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Monday, February 27

Rep. Liz Berry: There’s a solution in the WA Legislature for our growing trash problem
In Washington, more than 50% of consumer paper and packaging is going to landfills or incineration each year. That adds up to $104 million worth of valuable materials that could be collected and remade into new products. Washington’s recycling rates have been on the decline for the last decade. Our cities and our residents are shouldering increasing costs for recycling, with increases of up to 30% over the past seven years. Sadly, this means many locations have cut back services. That’s why the WRAP Act (House Bill 1131) must make its way to the governor’s desk. The bill will modernize the way our state manages recycling, putting costs of the system onto producers of packaging and paper and significantly increasing our recycling rate. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Washington, Bob Ferguson lead lawsuit against Biden administration demanding increased access to abortion drug
Eastern Washington will be one of the settings for a legal showdown that will determine the future of access to a drug used to cause an abortion within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Attorney General Bob Ferguson, along with officials in 10 other states, filed a complaint Thursday against the Biden administration, demanding that it abandon certain restrictions to prescribe one of two drugs taken to cause an abortion. The filing came just ahead of an anticipated ruling by a federal judge in Texas on a request to ban the drug. The complaint was filed in Eastern Washington because of its location between the West Side, where abortion services are more plentiful, and Idaho, which has a state ban on most abortions that went into place after the Supreme Court ruling. The attorney’s office has asked for a preliminary injunction preventing mifepristone from being taken off the market or anything else that could “cause the drug to become less available.” The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Chief Judge Stanley Bastian, with a hearing scheduled for late March in Yakima. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Taylor Tjomsland)

New Washington legislation aims to stabilize rent as housing crisis worsens
Rent stabilization bills introduced in the Washington Legislature are seeking to curb the affordable housing crisis across the state. House Bill 1124 would require landlords to give six months notice of, “significant rent increases” and would also limit late fees on rent. Finally, the bill would also allow tenants to cancel their lease without penalties. The Washington Chamber of Commerce released an annual report in 2019 that found Washington state has the fifth-highest prevalence of homelessness in the nation. In an earlier report, the Washington Chamber of Commerce also found increasing rents leads to increased homelessness. House Bill 1389 seeks to limit rent increases to 3 to 7% for every 12-month period. Rent increases would also have to be tied to the rate of inflation. The bill provides exemptions for newly constructed buildings, and landlords would be allowed to bank rent increases for the future. House Bill 1388 would provide tenants an avenue for challenging excessive rent increases that would result in displacement. Continue reading at NW Public Radio.

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Associated Press
Bills would let transgender people seal name-change requests (Pedersen)
Bill to legalize duplexes, fourplexes in Washington cities advances (Bateman, Trudeau)
Student loan forgiveness plan to go before Supreme Court: The arguments explained

Axios
Washington considers banning pre-employment pot tests (Keiser)
SNAP cuts lead to warning of “hunger cliff”
Interest in pickleball, Washington’s official state sport, spikes (Lovick)

Bellingham Herald
Friday marked another key cutoff for bills in WA Legislature. Here’s some of what passed (Keiser, Ramel, Bateman, Nobles, Wilson, Street, Morgan)
‘A very long shadow.’ Thousands in Eastern WA still live in homes with racist covenants
Whatcom residents must work this many hours per week to buy a home, report shows

Capital Press
‘Death by fiscal note’: WDFW puts huge price tag on wolf delisting bill

Columbian
Opinion: Auditor’s report improves police transparency

The Daily News
Hunting Clean Energy In The West

Everett Herald
Spendy ways, jaywalking rules, right turns survive and nurse staffing levels (Jinkins, Fitzgibbon, Dhingra, Nguyen, Fey)
‘We are drowning’: At vigil, Providence’s Everett nurses mourn mission (Fosse)
Comment: State’s capital gains tax can do great deal of good
Editorial: Start on road to replace gas tax with per-mile fee
Letter: Bill would provide more oversight of hospital mergers

News Tribune
Deadly injury linked to Puyallup paratransit firm was the state’s fault, lawsuit says
The ferry isn’t running between Steilacoom and Anderson Island right now. Here’s why
Opinion: Black leadership thrives in the South Sound. Just look at the names on this list
Editorial: Local activists saved a no-name park from destruction. That’s a big deal

Olympian
Corrections officer at prison near Gig Harbor dies following COVID-19 complications
Bill to limit low-level traffic stops will soon head for WA House floor vote (Entenman, Street)
Property crime is rising in Olympia, according to 2022 data. The police chief explains why

Peninsula Daily News
Housing proposals advance (Van De Wege)
Port of Port Townsend updated on Short’s Farm, jetty construction (Chapman)
Online open house available for upcoming road projects

Puget Sound Business Journal
The feds are prepping $1.5B in economic development grants

Seattle Times
Black, Native infants in King County die at higher rate than white babies
Clashing with a school? In WA, education ombuds can help
State schools leader says WA isn’t doing enough to fund education
Rep. Liz Berry: There’s a solution in the WA Legislature for our growing trash problem

Skagit Valley Herald
Study finds warming climate may improve North Cascades grizzly habitat

Spokesman Review
Despite recent historic investments into child care, workforce is still struggling in Washington (Wilson, Senn)
Washington, Bob Ferguson lead lawsuit against Biden administration demanding increased access to abortion drug
Opinion: Washington’s rich should pay more taxes

Tri-City Herald
‘Tri-Cities’ was worse than the South.’ Remnants of housing discrimination linger

Washington Post
Biden’s student loan forgiveness program comes before Supreme Court

Wenatchee World
Inslee visits Leavenworth to discuss local housing problem

Yakima Herald-Republic
WA lawmakers consider bill to require and enforce nurse staffing minimums in hospitals
Attorney shortage affecting some charging decisions in Yakima County, prosecuting attorney says
Opinion: Housing grant could help reduce Yakima homelessness

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Here are the transportation, public safety bills that didn’t make it out of committee: In Session (Fey)

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington lawmakers consider bill to increase penalties for drug offenders (Robinson, Dhingra)

KNKX Public Radio
As fentanyl deaths skyrocket, U.S. attorney maintains tougher prosecution isn’t the answer

KPVI
‘Ministry of Truth’: Critics warn Washington extremism bill targets free speech (Ramos)

KUOW Public Radio
Will commercial airport site search in WA get do-over in Olympia? (Fey)
WA unemployment bill to benefit unauthorized workers likely won’t survive
Pay per gallon or pay per mile?: Today So Far
The calm before WA’s budget storm: 2023 legislative session so far
WA lawmakers eye ban on 2-mile-long trains (Entenman)

NW Public Radio
New Washington legislation aims to stabilize rent as housing crisis worsens

Web

Crosscut
Free school lunch for all is off the table, but WA may expand access (Riccelli)

MyNorthwest
ACLU suing King County for unhealthy conditions at county jail
Spike in juvenile crimes has Washington lawmakers taking note (Trudeau)

Friday, February 24

Is this the year WA ends single-family zoning?
Duplexes or fourplexes would be legalized in almost every neighborhood of almost every city in Washington, regardless of local zoning rules, under legislation advancing in the state House of Representatives. The bill aims to increase housing supply in cities throughout the state, which advocates say is a crucial step in easing the housing crisis that has seen home prices and homelessness numbers climb. The push to add more housing density would not mean the end of single-family home production in Washington. The bill (HB 1110) faces a crucial deadline Friday as it must pass out of the House Appropriations committee before the end of the day. The state Department of Commerce estimates Washington needs to build an additional 1 million homes over the next two-plus decades to keep pace with population growth. Advocates argue that allowing more homes that take up less space in cities is a good way to begin. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Amanda Synder)

Opinion: Salmon management must build on the lessons of the past 50 years
One year from now, in February 2024, we will mark the 50th anniversary of federal Judge George Boldt’s ruling in United States vs. Washington, which affirmed tribes’ treaty-reserved rights to harvest salmon outside of our reservations. The court case was brought about by the Fish Wars of the 1960s and ’70s, when state authorities arrested tribal fishermen violently — often with tear gas — for exercising the fishing rights we reserved in the Stevens treaties of the 1850s. Now, despite the co-management relationship we have developed since then to manage salmon harvest with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, some elected state leaders seem determined to set tribal fishermen up to endure that kind of racism again. Tribal governments and Fish and Wildlife have worked too hard to reach our current level of co-management to be undermined by calls to ban gillnets. Tribal and state co-managers have learned a lot of lessons. We all need to work together — not against each other. It’s what we have to do if we hope to have salmon to harvest for another 50 years. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (Deborah L. Preston)

Opinion: Racial disparities persist in WA prisons. Here’s a smart, proactive way to fix it
It’s now the third consecutive legislative session that the Department of Corrections has requested changes to “earned time,” which would allow our state’s incarcerated population to reduce their sentences for positive programming. Since the DOC has historically advocated for keeping convicted people behind bars as long as possible, many are wondering: What’s the catch? As it turns out, like many reforms, this one is being driven by a problem — actually, a few problems. First, the DOC has recognized that prisons suffer from significant racial disparity. Second, compounded by three years of COVID-19, prison conditions are poor and staffing is difficult. And third, the DOC is about to be hit with a massive wave of new admissions. House Bill 1798 proposes changes to earned time that are actually well-thought-out responses meant to meet these emergent needs. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Dean J. Koepfler)

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Associated Press
Court rejects deception charges against Savers Value Village

Bellingham Herald
Opinion: Salmon management must build on the lessons of the past 50 years

Capital Press
Washington riparian buffer bill stalls in the House (Chapman)
Inslee’s new way to greenlight energy projects moving in House (Fitzgibbon, Doglio)

Columbian
Clark County police mostly followed law in probes of four police shootings

The Daily News
How employment of women in the trucking industry has changed over the past 20 years

Everett Herald
Housing Hope opens doors to affordable housing for 60 Marysville families
Guns for gift cards is back for second round in Mukilteo on Saturday
Letter: State legislation seeks to lock away carbon to help climate

Kent Reporter
Kent Police chief supports pursuit, illegal street racing bills

News Tribune
Opinion: Racial disparities persist in WA prisons. Here’s a smart, proactive way to fix it

New York Times
U.S. Eyes Trade Deals With Allies to Ease Clash Over Electric Car Subsidies

Olympian
Airport sites in Puget Sound could be put on no-go list due to military conflict
Could an earthquake like in Syria, Turkey hit WA? It’s possible. Here’s what could happen

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing in the running to replace NATO surveillance jet

Seattle Medium
Black-Owned Company Bridges Gap For Adults With Special Needs
Man Who Drove Through Protesters, Shot Protester Gets Prosecutor Deal

Seattle Times
WA preparing for conflict with anti-abortion states (Hansen)
Is this the year WA ends single-family zoning? (Bateman, Trudeau)
Seattle must do more to prevent traffic deaths, report says
Lawmakers consider limits to length of freight trains moving through WA (Santos)

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County proposal includes 71% increase to Guemes Ferry ticket prices

Spokesman Review
Opinion: Renters need legislative protections from gouging

Tri-City Herald
$13M project paused in Richland after soaring electric and water bills
Feds seek bids for new multi-million dollar Eastern WA nuclear site contract

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington’s salmon population struggling against climate change
International District, South Lake Union community members express concerns over light rail expansion

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Drivers could soon pay per mile to use public roadways in Washington (Fey)

KXLY (ABC)
Turning downtown parking space into affordable housing

NW Public Radio
Animal advocacy group files complaints against WSU research animal deaths

Q13 TV (FOX)
Lawmakers take another step forward to removing some restrictions from police chases (Rule)
State lawmakers discuss bill that could shift instructional hours in public schools (Wellman)

Web

Crosscut
Is a 17-inch fossil enough to inspire Washington’s state dinosaur? (Morgan)
Some farmers question WA state’s plan to pay workers overtime

Thursday, February 23

WA Senate passes bill prohibiting some employers from discriminating against cannabis users
Some employers in Washington state would no longer be allowed to discriminate against applicants for their cannabis use outside of work under a bill passed by the state Senate Wednesday. The bill was introduced by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, and passed with a 28-21 vote. She told Senate lawmakers on the floor Wednesday she believes the legislation could address the “lingering effects of the unfortunate War on Drugs that we have had so much damage from.” “Perfectly legal cannabis use outside of the workplace can leave metabolites in your body fat and they can be picked up weeks after use in a drug test,” Keiser told legislators. “They have no relationship with your status of impairment or not. It’s not like alcohol, it’s an after-the-fact situation. It simply doesn’t make sense to base an employment decision on that kind of unreliable outcome and test.” Continue reading at The Olympian. (Xavier Mascarenas)

Lead or formaldehyde in your makeup? WA lawmakers want to eliminate them
Washington’s Legislature is considering banning the manufacture and sale of cosmetic products that contain formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents, certain amounts of lead, and some other chemicals. If the bill becomes law, those cosmetics would be gone from store shelves in Washington by 2026. The state ecology department said in the hearing that products marketed to Black people and immigrant communities tend to have higher levels of chemicals. In particular, hair-straightening products are associated with uterine and breast cancer. “This bill ensures safer cosmetics are available in Washington,” said Holly Davies, a toxicologist for the state health department. “It will also reduce toxic exposures on consumers, especially consumers living in communities that are already overburdened by pollution. The Department of Health is particularly concerned about reducing people’s exposures to lead as there’s no known safe level of lead.” Continue reading at KUOW. (Peter Kalonji)

WA could narrow reasons for traffic stops in new police reform effort
This year, state lawmakers could make it less likely you’ll get stopped by police for a problem with your car, in the wake of police killings that began with a traffic stop. House Bill 1513 would largely prevent police from stopping drivers for issues such as a broken taillight or expired tabs, and advocates say it would allow officers to focus on safety issues on the road and could reduce racial disparities in traffic stops. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Chipalo Street, D-Seattle, says the measure would develop trust with communities of color and there would be more clarity as to why they’re being stopped. “In turn that then improves community safety, again, because folks are more willing, are not afraid of the police and are more willing to work with them, then other crimes can be solved more easily,” Street said. Continue reading at Seattle Times.

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Axios
Loosening limits on police pursuits divides lawmakers (Dhingra)

Bellingham Herald
Expansion of sports gambling in Washington suffers a setback in federal court
This is the proposed spending plan for Whatcom’s new property tax for child care

The Daily News
More than 30 Cowlitz County businesses receive thousands in state relief funds

Everett Herald
Debating recess, welcoming a president, awaiting key vote on pursuit (Liias, Rule, Mullet, Entenman, Van De Wege)
Editorial: Local governments need fair boost of their tax cap

The Inlander
Washington considers legalizing home cultivation of cannabis (Ormsby)

News Tribune
The pandemic is supposed to be over. Why is Pierce County food insecurity still so high?
Opinion: Staffing shortages have crushed WA nursing homes — and hospitals. This would help

Olympian
WA Senate passes bill prohibiting some employers from discriminating against cannabis users (Keiser)

Peninsula Daily News
Feds seek input on pilot grant program

Seattle Medium
Marcus Glasper Named New Director Of Washington State Department Of Licensing

Seattle Times
WA could narrow reasons for traffic stops in new police reform effort (Street)
WA Senate passes bill to bar hiring discrimination for cannabis use (Keiser)
WA auctions off more ‘old’ forest in $2.8 million sale
WA high school graduation rates are up; who saw the biggest gains?
Opinion: Fund the protection of wildlife and habitat for all Washingtonians

Skagit Valley Herald
Port of Skagit developing a climate action plan

Vancouver Business Journal
Opinion: We can’t solve the housing problem without updating the restrictive Growth Management Act (Chopp)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Valley agencies express support for housing grant

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle street renamed in honor of beloved Central District community leader
CDC director tours public health lab in Shoreline
Crabbers seek solutions as they feel pinch of harvest closure

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Reducing fatalities, racial profiling during traffic stops is focus of new Washington bill (Street)
State senate passes bill banning discrimination against job applicants for cannabis use (Stanford)

KUOW Public Radio
Democratic lawmakers steer pay-per-mile into slow lane to replace gas tax, eventually (Fey)
Lead or formaldehyde in your makeup? WA lawmakers want to eliminate them

NW Public Radio
Farmworkers don’t always notice their own mental health struggles

Web

MyNorthwest
WA preparing to protect marine life against invasive green crab

Wednesday, February 22

Washington among 20 states that have joined the new Reproductive Freedom Alliance
On Tuesday, governors in 20 states, including Washington, announced the launch of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, a non-partisan coalition committed to protecting and expanding reproductive health care in their states. According to a news release from Gov. Jay Inslee’s Office, the alliance will work to strengthen reproductive freedom in the face of an “unprecedented assault on abortion access and other forms of reproductive health care by states hostile to abortion rights and judges who are advancing their ideological agenda.” “This is an issue of freedom,” Inslee said in a statement. “Patients must have the freedom to make personal reproductive care decisions for themselves, without interference by activist politicians. Washington is taking strong action to protect these freedoms for every patient and provider in our state, and we are all in on the fight to protect a person’s right to an abortion across the country.” Continue reading at The Olympian.

Opinion: To know abuse without taking action is to condone abuse
There is nothing sacred about protecting child abuse. Sadly, we know that doing the right thing for the right thing’s sake is not always the case. Enter House Bill 1098, sponsored by state Rep. Amy Walen, and companion bill Senate Bill 5280, sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame, a childhood abuse survivor herself. Adding clergy to the list of mandated reporters with a giant asterisk should be unacceptable. To know abuse without taking action is to condone abuse — and to call acknowledging or providing a safe haven for a known abuser “sacred” or part of a spiritual practice should be unconscionable. Continuing to exempt religious activity that can give coverage to abuse, is to encourage complicity. As long as religious leaders are seen as trusted adults in the community, they must be held to the standards that come with that privilege and responsibility. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Mark Weber)

WA may soon expand dual-credit programs for high schoolers
The Washington Legislature is considering four bills this session to expand access to education programs that could enable nearly every student to earn college credit while in high school. Dual-credit programs, such as Running Start and College in the High School, give students across Washington the opportunity to earn college credit and their high school diploma simultaneously. Overall, they also cost significantly less than traditional four-year universities, for both students and the state. Students who engage in dual-credit programs while in high school are more likely to graduate from high school and to enroll in college and graduate with a degree or credential, according to research focused on expanding equity in higher education. Studies show that dual-credit programs have the biggest impact on students of color and low-income students. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Taija PerryCook)

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Associated Press
Seattle becomes first city in U.S. to ban caste discrimination

Aberdeen Daily World
Legislature holds anticipated public hearing for Oakley Carlson Act (Rule, Senn)

Axios
Washington kids rank high for eating veggies, per CDC
Seattle police union accuses department of “spying” on officers
Washington state debates how to punish drug possession

Capital Press
Revised carbon bill advances in Washington; timber group leery (Reeves, Chapman, Lovelett)

Columbian
Early learning is child’s play at Hockinson pre-kindergarten class
Clark County arts groups, businesses get COVID aid from state

Everett Herald
Voters put a cap on property taxes, but lawmakers may soon erase it (Berg)

News Tribune
State inspects Tacoma psychiatric hospital after workers complain of violence, lice
Opinion: WA charter schools give hope to Black students. Shortchanging them is an injustice
Opinion: A Tacoma organization is still welcoming Ukrainians displaced by war. Here’s how many

Olympian
Washington among 20 states that have joined the new Reproductive Freedom Alliance
An app focused on history and stories of Black Washingtonians to be released in June

Puget Sound Business Journal
Survey: Women see progress in leadership roles but gaps on pay
States taking aim at occupational licensing in tight labor market

Seattle Times
Avalanche on WA’s Colchuck Peak kills 3; slide is nation’s deadliest this winter
WA lawmaker wants stronger domestic violence protections (Davis)
Federal court deals blow to potential sports gambling expansion in WA
Editorial: Thank you, Sen. Murray, for protecting consumers from unsafe cosmetics
Opinion: To know abuse without taking action is to condone abuse (Walen, Frame)

Skagit Valley Herald
Mount Vernon High School students perform during Latino Legislative Day event

Spokesman Review
Washington may require 30-minute recess at all schools (Nobles)

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
House proposal would transition state to pay-per-mile system for drivers (Fey)
City of Tukwila, former officer took measures to cover up firing

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington bill to loosen restrictions on police pursuits faces challenges in Legislature (Rule)

KUOW Public Radio
WA bill meant to safeguard foster children appears to have died in committee

Web

Crosscut
Seattle exotic dancers organize to improve ‘predatory’ conditions (Saldaña, Orwall)
The burden of rent in Washington’s smaller cities
WA may soon expand dual-credit programs for high schoolers (Paul)
Rifle ban among gun-control bills advancing in the WA Legislature (Hansen, Hackney, Peterson, Berry, Pedersen)

MyNorthwest
Mayor Harrell’s State of Seattle address: ‘A lot to be optimistic about’
Washington State Ferries back in service after weather, mechanical issues

Tuesday, February 21

Editorial: Cap on rent increases can keep more in homes
In a fair rental market with ample housing for all who need it, that market would be strong enough to keep the Snidely Whiplash landlords in check. But much of the state and county cannot currently offer that fair market to renters. Placing a cap on the extent of rental cost increases, while offering fair exceptions to landlords, can keep people in their homes and support a healthy housing market. Both bills, House Bill 1388 and HB 1389, would limit rent increases during a 12-month period to the rate of inflation or 3 percent, whichever is greater, up to a maximum of 7 percent. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry)

Secretary Hobbs: Reach out to voters before reworking their ballots
Washington’s elections are consistently recognized as among America’s best for accessibility and inclusiveness. We must continue a longstanding tradition of careful improvement and reach out to all voters before forcing them into different ways of filling out a ballot. A methodical approach is in line with state history. I’m deeply concerned that all Washington election reforms be equally mindful of preserving every eligible resident’s access to participate. My voter-education proposals in Senate Bill 5378, if done right, will enact guardrails to help voters in jurisdictions that opt to rework how candidates are chosen. We must protect every citizen’s access to participation. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Bill that would crown Suciasaurus rex as official state dinosaur passes House
Some 80 million years ago, what is now known as Washington state was submerged in the Pacific Ocean while dinosaurs marched around the rest of the continent. Eons of fossilization, earthquakes and tectonic movement later, it’s the year 2012, and paleontologists discover part of what they call a Suciasaurus rex’s thigh bone in the San Juan Islands, the first and only dinosaur fossil discovered in the state. Following this discovery, a bill to crown the Suciasaurus rex the official dinosaur of Washington passed the state House of Representatives on Monday. “This is not just a silly bill about a state dinosaur,” Morgan said. “This is a lot deeper. This is really about civic engagement from our kids with their state Legislature.” Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Spokesman Review)