Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Thursday, July 3

WA officials warn of wildfire risks from Fourth of July fireworks
Firefighters and public lands managers are urging Washington residents to use extra caution when setting off fireworks this Fourth of July due to dry conditions. “We’ve already had 600 fires start in Washington” this year, Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove said during a press conference Wednesday. Four hundred of those fires were on state-owned land, he added. “Don’t be an idiot, don’t set our state on fire this weekend, and have a fun, safe Fourth of July,” Upthegrove said. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Getty)

Washington launches new hate crime hotline in Spokane County ahead of statewide launch
The state of Washington has launched a hotline in Spokane County for residents to report hate crimes and incidents of bias. The hotline, launched Tuesday in Spokane, King and Clark counties, is part of a pilot project ahead of a planned launch statewide by January 2027. The nonemergency hotline, which can be reached by calling (855) 225-1010 or visiting atg.wa.gov/report-hate, is staffed with representatives who can help callers find support services and, with consent, report incidents to law enforcement. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Mitchell Roland)

Seattle Surpasses 800,000 Residents For The First Time, Marking Significant Population Growth
Seattle has officially crossed the 800,000 population milestone for the first time in its history. According to the latest population estimates released by the state Office of Financial Management (OFM) on Friday, Seattle’s population is now estimated at 816,600 residents as of April 1, 2025. This year marks the fifth consecutive year that the city’s growth rate has exceeded 2%, solidifying Seattle’s status as one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Continue reading at Seattle Medium. (Seattle Medium)

Print

Capital Press
Bill will cut Oregon wildfire protection rates
Senate pulls public land sales from budget bill
USDA to scale back NEPA’s role in agency actions
Pulse harvest approaches: ‘What’s a normal year any more?’
USDA to reopen border, keep eye on New World screwworm
Trump: Vietnam agrees to eliminate tariffs on U.S. farm goods

The Daily News
Longview drops item-by-item public comment for more efficient meetings
Nonprofit opens 14th home for intellectual disabled adults in Cowlitz County
Rotschy threatens ‘consequences’ after Longview port commissioner calls them ‘bastards’

Everett Herald
Federal cuts to LGBTQ+ youth hotline to hit Everett center
$14.5M property tax levy lid lift moves forward in Edmonds
Editorial: Using discourse to get to common ground (Lovick)
Comment: Taking pride in our own independence from tyranny

International Examiner
Chinatown-ID prepares for influx of hundreds of thousands of soccer fans attending FIFA in 2026
Tuyen Than, the new Executive Director of the CID Business Improvement Area, is here to build reciprocal community in the neighborhood through its challenges and opportunities

Kitsap Sun
Evictions rapidly increasing in Kitsap, according to state data

Olympian
Opinion: Not just Medicaid: Hundreds of thousands in WA could lose insurance

Peninsula Daily News
Canadians coming to support community

Puget Sound Business Journal
Lenders, borrowers face tough decisions on CRE debt
Here’s how many Seattle businesses would face tax hike under B&O plan

Seattle Medium
PSE Foundation Awards $250K To Boost Food Security Statewide
Pike Place Market Sees Visitor Decline Amid Overall Drop In Seattle Tourism
Seattle Surpasses 800,000 Residents For The First Time, Marking Significant Population Growth

Spokesman Review
Lands commissioner says ‘don’t be an idiot’ over holiday weekend
450-acre-plus wildfire burning in canyon at Bonnie Lake near Rosalia
Washington launches new hate crime hotline in Spokane County ahead of statewide launch
Opinion: River flows are falling fast and native fish are paying the price
Opinion: Federal school choice already exists: Why the Educational Choice for Children Act isn’t radical

Washington Post
Why some fear government data on the economy is losing integrity
ICE increasingly targets undocumented migrants with no criminal conviction
Supreme Court takes up legality of bans on transgender athletes in women’s sports
House closes in on passing Trump’s bill; Minority Leader Jeffries speaks for hours, delaying vote

WA State Standard
WA officials warn of wildfire risks from Fourth of July fireworks
ICE transfers detainees from Alaska prison back to Washington state
WA forest health survey finds 545,000 acres of stressed or dead trees
Feds look at new way to get food stamp data from Washington and other states

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington boat builders lose ferry contract to Florida company
Washington Supreme Court lowers public defender caseload limits
King County Assessor John Wilson in jail on suspicion of stalking, violating court order

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Sound Transit expansion could force out dozens of Tacoma businesses
Despite national layoffs, Meta ramps up Bellevue hiring by about 1,800 employees
Family of Manuel Ellis agrees to $6M wrongful death settlement with City of Tacoma

KUOW Public Radio
WA lawmakers weigh in on Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill
Manuel Ellis’ family gets $6 million in wrongful death settlement with city of Tacoma

KXLY (ABC)
Inland Northwest faces above-normal wildfire risk this summer
Major infrastructure project causing traffic changes in northwest Spokane starting next week
Rep. Baumgartner expresses disappointment over failure to pass Big Beautiful Bill Wednesday night
UPDATE: Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations expanded for 400-acre wildfire burning near Bonnie Lake

NW Public Radio
After a month, the search for Travis Decker continues

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Rep. Larsen calls president’s megabill ‘cruel,’ warns of cuts to Medicaid
As WA glaciers and snowpack shrink, what happens to our water supply?
Opinion: NW WA physicians condemn plans to dismantle critical public health organizations

Cascade PBS
City Council confirms Shon Barnes as Seattle’s Chief of Police
WA contractor’s safety record under fire after multiple injuries
Chelan County will stop providing court date information to ICE

MyNorthwest
WA Rep. says Trump’s tax bill will be ‘incredibly damaging’
$6M settlement reached in Manny Ellis case, Tacoma police custody death in 2020
43 businesses may face displacement as Tacoma light rail station unanimously approved

West Seattle Blog
Builder chosen for Washington State Ferries’ next new boats
FOLLOWUP: Read the proposed ‘Seattle Shield’ B&O tax change
Outdoor burning? Here are the residential fireplace/fire-pit rules
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday info + holiday previews
ROAD WORK ALERT: Next round of investigation for Fauntleroy ferry-dock intersection project

Wednesday, July 2

Immigration crackdown ripples through economy
President Trump’s immigration crackdown is hitting key pockets of the economy, disrupting workplaces and communities around the country. Why it matters: The sharp fall in immigration this year threatens to slow down economic growth, particularly in the sectors and cities that relied on newcomers to the U.S. in recent years. What they’re saying: With the push against immigration, “the economy will find itself slightly diminished in the long run and inflation will run a touch higher,” economist Bernard Yaros writes in a report for Oxford Economics. Continue reading at Axios. (Axios Visuals)

WSF’s ‘triangle route’ at 3-boat service for first time in nearly 4 years
The ferry route between Southworth, Vashon Island, and Fauntleroy in West Seattle was returned to full three-boat service on June 30, for the first time since October 2021. According to Washington State Ferries, the change is part of the state’s adjustment to increase ferry service on three routes between mid-June and early July. That includes the return of a two-boat schedule for the Bremerton-Seattle route, which happened June 15, and will be followed by a second boat on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route, every Friday through Monday, starting July 4 and going through October 13. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (Kitsap Sun)

Microsoft to lay off 9,000 employees
This is the second round of layoffs to hit the company this year. In May, 6,000 employees were let go, targeting product and engineering jobs, Bloomberg reported. Another 300 jobs were cut in June. A spokesperson, in an email to CNBC said, “We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company and teams for success in a dynamic marketplace.” According to the Washington State Employment Security Department, 2,290 local employees based in Redmond, Washington, will be let go between mid-July and early August. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (Adobe)

Print

Axios
Immigration crackdown ripples through economy
How Pike Place Market’s car limits are working so far
Local officials grow wary of helping ICE detain immigrants

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham ICE arrest highlights difficulties of tracking those who are detained

The Daily News
Pending federal grants withheld for schools in Longview, beyond

Everett Herald
Snohomish County transit agencies seeking comments on planning docs
Federal cuts to LGBTQ+ youth hotline to hit Everett center
County receives $10 million grant for floodplain management
Snohomish County releases draft of wildfire protection plan

Kitsap Sun
WSF’s ‘triangle route’ at 3-boat service for first time in nearly 4 years
Kitsap County changes impact fees for new homes, making smaller builds cheaper
Bainbridge grad among Harvard student-athletes affected by cuts to federal grants
Washington program looking at regulation for harmful chemicals in turf, other products
Social Security checks are going out in July 2025. What Washington recipients should know

News Tribune
Olympia’s ongoing study of reparations options will aid statewide efforts
A part of Tacoma’s ‘soul’ likely to be razed to make way for light-rail station
Drug-related deaths are surging in Pierce County, with 69% involving fentanyl
Family of Manuel Ellis reaches settlement with Tacoma in police-custody death
Up to 28 homes for low-income families planned in Pierce County. Here’s where

Northwest Asian Weekly
Time running out for WA state man facing deportation

Olympian
New laws are taking effect in WA this week. Here’s what to know (Hasegawa, Lekanoff)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Microsoft to lay off 9,000 employees, deepening cuts
Many distressed office loans remain unresolved
Lucrative tax credit’s days appear to be numbered

Seattle Medium
PSE Foundation Awards $250K To Boost Food Security Statewide
State Economist: Washington Job Market ‘Recalibrating’ After Pandemic Boom
Making A Difference Foundation Empowers Youth With Farming And Business Skills

South Whidbey Record
Virtual workshop to address wildfire preparedness on the island

Spokesman Review
Senate removes state AI regulation ban opposed by Sen. Maria Cantwell
Spokane outlaws homeless camping citywide but prioritizes outreach over citations
Attorney general: ‘Everyone is Welcome Here’ sign cannot be displayed in Idaho schools
A Cuban dad did time for a marijuana bust 40 years ago. He died in ICE custody last week
Resignation of Spokane Councilwoman Lili Navarrete takes effect; replacement to be appointed July 28
Central Valley School District prepares for new school year with sweeping cell phone prohibition in schools

Tri-City Herald
WA Supreme Court OKs ‘secretive’ process for state worker union negotiations
WA attorney general to address Trump’s ‘illegal power grabs’ at Tri-Cities town hall

Washington Post
Trump administration withholds $7 billion from schools
House leaders scramble to secure GOP votes to pass Trump’s bill ahead of July 4
Amid increase in ICE arrests, many wonder what’s legal and what isn’t in agents’ tactics

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
City of Tacoma agrees to settle lawsuit with family of Manuel Ellis
Ferguson selects Florida firm to build three new hybrid-electric ferries
Microsoft announces another mass layoff, thousands of workers affected
Seattle council proposes sales tax increase to expand addiction treatment
Former Skagit Transit CFO alleges CEO forged signature to spend $500,000
Emergency doctors sound alarm over Medicaid threats as Trump’s sweeping policy bill

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Microsoft to lay off 9,000 employees
These laws go into effect July 1 in WA
Study: WA families spend third-highest percentage of income on child care
Residents file lawsuits claiming Clark County mishandled private information in data breach
Florida company wins WA ferry contract over local bidder, first out-of-state ferry in 50 years (Liias)

KUOW Public Radio
Latest Microsoft layoffs could hit 9,000 employees
Washington, other states sue Trump administration for sharing health data with Homeland Security

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane unveils 2026 inclement weather shelter plan
Seattle anesthesiologist resident arrested for using controlled substances intended for children while on the job

NW Public Radio
Goldendale microgrid project loses FEMA grant funding

Web

Cascadia Daily News
National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to get rid of specific queer youth help

MyNorthwest
Microsoft confirms largest layoffs since 2023
AG Nick Brown sues over ICE using health care data
Florida company wins WA ferry contract over local bidder (Liias)
Study: WA families spend third-highest percentage of income on child care

The Urbanist
SDOT Delays Final Bike Connection to Seattle Waterfront
Op-Ed: Seattle Leaders, Keep Your Promise — Keep Cops Out of Schools

Tuesday, July 1

High-speed rail plans inch forward in the Pacific Northwest
Plans for a high-speed rail line that connects Seattle to Portland and Vancouver, B.C., are slowly moving forward — although it will likely be decades before anyone can board one of the trains. Why it matters: The Cascadia region is expected to gain at least 3 million residents by 2050. A bullet train could help move those people quickly, cutting car and plane trips that generate emissions and fuel climate change. Continue reading at Axios. (Brendan Lynch)

ICE acting like a ‘terrorist force,’ Rep. Jayapal says in Spokane visit
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, D-Seattle, labeled U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a “terrorist force” ahead of a Monday night town hall in Spokane. The top Democrat on the House of Representatives immigration subcommittee, Jayapal spent Monday meeting with local immigrants and business owners impacted by ICE raids. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Washington AG pledges ‘fight’ to preserve birthright citizenship as SCOTUS limits nationwide injunctions
Democratic attorneys general from five states including Washington said Friday they were disappointed but undeterred by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the Trump administration in a case surrounding birthright citizenship. The high court’s 6-3 decision restricts the powers of federal judges to freeze President Donald Trump’s executive orders nationwide, including the one eliminating birthright citizenship for children of undocumented parents and those on temporary visas. Continue reading at KUOW. (Amy Radil)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Elma School District to destroy all special education records for students born in 1996

Axios
High-speed rail plans inch forward in the Pacific Northwest (Liias)
“Big, beautiful bill” pushes millions of people away from social safety net
What to know about the DOJ revoking citizenship of naturalized Americans

The Daily News
Longview-based foster care nonprofit to close
Setting ‘The Table’: Food truck hub planned for Longview

Everett Herald
Snohomish County releases draft of wildfire protection plan
Lynnwood light rail leads to new trees in Mountlake Terrace
Editorial: EGOP should heed all-caps message on tax policy bill
Comment: Federal agencies notch a win from Supreme Court
Comment: GOP’s Big Beautiful Bill extreme on immigration, too

Kitsap Sun
Habitat’s first ‘net-zero’ home aims to set families up for stability, sustainability
Opinion: Kitsap should resolve to stand up against hate and political repression

New York Times
California Rolls Back Its Landmark Environmental Law
Republican Bill Puts Nation on New, More Perilous Fiscal Path

Puget Sound Business Journal
Gen Z turns to chatbots for workplace advice
Opportunity Zones 2.0 is taking shape — but there’s a red flag

Seattle Medium
Cantwell Questions Cuts To Programs Serving Minority And Women-Owned Businesses
Seattle Mourns The Passing Of Dr. Charles Mitchell, Champion Of Education And Equity
Washington State Patrol Implements Innovative Cellphone Data Tool To Combat Speeding
Lenny Wilkens Celebrated with Statue Unveiling At Climate Pledge Arena, Honoring His Legendary Legacy

Seattle Times
ICE acting like a ‘terrorist force,’ Rep. Jayapal says in Spokane visit
WA Wildlife commission sued, accused of ‘egregious’ violations of records law
Supreme Court throws out appellate rulings in favor of transgender people in 4 states
Senate passes Trump’s big tax breaks and spending cuts bill as Vance breaks 50-50 tie

Washington Post
Ditching disposable plastic isn’t easy. Here’s what worked for me.
Flint completes replacement of lead pipes, ending a decade-long crisis
Senate passes Trump’s massive tax bill, sending it to House for final passage

WA State Standard
These Washington laws take effect July 1
Op-Ed: Corporate interests shouldn’t take precedence over everyday people in WA’s budget

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Here’s what will get pricier in Washington due to new laws
Washington state’s fuel tax will rise on Tuesday. Here’s why
WA nursery for drug-dependent babies closes after Gov. Ferguson cuts funding

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Gas tax and other fees begin today in WA (Liias)
WA hunting, fishing license fees increasing on July 1 for first time since 2011
WA Attorney General leads lawsuit against Department of Education mental health funding cuts

KUOW Public Radio
Washington’s gas tax will rise on July 1 (Liias)
Feds throw Washington’s $1.2B broadband program into disarray (Ryu)
Narrowed plan for public land sales is dropped from GOP mega-bill
Heading outdoors? WA recreation prices go up as state tries to fix budget deficit
Washington AG pledges ‘fight’ to preserve birthright citizenship as SCOTUS limits nationwide injunctions
Supporters of Pierce County man deported to Africa by Trump administration call on Ferguson for pardon
Woman charged in 2016 Clallam County murder, marking first big break for WA’s Indigenous cold case unit

KXLY (ABC)
Brush fire burning along I-90 in Spokane Valley
Spokane City Council fails to pass ordinance designating public areas as ‘non-public’ to restrict access to immigration officers

NW Public Radio
Chelan County to stop sharing court dates with ICE after courthouse arrest
Washington AG sues Trump over gun modifications—and a pro-gun bishop backs the fight

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Border expansion delays, property buy-outs frustrate Sumas businesses

InvestigateWest
Seattle-area man who allegedly trawled dating sites for victims charged with sex trafficking

MyNorthwest
Washington gas prices among the highest in the nation
WA hunting, fishing license fees increasing on July 1 for first time since 2011
Washington’s population continues to grow, but more slowly than in years past

The Urbanist
Seattle Eases Accessory Dwelling Restrictions Just Ahead of State Deadline

Washington Observer
Gas tax hike boosts fuel prices even higher
Supremes shield state labor negotiations from public records law

Monday, June 30

Seattle Pride’s ‘louder’ theme celebrates trans youth
The theme for the 2025 Seattle Pride Parade was “Louder,” and thousands of participants, along with many more who lined the route, made themselves heard. From motorcycles to banging drums, marching bands to mobile DJs, Seattle showed up for the LGBTQ+ community. “That’s the whole purpose, loud and proud,” said Tacoma’s Jaylen Lee, walking in his first pride parade. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

Feds throw Washington’s $1.2B broadband program into disarray
Washington utilities, tribes, counties and others have spent years planning how to use the state’s $1.2 billion chunk of a federal program to improve high-speed internet access. But earlier this month, the Trump administration threw this process into flux when it overhauled guidance on how states nationwide should select applicants for the more than $42 billion in funding. The move effectively nullifies hundreds of applications already received, and sets Washington and other states on a tight timeline to figure out who should get money. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Mayur Kakade)

WA gas tax goes up again Tuesday
Washington’s gas tax began with a penny per gallon at the dawn of the motor age, funding the state’s newfound need for pavement and its emerging network of roads. This week, the per-gallon tax will rise again for the first time in nearly a decade — and the 21st time overall — after state lawmakers tacked on an additional 6 cents, bringing the total to 55.4 cents per gallon. The reasoning behind the gas tax hasn’t changed since it was instituted in 1921, but the state’s reliance on it to fund billions of dollars in road work has only grown clearer. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Harbor Regional Health earns statewide recognition
WA forests safe for now after public backlash torches federal land sale proposal

Axios
Higher gas tax takes effect July 1 in Washington state (Liias, Fey)
Supreme Court limits lower courts’ power to block Trump
Canada demands answers after a citizen dies in ICE custody
Supreme Court requires opt-out for LGBTQ-themed lessons in schools

Bainbridge Island Review
Newly formed ferry caucus to assist in securing federal funding

Bellingham Herald
New WA law boosting gas tax by 6 cents takes effect Tuesday (Liias)
Ruling will lighten load for Whatcom County public defenders. Is it sustainable?

Capital Press
USDA proposes to try mites to control tumbleweeds
Washington teen develops world’s first hydrogen tractor
USDA ordered to re-evaluate grasshopper spray program
NOAA Fisheries weighing ESA protection for Chinook salmon
Supreme Court stops universal injunctions, strengthens Trump’s orders
Washington panel blesses solar, battery project over county’s opposition

Everett Herald
Everett council renews ‘Stay Out of Drug Areas’
WWU expands multilingual education program to Everett
Officials: Too many people are diving off the Mukilteo Pier
Annual count shows slight decrease in county homelessness
Everett Community College board votes to close Early Learning Center
Editorial: RFK Jr., CDC panel pose threat to vaccine access
Comment: Your 6 cents will make sense to keep county moving
Comment: Bill in Congress can boost kidney donations, save lives

Kitsap Sun
A ‘little slice of heaven’ in Central Kitsap for humans and animals to heal
Federal jobs still dominate as report shows Kitsap job growth during 2024
After Supreme Court ruling, what to know about birthright citizenship and Washington

News Tribune
New WA law boosting gas tax by 6 cents takes effect Tuesday (Liias)
‘Morally wrong.’ WA governor slams proposed Medicaid cuts in Tri-Cities visit
Are these Tacoma-area industries to blame for pollution in Commencement Bay?
Mega warehouse project near Puyallup leads to two new lawsuits against the city
Do you have experience with homelessness? Pierce County wants to hear from you
WA to pay $8M to resolve claims it ignored disabled Pierce County woman’s abuse
WA kids can get free books for another year as OSPI revives Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

New York Times
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Major Campaign Finance Challenge

Peninsula Daily News
Park staff keeping an eye on weather conditions
Discovery Bay beaches closed to shellfish harvesting

Puget Sound Business Journal
Economy divides small-business owners’ outlook
High rents persist as Seattle-area office spaces sit empty
Economic uncertainty creates more restructuring activity
Median earners can’t afford to buy in most major housing markets

Seattle Times
WA gas tax goes up again Tuesday (Liias, Fey)
Jayapal introduces bill to protect homeless people on federal land
Senate GOP tax bill includes largest cut to U.S. safety net in decades
States brace for impact as Trump’s big bill nears completion in Congress
Editorial: Farm to Freezer program steps in to help food banks, planet

Spokesman Review
Two firefighters killed in ‘ambush-style’ shooting east of Coeur d’Alene
Spin Control: Court says public has to wait to see early contract proposals
Government agencies warn of scams circulating in the community, claiming to be them
Washington state superintendent to help fund Imagination Library, work with legislature to restore funds
Questions on birthright citizenship, nationwide relief remain in the Northwest after Supreme Court ruling
Opioid deaths are still rising. Methamphetamine deaths are now rising faster in Spokane, says UW researcher
Feeling pressure from the Trump administration, the Spokane Regional Health District revises its stance on equity
Rep. Hill: Families still waiting on affordable child care solutions
Opinion: Snake River dam opponents said Chinook would be ‘nearly extinct’ this year. They were badly wrong

Tri-City Herald
NW’s only nuclear power plant reconnects to the grid in time for heat wave

Washington Post
Senate considering raft of amendments to Trump’s tax and immigration bill
As ICE ramps up arrests in worksite raids, employers are largely escaping charges
Supreme Court takes up major campaign finance case, examining limits on political party spending
DOGE secured the power to view records that experts say could benefit Musk’s businesses for years

WA State Standard
Feds throw Washington’s $1.2B broadband program into disarray (Ryu)
Washington denied federal request for personal data on food stamp recipients
In northwest Washington, invasive green crabs threaten Padilla Bay’s eelgrass
WA facility caring for drug-exposed newborns at risk of closure after state funding cut
Foes of WA initiative to repeal climate law fined $20K for campaign finance violations

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle Pride’s ‘louder’ theme celebrates trans youth
Washington ferries take big step in return to full service
Millions in drug conviction refunds owed by Washington
Wenatchee farms face worker shortage due to fear of ICE raids
What we know about the ambush, killings of 2 Idaho firefighters
WSDOT paving project ahead of schedule despite driver frustration
Sheriff: Blood sample taken from crime scene belonged to Travis Decker
‘Gold envelopes full of cash’: Licensure embroiled in alleged bribery scheme
Facing insolvency, Bellevue School District seeks limited state oversight of finances
Gov. Ferguson warns Medicaid cuts could devastate Washington’s health care system
After authorizing strike, 30,000 Washington grocery workers to vote on latest contract

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington’s toll expansion is hitting overdrive
Healthcare workers union files suit to stop Valley Medical Center layoffs
Behind the scenes: Troopers crack down on dangerous drivers from above
Washington’s population continues to grow, but more slowly than in years past
Hunting, fishing license fees to increase in Washington for first time since 2011
Lawsuit claims Jewish student targeted with slurs, threats at Seattle high school
Seattle targets illegal graffiti with fines after it pays $6 million in cleanup annually
‘There are aspects of our job we have to do’: ICE Seattle director breaks silence on protests

KNKX Public Radio
Murders are down nationwide. Researchers point to a key reason
Pierce County Auditor asks young voters to update their signatures
Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctions in birthright citizenship order

KXLY (ABC)
More than 500 injuries reported at Hoopfest Saturday afternoon
June ending as one of the driest on record in eastern Washington
Fallen Coeur d’Alene firefighters brought to Spokane in procession down Interstate 90
Washington Senator Maria Cantwell supports removal of public land sales proposal from GOP budget bill

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Children can get vaccinated for free at two clinics this month
Whatcom County’s first full-time archaeologist protects cultural resources, cuts costs
Opinion: Financial literacy is more important now than ever

Cascade PBS
The Newsfeed: Seattle’s ‘No Kings’ rally draws historic crowds
WA lawsuit says Trump order disrupts clean energy, conservation

MyNorthwest
Proposal to sell public land, including 5M acres in WA, removed from ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

The Urbanist
Op-Ed: Katie Wilson is the Zohran Mamdani of Seattle

Washington Observer
Hard times in the legal weed business

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: Where the Admiral Way Bridge project stands, after sign change
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Monday notes, last day of June

Thursday, June 26

WA lawmakers condemn political violence as attack on democratic process
A bipartisan panel of Washington state lawmakers devoted to increasing civility in politics is formally denouncing the murder of a Minnesota state lawmaker and attempted assassination of Donald Trump as violent attempts to “undermine our democratic process.”The Washington state panel is made up of a dozen members, three from each of the Democratic and Republican caucuses in the House and Senate. It is chaired by Democratic Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, who has championed bringing greater civility to politics. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Steven Garcia)

New forecast shows uptick in Washington transportation revenue as gas tax set to increase
Washington will have $6.8 billion more to spend on roads and other transportation projects over the next four years, thanks to a gas tax increase and other fees. The new projection, released Wednesday by the Washington State Transportation Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, takes into account $6.5 billion in additional funding resulting from new legislation, account transfers and revenues from the Climate Commitment Act, which are now allocated to transportation purposes. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Dan Pelle)

Supreme Court says states can block Medicaid money for health care at Planned Parenthood
States can block the country’s biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid money for health services such as contraception and cancer screenings without facing lawsuits from patients, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The 6-3 opinion by Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by the rest of the court’s conservatives was not directly about abortion, but it comes as Republicans back a wider push across the country to defund the organization. It closes off Planned Parenthood’s primary court path to keeping Medicaid funding in place: patient lawsuits. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Darron Cummings)