Daily E-Clips

Monday, May 18

Washington DNR asks for grace this camping season amid budget cuts
The budget for the DNR’s recreation program was cut by over 20% in 2025 — and this year, another $580,000 of maintenance funding was eliminated. All told, the program has seen $8 million of cuts in less than two years. In April, the DNR announced that four campgrounds would fully close for the season, and a handful of others will see reduced seasons this year. Continue reading at KUOW. (Unsplash)

Sound Transit officials chase more money to close $35B funding gap
A key strategy will be to borrow higher amounts, and for longer time periods. The agency will continue lobbying the Legislature to allow 75-year Sound Transit bonds, instead of the maximum 40 years…Runaway construction inflation of 40% to 70% this decade, elaborate routes in tough topography and modernization projects to make existing service more dependable are among the factors wrecking Sound Transit finances. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

Judge rejects lawsuit against rewrite of WA parental rights law
A Washington judge on Friday sided with the state as he turned back a lawsuit seeking to block a controversial 2025 law concerning rights for parents of public school students…The deeply partisan debate over the legislation was one of the most contentious of the 2025 legislative session. The law is enmeshed in broader debates over how schools handle sensitive issues around gender identity and inclusion that have become political flashpoints in recent years. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)

Friday, May 15

Why gas prices are so high in Washington state right now
The state’s gas tax is one of the highest in the country, adding about 55 cents to every gallon. Under the state’s Climate Commitment Act, oil refineries must purchase carbon credits to offset their emissions, and they pass that cost on to customers at the gas pump, adding another 50 cents to every gallon. Montgomery said that the state’s lack of an income tax contributes, too. Continue reading at KUOW. (Jenny Kane)

Food stamp enrollment drops in WA as immigrants exit program
In Washington, Basic Food benefits include the federal SNAP program and the state’s Food Assistance Program, which mirrors SNAP but extends benefits to immigrants with lawful status who don’t qualify for the federal version. The Food Assistance Program is fully state-funded. Noncitizen enrollment in Basic Food has plummeted roughly 23%, from over 47,000 households to 36,500. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

National redistricting battles hit Washington state and its lawmakers
The landmark Supreme Court decision axing a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana has intensified redistricting battles across the nation, rippling as far as Washington state. The ruling has renewed a Republican challenge to Washington’s new legislative districts while spurring some Democrats to seek new congressional boundaries. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Print

Axios
Seattle weighs pause on large data centers
Washington’s craft brewery count dips slightly
Health care’s solvable problem: maternal mortality
Supreme Court keeps freeze on abortion pill restrictions

Bellingham Herald
$4 million in FEMA funds released to support 2021 Whatcom County flood recovery

Capital Press
Washington farmer appeals Ecology fine to state Supreme Court

The Daily News
Economic councils apply for opportunity zones
Women, Infant and Children cuts to reduce farmers market program

Everett Herald
Comment: Washington has five years to get redistricting right
Mountlake Terrace mayor talks purpose and pride at annual address
Federal judge asked to ditch Washington state legislative district maps

The Inlander
Three Spokane defendants arrested after last June’s ICE protest hope a federal jury sees no conspiracy

International Examiner
Surveillance cameras were installed in the CID last spring, here’s how community members feel about them one year later

Kitsap Sun
Naval Base Kitsap to participate in Pentagon’s anti-drone pilot program
Opinion: New growth of a business community in downtown Bremerton

News Tribune
Foss HS staff receive TPD’s highest civilian honor for intervening in stabbing
Facing $27M deficit, Tacoma plans departments merger, position eliminations
Two charged with conspiracy to smuggle immigrants into U.S. via Point Roberts

New York Times
Opinion: The Damage of ‘Trump Math’ Is Adding Up
Supreme Court Allows Abortion Pill Access by Mail to Continue
They Were Promised New Septic Tanks. Trump Called It ‘Illegal DEI.’
Trump’s Push to Keep Coal Plants Open Is Costing Hundreds of Millions
Green Card Holders Targeted for Deportation by New ‘Removal Apparatus’

Northwest Asian Weekly
China-Boeing agreement could end years-long sales drought
Filipino Community Center hosts rally demanding Sound Transit deliver on light rail promises

Peninsula Daily News
Stage 2 water alert issued for several systems
Overnight Hood Canal Bridge closures continue next week

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA offers cash prizes in new pitch competition

Seattle Times
Seattle’s World Cup ticket prices are falling
WA kids were stuck in hospitals for months. What’s happening now?
National redistricting battles hit Washington state and its lawmakers
Seattle takes the plunge, spending $465,000 on new public bathrooms

South Seattle Emerald
What AI Data Centers Could Mean for South Seattle Communities
Weeks Before Critical Sound Transit Vote, Dozens Demand the Agency Build Long-Promised Light Rail Stations in the South End

Spokesman Review
Construction starts on new Adams Elementary School
Sheriff’s Office enters agreement to surveil Spokane County parks, conservation areas
Lime scooter hopes to expand in Spokane, making promises but asking for concessions
Three Washington residents were exposed to hantavirus amid the cruise outbreak. Why risk of further spread is low

Washington Post
Trump’s policies are working together to hike prices, as midterms approach
Cruise ships are perfect breeding ground for viruses, but we can’t get enough
Supreme Court preserves access to mail distribution of widely used abortion pill

WA State Standard
Local health officials prepare for influx of World Cup fans
WA gets $538M in delayed COVID-era payments from FEMA
Food stamp enrollment drops in WA as immigrants exit program

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Inmate escapes from Monroe Correctional Complex
Victim in deadly UW stabbing identified after suspect’s arrest
Puget Sound faces looming airport crunch as projected demand far outpaces capacity
Washington state to lower flags on May 15 for Peace Officers Memorial Day recognition

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Identity revealed of UW student who was stabbed to death
Charged a fee without stepping foot in a hospital? You’re not alone
Snowpack disappears weeks ahead of schedule as drought continues
Internal shakeup at the Seattle Mayor’s Office amid growing council conflict
Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion pill, while lawsuit plays out

KUOW Public Radio
Why gas prices are so high in Washington state right now
UW community mourns student’s death, questions safety measures
High fuel costs are testing Washington and Oregon’s fishing industry
Public defenders ask WA Supreme Court to put new limits on cash bail

KXLY (ABC)
Six months into Spokane’s camping ban. Is it working?
Spokane Public Schools breaks ground on new Adams Elementary
Spokane County passes ordinance targeting camping on private property
Former Washington Governor Christine Gregoire criticizes state spending at business summit

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Working waterfronts on Olympic Coast keep jobs, history alive
Opinion: Gap in Whatcom college enrollments is challenge for all
More cuts, consolidations coming to WCC as college faces $1.5M budget gap

Cascade PBS
Girmay Zahilay pushes for progress on King County’s major issues

InvestigateWest
Oregon prosecutors said she didn’t protect her baby. She says she was surviving abuse.

MyNorthwest
Microsoft-owned LinkedIn cuts 5% of workforce in latest tech industry layoffs
Starbucks announces 300 more corporate layoffs, shutters multiple regional offices

The Urbanist
Pierce Transit Rolls Out Expansion Plan and Pitches Funding Measure

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Friday watch

Thursday, May 14

WA sues Providence hospitals over treatment of pregnant workers
Some employees experienced retaliation after requesting a pregnancy request and were treated with hostility by their supervisors, the lawsuit said. Some were given more difficult duties and others were reprimanded for making a request, according to the lawsuit. Continue reading at The Olympian. (The Olympian)

Federal judge asked to ditch WA legislative district maps
A federal judge is weighing whether to toss redrawn political maps for Washington’s Legislature that he approved two years ago, a move that state officials warn would take “a wrecking ball” to the upcoming primary, possibly forcing it to be rescheduled. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

Washington state tech layoffs are second highest in the country
So far this year, more than 4,000 workers in Washington’s information sector have been laid off, according to state filings compiled by Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County. That’s outpacing 2025 and 2024. Those layoffs were driven by Amazon, Oracle, and Meta, among others. Even so, Amazon continues to defend its title as the top company for job openings in Washington state, according to the WDC data. That’s a sharp contrast with Microsoft, which saw a 46% decline in job openings over the past month. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Ocean Shores embraces Missing and Murdered Indigenous People march

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham’s iconic I-5 rock smashed into pieces by WSDOT. Here’s what to know
Whatcom County bought out homes in the flood zone. Now they want them moved

Capital Press
Yellow-legged hornet quietly taking hold in the Southeast
Supreme Court to decide key farm labor enforcement questions

Everett Herald
Everett grad students propose vacancy tax for large retailers
Everett-based Funko improperly collected user data on its site, lawsuit says

The Inlander
Three Spokane defendants arrested after last June’s ICE protest hope a federal jury sees no conspiracy

Kitsap Sun
Highway closures likely to impact traffic through Seattle region
Maureen McKeeman named new Kitsap County Superior Court judge

Olympian
WA sues Providence hospitals over treatment of pregnant workers
Olympia crews demolish historic Capitol Campus building. What will replace it?

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle ramps up transit options for World Cup
Funko hit with lawsuit over website tracking practices
Comment: Shelter alone won’t end homelessness in Seattle
Bellevue eyes tax district for $200M Grand Connection project
Lenders are changing the game. It’s driving up costs for businesses

Seattle Times
Seattle council repeals law allowing housing in Sodo
Seattle ranked fourth among large cities for growth last year
Seattle part of bid to host FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2031
AG Brown accuses Providence of failing to accommodate pregnant staff
WA campaign finance watchdog to pay $25K over alleged meeting violations

Tri-City Herald
WA sues Kadlec, other Providence hospitals over treatment of pregnant workers

WA State Standard
Costs tied to Iran war add to WA farm woes
Federal judge asked to ditch WA legislative district maps

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Police make arrest in fatal stabbing of UW student
Schultz says Mayor Wilson ‘vilifies employers.’ Do Seattle voters agree?
Washington’s warm and dry conditions set up concerning wildfire season
Tacoma restricts ICE activity on city property as activists push for more action
Washington AG sues Providence Health and Services alleging illegal treatment of pregnant and nursing employees

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle braces for World Cup traffic and transit crunch
Gun violence dropping in King County, but so are resources to combat it
Dead gray whale washes ashore in Island County, marking the 19th found in WA this year
Seattle says it’s ready for 750K FIFA World Cup fans — but wants 80% to leave their cars at home

KUOW Public Radio
Washington state tech layoffs are second highest in the country
Washington AG accuses Providence of mistreating pregnant and nursing staff

Web

Cascade PBS
WATCH: Girmay Zahilay weighs in on path forward for Sound Transit

The Stranger
Is Brandi Kruse’s Support for an Anti-Trans Sports Ban Legally an In-Kind Political Donation?
Scott: Guest Rant: Seattle Housing Authority is Failing Their Tenants, Their Mission, and the Law

The Urbanist
Seattle’s Winding Path 20 Years into Its Global Climate Commitment

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRAFFIC: Thursday watch
Will West Seattle light rail move forward? Key decision possible tomorrow at special Sound Transit Board Executive Committee meeting

Wednesday, May 13

People in WA prisons get access to 988 mental health crisis hotline
Incarcerated people make up about 1% of the state’s suicides, but many of these deaths are preventable: State data shows that 39% of incarcerated Washingtonians who die by suicide had a known mental health concern. Overdoses and suicides are also leading causes of unexpected deaths in Washington prisons, officials said…Washington was one of the first states to roll out the three-digit line, which is funded by a combination of state and federal dollars. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

Hopes of World Cup tourist boom feeling shaky in Seattle
Last year, FIFA President Gianni Infantino likened this year’s World Cup to “104 Super Bowls.” With the soccer tournament a month away, that’s feeling like a stretch. In Seattle, which will host six matches, bullish expectations for the local tourism economy have dampened. Many other cities are in the same boat. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Steph Chambers)

‘Burning longer, moving faster.’ WA prepares for what could be bad wildfire year
May is wildfire awareness month, and agencies are preparing for what could be one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent history. On May 1, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) released its 2026 season outlook, which highlighted dim projections across the Northwest. The report stated that drought conditions have persisted in Western Washington throughout most of the year, with April having above-normal temperatures across the state and precipitation patterns leaning dry. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Washington DNR)

Print

Axios
Most Washington police officers lag on required training
Amazon pushes Alexa+ deeper into AI-powered shopping

Capital Press
BLM rescinds Public Lands Rule
NAWG watching U.S.-China meeting
Trump administration chews over lowering beef tariffs
Oregon declares drought for three more counties across state

Everett Herald
Court dismisses push for clear access to Stanwood shoreline
Lynnwood approves streamlined permitting process for food trucks
Comment: Stolen Wages in WA: What Immigrant workers should know
Northshore to end school resource officer program at Bothell High School
Letter: Wise investment supports essential transportation connections by maintaining Snohomish County infrastructure

International Examiner
Here’s what you need to know about the new investments coming to the CID
Afghan immigrants, refugees grapple with changes in social services, federal policies

News Tribune
Tacoma port workers sound alarm over efforts to automate jobs
Opinion: Backdoor to religious instruction in WA schools being exploited
Pierce County pays $3B to Sound Transit with rail expansion still years away
Parks Tacoma has a new interim executive director, third leader in last month
Puyallup Tribe, Kenmore Air’s seaplane venture adding new flights this summer
‘Burning longer, moving faster.’ WA prepares for what could be bad wildfire year
Former Pierce County drug unit’s lawsuit zeros in on actions of 2 ex-prosecutors

New York Times
What You Need to Know About the Federal Gas Tax
Why U.S. Test Scores Are in a ‘Generation-Long Decline’
Opinion: The Iran War Worsens America’s Democratic Erosion
A Texas City Bet Big on Industry. Now It’s Running Out of Water.
With a Friend in Trump, the Tobacco Industry Secures a Lucrative Win
Top Kennedy Spokesman Resigns in Protest of Move to Allow Flavored Vapes

Northwest Asian Weekly
Southern California mayor resigns, will plead guilty to acting as agent for Chinese government

Olympian
Where will Billy Frank Jr. statue be at WA Capitol? There’s a debate (Heck)

Port Townsend Leader
County takes on prisoners for profit
School cuts staff, moves funds to pre-K
Hospital projects multimillion dollar loss in Medicaid funds

Puget Sound Business Journal
Everett maps out site plan for downtown stadium
Study ranks Lumen Field, World Cup venues on heat risk

Seattle Times
Foes of WA high-earners income tax launch repeal initiative
People in WA prisons get access to 988 mental health crisis hotline
3 King County residents possibly exposed to hantavirus linked to cruise

South Seattle Emerald
Opinion: Why the Columbia City Farmers Market Feels Like a South End Third Space

Spokesman Review
Public defenders sue Spokane County over work standards
‘A great place to grow old’: Forbes ranks Spokane in top 25 places to retire
Spokane congressional candidate who paid a rival for help drops out days after filing
Spokane police chief apologizes for not notifying businesses before removing viaduct parking
With initial goal met, The Spokesman-Review starts ownership shift from Cowles to nonprofit
Spokane County leaders enact new code on private camping to combat nuisance properties, ‘human waste, trash or drug paraphernalia’

Washington Post
Why the U.S. job market is so hard, especially for recent college graduates

WA State Standard
Hopes of World Cup tourist boom feeling shaky in Seattle
Fundraising effort saves patch of state-managed forest in western WA from logging

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle mayor signs $4 billion Skagit River dams settlement
Twelve leaders in Thurston County ask to freeze salary through 2027
3 King County residents potentially exposed to hantavirus linked to cruise outbreak
Seattle Mountain Rescue deploys exoskeletons as second team in U.S. to use the tech

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle-area inflation hits 4.9%, outpacing nation as energy costs soar
Seattle Mayor budget deficit nears half-billion dollars, raising threat of taxes and layoffs

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle could ban big new data centers for one year

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane library hosts free ID replacement event for homeless, low-income residents

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Why Bellingham is buying up land around Lake Whatcom
Whatcom County Council approves justice project resolution
Port of Bellingham approves hiring of new executive director
ACA coverage drops in Whatcom, Skagit by nearly 2,000 enrollees
Property rights, preserving housing at odds in Bellingham’s short-term rental law
‘Trades are back’: Mount Baker schools plan construction program, woodshop expansion

Cascade PBS
Girmay Zahilay pushes for progress on King County’s major issues
WATCH: Zahilay explains King County staffing, work in-office changes

InvestigateWest
A girl caught in a custody battle said she was raped. The court-appointed investigator didn’t believe her.

The Urbanist
Maple Valley Pulls Plug on Housing Incentive Program in Face of Backlash

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Wednesday info, plus Bike Everywhere Day
FOLLOWUP: Two-bridge-closure weekend still on

Tuesday, May 12

WA homeowners, farmers say their land is being stolen for data centers
Data centers are demanding more energy than ever to fuel artificial intelligence, and the utility is not only running out of locally sourced electricity but also power-line capacity. To build more, the PUD considered running lines through public lands, protected habitats, farms or people’s homes. In the end, the utility concluded it would be fastest to take private property…Property owners say the utility’s actions amount to theft, and are asking a judge to throw out the condemnation cases, which are awaiting a decision. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Supreme Court extends stay allowing telehealth abortion
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday extended a highly anticipated stay blocking an appellate court’s pause on telehealth abortion access until May 14. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approved medication-abortion regimen remains available via telehealth until then, following a week of uncertainty among abortion patients and providers. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Natalie Behring)

Washington attorney general pushes for more resources to fight monopolies, ‘illegal’ mergers
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown pushed for additional state-level resources to combat monopolies and “illegal” mergers Monday, saying the federal government cannot be counted on to take the lead on antitrust cases. Continue reading at KING 5. (KING 5)