Daily E-Clips

Tuesday, October 20

WA counties desperate to fix rising lawsuit costs
The shared insurance pool that covers nearly two-thirds of Washington counties ended 2025 without being sure it had enough money to pay the counties’ estimated cost of lawsuits, forcing them to tap their general funds intended for basic functions. … Counties are preparing to ask the Legislature for help, seeking to roll back laws and court decisions they say are driving the crisis. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Fiona Martin)

Washington panel eyes ways to ease hurdles to rebuilding homes destroyed by wildfires
Earlier this month, the governor asked the council to adopt an emergency rule allowing owners of homes built before 2015 to rebuild in line with less restrictive residential energy codes adopted in 2015. For homes constructed after 2015, the governor is pushing for owners to be able to rebuild to the energy code that was in effect when their residence was first constructed. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Mario Tama)

People leaving King County jail need ‘a lifeline.’ Now Medicaid will pay for one
Most people in jail are low-income and qualify for Medicaid health coverage, but historically the program has excluded health care provided within jails and prisons. But now 22 states including Washington have qualified for a waiver; it allows Medicaid reimbursement for certain transition-related expenses in the 90 days before someone is released. Continue reading at KUOW. (Amy Radill)

Monday, October 19

Gov. Ferguson’s board tells him to let people out of prison. He keeps saying no
In Washington, one of just 16 states that does not offer parole, Ferguson’s de facto policy has shut off one of the few avenues for early release available for people serving long prison sentences. It has also confounded some people usually supportive of the Democratic governor who’ve been surprised and dismayed by his repeated unwillingness to grant mercy even when his own board recommends it. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ivy Ceballo)

Seattle’s expanding police camera network has oversight gaps
License plate readers: About 47% of police database searches lacked required justifications, up from 24% in 2024. Police shut off the readers in March following a new state privacy law. Live and private cameras: Analysts could view live feeds without logging a case number or justification. Police also plan to accept private camera feeds citywide, despite a lack of clear rules. Traffic cameras: The city’s transportation and police departments lacked a written agreement over police access to traffic camera feeds. Continue reading at Axios. (Annelise Capossela)

New Tacoma speed cameras caught 400,000 drivers in a month. Vendor can’t keep up
But because of limitations from the company that runs the cameras, only a randomly selected group of 100 registered vehicle owners per camera each day will receive them, city officials say. In total, approximately 515,000 vehicles drove through the corridor in the same period, meaning that roughly 77% were speeding.
Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Brian Hayes)

Print

Axios
Seattle’s expanding police camera network has oversight gaps

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham wants to change the speed limit for this road. WSDOT disagrees

Capital Press
Judge refuses to block adoptions, birth control for wild horses
Outlook: Strong El Niño likely means warm winter in the Northwest
Pacific Northwest secures $10 million in USDA specialty crop grants
USDA approves releasing European weevil to attack invasive aquatic plant

Everett Herald
Community Transit gathering feedback on Swift Gold Line design
Stillaguamish Tribe wraps up its largest-ever salmon restoration project

Kitsap Sun
‘No Kings’ tries to shift tone to voter turnout at Kitsap events
State issues $300k in fines for 2024 diesel spill in Bremerton

News Tribune
Lakewood PD officers, leaders retaliated against Black staff, report shows
New Tacoma speed cameras caught 400,000 drivers in a month. Vendor can’t keep up

Seattle Times
Gov. Ferguson’s board tells him to let people out of prison. He keeps saying no

Spokesman Review
Power line arcing led to Benton County fire, utility says
Riverside State Park restoration faces budget constraints and natural hazards before reopening is possible

Washington Post
Why a 7% mortgage rate hurts more now than in the past
Trump approval hits record low, handing Democrats a clear edge
State officials offered to store nuclear waste. Then residents found out.
A Pepsi plant laid off most of its employees. The town didn’t see it coming.

WA State Standard
Data centers are now the largest financial bet in US history
Immigrants from Ukraine, Sudan could soon lose protected status
Invasive beetle arrives in eastern Washington, threatens ash trees
WA Department of Social and Health Services eyes cuts, modernization for 2027
After booting 760K people from ACA Plans, Trump administration has added some back
Bipartisan permitting bill in Congress could speed energy projects, but draws green critics

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Teen boy shot, killed in downtown Tacoma; police search for suspect
Family sues City of Seattle again over teen’s fatal fall at Gas Works Park
Pierce County father arrested 19 months after 5-year-old son dies from fentanyl
Seattle social housing developer charts first construction project in Central District
Bird flu detected in Washington dairy cattle for first time, with 1 human case reported
Meet the Seattle volunteers giving up their weekends to help domestic violence victims
Woman dies at Lynnwood jail days after being taken into custody for DUI, theft offenses
Federal judge halts USDA and Forest Service restructuring plan, including elimination of Portland office

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Sound Transit to provide update on delayed Ballard light rail project
Yakima resident tests positive for bird flu, low risk to general public, YHD says
One dead, two injured after head-on crash with transit bus in Grays Harbor County
Thousands take part in Seattle ‘No Kings’ march, voting fair, as protests take place nationwide
KNKX Public Radio
Protest in southwest Washington against trans runner on girls cross-country team goes viral

Web

Cascadia Daily News
WWU closes $12.5 million deal with PeaceHealth for new health sciences college
Opinion: State’s AI roadmap needs to show how AI does its work for public

Cascade PBS
WATCH: The dangers decades of workers faced at Hanford Nuclear Site

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Monday info

Friday, October 16

Washington energy debate centers on clean energy deadlines, rising utility costs
Both advocated greater efficiency and consumer engagement to reduce peak demand. Carlyle emphasized grid modernization and distributed battery storage; Myers favored time-of-use pricing and financial incentives. Their competing prescriptions leave lawmakers and utility regulators confronting the same challenge: maintaining affordable, reliable electricity while determining how much flexibility Washington’s clean energy transition requires. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Courtesy of TVW)

WA foster parents no longer have to support LGBTQ+ kids in their care
Washington state can no longer require foster parents to provide an affirming and supportive home for LGBTQ+ children and youth, according to a settlement the state reached with a religious couple. Continue reading at KUOW. (Courtesy of the Alliance Defending Freedom)

Seattle inflation outpaces most West Coast peers, national average. What’s driving it?
Rising energy prices were the primary driver of Seattle’s higher rate, but James McCafferty, Director of Western Washington University’s Center for Economic and Business Research, said there are more subtle factors at play too. Continue reading at KUOW. (Monica Nickelsburg)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Public comment period open about proposed changes to WDFW’s listing and recovery planning processes for at-risk species

Axios
Trump sues California to prevent counting 20,000 voters’ ballots

Capital Press
Abandoned orchards heighten pest problems for Gorge growers
Industry celebrates new USDA ARS-WSU plant bioscience research building

The Daily News
Longview’s alternative schools turn dropouts, struggling students into grads

Everett Herald
Mill Creek moves forward with annexation plan
Everett approves reforms to land division process
Governor appoints new member to EvCC board of trustees
Everett council OKs first B&O tax rework in over two decades
Edmonds School District celebrates new Oak Heights Elementary

Kitsap Sun
Opinion: Vaccines aren’t a ‘cash cow.’ They simply save lives
Community group looking to revive plan to add troll statue in Poulsbo
Above-average temperatures likely this winter in Washington, according to NOAA

News Tribune
Voting early? Find a vote center in Washington near you
How do I register to vote in WA? Update my registration? Follow these steps
A dozen Danish trolls now call Pierce County home. Here’s where to see them

New York Times
Trump Hasn’t Lowered Drug Prices for These Voters
Trump Administration Sues California Over Voter Rolls
Warsh Vows to Tame Inflation as A.I. Delivers ‘Shock’ to Economy
Oregon Has Approved Tight Gun Laws, but They Have Been Held Up in Courts

Puget Sound Business Journal
America’s wealthiest ZIP codes are changing
Amazon returns to Everett warehouse it left, possibly for new purpose

Seattle Times
WA education chief opposes tax credit program to aid K-12 funding
Amazon, Microsoft and T-Mobile among top donors to Trump’s ballroom
WA issues water violation for Port Townsend paper mill; second worker speaks out

Spokesman Review
University of Washington rape lawsuit alleges negligence

Washington Post
Shooting is the 21st mass killing in the U.S. this year
3 children, 1 teacher killed in Oregon elementary school shooting
Amtrak is making some big changes. Here’s what passengers can expect.
The hidden divide that makes life so much less affordable for some Americans

WA State Standard
Citizen panel rejects pay hike for WA governor
Washington energy debate centers on clean energy deadlines, rising utility costs
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from moving Forest Service headquarters to Utah

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington millionaires tax: Both sides clash over cuts, future of tax
Douglas County Sheriff’s records reveal swift leads in deadly Chelan Hills Fire investigation
Washington elections office targeted in suspicious mail investigation involving white powder

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Review finds nearly $17 million shortfall at King County homelessness agency
Teen shooter kills 4 at Oregon elementary school before being shot by a witness
First Lynnwood Youth Council calling for mental health resources and new spaces to end teen violence

KUOW Public Radio
3 children, 1 teacher dead after shooting at Bend elementary school
WA foster parents no longer have to support LGBTQ+ kids in their care
New UW report shows how feds gather WA driver data to make ICE arrests
KCRHA’s financial hole grows to $16.7 million, renewing calls to dissolve agency
Seattle inflation outpaces most West Coast peers, national average. What’s driving it?
UW failed to protect woman raped by fraternity member with sexual misconduct history, lawsuit alleges
‘It will impact everyone.’ UW faculty warn new federal student loan limits could strain health, social services

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Unity Care NW is stable despite Medicaid changes, new CEO says
Birch Bay business reboots across border amid tariff war, Canadian strife
Bellingham School Board grills superintendent on school closures proposal
High-risk water line will shut down for year-plus. Some rely on it for drinking water

Geekwire
Leaked list shows what Microsoft, Amazon and other tech giants are giving for the White House ballroom

MyNorthwest
Review finds nearly $17 million shortfall at King County homelessness agency
Teen shooter kills 4 at Oregon elementary school before being shot by a witness

The Urbanist
Seattle Social Housing Developer Advances First Construction Project
‘Unfathomable Disaster’ Looms Following Public Defender Pay Dispute

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Friday info

Thursday, October 15

WA leaders weigh state AI guardrails as Congress remains stuck
Early discussions are underway about bills for next year’s legislative session to set new guardrails around safety, privacy and liability for AI. But the lead lawmaker in the state Senate said there’s no consensus yet about what to prioritize. He also cautioned that related legislation to regulate data centers is expected to take up significant time in the session, which begins in January. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Andrew Burke-Stevenson)

ICE arrests man near Seattle elementary school during morning drop-off
Agents eventually smashed the driver-side window, unlocked the door and forcefully removed the man from his car, Norris said. They handcuffed the man against his car and then drove him away in an unmarked vehicle. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Courtesy of Lisa Norris)

How Murray and WA experts plan to ‘politics-proof’ public health
But a key focus will be on restoring trust in medical providers, public health systems and scientific experts, the Washington Democrat said. That overall confidence has suffered, Murray said, as Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have fired hundreds of CDC workers, slashed scientific grants, restructured a key vaccine advisory panel and continued to repeat disproved claims about childhood vaccinations. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington receives $1.96M in Rural Health Transformation Funding

Axios
Seattle’s job market loses its edge
Your holiday packages just got more expensive to ship
DOJ gives California 48 hours to check voters or face lawsuit
ICE balks at automatic body-cams amid accountability concerns

Bainbridge Island Review
New state law aims to curb e-bike incidents

Capital Press
Emerald ash borer now on both sides of Washington

Everett Herald
SnoCo Council passes ordinance to make lot-splitting easier
Edmonds school board discusses proposed boundary changes
Sound Transit shares info on Everett Link light rail at open house
Everett Public Schools settles with LifeWise Academy, ending lawsuit

International Examiner
Deportations to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia surge nearly nine-fold, targeting elders and decades-old removal orders

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Gov. Ferguson commits to addressing WSF engine room crew workforce crisis

Kitsap Sun
How much will Social Security payments increase in 2027?
New 170-unit senior living complex proposed along Fairgrounds Road
Western Washington University requests funding for Poulsbo building

News Tribune
Election Day is approaching in WA. Know these key dates and deadlines
Start date for major Tacoma Narrows Bridge repairs, hour-long delays announced

New York Times
Mortgage Rates Hover at 7.4%, Highest Since 2023
Migrant Children Without Lawyers Face Fast-Tracked Deportations Alone
For Texas Schoolchildren, Minor Misbehavior Can Mean Criminal Charges

Puget Sound Business Journal
UW’s engineering college lands $12M gift from chipmaker
How employers can help workers experiencing menopause
Tacoma utility underway on new $37M operations building
Microsoft CEO pushes for AI guardrails after models go rogue

Seattle Times
WA leaders weigh state AI guardrails as Congress remains stuck (Pedersen, Shavers, Callan)
How Murray and WA experts plan to ‘politics-proof’ public health
Invasive emerald ash borers devastating trees spread to Eastern WA
ICE arrests man near Seattle elementary school during morning drop-off

Spokesman Review
Health leaders ponder ways to boost confidence in science-backed public health
Spokane County Auditor’s office begins sending out ballots ahead of general election
Spokane Council approves 0.1% sales tax increase for public safety building, other investments
USDA and WSU unveil new 100,000-square-foot Plant Bioscience Research Building on Pullman’s campus
‘No one is coming to save us’: Pulitzer winner urges empathetic fight for American democracy in Whitworth forum keynote

Washington Post
In this deep-red city, rising costs test Trump’s affordability message
An FBI arrest revives fears that U.S. tech companies are hiring spies
Secret documents reveal donors behind $330M for Trump’s ballroom
Accused Cornell student’s transfer raises concerns about disciplinary files

WA State Standard
Social Security benefits increase will hit 3.6% in 2027
Oregon governor orders pause on environmental permits to build or expand data centers
Nonpartisan government watchdog recommends automated activation of ICE body cameras
Washington AG will not pursue youth online protection legislation in wake of Meta settlement

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Advocates warn proposed disability cuts could push some toward homelessness

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Hear an emergency alert today? It’s the Great ShakeOut drill
Counterfeit herbal supplement linked to overdoses and deaths; including 1 in WA
Community members invited to share feedback on potential school consolidations
Seattle mayor hosts media roundtable to address several city issues, public safety concerns
Authorities investigate letters with ‘suspicious substances’ sent to congressional, election offices

KNKX Public Radio
U.S. Rep. Randall details concerns about Tacoma ICE detention center

KUOW Public Radio
WA schools chief urges Gov. Ferguson to reject federal tax credit
Despite efforts, Northwest cruise ships collide with whales, climate
In an age of news deserts and ghost papers, what’s next for McClatchy?
Seattle Mayor Wilson says she’s working ‘as fast as possible’ to implement gun violence plan

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Lynden teachers authorize strike for first time in nearly 50 years

West Seattle Blog
TRANSIT, WEATHER, TRAFFIC: Thursday info

Wednesday, October 14

Immigration arrests linked to WA driver data ‘off the charts’
Immigration arrests linked to a search of Washington driver information have jumped at least fivefold since July, according to new data from the University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights … These numbers are “off the charts” and projected to increase, despite state policies to block federal agents from tapping private driver data, said Angelina Godoy, the center’s executive director. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Reykdal opposes federal tax credit program, urges gov to reject
Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal views the tax credit as a way to expand school choice options without closing funding gaps for public schools. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Aspen Ford)

Researchers point to community violence programs, pandemic recovery in historic homicide decline
The findings come amid a historic national decline in homicide. In 2025, the estimated U.S. murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate fell 18.1% compared with 2024, which equates to about 4 killings per 100,000 people. It tied the lowest rate recorded since national estimates began. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Scott Olson)