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Wednesday, April 5

Gov. Inslee buys 3-year supply of abortion pills in case of ban
Washington state has purchased 30,000 doses of the abortion medication known as mifepristone, as state officials brace themselves for a Texas court ruling that could further limit abortion nationwide, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday. In a news conference, where he was joined by Attorney General Bob Ferguson and several Democratic state lawmakers, Inslee described the measure as a way to stop anti-abortion advocates from around the nation from taking away rights in Washington. “We have to recognize that there are forces abroad in legislatures, in courts across the United States, to try to take this right away from the women of the state of Washington,” Inslee said. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Amanda Snyder)

Jayapal reintroduces Transgender Bill of Rights
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Seattle) is once again trying to codify federal protections for transgender and gender non-conforming people across the country. This is her second effort to get a Transgender Bill of Rights adopted. Even though Jayapal has the support of dozens of lawmakers, her bill still faces an uncertain path forward in the current Congress. “But I think that this is an important moment to put out there the vision of what equality and equity and justice looks like for our transgender community, especially given the nasty attacks, the cruel attacks from too many” Jayapal told KUOW’s Paige Browning. “So, the road is… make sure we can get it to a point when, in two years when Democrats take back the [House], we can pass it.” Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Comment: Meddling by prescription ‘middlemen’ needs to end
Lawmakers are considering reforms that would stop benefit managers from swapping prescription drugs.Today, just three PBMs control more than three fourths of the market: CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx. These companies consistently rank among the most profitable in the country, which comes as no surprise after seeing the influence they have on the market. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBM’s) use their inflated market share to exploit our health care system, distort competition, drive up patient costs and reduce therapeutic choices for patients and their doctors. Washington state legislators are also prioritizing PBM accountability in Olympia. A cross-section of bipartisan legislators including Sens. Ann Rivers, Annette Cleveland, Patty Kuderer, and Manka Dhingra have introduced initiatives to address prior authorization restrictions for already-vulnerable populations, working to reduce the burden of cost-sharing requirements for patients at the pharmacy counter. Continue reading at Everett Herald.

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Associated Press
Caregivers: Returning orca Lolita to Northwest is risky

Bellingham Herald
WA driver’s licenses are the priciest in the US. Here’s what to know about the increase

Capital Press
Democrats sponsor bill to give Washington farmers cap-and-trade refunds (Mullet, Nguyen)
Ag advocates worry their message has been lost during Snake River dam mediation

Columbian
Fortune of Port of Vancouver, others depend on Columbia River’s flow
Cowlitz Indian Tribe reclaims traditional food in partnership with Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Everett Herald
At USDA undersecretary stop in Snohomish, farmers bemoan red tape
With access to abortion pill threatened, state buys 30K doses (Kloba, Fosse)
Comment: It’s not Starbucks, but Schultz who doesn’t get it
Comment: Meddling by prescription ‘middlemen’ needs to end (Cleveland, Kuderer, Dhingra)

News Tribune
Tacoma renters are fed up — for good reason. This initiative wants to change that

Olympian
WA state purchases 3-year supply of abortion drug ahead of federal court ruling (Keiser, Bateman)
Opinion: Don’t be fooled, farmland isn’t safe from the WA state capital gains tax

Puget Sound Business Journal
This overlooked SBA program invests billions per year
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health makes job cuts

Seattle Medium
Strickland Introduced Bill To Address Gun Violence
Nobles Championed Three Education Bills That Are Awaiting Signatures From Gov. Inslee (Nobles)
Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training Program Still Creating Opportunities For Young People

Seattle Times
WA doesn’t fully fund special education. That could change soon (Pollet)
Rep. Slatter: Fully fund WA community colleges to solve worker shortages (Chopp)
Editorial: Lift statute of limitations in child sex abuse civil cases in WA

Sol De Yakima
Juez federal permite reanudar vuelos chárter de deportación del ICE en Boeing Field

Spokesman Review
Washington purchases three-year supply of abortion medication ahead of Texas ruling (Riccelli)
Idaho Gov. Brad Little signs bill banning gender-affirming care for minors
Bill to create state prosecutor’s office to review police use of force fails to move forward (Stonier, Billig, Dhingra)

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
New Walla Walla garden to fuel Meals on Wheels for local seniors
Starbucks workers on Plaza Way want to unionize

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Gov. Inslee announces Washington’s purchase of 3-year supply of abortion drug

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
New Washington state law requires speed cameras in highway work zones (Liias)

KNKX Public Radio
Thousands of Washington homes don’t have high-speed internet, $900M in federal funds may help

KUOW Public Radio
Relief is on the way for Washington food banks struggling to keep up with demand
Seattle eyes capital gains tax
Shellfish growers in Northwest’s oyster capital want ‘blitz’ against invasive green crabs
Washington state stockpiles thousands of abortion pills
Jayapal reintroduces Transgender Bill of Rights

KXLY (ABC)
WA House approves budget to complete North Spokane Corridor on time

Q13 TV (FOX)
DNR offers safety plan as wildfire risks increase for western Washington

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Lake Whatcom water quality shows signs of recovery, concerns remain
Opinion: Let’s lend a hand to keep food on local tables

Crosscut
Gov. Inslee buys 3-year supply of abortion pills in case of ban (Bateman, Keiser)
WA’s Suquamish citizens are being priced off their own reservation

South Seattle Emerald
Opinion: Early Childhood Special Education: Barriers and Solutions for Equitable Access (Senn)

Tuesday, April 4

Rep. Fey: Here’s what WA House’s $13 billion transportation budget means for ferries, SR-167
On Monday, the Washington state House of Representatives passed a new transportation budget for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, providing a spending authority of $13.6 billion. This budget reflects several legislative priorities and a strong bipartisan effort. The budget funds will be used to implement last year’s historic and transformative Move Ahead Washington package (almost $17 billion) over a 16-year period, as well as projects from the 2015 Connecting Washington package (a $16 billion investment), also over a 16-year period. This budget honors our commitment to the people of Washington — a commitment to keeping key projects funded and on schedule, improving our ferry system, restoring fish passages, and a commitment to our promise to combat climate change. Let’s look at key projects. Continue reading at News Tribune. (Legislative Support Services)

WA AG Ferguson joins antitrust suit against Google over online ad business
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Monday he is joining a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit against Google over what he describes as the company’s monopolization of online advertising. “An open marketplace encourages competition and creativity,” Ferguson said in a statement. “When Google muscles in and dominates the market, everyone loses — except Google.” The lawsuit centers around online ads, which website publishers use to earn money. According to the lawsuit, Google now controls critical parts of the online ad market, including the technology that many online publishers use to offer ad space, the “leading tools” advertisers use to buy ad space, and the biggest ad exchange matching publishers with advertisers, the AG’s office said. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)

A TikTok ban, a bridge toll and a sort of end to masking
It’s Day 85. Here’s what’s happening in the 2023 session of the Washington Legislature: Starting today, the state Department of Health encourages, but no longer requires wearing of face coverings inside health care, long-term care and adult correctional facilities. Next, nearly half the states have banned TikTok from state agency devices. Not Washington. At least not yet. Finally, if a new bridge is ever built on I-5 across the Columbia River into Oregon, you’ll pay a toll to cross it. Senate Bill 5765, introduced late last week, names the bridge a “toll eligible facility” and lays out dos and don’ts of how it would work. Tuesday is cut-off for action on legislation with a price tag. The Senate Ways and Means Committee and House Appropriation Committee are looking to vote on roughly 150 bills combined by the deadline. I won’t be surprised if there are votes this week on bills imposing new rules for buying guns, banning the sale of assault weapons and protecting those seeking and providing abortions as those are caucus priorities which could absorb a few hours. Continue reading at Everett Herald.

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Associated Press
Bringing Lolita home: How to release a long-captive orca?

Axios
Washington state to burn wildlands to try to contain future fires

Capital Press
Washington Senate eyes cap-and-trade for $83 million forest plan (Van De Wege, Rolfes)

Columbian
Clark County Sheriff’s Office starts 30-day bodycam test
Can Clark County be ‘Built for Zero’ when it comes to the homeless?
Editorial: Action against assault weapons moral, logical

Everett Herald
Compass Health closing downtown Everett triage center for up to 3 years
A TikTok ban, a bridge toll and a sort of end to masking
Comment: Community mental health services are in acute need

News Tribune
How will Pierce County handle major flooding in the decade to come? Here’s the plan
Rep. Fey: Here’s what WA House’s $13 billion transportation budget means for ferries, SR-167
Opinion: WA’s roadways are deadlier than ever. It’s time to crack down on repeat DUI offenders

Peninsula Daily News
Five road projects are slated for federal funds

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA may not collect on some delinquent Covid-EIDL loans
Google to eliminate popular work perks to roll back spending

Seattle Times
WA AG Ferguson joins antitrust suit against Google over online ad business
More than a third of community college students have vanished

Spokesman Review
What is an ‘assault weapon’? Lawmakers, retailers disagree on the definition as Washington Legislature considers ban (Peterson)

Tri-City Herald
2 new Eastern WA factories aim to ‘revolutionize’ the electric vehicle industry

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Crisis centers would alleviate overcrowding, shorten wait for those in a mental health crisis

KNKX Public Radio
Day care waitlists are so long, moms are quitting their jobs or choosing to stop having kids

KUOW Public Radio
Washington’s final mask mandate ends Monday. But guidance has been fuzzy

KXLY (ABC)
U.S. House Republicans halt plans to breach WA’s Snake River dams

NW Public Radio
Washington community and technical colleges to stage walkout April 11 (Liias)
Conservation group hopes to protect habitats, skiing and affordable housing in WA’s Methow Valley

Q13 TV (FOX)
University of Washington students creating early-detection endometriosis test

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: Washington needs an emergency medical reserve corps (Timmons)

Crosscut
$50M isn’t enough to save salmon hatcheries on the Columbia River

MyNorthwest
State expands wildfire prevention program from eastern to western WA
Additional distracted driving emphasis patrols planned this April

Monday, April 3

What you need to know about WA’s proposed $70B budget
For the past two weeks, state lawmakers have been rolling out tentative budget plans. It’s still early — and lawmakers are already making tweaks, but a clearer picture of state spending is beginning to emerge along with the cherry blossoms. Lawmakers are teeing up to spend somewhere in the ballpark of $70 billion over the next two years. With that kind of money, you could renovate Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena about 60 times — not accounting for inflation. Those billions will go to public services from highways to schools, and lawmakers plan to make big investments in housing and mental health care. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Rep. Lekanoff: Lawmakers must provide equity to charter school kids
Washington families have choices when it comes to schooling. Families can choose from traditional public schools, charter public schools, tribal compact schools, public magnet schools, online academies and more. While these choices are available, they are not equitable. While traditional public schools work for most, the reality is they don’t work for everyone. We should embrace opportunities to support all of Washington’s students. The alternative is hypocrisy highlighted by what we say about equity, and what we do. We have spent considerable time talking about equity and now is the chance to put our money where our mouth is. Continue reading at Everett Herald.

Under proposed bill, Washington state would pick up some fees for childcare centers
The state’s budget could include relief for childcare providers and their potential employees. Senate Bill 5316 would have the state cover costs for background checks, including fingerprinting, of applicants at childcare centers. Those cost about $57, said the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Claire Wilson, (D) Auburn. The bill would also cover annual licensing fees for daycare centers, $125 a year, and the licensing costs for in-home providers, $30 a year. She said the bill would help alleviate the state’s childcare shortage. Wilson said she is “feeling good” the bill will be included in the final budget being negotiated by state legislators this month. Continue reading at KING5.

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Bellingham Herald
Hundreds gather in Olympia for national ‘Trans Day of Visibility’

Capital Press
Anti-dam activists flood listening session on lower Snake River dams

Columbian
Report finds affordable rent out of reach for many in Clark County
Clark County 179th interchange project on bumpy path through Legislature (Liias)

The Daily News
Longview Senator’s tow truck safety bill passes Legislature with unanimous support
Cowlitz County housing development up, but more needed to address shortage

Everett Herald
Deaf patients ‘deserve equal access to health care,’ but obstacles abound
A tax hike, a difficult compromise and a faulty Predict A Pen (Lovick, Keiser, Jinkins, Ramos)
Rep. Lekanoff: Lawmakers must provide equity to charter school kids
Comment: Nonprofit offers access to free, low-cost medications
Comment: State must bolster poorly funded public defense system
Editorial: New stadium can make AquaSox star economic player

The Facts Newspaper
Session moves into final month, bills reach governor’s desk

Indian Country Today
Another legal challenge to Indian gaming

News Tribune
Tacoma looks to update its rental housing code and wants input on proposed changes

Olympian
Thurston County sheriff released from hospital after 2-car crash near Yelm on Sunday

Peninsula Daily News
District 24 legislators answer questions (Van De Wege, Tharinger, Chapman)
Gun ban approval sighted; court block said likely (Van De Wege, Tharinger, Chapman, Dhingra)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon tripled spending on labor consultants in 2022 amid union push
These once-rare benefits are soaring in the post-pandemic world
Comcast to spend $280M for internet upgrades in Washington, Oregon
Seattle grows faster, more productive

Seattle Times
What you need to know about WA’s proposed $70B budget (Rolfes, Fitzgibbon)
Southern resident orcas are visiting us less often, new study shows
It’s not just WA: There’s a nationwide push to build homes faster
WA bill to legalize psychedelics stalls, but pilot program still possible (Salomon)
Police nearly beat him to death. Six years later, he’s being prosecuted for it. Again.

Spokesman Review
Hospitals keep losing money, but lawmakers may soon pass a plan to help (Macri, Fitzgibbon)
Spin Control: Debate on Chinese American month asks, ‘What’s in a name?’ (Jinkins)
WA bill would make it easier for cities and counties to raise taxes for arts (Reed)
Getting There: Funding for Liberty Park land bridge included in state budget proposals, but design still likely years away

Vancouver Business Journal
Opinion: Now is the time to batten the hatches

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Under proposed bill, Washington state would pick up some fees for childcare centers (Wilson)
Here are the Washington hospitals still requiring masks after the mandate expires today
Police warn car owners of an increase in thefts after multiple in the Seattle area last weekend (Rolfes)

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Assault weapons ban gets closer to passing in Washington, 9th state to enact if passed

KNKX Public Radio
Housing funds, public safety on negotiating table in final weeks of WA’s legislative session (Rolfes, Jinkins, Simmons, Farivar)

KXLY (ABC)
‘This is a reflection of that evolution’: WA mask order for healthcare, long-term care, correctional facilities ends Monday

Q13 TV (FOX)
King County Sheriff’s Office hosts gun buyback event in Burien

Web

Crosscut
U.S. House Republicans halt plans to breach WA’s Snake River dams

MyNorthwest
Seattle mayor approves $970M levy to fund affordable housing projects

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: Fauntleroy Creek culvert troubleshooting not done yet

Friday, March 31

Traffic safety, ferries, State Patrol targeted in proposed transportation budgets
Lawmakers for House and Senate Transportation committees each released budget proposals this week for the 2023-25 biennium, with a focus on similar priorities such as traffic safety and keeping current transportation projects on track for completion. Senate lawmakers released their $12.9 billion proposal Wednesday, after the release of the $13.6 billion House transportation budget proposal on Monday. House Transportation Chair Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, told reporters Monday that lawmakers have been “blessed with opportunities and challenges” surrounding transportation funding for the next two years. “This year, the House Democrats and House Republicans worked side-by-side on this budget and I believe there will be bipartisan support,” Fey said in a statement. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Fred Felleman)

Editorial: Meet the moment and ban sale of assault weapons in WA
Washington is poised to make history if it passes major restrictions on the sale of semi-automatic weapons. On Tuesday, the Senate Law and Justice Committee narrowly passed House Bill 1240, which has already cleared the House. The next step is a full Senate floor vote in April, at which time it would be sent for the governor’s signature. If the Legislature acts, Washington would become the 10th state in the nation to broadly restrict assault weapons. The year 2016 was when state Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Mukilteo, first introduced this legislation. He was spurred to act after a 19-year-old in his district murdered three teenagers and wounded another at a house party with an AR-15 purchased several days before. In every legislative session since, Peterson has raised the bill again. He says it’s kids who have kept the fire for it burning — kids dying in one massacre after another. Kids marching after each. “Their fear is what drives me,” he said. “We want to stop the next Uvalde, the next Parkland.”. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Wade Payne)

WA bill would bring trauma-informed practices to sexual assault cases
As a sexual assault survivor, Leah Griffin has spent years working to reform the public policies that she says repeatedly undercut her attempts to seek justice and heal. After the 2014 assault, she got turned away from a hospital, waited hours to speak with police and was threatened by prosecutors. “What I experienced at that time was a cascading system of failures,” she said. Griffin knew something had to change. After reaching out to numerous lawmakers and other officials, Griffin joined recent efforts in the Washington Legislature to codify survivors’ rights, strengthen hospital protocols and expand trauma-informed training for police. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Matt M. McKnight)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Nonprofit working on big housing goal

Capital Press
Budget panel backs study, but not cap-and-trade refunds to farmers (Fitzgibbon)

Columbian
Clark County agencies to get $2.2 million to boost housing efforts
Lexington dam project heads into final phase to improve flood protection

The Daily News
Kelso revisits affordable housing complex plan that could preserve Sons of Norway building

Everett Herald
Cathlamet ferry to depart from Edmonds after repairs from July crash
Snohomish’s rogue barber keeps clipping despite no license, $90K in fines
Snohomish County will get another District Court judge (Lovick)

News Tribune
Five kids have been killed in Tacoma in 2023. How do we protect youth from violence?
Opinion: As an Indigenous rights lawyer, I need police body cam footage. Don’t limit my access
Opinion: Crisis care centers are important. But WA needs more to fill behavioral health gaps

Northwest Asian Weekly
Encampment sweep on King and Jackson — Government and community approaches clash

Olympian
Group tasked with recommending WA airport site met. Here’s what was, and wasn’t, decided
Do you want a job murdering ‘murder hornets’? Washington state is hiring
Traffic safety, ferries, State Patrol targeted in proposed transportation budgets (Fey, Liias, Shewmake)
House passes Senate bill banning some WA employers from discriminating against cannabis users (Keiser, Kloba)

Peninsula Daily News
Governor signs Kimberly Bender’s Law (Lekanoff, Van De Wege)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Redmond mayor courts aerospace sector with new moniker
Feds issue sweeping rule on small business loan data collection
Seattle’s Port Commission president wants to shore up relationships

Seattle Medium
$69.2 Billion Budget Proposal From Washington State House

Seattle Times
Protect Salish Sea with shared strategy between B.C. and WA
Cap on insulin cost now permanent in WA (Keiser)
WA lawmakers may pass bill to boost dense development near transit (Reed)
Editorial: Meet the moment and ban sale of assault weapons in WA (Peterson)

Spokesman Review
Region’s health care facilities can drop mask requirement, but will they?

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
District 16 lawmakers hear about seniors’ affordable housing challenges at town hall

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County ambulance provider AMR cites financial problems for ceasing Grant County operations

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Sexually abusive jail guards, police to face harsher penalties under new Washington law

Q13 TV (FOX)
WSF internal investigation claims captain was at fault for 2022 ferry crash

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Sen. Lovelett: Allow DNR to tap into new carbon exchange

Crosscut
WA bill would bring trauma-informed practices to sexual assault cases (Orwall)

MyNorthwest
Paine Field to become research hub in search for more sustainable jet fuel

SeaTac Blog
SeaTac student serves as page with Washington State Senate (Keiser)

Thursday, March 30

House committee members amend Senate’s version of drug possession bill. Here’s what’s different
A bill to address the Washington state Supreme Court’s Blake decision on drug possession was amended Tuesday in the House Community Safety, Justice and Reentry Committee, tweaking the version of the legislation that previously cleared the Senate. While the Senate version of the bill would have treated drug possession as a gross misdemeanor, the amended version in the House committee would treat drug possession as a simple misdemeanor. Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, chair of the House Community Safety, Justice and Reentry Committee, told the committee Tuesday that it was difficult for him to vote to continue using criminal penalties for a public health problem. Punitive approaches don’t deter drug use, he said. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Tacoma Police Department)

With WA capital gains case settled, what’s next for tax reform?
Democratic lawmakers are celebrating last week’s state Supreme Court ruling, but it’s unclear where tax reform will go from here. One bill to increase the real estate excise tax, known as the home sellers tax, remains on the table to fund affordable housing, according to House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle. That is seen as an alternative to Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposed $4 billion housing-construction bond plan, which would need approval by state voters. Although legislators acknowledge a systemic statewide shortage in housing that grows worse by the year, it remains to be seen whether they have the appetite to approve either proposal. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jovelle Tamayo)

A mostly united Senate sends $71B spending plan to the House
State senators overwhelmingly approved a proposed two-year operating budget Wednesday, pushing more dollars into public schools, behavioral health services, early learning and child care, while also addressing impacts of climate change. Senate Bill 5187 passed on a 40-9 vote. Once the House adopts its budget, now set for Monday, negotiations will begin to reconcile differences in the spending plans. “This is a Democratic budget but it represents common ground and common purpose,” said Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and chief budget writer. Continue reading at Everett Herald.