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Friday, April 26

Bellevue-to-Redmond light rail opens to fanfare
The Sound Transit 2 Line that connects Redmond with Bellevue is ready to roll, nearly eight years after breaking ground. Approved by a ballot measure in 2008, the full $3.7 billion, 14-mile East Link route will eventually serve Seattle’s Judkins Park, Mercer Island, Redmond and multiple stations in Bellevue, per Sound Transit. Continue reading at Axios. (Sound Transit)

Washington’s preschool system ranks below most other states, report finds
Washington’s access to quality preschool services falls below many other states, only serving 16% of four-year-olds and 8% of three-year-olds, a new national report found. The report also found that despite its low rankings for access, Washington scores fairly well for funding for the child care sector, ranking eighth for state spending. But despite the spending, families still struggle to find care. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

Four SPD women employees file $5M claim alleging discrimination
Several Seattle Police Department women employees filed a tort claim Thursday for $5 million, alleging sexual discrimination and harassment by Police Chief Adrian Diaz and other department leaders. The claim, filed on behalf of four women in the department against SPD and the city of Seattle, follows a February report that described female employees’ anonymous allegations of sexual harassment and a “good old boys club” that discouraged women from climbing the ranks. Continue reading at Seattle Times.

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Associated Press
Microsoft quarterly profit rises 20% as tech giant pushes to get customers using AI products

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen council supports homeless shelter
Paring down North Aberdeen Bridge Alternatives

Axios
Bellevue-to-Redmond light rail opens to fanfare

Capital Press
EFSEC withholds findings on Horse Heaven project
With massive Washington harvest, apple prices ‘dismal’
Susewind: Count shows Washington wolves aren’t endangered

Columbian
River pilots keep ships rolling on the Columbia
Change coming to Clark County court system as it prepares for growth

Everett Herald
Everett baby dies amid string of child fentanyl overdoses
Compass Health cuts child and family therapy services in Everett
Edmonds fire service faces expiration date, quandary about what’s next
Grizzlies to return to North Cascades, feds confirm in controversial plan

Kitsap Sun
Unemployment claims in Washington declined last week
Connecting homeless campers with services and shelter takes time, statistics show

News Tribune
He joined Tacoma police to help address racial biases. He now claims he became a victim
Tehaleh developers had option to build low-income homes. They paid nearly $770k instead

Olympian
Eld, Henderson Inlets may see shellfish harvest restrictions due to fecal pollution
Northwest’s only nuclear plant is in WA. Are you ready for a radiation release emergency?
Ban on high-capacity magazines will remain after WA Supreme Court Commissioner’s ruling

Puget Sound Business Journal
Oracle sheds Bellevue office after shrinking Seattle footprint
After closing $1.45 billion deal, Everett’s Fortive is hunting for more acquisitions
As Microsoft sheds offices, its lease costs could soon fall significantly, filing shows

Seattle Times
Your how-to guide for the new Eastside light rail line
What to expect when you try the Eastside’s eight light rail stations
Four SPD women employees file $5M claim alleging discrimination
Tukwila schools open doors to 300 new migrant students without warning

Spokesman Review
Spokane Valley hydrogen fuel company explains layoffs
Federal agencies decide to restore grizzlies to North Cascades
Spokane Arena to close for three months for $10 million renovation
Spokane International Airport and Department of Ecology at odds a month from PFAS cleanup deadline

Washington Post
The AI hype bubble is deflating. Now comes the hard part
Everything TikTok users need to know about a possible ban in the U.S.
They found safe spaces on TikTok. A ban could devastate their communities

WA State Standard
Washington’s preschool system ranks below most other states, report finds
WA ammo magazine restrictions to remain in place as state appeals judge’s ruling

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
East Link Extension opens to riders Saturday after nearly a decade of construction
Burien business owners say safety concerns mount amid camping ban enforcement standstill
Court rules Washington’s high-capacity magazine ban will stay in place while legal challenge unfolds

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Grizzly bears returning to North Cascades
3 children hospitalized in Everett for fentanyl in 5 days
Mercer Island neighbors say city ignored warning signs of pipe leaks
Healthier Together: UW program looks to bridge gap in maternal health

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle’s street trees have something to tell you
Seattle cop accuses Chief Diaz of ‘predatory behavior’ and ‘grooming’
TikTok creators in Western Washington consider the potential impact of a national ban

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane receives $1 million to combat opioid crisis

NW Public Radio
Yakima Libraries celebrate Día, a children and books day
‘Higher Ground’ exhibit explores queer life on the Palouse

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County Executive refuses to step down, welcomes inquiry
New Bellingham Public Schools office aims to promote collaboration, sustainability

Crosscut
Washington’s gray wolf populations are making a strong comeback
WA Supreme Court upholds temporary ban on high-capacity magazines

Geekwire
Techie-turned-lawmaker uses his Microsoft chops to challenge the status quo as a state senator (Nguyen)

MyNorthwest
Burien camping ban saga continues as mayor speaks on resolution
SPD releases bodycam footage of April 17 officer-involved shooting
WSDOT wraps up investigation into ex-employee’s gas price whistleblowing claims

The Urbanist
East Link TOD: BelRed’s Scattered Development Could Preface Bigger Housing Boom

Thursday, April 25

High-capacity gun magazines stay illegal in WA, court commissioner rules
High-capacity magazines, those holding more than 10 bullets, will remain illegal to buy or sell in Washington, while the state appeals a lower-court ruling that found the ban unconstitutional, the state Supreme Court commissioner ruled Thursday. That stay means Washington’s ban on the magazines, which the Legislature passed in 2022, remains in place unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ted S. Warren)

WA farmers brace for summer drought on heels of harvest shortfalls
Last week, the Washington Department of Ecology declared a drought emergency for most of the state, aiming to help everyone from farmers to local irrigation districts better prepare for drought in the coming months. This nearly statewide drought emergency is the third in the past decade — a similar emergency was declared in 2015 and 2021. Climate change has made extreme weather events, such as the heat dome from 2021, more frequent. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Genna Martin)

Coalition against female genital mutilation supports victims in Washington state
A coalition of nonprofit and state organizations, formed under a Washington law creating criminal and civil penalties for female genital mutilation, has set out to educate and support victims and people at risk of undergoing the nonmedical procedures. The law, which took effect last year, cites more than 500,000 people in the U.S. who have either experienced or are susceptible to female genital mutilation, a cultural practice meant to suppress female sexual desires and improve one’s prospects of marriage. Continue reading at KUOW. (LSS)

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Associated Press
Remnants of bird flu virus found in pasteurized milk, FDA says
Southwest will limit hiring and drop 4 airports, including Bellingham, after loss
Biden administration is announcing plans for up to 12 lease sales for offshore wind energy
Dairy cattle must be tested for bird flu before moving between states, agriculture officials say

Axios
Seattle could see a long, hot summer, new forecast shows
Federal regulators just passed two new worker-friendly rules

Bellingham Herald
Lummi Island resident sues county and executive over ferry rate hike taking effect June 1

Columbian
Habitat for Humanity completes 2 more homes in Johnson Village in east Vancouver
Washington State Public Disclosure Commission discusses AI, money in politics at monthly event in Vancouver

Everett Herald
Boeing’s $3.9B cash burn adds urgency to revival plan
Editorial: Federal, state program will put more roofs to work

The Inlander
More Washington homes could soon get solar
As EWU readies to share maps of racial covenants in Eastern Washington, a Spokane title company is helping homeowners disavow the racist documents

News Tribune
Washington ranked among the most dangerous states in the country, according to new study
Opinion: $500K of art once lined Tacoma’s Link light rail. Some is now sitting at the dump

Northwest Asian Weekly
Madison Zack-Wu on pioneering change in the strip club industry

Puget Sound Business Journal
New overtime rule may not survive expected court challenge
Boeing 737 Max production delays expected to last a while longer

Seattle Times
Feds greenlight return of grizzlies to WA’s North Cascades
Kids spending longer in King County juvenile detention, audit finds
High-capacity gun magazines stay illegal in WA, court commissioner rules

Spokesman Review
Electric vehicle rebate program launches soon in Washington
Lind Town Council claims they removed the mayor. The mayor disagrees
Fish and recreationists alike may be pleased by city project in West Spokane
Supreme Court hears case that pits Idaho abortion ban against federal protections for pregnant women
Spokane teens to perform ‘painful,’ ‘dark’ plays to take a stand against gun violence 25 years after Columbine

Tri-City Herald
Students return to classes at West Richland elementary after Monday’s deadly shootings

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Agencies partner to bring Wildfire Ready Neighbors program to Walla Walla County

Washington Post
Why this summer may be especially hot in the United States
Why the U.S. is struggling to replace lead pipes a decade after Flint
U.S. solar companies, imperiled by price collapse, demand protection
A global study just revealed the world’s biggest known plastic polluters
Buying and selling a home will change soon. Here’s what you need to know
U.S. economic growth slowed in first quarter as consumer spending starts scaling back

WA State Standard
Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
State of Washington looks to former inmates for recidivism advice
Sex trafficking federal lawsuit filed against Motel 6, three King County locations
‘It’s infuriating’: Lawmaker says a GPS ankle monitor on ex-cop could have prevented West Richland tragedy (Davis)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
WNBA legend Sue Bird joins Seattle Storm ownership group
Boeing reports big first quarter loss in the middle of negotiations with its firefighters union
Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights
Snohomish County woman urges safety changes after Tesla on autopilot crashed, killed fiancé

KNKX Public Radio
Puyallup Tribe partners with renewable energy storage startup

KUOW Public Radio
Coalition against female genital mutilation supports victims in Washington state
Leave the imported shrimp, take the local bivalves. Navigating sustainable seafood choices

KXLY (ABC)
Some union workers at Sacred Heart are not participating in the strike

NW Public Radio
New funding to build farmworker housing in the Pacific Northwest, nationwide

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham students share about local, tribal history
30,000 postcards sent to residents ahead of water rights legal summons
Whatcom Democrats board calls for County Executive Satpal Sidhu’s resignation

Crosscut
King County will use $6M grant to build EV charging ports
WA farmers brace for summer drought on heels of harvest shortfalls

GreenState
Cannabis waste could fuel the green building movement (Stanford)

MyNorthwest
Snohomish County Search and Rescue seeks volunteers amid uptick in missions

The Urbanist
Phinney Ridge Apartment Complex Pioneers Unique Communal Model

Wednesday, April 24

WA to launch EV rebate program. Here’s what you could save
Washington state will launch an electric vehicle rebate program this summer in an effort to make EVs affordable for between 6,500 and 8,000 low-income residents, state officials announced Tuesday. People earning 300% or below of the federal poverty level are eligible for the program’s incentives. That works out to earnings of less than $45,180 annually for a single person or less than $93,600 for a family of four. The program will run through June 2025 or until funds run out. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Guaranteed college financial aid coming to WA students on food assistance
Students from families on Washington’s food assistance programs will soon automatically qualify for financial aid to attend college. That’s due to a new state law, House Bill 2214, that guarantees state financial aid for students enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP for short and sometimes called food stamps. The law calls for the automatic tuition aid to be available by the 2025-26 school year. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

New state deepfake image protection law goes into effect June 6
A new state law that is aimed at protecting children and adults from the devastating consequences of deepfake images goes into effect on June 6. Senator Mark Mullet is one of the legislators who worked on passing the bill after he heard about an incident from his daughter who attends Issaquah High School. The new law states that first time offenders would face misdemeanor charges but repeat offenders could be looking at a felony. Continue reading at KIRO 7.

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Associated Press
Boeing posts a $355 million loss as the plane maker tries to dig out

Axios
Seattle is the nation’s second-biggest new AI job hotspot

Bellingham Herald
Two early-season wildfires pop up on same day in Northwest Washington; wind tests crews

Columbian
‘Pollutants’ from BNSF locomotives in rail yard called ‘outrageous’ by Lincoln neighborhood residents

Everett Herald
Providence to pay $200M for illegal timekeeping and break practices
Judge halves $784M for women exposed to Monsanto chemicals at Monroe school
Comment: Jobs should be safe regardless of who’s providing labor

Kitsap Sun
Emerging treatment models helping address opioid epidemic in Kitsap, statewide

News Tribune
Have an opinion on county’s controversial homeless village? Here’s a chance to air it
Opinion: Chambers Creek Dam is on the ropes. It’s time to finish the job — and take it down

New York Times
Business Groups Sue to Stop F.T.C. From Banning Noncompete Clauses
Live Updates: On Emergency Abortion Access, Justices Sound Sharply Divided

Port Townsend Leader
Breakwater Celebration (Tharinger)

Puget Sound Business Journal
FTC finalizes noncompete ban and sets up legal battle
Businesses face ‘seismic shift’ after FTC bans noncompetes

Seattle Times
Kroger to pay WA $47.5 million over role in opioid crisis
In Seattle, even the rich can’t escape the high cost of poverty
WA to launch EV rebate program. Here’s what you could save

Skagit Valley Herald
Coastal razor clam digs allowed through Monday

South Whidbey Record
School district honored with ‘Purple Star Award’

Spokesman Review
Count shows wolves increasing in Washington
Washington hospitals collectively reported $1.7 billion in operating losses in 2023. What does that mean for Spokane?

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
New Touchet library under construction delivers on a 30-year promise

Washington Post
Biden administration to require greater transparency on airline fees
Groups sue to block FTC’s new rule barring noncompete agreements
Nearly 2 in 5 Americans breathe unhealthy air. Why it’s getting worse
Supreme Court hears arguments in case over emergency abortion care
FTC bans contracts that keep workers from jumping to rival employers
What you need to know about new overtime rule that will benefit millions

WA State Standard
Guaranteed college financial aid coming to WA students on food assistance
Washington electric vehicle rebates up to $9,000 available beginning in August
Loss of federal protection in Idaho spurs pregnant patients to plan for emergency air transport

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Asbestos concerns worry neighbors of proposed gravel mine in Whatcom County

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
New state deepfake image protection law goes into effect June 6 (Mullet)

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle’s troubled past and present suggest a new approach to mental health
Washington state hospitals are still losing money, leading to ‘heartbreaking decisions’

KXLY (ABC)
Stickers with racist slogans found in downtown Spokane
Spokane teens perform play to raise awareness about gun violence in schools

NW Public Radio
Rural Alzheimer’s, dementia patients face disparities in access to care

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Two human-caused fires kick off wildfire season in Whatcom, Skagit counties

Crosscut
Seattle rallies as Supreme Court weighs criminalizing homelessness

MyNorthwest
More freedom for Washington workers as noncompete contracts are challenged

Tuesday, April 23

Can intensive support in court keep people from re-offending? Tacoma is giving it a go
People ensnared in the criminal justice system often go on to re-offend. Tacoma is looking to help break that cycle through the launch of two therapeutic courts. The city announced in an April 9 news release that its Community Court and Mental Health Court seek to treat the “root causes of crime.” The courts take a holistic approach to reducing recidivism rates. Successful graduates of the therapeutic-court programs will see their charges dismissed. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Brian Hayes)

In WA and beyond, a child care crisis is holding parents back
In 2022, more than 1 in 10 young children had a parent who had to quit, turn down or drastically change a job in the previous year because of child care problems. And that burden falls most on mothers, who shoulder more child-rearing responsibilities and are far more likely to leave a job to care for kids. The dilemma is common throughout Washington and the U.S., where high-quality child care programs can be prohibitively expensive, government assistance is limited and day care openings are sometimes hard to find at all. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

New federal funds will help thousands in Washington get solar power for free
Washington state will receive $156 million in federal funds for new programs to install rooftop solar on thousands of homes and apartment buildings, and to expand access to solar energy in tribal communities. The money is a slice of $7 billion in grants nationwide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday through its Solar For All program, which aims to make solar energy more available and affordable for low- and moderate-income Americans .In Washington, the state Department of Commerce will use the funds to start four new programs. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

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Associated Press
Local election workers fear threats to their safety as November nears. One group is trying to help
A suburban Seattle police officer faces murder trial in the death of a man outside convenience store

Aberdeen Daily World
Elma gas plant property value drops by $52M

Axios
SCOTUS weighs strict abortion ban against emergency care law
Will noncompete clauses soon be illegal? The FTC is about to vote on it

Bellingham Herald
State closes another Whatcom County shooting range. Here’s why they did it.
Proposed agreement spells out Whatcom County jail construction and operations
Authorities arrest Ferndale man as part of multi-agency human trafficking investigation

Capital Press
Washington wolves set record for population growth
Comment: A snapshot of the region’s energy portfolio

Everett Herald
With light rail coming soon, Mountlake Terrace’s moment is nearly here
Comment: Setting record straight on 3 climate activism myths
Comment: Debate remains around legalized abortion and crime
Editorial: EBT program a boon for kids’ nutrition this summer

High Country News
When dams come down, what happens to the ocean?
These Washington nurses want their hospital to be more like Oregon

News Tribune
Can intensive support in court keep people from re-offending? Tacoma is giving it a go

Puget Sound Business Journal
Providence to pay over $200M for wage violations
SCOTUS ruling could result in challenges to impact fees
Union: Striking electricians have shut down multiple area job sites

Seattle Times
In WA and beyond, a child care crisis is holding parents back
WA solar energy projects getting $156 million in federal funds
Supreme Court seems poised to allow laws that penalize homelessness
Seattle Children’s won’t turn over gender-affirming care records to Texas

Skagit Valley Herald
Section of Skagit River opens for spring chinook

Spokesman Review
Schulz departing as Washington State University president
Riders can hop on a Spokane-area bus for free during weekends from May 4 to June 30
Spokane City Council will consider requiring 4 to 6 months’ notice before landlords can raise rent by much

Tri-City Herald
Thousands of Tri-Cities students forced indoors Monday by bad air after massive fire
Richland’s Chamna Preserve earthquake unusual for this area. Here’s how it was different

Washington State Standard
New federal funds will help thousands in Washington get solar power for free
Supreme Court appears to lean toward allowing local restrictions on homeless encampments

Yakima Herald-Republic
USPS to move some mail processing to Spokane, will update Yakima post office

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington state prison using video games to help incarcerated fathers bond with their kids
Seattle Children’s won’t turn over gender-affirming care records in lawsuit settlement with Texas
Styrofoam, packaging with PFAS will be banned in Washington this summer. What that means for consumers

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Kroger to pay $47.5 million to Washington state to combat fentanyl crisis
Seattle small businesses unaware of storefront repair fund despite rising break-ins
Seattle hospital won’t turn over gender-affirming care records in lawsuit with Texas

KUOW Public Radio
Digital reading soars in Seattle, creating problems for local libraries
Washington’s plastic bag fee reduces waste — but not to the extent intended, report finds

KXLY (ABC)
First day of Sacred Heart workers’ strike

Web

MyNorthwest
Will a ‘Heat Dome’ be part of the upcoming Seattle summer?
Kroger to pay nearly $50M to Washington to combat fentanyl crisis
‘SPD is dying’: What Seattle police officers are saying during exit interviews
South King Fire offering free smoke alarm installation for Federal Way residents

Monday, April 22

State’s new law involving PSE aspires to set a course for the future
Over the past couple of years, Washington lawmakers have wrestled with a daunting task. The problem: The state’s largest utility, Puget Sound Energy, sells natural gas to nearly 1 million customers and burns gas and coal to electrify cities. That contributes millions of metric tons of planet-warming gasses to the atmosphere. Seeing a tough road ahead to decarbonize, PSE requested help from lawmakers. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

The high cost of 4/20: Expert warns of dangers associated with marijuana
April 20 is considered by many as a high holiday for marijuana aficionados. However, there’s growing evidence it’s not as harmless as once believed. Despite legalization across the country and widespread public approval, the federal government still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug. That’s led to limits on research regarding medical usage that could back up anecdotal evidence of marijuana helping people. Continue reading at King 5.

Auburn police officer’s murder trial tests new state law for police misconduct
The first police officer charged with murder in Washington under a new legal standard for police misconduct is heading to trial. Jury selection is scheduled to begin April 22 in the trial of Auburn police officer Jeffrey Nelson. In August 2020, then-King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg charged Nelson with second-degree murder and first-degree assault for killing 26-year-old Jesse Sarey. Nelson tackled and ultimately shot Sarey while trying to arrest him for disorderly conduct. Continue reading at KUOW. (Auburn Police Department)