Daily E-Clips

Wednesday, November 4

Live results: 2026 Washington state midterm elections
Updated election results in Washington state will be available around 4 p.m. Continue reading at KUOW. (Ted S. Warren)

Washington voters embracing income tax on high earners
Voters on Tuesday were upholding Washington’s new income tax on households earning more than a million dollars a year, a threshold opponents argued would eventually be lowered to apply to everyone. Initiative 645 to repeal the high-earners tax was failing by an overwhelming margin, 58% to 42%. It lacked support in the state’s most populous counties on both sides of the state. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Ryan Berry)

Amazon plans its first data centers in Washington state as residents raise concerns
The expansion into Amazon’s home state comes amid nationwide pushback against the rapid deployment of new AI data centers. Tuesday’s election underscored the scrutiny facing data center developers, with voters in communities across several states backing limits on new projects. In Eastern Washington, the Amazon proposals have drawn calls for greater environmental oversight and a temporary halt to data center development. Continue reading at Geekwire. (Noah Berger)

Tuesday, November 3

USPS delays could cause 20K more Washington ballot rejections
Changes to how the U.S. Postal Service processes mail could lead to an additional 20,000 Washington ballots being rejected for late postmarks this year, according to University of Washington researchers. Continue reading at Axios. (Jason Redmond)

Amazon will build up to 21 data centers on West Richland land it paid $264M for
Trammell Crow Co., a Dallas, Texas real estate firm with a data center development business, purchased nearly 1,000 acres from the estate of the late agriculture icon Frank Tiegs in July. Monday, AWS confirmed it is the actual buyer behind the $264 million deal in a phone call. It said that such arrangements are standard. Continue reading at Tri-City Herald. (Bob Brawdy)

More real estate listings tout data centers even as project opposition increases
The data reveals the bifurcated view of data centers. For example, one Compass listing showcases a 148-acre property in Taylor, Texas, that boasts of the presence of a transmission tower that makes the spot perfect for a data center. Another listing for property in nearby Burnet, Texas, meanwhile, has the seller of a ranch describing the beauty of the property with dark night skies, no windmills and no data centers nearby, according to Compass. Continue reading at Puget Sound Business Journal. (Yuichiro Chino)

Print

Axios
SCOTUS rejects Trump’s bid over disputed California ballots
USPS delays could cause 20K more Washington ballot rejections

Bainbridge Island Review
COBI, legislators request delay of High School Road roundabout

Capital Press
As bird flu spreads, dairy industry awaits vaccine
Despite rainfall, Oregon remains in deep drought
Washington resident exposed to infected dairy cattle dies of bird flu

News Tribune
Sheriff Keith Swank’s anti-trans protest fizzles at Seattle Reign match
Bird flu has infected at least 33 Washington dairy herds. A person has died
These are best public K-8 schools in Washington state, US News says. See 2027 list

New York Times
Google Will Turn Off Search for Schools That Reject A.I.
See How Much Obamacare Premiums Will Rise Next Year
The Soaring Cost of Diesel Is Bankrupting Small Trucking Companies
Old, Polluting Jet Engines Are Being Scavenged to Power Data Centers
Can Catholic Schools Get Public Money if They Turn Away L.G.B.T.Q. Families?
Flouting Consumer Law, Insurers Refuse to Pay Medical Bills for Emergency Care

Northwest Asian Weekly
City Light apologizes for lack of notification in advance of Sept. outages in the CID — The utility urges residents to file claims by Nov. 30

Puget Sound Business Journal
Everett turns to AI to cut housing permit delays
Data centers reshape real estate property listings

Seattle Times
Mayor Wilson vetoes RV homelessness program
King County initiative seeks to keep people from returning to jail
Ferguson still mum on federal tax credit decision for scholarships
Sound Transit launches new pet policy for light rail, Sounder trains
ICE systematically defied ban on warrantless arrests in Oregon, judge finds
Amazon will build up to 21 data centers on West Richland land it paid $264M for

South Seattle Emerald
Seattle’s Largest Tiny Home Village Opens in Industrial South Park

Spokesman Review
Spokane County postpones possible Geiger closure to 2028
Gov. Ferguson casts ballot in midterm election, warns voters to use county dropbox

Tri-City Herald
Amazon will build up to 21 data centers on West Richland land it paid $264M for

Washington Post
Nearly $1.9 billion traded on midterms in booming prediction markets
Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit against Harvard on admissions
Google researchers are fighting the company to tell the world what they know about AI
Will anyone interfere with the voting – or the counting? What election officials are watching.

WA State Standard
Yakima County resident dies from bird flu

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle mayor vetoes permit program for people living in RVs
Boil water notice issued in Fall City, residents advised to use bottled water
Death investigation underway after inmate dies unexpectedly at Snohomish County Jail
Mother of Federal Way teen killed in DUI crash addresses court at suspect’s arraignment
Seattle man accused of leading police on 100 mph chase through school, construction zones

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Fall City remains under boil water advisory
No snow, but chains required: WSP checks trucks on Snoqualmie Pass
Inmate dies on fourth day in Snohomish County Jail after being found unresponsive in cell
Councilmember Strauss says Mayor Wilson broke her promise by vetoing RV permit program
WSDOT wants public input on proposed high-speed rail connecting Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver
Experts say British Columbia keeping Daylight Saving Time could impact cross-border business, travel

KUOW Public Radio
For some, the cost of jury duty is too high

KXLY (ABC)
Mayor Brown releases Spokane budget proposal

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham fifth graders flex civic duty of voting in mock election
Bellingham students swarm district office in protest of school closures, admin salaries

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Election Day Tuesday
What will make the cut when the City Council finishes shaping the budget? Here’s how to have your say

Monday, November 2

‘Enraging’: WA residents despair as insurance premiums climb again
For years, many of these individual buyers could rely on enhanced tax credits, introduced during the pandemic to help middle-class households afford premiums. Those tax credits expired last year despite a bruising government shutdown over preserving them. Since then, thousands in Washington have had to pay the full cost of premiums on their own for the first time in years, at a moment when the cost of insurance is rising rapidly. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

Clash with feds hangs over WA as votes roll in before Election Day
At the same time, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson recently wrote to all 39 counties, offering the Washington National Guard to serve as an “Election Neighborhood Watch” during voting. … Seven counties have accepted Ferguson’s offer of the National Guard, his office said: King, Snohomish, Pierce, Thurston, Clark, Lewis and Island. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

As WA open enrollment begins, far fewer than expected have lost coverage
State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer attributed the better-than-expected news to an emergency rule out of her office to maximize other premium tax credits. Washington was one of the few states to take this step, she said. The state’s own premium assistance, known as Cascade Care Savings, also helped avert some of the more dire fears of the drops in coverage. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jake Goldstein-Street)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Opinion: “When they came for me, there was no one left to protest”

Axios
Seattle Public Schools considers merging up to 21 schools

Bellingham Herald
Report: Half of Southwest Washington residents lack resources to cover basic necessities
Millions poured into fundraisers for wildfire relief in August. Why groups are slow to spend it

Capital Press
Bird flu spreads rapidly through Central Washington dairies
Blue-state suit could push Corporate Transparency Act to Supreme Court

The Daily News
Amazon opens million square foot Kelso distribution center
Longview residents win open government awards after City Council lawsuit

Everett Herald
National Guard keeping extra eye on ballot boxes in Snohomish County

Kitsap Sun
Navy pushes USS Connecticut maintenance completion into 2027

News Tribune
Forested trails open to public at new Pierce County park after $1.2 million deal

Puget Sound Business Journal
Former UW laundry site to get 400 apartments, early learning campus

Seattle Medium
Africatown Youth Pop-Up Invites Residents To Help Shape Central District’s Future
Strickland, Local Food Bank Leaders Warn of Growing Hunger Amid Federal SNAP Cuts

Seattle Times
Clash with feds hangs over WA as votes roll in before Election Day
After fires burn WA churches, what’s next for this Indigenous faith?
‘Enraging’: WA residents despair as insurance premiums climb again

Spokesman Review
Public comments on proposed Amazon data center in Walla Walla County ask for oversight

Washington Post
Why mandating AI use in the workplace can backfire
Inside Musk’s plan to upend the wireless phone industry
Judge tosses Trump’s lawsuit over Wall Street Journal’s Epstein article
Open enrollment just started. Here’s what to know about your premiums.
The tech industry is investing in mega gas plants to power their data centers
‘Anyone can be a super-hacker now’: The world faces a cybersecurity reckoning
New hacking threat has election officials scrambling weeks before the midterms

WA State Standard
WA mobilizes National Guard for added security for ballot drop boxes
As WA open enrollment begins, far fewer than expected have lost coverage
Time for change? Permanent daylight saving time bill awaiting US Senate action
‘Medically frail’ Medicaid enrollees won’t have to prove their inability to work to keep coverage

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Yakima County resident dies after contracting bird flu at dairy
Ocean Shores candidate who lost by 1 vote sues over ballot order
Record $5.3 million flows into historic Washington Supreme Court election
ACA open enrollment underway: See WA’s approved 2027 insurance rate increases
Washington groups sue Trump administration over demand to set aside 405 ballots

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Alaska Air Group to cut 125 jobs in Washington
Another State Patrol Car Hit on I-5, Renewing Calls to ‘Move Over’
Spokane County’s wildfire heroes recognized on national stage in New York City
High school hit by Spokane Complex Fires could win $1 million football field makeover
WA midterm election 2026: King County Elections director discusses ballot box security

KNKX Public Radio
Seattle author champions civic engagement year-round

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: Navy veterans owed screening, care for exposure to asbestos
Blaine, Mount Vernon awarded federal funding to upgrade railroad crossings

Cascade PBS
Procrastinators, there’s still time to register and vote in WA

Geekwire
Washington governor rips Microsoft over TV ad in leaked audio

InvestigateWest
An Idaho law targeted fentanyl dealers. Prosecutors are using it to charge users, too

MyNorthwest
Longview paper mill fined $77,800 after worker nearly engulfed in hot pulp
Washington groups sue Trump administration over demand to set aside 405 ballots
Ahead of midterm election King County stands ready to battle federal government in court

The Urbanist
In Battle with Fire Department, Queen Anne Residents Win Parking Victory

Washington Observer
Irked by TV spot, Ferguson tees off on Microsoft

West Seattle Blog
WEATHER, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Monday info

Friday, October 30

Permanent daylight saving could nearly triple dark school commutes in WA
Right now, the state’s public school students have to leave home before sunrise about 19 times annually, on average, assuming they head out 20 minutes before the bell. With permanent daylight saving, they could be forced to brave the dark about 53 mornings each winter, according to the UW study. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Jennifer Buchanan)

Seattle weighs plan to wipe out $5M in medical debt
Residents would qualify if their income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or their medical debt exceeds 5% of their income. Eligible residents wouldn’t need to apply for relief or pay taxes on the canceled debt, according to the proposal. Continue reading at Axios. (Sarah Grillo)

Sound Transit launches pilot program allowing pets on light rail and buses
Under the updated rules, dogs may travel either in a carrier or on a short leash, while cats and other small pets must be transported in secure carriers. Riders are required to maintain control of their pets, clean up any messes, and ensure animals do not occupy seats or block aisles and doorways. Aggressive animals are prohibited at all times. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Courtesy of KIRO 7)

Print

Axios
Seattle weighs plan to wipe out $5M in medical debt

The Daily News
TIMELINE: Longview Nippon spill, investigation
Longview School Board weighs new hazing rules following Mark Morris allegations

Everett Herald
Everett police identify 44 suspected illicit massage parlors
Everett district planning for likely IB program launch in 2027
Boeing commercial airplane profits dip despite revenue increase

Kitsap Sun
Navy investigating second diesel exhaust incident at Bangor since June
Opinion: Love paid parking or hate it, Poulsbo needed to do something

News Tribune
Landlord group faces scrutiny from WA regulators over 62,000 text messages
Comcast is cutting jobs in Olympia, Puyallup and elsewhere in WA, notice says

New York Times
Tech Stocks Tumble, but Broader Market Is Holding On
Big Tech’s Data Center Blitz Is Burning Through Cash and Scaring Wall St.
Unions Sue Justice Department Over Attempt to Intervene in California’s Vote

Puget Sound Business Journal
Comcast cuts 159 WA jobs amid restructuring effort

Seattle Times
Opinion: Changes to Endangered Species Act will harm salmon, tribes
Permanent daylight saving could nearly triple dark school commutes in WA
Editorial: WA Secretary of State upholds democracy by rejecting DOJ request

Washington Post
Oil giants report windfall profits as high gas prices loom over the election
Massive crypto hack probably the largest theft of digital currencies in history
A new test could make it easier to detect one of the most common cancers in women

WA State Standard
Idled WA coal power plant generates a natural gas fight
Two Dans, three Bobs: Alaska Senate controversy mirrors 2024 Washington fiasco

Yakima Herald-Republic
More than a third of West’s glacial cover has been lost since 1950s
Heritage University awarded $2.5 million to educate more rural nurses

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Maritime High School could close in June, leaving families questioning what comes next
ACLU calls for investigation after ICE agent allegedly slashed tire of Hillsboro couple who recorded agents

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington falls back Sunday as debate over clock changes continues
WA attorney says non-citizens unknowingly register to vote while getting license
Seattle University faces federal investigation over scholarship for underrepresented students
Bears killed in Index following weekend attack, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says
Auburn police officer placed on leave after video appears to show him repeatedly punching suspect

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: Summoned to serve on a jury? Don’t look for a way out
Tired of waiting, B.C. will keep its clocks the same while WA falls back
‘Fish and farm’ support each other in Whatcom County conservation efforts
Half of Whatcom Community College’s fall applicants were likely fraudsters

MyNorthwest
Washington falls back Sunday as debate over clock changes continues
Sound Transit launches pilot program allowing pets on light rail and buses
Comcast to lay off 159 workers in Washington as part of nationwide restructuring
Auburn police officer on leave after video appears to show repeated punches to suspect
General Motors to pay $220 million over claims it sold drivers’ data for insurance use; WA to get $12.3 million

The Urbanist
Bellevue’s Transportation Funding Debate Pivots Around Safety

Thursday, October 29

American citizens among 405 voters flagged by Feds, Secretary of State says, as DOJ considers ‘next steps’
In a letter to acting U.S. Attorney for Western Washington Neil Floyd and First Assistant United States Attorney for Eastern Washington Pete Serrano, Hobbs said it would “likely be unlawful” for the state to not count ballots from the identified voters during the upcoming midterm elections. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Jesse Tinsley)

ICE awards new 10-year WA detention center contract to GEO Group
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement awarded a new 10-year contract to the GEO Group for the immigrant detention center in Tacoma, one of the nation’s biggest. The huge Florida-based prison and detention company will receive $1.5 billion for the length of the contract. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Nick Wagner)

WA is a top state for jobs, but its workers are highly stressed, study says
In June, WalletHub ranked Washington as having the second-best economy in the nation; Massachusetts placed first. In another WalletHub report published in January, Seattle was ranked as the 22nd best city for jobs. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Raimund Koch)