchwork of permit rules

MyNorthwest
11,000+ Washington residents lose healthcare, food benefits
Amazon to invest $1B into data center communities amid backlash against data center rollouts

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)