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Friday, October 25

Trump ignored disaster aid request from political rival
In early September 2020, wildfires tore through eastern Washington state, obliterating tens of millions of dollars of property, displacing hundreds of rural residents and killing a 1-year-old boy. But then-President Donald Trump refused to act on Gov. Jay Inslee’s request for $37 million in federal disaster aid because of a bitter personal dispute with the Democratic governor, an investigation by POLITICO’s E&E News shows. Trump sat on Inslee’s request for the final four months of his presidency, delaying recovery and leaving communities unsure about rebuilding because nobody knew if they would get federal help. Continue reading at EE News. (AP Photo)

Biden to issue landmark apology over Native American boarding schools
President Biden is expected to issue a formal apology for the federal government’s Native American boarding schools during a visit to Arizona on Friday. Biden’s message would be the first public apology from a sitting U.S. president in response to a federal policy that wreaked havoc on tribal communities. “In making this apology, the President acknowledges that we as a people who love our country must remember and teach our full history, even when it is painful,” the White House said in a statement. “And we must learn from that history so that it is never repeated.” Continue reading at KUOW. (Getty)

Senator Cantwell introduces new bill to help fight Spokane’s fentanyl crisis
Spokane’s fire engines are some of the busiest in the state and are prompting new legislation. A typical fire engine responds to about 2,000 calls per year. Spokane Fire Engine 1 is set to respond to 6,500 calls this year, according to Spokane Fire Department. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell said the increased calls in Spokane are largely due to the city’s fentanyl crisis. She recently introduced a new bill in hopes of providing first responders better tools to fight against fentanyl. The legislation would fund and create new technology to detect fentanyl in a non-invasive way, in an attempt to crack down on drug smuggling. The technology would include using fentanyl-sniffing K9s and devices that can detect fentanyl vapor. Continue reading at KXLY. (KXLY)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen official gives update on Vacant Building Program

Axios
Labor tensions at Boeing span decades
How an extended strike hurts Boeing’s comeback
Biden to issue historic apology for Indigenous boarding school abuses

Capital Press
WSDA: Migratory birds spreading avian influenza
Washington State to build $18 million plant growth facility
TESTING THE RAPID TEST: Wheat industry hopes to replace ‘complex, cumbersome’ falling number test

Everett Herald
Marysville seeks input from parents on school closures
Boeing Machinists return to the picket line after rejecting contract

News Tribune
Parents claim their nonverbal son was assaulted by a paraeducator at this Tacoma school
Tacoma Police Deputy Chief Paul Junger placed on administrative leave, sources tell TNT

Puget Sound Business Journal
Optimism surfaces in one of Seattle’s most problematic areas

Seattle Times
Here are the four schools Seattle proposes closing next year
EPA toughens requirements to remove lead paint dust around children

Spokesman Review
Man convicted of 1987 Spokane murder could be released as an old man under state’s resentencing rules
Opinion: How to keep and grow defense-related economic impact in Washington

Washington Post
Gas prices are barreling toward a 3-year low as election nears
Striking workers’ pension demand reflects longing for a bygone era
Biden set to apologize to Native Americans for Indian boarding schools
This huge lithium mine shows the trade-offs of the clean-energy transition

WA State Standard
WA paid family leave premiums are going up
CDC confirms two people in Washington infected with bird flu
‘We have persevered’: Biden will apologize for Native American boarding school history

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle Public Schools proposes closure of 4 elementary schools
Sound Transit approves route for West Seattle light rail extension
Vote to continue strike exposes Boeing workers’ anger over lost pensions
Hosmer businesses hire security company to move people off private property amid public safety issues
Family of student denied right to graduate in tribal regalia takes legal action against Tacoma Public Schools

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Tacoma businesses hire security to sweep encampment
SPS names four schools it may close amid budget struggles

KUOW Public Radio
Biden to issue landmark apology over Native American boarding schools
The West Seattle light rail route has been chosen. But can Sound Transit afford it?
Questions of competition highlight legal battle over proposed Kroger Albertsons merger

KXLY (ABC)
Senator Cantwell introduces new bill to help fight Spokane’s fentanyl crisis
Public safety, homelessness top concerns in new Spokane community survey
New affordable housing units give Airway Heights families a place to call home
Violent threats against schools have become an unsettling trend; schools and police are fighting back

Web

Cascadia Daily News
WA health officials warning public of bird flu spread
Western Washington University sees fewer freshman, but overall stable enrollment

Crosscut
Seventy percent of WA students have access to free school lunches

EENews
Trump ignored disaster aid request from political rival

MyNorthwest
Struggling Boeing might leave the space business
Washington added to list of states affected by E. coli infections linked to McDonald’s

The Urbanist
Harrell proposes deep cuts for tenant assistance, advocates push back

Thursday, October 24

College tuition in Washington state bucks the inflation trend
College tuition is one of the rare things that may have actually become cheaper in Washington in recent years — at least, when adjusted for inflation, according to a new report. A recent report from the College Board, which runs the SAT test, found that in-state tuition and fees at Washington’s public four-year universities averages $11,850 this year. Washington’s college tuition prices have stayed more predictable from year to year since 2015, when the state Legislature passed a law tying undergraduate tuition increases to growth in the median wage. Continue reading at Axios. (Alex Fitzpatrick)

The latest fight over rules to protect homes from wildfire
New state building codes aim to protect properties on the edge between urban and wooded areas – a fast growing type of space known as the wildland urban interface – from wildfire. The codes at the center of the controversy are already approved and will take effect March 15. The guidelines, which apply to new construction or remodels, call for roofs, siding, decks, doors, windows and other parts of homes to be made out of fire resistant materials. Based on the new maps, areas near major cities, including Spokane, Olympia, Yakima and Issaquah, would be subject to the new rules. Continue reading at the WA State Standard. (Stephen Brashear)

How is the world doing on climate change? Not great
It’s report card season for climate change. Each year, the United Nations takes stock of whether countries are on track to cut carbon emissions and limit global warming. The grade this year: needs more improvement than ever. Global greenhouse gas emissions rose to a new record in 2023, and if countries do not change course, the world will see warming of more than 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit (3.1 degrees Celsius) by the end of the century. Continue reading at KUOW. (Getty Images)

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Axios
How Seattle is contending with delivery boom
Most U.S. counties have little to no local news sources
Why the GOP is challenging overseas and military voting
College tuition in Washington state bucks the inflation trend
Boeing workers reject contract offer as efforts to end strike fail

Bellingham Herald
WWU says small pandemic classes are behind us as latest enrollment numbers show growth
Why don’t many WA highways have reflectors if the state gets so much rain? We asked WSDOT
As La Niña chances decline, here’s what forecasters say about Whatcom County’s winter weather

Capital Press
Judges set hearings on H-2A farmworker union rule
20-year modernization effort pays dividends for irrigation district
Editorial: How we can prevent wildfires

Columbian
New analysis ranks the most energy-efficient states. See why Washington came out on top
World on pace for significantly more warming without immediate climate action, report warns

Everett Herald
Boeing Machinists reject latest offer; strike continues
Everett’s Naval commander gives update on new frigates

The Inlander
NEWS BRIEFS: Spokane workshops offer to help strike racist property records

Kitsap Sun
Bremerton Bay Bowl torn down, but major housing project to retain the name

News Tribune
Police Chief Avery Moore says Tacoma doesn’t ‘have a stand-alone drug unit’
Private security team to sweep stubborn Tacoma homeless camp after spate of violence

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle area’s office vacancy rate sets record
Boeing machinists reject contract offer, extending strike
What business leaders believe recent grads are lacking in
SBA wants to spur billions in investments with new license awards

Seattle Times
Olympia ranked No. 1 in U.S. for share of middle-class residents
Ice age’s largest waterfall is now one of WA’s best outdoor adventure sites

Spokesman Review
Brown names new city administrator and brings back former Councilman Jon Snyder for new transportation role
An influential group funded a study to gauge residents’ perceptions of downtown. Spokane’s got big problems, respondents told them

Vancouver Business Journal
Community Foundation awarded $1.9 million from state

Washington Post
Drought levels across the U.S. are notably high for this time of year
Striking Boeing workers vote to reject deal as company’s losses grow
Students still dealing with drama from last FAFSA, despite positive new data

WA State Standard
The latest fight over rules to protect homes from wildfire (Duerr)
Washington students scored high on ACT — but few take the test
Strike will continue as Boeing machinists reject another contract offer

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee Valley city governments experiencing ‘slow down’ in their finances

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Little Saigon restaurant business broken into 9 times
Boeing machinists reject company’s contract offer, remain on strike
How dog owners can play a role in protecting Washington waterways
Decision over Bellingham bridge replacement could oust homeowners

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
State plans to open new law enforcement training facility in Arlington
No deal: Workers return to picket line after rejecting Boeing’s latest contract offer

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Memorial Walk to honor victims of 2014 Marysville Pilchuck High School shooting
City of Tacoma to launch new Street Medicine Pilot Program to address homelessness

KNKX Public Radio
How is the world doing on climate change? Not great
Boeing posts a $6 billion loss as striking workers vote on a new contract

KUOW Public Radio
More Washington state kids are exposed to lead than we know

KXLY (ABC)
More than 6,400 racial covenants found on properties in Spokane. Is your home one of them?

Web

Cascadia Daily News
‘Era of the Pacific’: Port of Bellingham’s growth impacted by millions in federal funds
County council affirms food security as public health priority, asks for increased funds
Everson development on the Nooksack’s floodplain weighs climate risk with housing need

MyNorthwest
Washington defense attorney faces charges for allegedly smuggling drugs into jail

The Urbanist
Bellevue greenlights downtown bike detour proposed by Kemper Development

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Key Sound Transit Board vote expected Thursday

Wednesday, October 23

New analysis ranks the most energy-efficient states. See why Washington came out on top
Energy is a top household expense, with the average family in America spending over $2,000 each year on utilities, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Gas ran the average consumer another $2,449 in 2023. However, the DOE estimates that energy-efficient measures can reduce utility costs up to 25%, and more fuel-efficient vehicles can save drivers nearly $900 per year. Washington state took the top spot for home and auto energy efficiency in the U.S., according to the analysis. Continue reading at the Bellingham Herald. (Steve Chenn)

Washington ban on over-the-counter sexual assault kits upheld by federal judge
Washington’s ban on the sale or advertising of over-the-counter sexual assault evidence kits was upheld by a federal judge on Monday. Proponents of Washington’s law, passed in 2023 as House Bill 1564, said over-the-counter kits aren’t sufficient compared to forensic sexual assault examinations by trained medical staff. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office called the kits “rarely, if ever, admissible in court.” In its lawsuit, Leda argued that the state’s 2023 ban targets sexual assault survivors and violates First Amendment rights related to free speech and advertising. But U.S. District Court Chief Judge David G. Estudillo disagreed, ruling that the statute is “an economic regulation of the sale of a particular product,” not a regulation of speech. Continue reading at the Washington State Standard. (Leda Health)

New audit reveals Washington’s cannabis tracking system is ‘yet to be fully realized’
Washington remains behind when it comes to tracking cannabis sales from production to smoke shop shelves, according to a new state audit. According to a press release from Adam Wilson, assistant director of communications for the Washington State Auditor’s Office, the active cannabis tracking system, developed more than a decade ago when voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana use in the state, doesn’t efficiently track how cannabis is produced, processed or sold. The system helps identify risks of illegal or unsafe practices within the cannabis business from farm to store. Continue reading at KIRO. (Julio Cortez)

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Bellevue Reporter
Health insurance premiums to rise for WA small businesses

Bellingham Herald
New analysis ranks the most energy-efficient states. See why Washington came out on top

Capital Press
Federal workers kill two E. Oregon wolves blamed for killing 12 sheep
USDA won’t regulate gene-edited orange resistant to citrus greening disease

Everett Herald
Amid police staffing crisis, new state academy opens in Arlington

Kent Reporter
City of Kent receives $6 million in state grants for two parks

Kitsap Sun
Washington gas prices fell from last week: See how much here

Lynnwood Times
Lawmakers celebrate soft open of new law enforcement training academy (Lovick, Robinson)

News Tribune
Fixing Tacoma’s bad streets would cost billions. That’s right, billions — with a ‘B’
Opinion: The defense industry is vital to Washington’s economy. We should focus on growing it

New York Times
U.S. Study on Puberty Blockers Goes Unpublished Because of Politics, Doctor Says

Olympian
New analysis ranks the most energy-efficient states. See why Washington came out on top

Port Townsend Leader
Civil rights lawsuit against county prosecutor dismissed
Zoom hack derails Quilcene school board’s LGBTQ+ books decision

Puget Sound Business Journal
Apartment project for homeless families opens in Edmonds
Big penalties await businesses with hard-to-cancel subscriptions
Home sales flatline as housing market remains unaffordable for most
Kroger-Albertsons merger: Here’s the updated timeline for court cases

Seattle Times
October surprise: Seattle schools enrollment doesn’t fall as expected

Snoqualmie Valley Record
WA Board of Education wants to overhaul high school graduation requirements

Washington Post
Colleges enrolled fewer freshmen this year, the first decline since the pandemic

WA State Standard
Washington ban on over-the-counter sexual assault kits upheld by federal judge

Yakima Herald-Republic
Community Q&A: Alicia Stromme Tobin, Safe Yakima Valley executive director

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Attorney, fire commissioner accused of smuggling drugs into King County jail
Man sentenced to 40 years for attempted murder of Whatcom County deputies
Boeing reports $6 billion quarterly loss ahead of vote by union workers who have crippled production

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Lawsuit blames Seattle for lack of affordable housing
Boeing workers to vote on contract as company reports $6B quarterly loss
New audit reveals Washington’s cannabis tracking system is ‘yet to be fully realized’

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Affordable housing provider sues Seattle over laws meant to help tenants
Union workers to vote Wednesday on proposal as Boeing reports $6 billion quarterly loss
New law enforcement training academy opening in Arlington aims to improve recruitment (Lovick)

KNKX Public Radio
Boeing workers vote on a new contract, but the company’s problems are far from over

KUOW Public Radio
American Airlines fined $50 million for its treatment of passengers with disabilities

KXLY (ABC)
Months-long wildfire mitigation project begins in Dishman Hills
14-year-old arrested for making threats against Lind-Ritzville High School on Snapchat
Sandpoint High School senior petitions to bring free feminine hygiene products to school bathrooms

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Estimated price tag for new jail and behavioral health facility rises 16%
A planned covered sports court in East Whatcom will bridge recreation gap
Whatcom County Search & Rescue missions jump this year, already higher than 2023

MyNorthwest
Boeing reports $6 billion Q3 loss, second-worst quarter in company history

Tuesday, October 22

How to track your WA ballot and get text updates
In Washington state, you can track your ballot with a few quick clicks. Go to the VoteWA portal at voter.votewa.gov and sign in with your first and last name and date of birth, and you can see the status of that electoral baby of yours. You can also text “VOTE” to 868392 to get text updates on your ballot’s status. If you haven’t voted yet, here’s what you should know: Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, or put in a drop box or returned in person to your county elections office by 8 p.m. that day. Continue reading at the Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Biden administration proposes a rule to make over-the-counter birth control free
The Biden administration is proposing a rule that would expand access to contraceptive products, including making over-the-counter birth control and condoms free for the first time for women of reproductive age who have private health insurance. Under the proposal by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor Department, and Treasury Department, which was announced by the administration on Monday, health insurance companies would be required to cover all recommended over-the-counter contraception products, such as condoms, spermicide and emergency contraception, without a prescription and at no cost, according to senior administration officials. Continue reading at KUOW. (Getty Images)

Health insurance premiums to rise for WA small businesses by about 12%
Health insurance costs in Washington for small businesses and their employees will increase an average of 11.9% in 2025, according to the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner. This marks the highest increase for small employers in the last decade. Nearly 220,000 people will be affected by the new rates starting in January. Ten insurers were approved to sell group plans to small employers, with the largest increase going to Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon at 21.9%, impacting around 6,000 people. Continue reading at the WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

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Axios
La Niña could bring cold, snowy winter to Seattle
Washington probes first human cases of avian flu
AI is already making it easier to spread election lies

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County identifies location of severe weather shelter for upcoming winter season

Capital Press
Bird flu infects four Washington farmworkers
Farm Bureau: Thousands of farmers at risk of federal fines, jail time over new law
Commentary: Staggering cost of a wind and solar future in the Pacific Northwest

Everett Herald
In Monroe schools, families allege rampant racism left unchecked
North County EMS is underfunded and understaffed, workers say

News Tribune
Opinion: Puyallup council member: Objectification of female elected officials is far too common

Peninsula Daily News
Sequim’s $58M budget largest in history
Public comment open on proposed PNNL aquatic research
Clallam County commissioners to host budget presentations
Planning workshop to cover Port Townsend comprehensive plan
Clallam Transit to hire security agency for downtown Port Angeles location

Puget Sound Business Journal
UW unveils plans to supercharge battery research
Sea-Tac lands federal funding for airport upgrades
Mortgage rates finally fell, but homebuyers still face a big problem

Seattle Times
Can $1.55 billion make Seattle streets safer?
How to track your WA ballot and get text updates
Social Security benefits in 2025: 5 big changes retirees should plan for
WA residents overwhelmingly support taxes on the wealthy, poll shows
A King County deputy shot Tommy Le in the back. Then the case languished

Spokesman Review
A Democrat paid for a billboard attacking Mayor Lisa Brown’s homeless plans. Brown says it’s personal.
Mead School District decries transgender girls’ participation in sports with resolution at busy board meeting
Spokane dermatologist accused in federal indictment of using COVID relief funds on Arizona townhouse, two Porsches
Spokane’s Catholic bishop denounces gender-affirming care in the name of religion, spurring concern from a local hospital
State bar association declines to discipline extremist former lawmaker Matt Shea over Malheur incident, citing ‘constitutional scrutiny’

Tri-City Herald
Proposed $5 billion data center would be transformative for this Eastern WA county
Nuclear contractor to pay $1.1M after charges of COVID loan fraud to pay his credit cards

Washington Post
Global fight against historic inflation surge is nearly over, says IMF
More than 10,500 actors, musicians, authors protest tech’s AI data grab
How good are you at spotting misinfo online? Test yourself with these 8 questions.
Accessibility problems with U.S. currency are holding up Harriet Tubman’s appearance on the $20 bill
Environmentalists long decried the impact of rubber production. This small shrub may offer an alternative.

WA State Standard
Health insurance premiums to rise for WA small businesses by about 12%

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee School District under federal investigation over Columbia Elementary closure

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Man to be sentenced for 2022 shooting of Whatcom County deputies
Washington counties spend millions to make elections more transparent. It might not sway doubters

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle Public Schools Director of Public Safety named
Daughter denied bathroom after getting visible period in class
2 adults, 3 teens killed in Fall City shooting, teenage boy in custody

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Boeing machinists to vote on offer on Wednesday, members claim ‘not a done deal’
Seattle’s Memorial Stadium renovation set for 2025 groundbreaking, 2027 opening
How will the new executive director of public safety tackle violence in Seattle schools?
Washington school district lets staff hide students’ gender identities, sparking outrage

KUOW Public Radio
Biden administration proposes a rule to make over-the-counter birth control free

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane utility rates to increase in 2025 and 2026
All Lind-Ritzville Cooperative Schools closed for Snapchat threat
Mead School District passes resolution against transgender athletes

Web

Cascadia Daily News
DNR releases first statewide recreation plan, asks for public input
Western dean who was arrested last week no longer employed at university

Crosscut
‘Beyond failure’: WA teen loses legs at school-based work program
Seventy percent of WA students have access to free school lunches

MyNorthwest
Dozens of Everett city employees may get cut due to new budget
Washington State’s EV Rebate Program runs out of funds ahead of schedule

The Urbanist
Pacific Northwest’s largest highway project ever is in deep denial
Opinion: Seattle Council should double rental assistance, not slash it

Monday, October 21

Oil tanker traffic surges in WA waters with Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion
The May opening of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion in British Columbia has led to a sevenfold increase in oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Juan de Fuca so far this year. Both state and federal law require oil transport companies to prepare stringent spill response plans, conduct regular drills to stay in compliance and keep a fleet of response vessels at the ready. But environmental advocates like Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman say the risk in Washington’s inland waters is disproportionate. Although the Lummi, Suquamish, Swinomish and Tulalip tribes, as well as Gov. Jay Inslee, all registered opposition to the pipeline expansion last decade, neither tribal nor Washington state government had jurisdiction over Canada’s decision to export more crude via tanker. Continue reading at the Seattle Times. (Gregory Scruggs)

Washington prisoners in solitary confinement denied basic care, report finds
Washington prisoners held in solitary confinement are not receiving basic quality-of-life care, such as frequent showers, health care, visitation, regular meals and enough toilet paper, according to a report from a state watchdog. The state’s independent investigations office for the Department of Corrections also describes “dehumanizing and traumatizing” restraint practices used by the department, including spit hoods, pepper spray, tasers and shock shields. The report is the second in a three-part series the Office of the Corrections Ombuds is releasing at the request of state lawmakers, who are considering ways to reduce or end solitary confinement. Continue reading at the WA State Standard. (Grace Deng)

WA Department of Health investigates first potential cases of bird flu detected in humans
Four farm workers in Franklin County tested presumptively positive for bird flu, in what WA Department of Health said are the state’s first cases of bird flu detected in humans. Officials from the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and other agencies held a press conference on October 20 to provide updates on their investigation into the cases. The cases originated at a farm that was the site of a bird flu outbreak in chickens. Roughly 800,000 birds were euthanized after the outbreak was confirmed by WA Department of Agriculture on October 15. Continue reading at KXLY.