Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Wednesday, August 23

Washington state to cut down greenhouse gas emissions with electric ferry conversions
The Washington state ferry system is taking concrete steps to reduce carbon emissions with an announcement that three ferry boats will be converted to electric. Transportation in the United States contributes the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions across a single sector. Between trucks, planes, boats and other modes of getting from place to place, transportation generated 28% of emissions in 2021, the most recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Steve Bloom)

‘Ready, Set, Go’ is the new ‘1, 2, 3’ for emergency evacuations
Four Western Washington counties, including Snohomish, are pushing a new evacuation messaging campaign to the public. The goal, county officials said, is to simplify phrasing to save lives. Called “Ready, Set, Go,” it provides three levels of action for the public. The messaging is new, while the levels are not. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Snohomish County Emergency Management)

Guns killed a record number of U.S. children in 2021, study finds
Guns killed a record number of children in the United States in 2021, exceeding the peak registered in the first year of the pandemic, according to a new analysis of CDC data.The report said 4,752 children died from a firearm injury in 2021 — an increase of almost 42 percent from 2018. The study, published in the journal American Academy of Pediatrics, found nearly half of those who died in 2021 were Black and about 85 percent were males. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images)

Print

Associated Press
Europe’s sweeping rules for tech like Amazon, Microsoft are about to kick in
Washington among states that declined federal funds to find and replace dangerous lead pipes

Aberdeen Daily World
Location is biggest hurdle as county moves to provide winter homeless shelters

Bellingham Herald
Washington state to cut down greenhouse gas emissions with electric ferry conversions
This small county in WA state just announced a 32-hour work week. Here’s what will happen

Columbian
City Play for Kids in east Vancouver provides fun space for children
Clark County sheriff’s deputies earn bonuses
Vancouver say Heights District will create about 900 affordable housing units

Everett Herald
‘Ready, Set, Go’ is the new ‘1, 2, 3’ for emergency evacuations
Letter: U.S., Canada owe it to world to take lead on climate solutions

High Country News
Washington to adopt rules protecting farmworkers from wildfire smoke

News Tribune
Was Pierce County homeless village ‘cooked’? Questions dogged $62M project from start
It passed but can it last? Hurdles remain for Pierce County homeless village project
How behind-the-scenes politics helped win approval for Pierce County homeless village
In rare move, Pierce County Council overrides executive veto on homeless village zoning
Adopted, then institutionalized: Did undisclosed records set up a local teen to fail?

Olympian
Port’s Gibboney rates a 3 out of 5 in performance review. Here’s what the commission said

Puget Sound Business Journal
Long-awaited Tacoma light rail extension finally has an opening date
WA tech startups compete for cash in Army pitch competition

Seattle Times
Century-old paper mill once famous for wafting ‘Aroma of Tacoma’ to close
WA public water systems can access part of $1.2B PFAS settlement
Workers for this WA county are getting a 32-hour workweek
Burien moves toward both homeless shelter site and camping ban
Melinda French Gates, MacKenzie Scott to help transform Seattle waterfront
North Cascades Highway to reopen as Sourdough, Blue Lake fires burn
What to know about the new RSV immunizations
Editorial: A WA library at risk puts democracy at risk
Opinion: Ban irresponsible aquaculture in WA waters and beyond
Opinion: Golden retriever or werewolf? The divide on Seattle’s image tops nation

Tri-City Herald
Smoky Tri-Cities skies finally clearing. But shifting winds means it won’t last long
Comment: We’ve seen the harm caused by U.S. immigration policy firsthand. It’s heartbreaking

Washington Post
Why do Republicans disproportionately believe health misinformation?
Democrats and Republicans divided on causes of extreme weather, Post-UMD poll finds
Guns killed a record number of U.S. children in 2021, study finds
She found her calling by speaking bluntly about sex. Her career was no match for the nation’s culture wars.
Justice Dept. brings wave of cases over $836 million in alleged covid fraud

WA State Standard
Washington agency under fire for chopping down a memorial tree next to the Capitol (Liias)
Degrees and other credentials beyond high school slip for WA students, estimates show

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
First certified sustainable Washington wine grapes bottled by select vineyards
King County Council member reacts to south Seattle shooting that killed sister of staff member
Family of man killed by Olympia police urges change

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Man arrested after exchanging gunfire with Tacoma officer during pursuit
Western Washington counties stress having a wildfire evacuation plan amid rising concerns

KUOW Public Radio
This Washington county is moving to a 32-hour work week
Following Tokitae’s sudden death, Northwest tribes call for repatriation of orca’s remains
Believe it or not, rents are down in Washington state

KXLY (ABC)
Pillar in Medical Lake community lost in Gray Fire
Gray Fire evacuations downgraded again, two suspected looters arrested
Gray Fire burning in Medical Lake now 48% contained
More resources for victims of Gray Fire in Medical Lake
‘We provide a safety net’: Red Cross offers medical help for evacuees
‘We are a family’: Medical Lake School District supporting families impacted by Gray Fire
Fire, public safety officials to hold meeting with Medical Lake community on Wednesday
Maple Street Bridge construction project to begin August 27

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Can Skagit County farmlands and ag businesses coexist?
Whatcom school boards not immune to culture wars

Crosscut
Washington’s ‘smoke season’ is back. Here’s how to stay safe.
Does the U.S. Supreme Court ruling open a door to discrimination?

MyNorthwest
Coast Guard working to neutralize ammonia leak on ship in Tacoma
Service to the San Juan Islands resumes after weekend ferry accident
Tacoma’s T Line Hilltop extension sets mid-September opening
North Cascades Highway reopens, Sourdough fire to burn ‘many more weeks’

Tuesday, August 22

‘Be ready to leave’: Estimated 5,000 people displaced from Gray Fire in Spokane County
Upwards of 5,000 residents have been displaced due to the devastating fire burning southwest of Spokane. The Gray fire began around noon on Friday, prompting evacuations in the communities of Medical Lake and Four Lakes. The areas, less than 20 miles southwest of Spokane, have a combined population of more than 5,000. Continue reading at KOMO News. (Kristina Marie)

Washington plans to end hotel stays for foster kids by late next year
Washington will attempt to eliminate short-term stays in hotels and other locations for foster children by December 2024, according to a new plan from the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The plan, released in early August, comes after advocacy groups sued the state over placing foster youth in temporary locations such as hotels, offices and even cars. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

‘The internet is no longer a luxury’: $667M from USDA for rural broadband
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend another $667 million on rural broadband loans and grants, the department said Monday, marking the fourth round of Biden administration funding under a program that the 2021 infrastructure law invigorated. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (John Lamb/Getty Images)

Print

Associated Press
2nd person found dead in eastern Washington wildfires, hundreds of structures burned

Bellingham Herald
Millions in federal funds slated for Bellingham, tribal salmon-recovery projects
Wildfires, weather causing poor air quality in WA. Which counties have the worst AQI?

Capital Press
Wolfpack crosses line for WDFW to consider lethal control
Remnant rains from hurricane provide some wildlife relief
USDA sounds alarm over EPA’s pesticide plan

Columbian
Vancouver Farmers Market plans for shift to year-round
Residential tower proposed for Block 1 of Waterfront Vancouver
WSU Vancouver sees a packed campus on first day of classes
Wind flushes wildfire haze from Southwest Washington

The Daily News
For nearly a decade, WA state museums couldn’t accept firearms. A state senator and Cowlitz County museum changed that.
Exploitation, retaliation, alarming conditions: Inside the crisis at West Coast mushroom farms

Everett Herald
Wildfire smoke floods Snohomish County, Puget Sound region
Community Transit fined for stormwater violations near Mill Creek park
Comment: It wasn’t what we saw in Paris but what world saw in us

News Tribune
Pierce County employee claims there’s a reason for lack of promotions: She’s a woman
It’s finally here: Sound Transit announces beginning of Hilltop trolley extension

Olympian
This Thurston County jail diversion program makes ‘world of difference’ for those in need
Wildfires, weather causing poor air quality in WA. Which counties have the worst AQI?
Conservative group sues Washington state over law meant to protect trans teens

Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles declares Stage II water shortage

Puget Sound Business Journal
PNW ports aim to boost trade in ‘green corridors’ after APEC meetings
In Seattle, working parents struggle to find child care
SBA rolls out changes to multibillion-dollar investment program
Seattle eyes first-in-nation protections for commercial tenants

Seattle Medium
A Closer Look At Maternal Mortality In The US
Man Who Drove Through A Black Lives Matter Protest Agrees To Plea Deal
Editorial: Black Americans Say Trump Indictments Incite Violence From Fear Of A Black Planet

Seattle Times
Attorney for 2020 gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp suspended for ‘frivolous’ vote-fraud claims
Ferry runs aground in San Juan Islands; no estimate for return of service
Many Spokane County evacuations reduced as I-90 reopens, but blaze is far from contained
King County imagines ways to ‘do better’ with 8 blocks of downtown Seattle
Opinion: Our health depends on a new approach to wildfire smoke messaging
Editorial: Readers help families with the soaring cost of school supplies

Skagit Valley Herald
Lake Campbell closed due to toxic algae
Recreational crabbing opens in area north of San Juan Islands

Tri-City Herald
Update: I-90 to Spokane reopens. Tri-Cities still choking on smoke. Relief expected

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Smoke from regional wildfires shrouds Walla Walla Valley – but not for much longer

Washington Post
A french-fry boomtown emerges as a climate winner — as long as it has water
Chance of a government shutdown grows
San Francisco archdiocese files for bankruptcy amid child abuse lawsuits
Trump promised this Wisconsin town a manufacturing boom. It never arrived.
Man who killed shop owner over Pride flag wrote anti-LGBTQ posts, authorities say

WA State Standard
Washington plans to end hotel stays for foster kids by late next year
New text alerts let Washington voters track when their ballots are counted
‘The internet is no longer a luxury’: $667M from USDA for rural broadband

Wenatchee World
PUD rate hike for large-load customers in Chelan County approved; data and crypto mining centers to see higher bills in early 2024

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Witness describes mass shooting in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood
Washington wineries compete in growing $8 billion a year industry
What people should know before getting updated COVID-19 booster shot
This DIY air filter for wildfire smoke is less than $20

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Another mass shooting in Seattle sparks debate on police staffing, public safety
Ferry Chelan runs aground, forces cancellations between San Juan Islands
Former Port Angeles tribal councilmember, police officer sentenced to 34 years for sexual abuse of minors
‘Be ready to leave’: Estimated 5,000 people displaced from Gray Fire in Spokane County

KNKX Public Radio
2nd person found dead in eastern Washington wildfires, hundreds of structures burned
Washington’s Congress members and state government at odds over drug enforcement funds

KUOW Public Radio
Emergency declaration as Spokane battles deadly wildfires
Seattle area scientist leads U.S. efforts toward ‘holistic picture’ of the climate crisis

KXLY (ABC)
City of Ephrata under water boil advisory
Crews remove hazardous trees to fully reopen I-90 near Medical Lake
Finding the Helpers: Spokane community fundraising for Medical Lake, Elk fire victims
Oregon Road Fire burns over 11,000 acres near Elk
Gray Fire burning in Medical Lake now 25% contained
Evacuations downgraded for Gray Fire, majority of Medical Lake residents can return home

NW Public Radio
In Central Washington, Legal clinics helps with your citizenship application
Listeria that killed three in Pierce, Thurston counties linked to milkshakes
Precipitation, wind change slow growth of Spokane County wildfires

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘Marysville deserves better’: SD reveals school budget proposal to address $18M budget deficit
Damaged ferry out of service after running aground near San Juan Islands

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Tourism promotion? There’s a grant for that
Supporters push for Tokitae’s return to Salish Sea after necropsy

Crosscut
Are WA forests worth more as carbon sponges or timber harvests?

MyNorthwest
Washington may have to pay up to $5.7M in legal costs to Value Village
FEMA authorizes federal funds for Eastern WA fire relief
King County Metro union increases salaries, training with new 3-year labor deal

Monday, August 21

Thousands under evacuation orders and some homes burn as wildfires race through Washington state
Fast-moving wildfires raced through Washington state on Friday, burning some homes and prompting evacuation orders for thousands of people in small rural communities. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Zack Zappone)

She hung a Pride flag at her shop. She was killed over it, officials say.
When a clothing store opened in Cedar Glen, Calif., in the summer of 2021, the owner hung a Pride flag at the entrance, her friends recalled. Whenever someone would tear down the flag, owner Laura Carleton would raise another one. But after someone complained about the flag on Friday, the encounter turned deadly. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Matthew Clevenger)

Far-right legal group sues Washington officials over new runaway youth health care law
The lawsuit names Washington’s governor, attorney general and DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter as defendants. The group behind the lawsuit is run by Stephen Miller, who served as a senior advisor to former President Trump. Continue reading at KNKX. (Megan Farmer)

Print

Associated Press
Thousands under evacuation orders and some homes burn as wildfires race through Washington state
1 dead, 185 structures destroyed in eastern Washington wildfire
Federal grants will replace culverts that are harmful to fish
White House science adviser calls for more safeguards against artificial intelligence risks
Starbucks told to pay $2.7 million in lost wages to manager fired after arrest of 2 Black men
Rain from Tropical Storm Hilary lashes California and Mexico, swamping roads and trapping cars
Tropical Storm Hilary swirls northward packing deadly rainfall along Mexico’s Baja coast
Teamsters add their heft to dozens of Amazon delivery drivers picketing around the country

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham to consider banning ‘open carry’ firearms at City Hall, athletic stadiums

Columbian
Going solar can work, even in the cloudy Pacific Northwest – but do the math, one homeowner warns
The play’s the thing: Vancouver works to make its parks more accessible, fund for children of all abilities
After decades without trains running rail development worries Clark County neighbors
Editorial: State’s carbon-pricing program needs tweaking

The Daily News
1-million-square-foot industrial warehouse being built by Longview Wye

Everett Herald
On Camano shore contaminated by feces, locals blame lack of oversight
Providence nurses: Conditions at Everett hospital still dire, or worse

News Tribune
Investigation of former Sumner High coach accused of abuse was inadequate, suit alleges
Editorial: Create a new city in Pierce County? Here are lessons from the last time it happened (Morgan)

Olympian
Thurston County at risk of losing sole public broadcast outlet after cities end contracts
State’s ‘aggressive litigation’ against Value Village may end with WA AG paying up to $5.7M in fees
Tired of the smoke in Western Washington? Forecasters say relief may be coming this week
Lolita the killer whale is remembered by her favorite humans. ‘She’s swimming free’
Op-Ed: The issues underlying the great rift between renters and homeowners

Seattle Medium
3 Killed, 6 Injured In South Seattle Mass Shooting

Seattle Times
As Washington’s ferry fleet ages, why aren’t we building new boats? (Nguyen, Lovelett, Liias)
South King County cities bypass state law to limit homeless shelters (Macri, Peterson)
Amtrak debuts first-ever electric bus on Cascades route
The pandemic changed who moves to the Seattle area. Here’s how
As 6 large WA wildfires burn, here’s when Seattle-area smoke could clear
Interstate 90 closed in Spokane County as Gray fire burns
Human-caused fires on the rise in Washington, Oregon
Editorial: Order to redraw discriminatory WA district map is the right call
Opinion: Historic climate devastation demands historic action
Opinion: Restore valuable WA prison programs
Opinion: Cancer in kids is too high a price for cheap gas

Spokesman Review
Second fatality reported as Medical Lake, Elk wildfires grow overnight, crews work to protect property

Washington Post
The states that produce the most doctors, artists and writers, and more
Many long-covid symptoms linger even after two years, new study shows
She’s a Republican gun owner. Now she’s pleading with GOP lawmakers for change.
She hung a Pride flag at her shop. She was killed over it, officials say.
5 wins for UPS workers that could influence pay and standards for others

WA State Standard
How Washington is treating housing as health care
Lax food storage gives rise to bear problems in North Cascades National Park
Towns could save themselves from wildfire — if they knew about this money

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle air quality worst among major world cities Monday morning; expected to improve
3 die, 3 others hospitalized related to Listeria outbreak at Frugals Tacoma location
Mass shooting kills 3, injures 6 in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood
State of emergency declared by Gov. Inslee for Spokane County wildfires

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
When smoky skies should clear in Western Washington
Inslee visits Spokane County to meet with firefighters

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Western Washington air quality remains among worst in world amid wildfires
Airplane Lake fire escalates to 1,445 acres with 0% containment in Chelan County
TSA finds two loaded firearms in traveler’s backpack at Sea-Tac airport
Thousands under evacuation orders and some homes burn as wildfires race through Washington state
‘Moving in the right direction’: New data points to recovery of downtown Seattle

KNKX Public Radio
Federal grants will replace water tunnels beneath roads that are harmful to fish
Far-right legal group sues Washington officials over new runaway youth health care law
Record heat boosting wildfire risk in Pacific Northwest

KUOW Public Radio
The little Chinook that could: Salmon surviving seal-sized bite mesmerizes fish ladder visitors
Seattle has started to chill out … with more AC
Week in Review: fire, heat, and high-speed trains

KXLY (ABC)
Monday Update: Slow progress on major wildfires burning in Spokane, but there’s hope
Evacuations expanded for Oregon Road Fire near Elk
Gray Fire in Medical Lake reaches over 10,000 acres
Inside the fireline: First-hand look at the Oregon Road fire
Inslee names man ‘Washingtonian of the Day’ for act of bravery in Gray Fire
WA Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, fire officials provide update on Gray Fire
I-90 still closed west of Spokane Monday due to wildfire, drivers detour through Cheney
‘We shouldn’t have to deal with fires that are preventable’ Spokane firefighters contain fire on Thorpe Road

NW Public Radio
With wildfires increasing, the threat to utilities is also on the rise

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Officials break ground on center for unhoused people (Shewmake)
Famed Southern Resident orca Tokitae dies in captivity
Tests confirm B.C. waters contaminated Nooksack River

Crosscut
Seattle city employees say low pay, safety contribute to vacancies
Hot prisons are ‘cruel and unusual punishment,’ advocates allege

MyNorthwest
Opposing politicians clash over potential multi-billion dollar bullet train (Liias)
Smoke should clear from Seattle skies by Tuesday
Ferry runs aground in San Juan Islands, out of service for repairs
Beloved killer whale Tokitae dies at Miami Seaquarium
Tacoma Housing Authority creates minimum wage of $32 per hour
UW develops first underwater 3D positioning app for smart devices
‘It was horrifying’: Anti-Semitic fliers have pair of Kirkland neighborhoods on edge

Friday, August 18

Planning begins for Washington law offering new pathways to high school graduation
Washington students will soon be able to use workforce experience to graduate high school. At a State Board of Education meeting on Thursday, members began hammering out proposed rules to put House Bill 1308 into effect. The law, approved during this year’s legislative session, allows high school students to move toward graduation by completing a “performance-based learning experience,” such as professional skill-building, internships, or community service. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

Opinion: To ease housing crisis, remove barriers to off-site construction
Builders across the country are rethinking how we construct homes to address the housing affordability and availability crisis that has left millions of average Americans struggling to purchase homes. Between 2017-22, national housing costs skyrocketed by 52%. Over the next 20 years, the Washington Department of Commerce estimates a need for 1.1 million new houses in the state. Off-site construction, also known as modular or prefabricated construction, offers a practical solution streamlining the building process and significantly reduces construction time, delivering projects 20% to 50% faster than traditional methods at a cost savings of up to 20%. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (NRB Modular Solutions)

Human rights group raises alarm about use of force, chemical weapons at Tacoma ICE center
In a new report, the University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights has raised concerns about the use of force at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma and how those incidents are being reported. The data provided by ICE has been incomplete, said Angelina Godoy, director of the Center for Human Rights. Even when looking at the partial data, there are a lot of inconsistencies, she added. “If ICE’s own data is so poor and internally inconsistent, then we’re going to have real problems, for example, when we go to implement HB 1470, which mandates that the Department of Health do inspections and improve conditions at the facility,” she said. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Malnutrition, ship strikes likely cause of spate of whale strandings

Axios
COVID hospitalization rates rise statewide
Amtrak’s first electric bus takes off

Capital Press
Pacific Northwest barley harvest ‘better than expected’
Ag stakeholders say they’re shut out of federal Snake River dam mediation
Washington potato industry sees EPA pesticide plan as threat
Introducing WA 64, a new hybrid apple variety from Washington State University

The Daily News
Kelso OKs up to $1.6 million for affordable housing project off Catlin Street

Everett Herald
Providence nurses: Conditions at Everett hospital still dire, or worse
In summer heat, Snohomish County PUD trains for winter storms
Nonprofit blocked by Everett’s ban on downtown medical, social services

High Country News
Meet the beetle threatening Washington’s cherries, hops and other crops

Indian Country Today
Quinault Indian Nation aims to close the digital divide

International Examiner
Paddle to Muckleshoot: A celebratory, ceremonial healing experience

News Tribune
Parts of Lakewood park to be closed indefinitely following fire that forced evacuations

Olympian
What’s the plan for fixing that problematic stretch of I-5 over the Nisqually delta?
Don’t trust Friday’s cool-down. Heat returning this weekend will raise regional fire risk

Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles city policy draws criticism
Murray vows for help in rebuilding lodge
Opinion: CCA: an investment (Chapman, Tharinger)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Aerospace consortium backs proposal for federal tech hub in Spokane
WA labor agency cites Amazon over safety in Spokane fulfillment center
7 secretaries of state urge FTC to reject Kroger, Albertsons deal
Race for industrial space heats up around Paine Field
Survey says 4% pay raises are in store for Washington employees

Seattle Medium
Fentanyl Test Strips No Longer A Debate

Seattle Times
Seattle’s nights are hotter than ever. Climate change means more to come
Big salmon run at Seattle’s Ballard Locks is wowing visitors
Smoke, unhealthy air blanket half of WA as wildfires dot the map
Opinion: To ease housing crisis, remove barriers to off-site construction

Spokesman Review
Aerospace manufacturing center eyed for Airway Heights

WA State Standard
Planning begins for Washington law offering new pathways to high school graduation (Stonier)
Members of Congress press Inslee on plan to shift dollars away from drug task forces
Food aid shipment departs Washington amid threats to program in Congress
Biden administration proposes $106 million for Western salmon and steelhead recovery
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ends Alaska visit with emphasis on ferries

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Neighborhood Health offers free showers and water during record-breaking heat

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘Our community has a responsibility to our young people’: Tacoma’s efforts to curb teen crime

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Is student loan debt a national crisis? Nearly half of borrowers think so
High wildfire risk: Burn bans in effect across western Washington
Homelessness surges by 11% nationwide largely due to cost of living, evictions, report says

KUOW Public Radio
Record heat boosting wildfire risk in Pacific Northwest
Should we nix these Seattle buses? Today So Far
Human rights group raises alarm about use of force, chemical weapons at Tacoma ICE center
Far-right legal group sues Washington officials over new runaway youth health care law

NW Public Radio
Dolly Parton celebrates Imagination Library of Washington

Q13 TV (FOX)
I-405 to close between Renton, Bellevue this weekend
Air Quality Alerts issued through Monday for much of Washington state due to wildfires

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Wildfires rage amid hot, dry temperatures
With fewer riders, WTA seeks new direction
Schools, child care centers latest battleground for RV parking

Crosscut
More art, less trash: Washington reuse centers promote upcycling
WA senators just released more previously redacted records (Saldaña, Randall, Kuderer, Mullet, Morgan, Salomon, Billig)

Thursday, August 17

WA’s carbon-pricing program nears $1 billion in revenue, far outpacing early estimates
Washington’s latest auction of carbon-emission allowances raked in an estimated $62.5 million last week, with revenue from the state’s carbon-pricing program now nearing a billion dollars and far outpacing early estimates. Lawmakers this year budgeted about $2 billion in anticipated revenue from the auctions for projects intended to reduce emissions and improve air quality over the next two years. The Climate Commitment Act aims to reduce the state’s production of carbon dioxide, methane and related gases to 45% below 1990 levels in the next seven years, 70% below 1990 levels by 2040 and decarbonize by 2050. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)

On Washington’s public lands, a rise in fires caused by people
Fires have more than doubled so far this year on state-managed public land in Washington compared to 2022, and people are mostly to blame for the blazes. On Washington state lands, there have been 49 human-caused fires through Aug. 1, compared to 27 during that same time frame last year, according to the Department of Natural Resources. People have caused at least 82% of the fires this year on state land, the department said. Lightning-strike fires are also up. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (David Ryder)

Washington state receiving $58M to replace culverts beneath roads that are harmful to fish
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced nearly $200 million in federal infrastructure grants to upgrade tunnels that carry streams beneath roads but can be deadly to fish that get stuck trying to pass through. Washington state is receiving the largest sum of any state with $58 million. Many of the narrow passages known as culverts, often made from metal pipes or concrete, were built in the 1950s and contribute to population declines of salmon and other fish that live in the ocean but return to freshwater streams to spawn. Continue reading at Associated Press. (Ted S. Warren)