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Friday, April 4

WA State Senate Members of Color Caucus: ‘Washington is and will remain a welcoming state’
A day after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided Mt. Baker Roofing in Bellingham, arresting 37, the Washington State Senate Members of Color Caucus (MOCC) said they want the public to know that “Washington is and will remain a welcoming state.” Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (AP)

Search is on in Washington Legislature for new tax options
How much Washington should raise in new tax revenue and who will pay is something state lawmakers and Gov. Bob Ferguson will hash out in the final weeks of the legislative session. Washington’s wealthiest individuals, largest corporations and biggest banks are prime targets. Homeowners, vapers and self-storage unit renters are among those who could share in the burden. Possible tweaks to expand the state’s capital gains tax could also be in play. “There will be a tax increase,” House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, said Wednesday. “It’s figuring out the right kind of balance and making sure we’re able to not harm everyday Washingtonians.” Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jerry Cornfield)

States sue to block Trump’s election order, saying it violates the Constitution
Democratic officials in 19 states filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s attempt to reshape elections across the U.S., calling it an unconstitutional invasion of states’ clear authority to run their own elections. Thursday’s lawsuit is the fourth against the executive order issued just a week ago. It seeks to block key aspects of it, including new requirements that people provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote and a demand that all mail ballots be received by Election Day. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (AP)

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Axios
Microsoft turns 50: Tracing the tech giant’s deep roots in Seattle

Capital Press
Trump: U.S. needs to be able to feed itself
Ferguson: House and Senate budgets have ‘far too much taxes’
Oregon farm groups balk at paying more than double for water transactions

The Daily News
Unemployment benefits for striking workers being considered in Oregon, Washington
Man maintaining decades of innocence in Kelso murder will no longer serve prison time
Cowlitz County Head Start programs left in the dark following closure of Seattle regional office

Everett Herald
Another positive measles case identified in Snohomish County
Washington faces uncertain future of Clean Air Act regulations
Snohomish County law enforcement to encrypt police airwaves
Snohomish County Health Department faces up to $3.4 million in cuts
Everett Public Schools breaks ground on Jackson Elementary replacement
Editorial: Transit board, new CEO have much to deliver
Letter: Due process must be observed for ICE arrests, deportations
Bloomberg comment: Drug companies need to speak up about RFK Jr.’s FDA

Kitsap Sun
Washington state reports another measles case. What does measles look like?
Decade of reductions at Naval Hospital Bremerton push out retirees, beneficiaries
Navy makes progress on solutions to wells with high levels of chemicals near Bangor

News Tribune
How Washington state schools are navigating funding hurdles
9 impacts from government downsizing on communities in Washington state
Federal funding cuts have Pierce County health officials ‘reimagining’ services
WA AG files lawsuit against RealPage, 9 landlords: ‘Unfair practices are cheating renters’ (Jinkins, Trudeau)
Tariffs could cost American homes over $5k a year. How will new Trump tariffs affect WA?
Trump is attacking Washingtonians’ voting rights. We must continue to expand them (Mena)

New York Times
How Tariffs Could Upend the Transition to Cleaner Energy
F.D.A. Layoffs Could Raise Drug Costs and Erode Food Safety
Judge Blocks H.H.S. From Terminating $11 Billion in Public Health Grants

Olympian
WA AG files lawsuit against RealPage, 9 landlords: ‘Unfair practices are cheating renters’ (Jinkins, Trudeau)
Tariffs could cost American homes over $5k a year. How will new Trump tariffs affect WA?
Costco, Microsoft, Amazon among 60+ biz leaders asking WA lawmakers to avoid tax hikes (Jinkins)

Puget Sound Business Journal
DOGE cuts send job losses soaring
Tariffs rattle investors, wipe out trillions in value
Tariffs create murkiness for industrial CRE market
Workforce remains key challenge in US manufacturing

Seattle Times
WA pulls funding for Puget Sound tidal energy project
Judge blocks Trump’s $11B in health cuts to WA, other states
Cantwell leads bipartisan push to give Congress control over tariffs
States sue to block Trump’s election order, saying it violates the Constitution
Republicans moving ahead with Trump’s ‘big’ bill of tax breaks and spending cuts amid tariff uproar
Editorial: Surprising bright spot in higher ed shows what’s worth saving
Opinion: As WA lawmakers, we often disagree. But not on the transportation bill (Liias)

Spokesman Review
EPA cuts could leave Washington rural towns choking in smoke
Cantwell and top Senate Republican introduce bill to give Congress control over tariffs
Spokane, Washington State childcare leaders sound alarms following cuts to federal preschool program

Tri-City Herald
What Trump’s tariffs mean for the Tri-Cities housing shortage and home prices
Tariffs could cost American homes over $5k a year. How will new Trump tariffs affect WA?

Washington Post
Wall Street slides as trade war escalates
Trump contradicts aides, talking points on purpose of global tariffs
Thousands more job cuts possible at Social Security, even with service in tailspin

WA State Standard
Search is on in Washington Legislature for new tax options (Jinkins, Berg)
Trump’s research cuts threaten to set off a wave of university brain drain
Washington AG takes software company to court over rental price-fixing allegations
States ordered by U.S. Education Department to certify school DEI ban or lose funds
Judge to temporarily block Trump administration from yanking $11B in health funds from states
Commentary: Long-term care workers need lawmakers in Olympia to step up support

Wenatchee World
Manson community buys dilapidated gas station for ‘Village Green’ park

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
DOGE cuts hit learning program for low-income children in western WA
Millions in federal cuts leave western Washington food banks scrambling
Software company helped Washington landlords fix prices, artificially raising rent for thousands (Salomon)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
How Seattle’s Police Chief plans to make the city safer
WA Attorney General sues company, landlords for alleged rental inflations
Docs: WSP trooper’s blood-alcohol level was 0.17% 6 hours after fatal crash
NTSB issues new safety protocols for Boeing following ‘failed’ emergency landing

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle Police Department introduces new plan to tackle violent crime
Retirement fears grow as stock market tumbles after Trump’s tariffs announcement
Port of Seattle alerting 90,000 people whose data was comprised in SEA cyberattack
WA commerce secretary reviewing digital navigator program grants, citing audit concerns

KUOW Public Radio
Divides over gender identity flare as WA debates parent access in schools (Pedersen)
Refugees are still coming to Washington state despite Trump’s policies. But help is hard to find

NW Public Radio
Astronauta de la NASA José Hernández inspira a estudiantes durante visita a Tri-Cities

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Reducing water pollution in Lake Whatcom: ‘Plenty of work cut out for us’
What’s at risk at libraries if federal funds cut? E-books, creative clubs, tribal offerings

Cascade PBS
10 years after Joel’s Law, involuntary commitment remains complex

MyNorthwest
RealPage software allegedly conspired with landlords to inflate rent prices, WA AG claims (Jinkins, Trudeau)
WA State Senate Members of Color Caucus: ‘Washington is and will remain a welcoming state’ (MOCC)
Teen pleads guilty to vehicular homicide in 112 mph crash that killed three children and a mother

The Urbanist
Elevator Reform Falls Short at Washington Legislature (Salomon, Peterson)
Ferguson Ignites Revenue Battle with State Democrats, Threatening Veto (Pederson, Scott, Fitzgibbon)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Friday info

Thursday, April 3

Democrats weigh options as Gov. Ferguson rejects WA wealth tax
Washington Senate and House budget leaders say they are weighing several options as they prepare for a “major pivot” after Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Tuesday that neither version of the operating budget proposals by Democratic lawmakers are close to ones he would sign. At the heart of the debate: a wealth tax sought by both House and Senate Democrats. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

ICE arrests 37 in workplace raid at Bellingham roofing company
In an early morning raid Wednesday at Mt. Baker Roofing Company in Bellingham, immigration officials confirm they arrested 37 people who fraudulently represented their immigration status. A spokesperson for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said its agents, along with Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, executed a federal search warrant at the company “based on an ongoing criminal investigation into the unlawful employment of aliens without legal work authorization.” Continue reading at KUOW. (Damian Dovarganes)

WA House passes $15B transportation budget backed by gas tax hike
Lawmakers in the Washington House and Senate will have plenty of negotiating to do as they try to reconcile competing transportation budget proposals, which both depend on gas tax hikes. The state House approved its $15.2 billion plan Wednesday, setting the stage for the talks. The legislation differs from the Senate version in significant ways. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Westport approves lease agreement with SEALink
$5B plan to fund culvert removals unveiled by WA senators (Liias, Trudeau)
WDFW proposes $1.7M acquisition of 655 acres above North Willapa Bay

Auburn Reporter
New catalytic converter law aimed at deterring theft in WA

Axios
Seattle rainfall grows more intense with climate change
How Washington state is suing Trump in his second term

Bellingham Herald
ICE agents detain nearly 40 employees during morning raid at Whatcom County business
Here’s how the gutting of a federal agency will affect Whatcom County’s libraries, museums
Couple establishes food pantry at Bellingham apartment complex to assist low-income seniors

Capital Press
Trump sets tariffs, says farmers have been ‘brutalized’

Columbian
Subaru, which employs hundreds at Port of Vancouver, says tariffs ‘would severely impact Subaru’s activities in the U.S.’

The Daily News
Longview tables fluoride vote proposal. But will it return?
Cowlitz River smelt season starts then ends without prized fish
Longview to meet with schools, nonprofits, businesses, more to strategize

The Inlander
Olympia once again raises a cannabis question it is not ready to answer
A voter-approved natural gas initiative, ruled unconstitutional, could be headed to the Washington Supreme Court

International Examiner
Know your rights training in the Chinatown-ID teaches people how to stay safe from ICE

Kitsap Sun
Bremerton school board selects Slade McSheehy as new superintendent
Kitsap groups joining national protest movement Saturday against Trump administration

News Tribune
Tacoma Pride festival will move to new, bigger location this year. Details here
WA co-leads lawsuit against DHHS, RFK Jr. to reverse cuts to public-health grants
Lakewood police’s second in command out on leave pending internal investigation
‘Unfit for human habitation.’ Pierce County city sues mobile home park as nuisance
WA lawmakers unveil capital budget ideas. Here’s some of the major project proposals (Trudeau)
Opinion: Republicans are fighting fentanyl in Washington. Democrats won’t advance our bills

New York Times
Entire staff fired at office that helps poor Americans pay for heating
Republicans Plan to Skirt Senate Rules to Push Through More Tax Cuts
Trump Administration Live Updates: States Told to Drop D.E.I. Programs at Public Schools or Lose Funding

Northwest Asian Weekly
ACRS loses federal grant, impacting services for green card holders
Ferguson appoints Santos to fill vacancy on King County Superior Court
Amazon’s last-minute bid for TikTok comes as a US ban on the platform is set to take effect Saturday

Olympian
ICE agents detain nearly 40 employees during morning raid at Whatcom County business

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam letter details Trump administration impacts

Seattle Medium
Verity Credit Union Launches 2025 Microgrant Program

Seattle Times
Outside a Social Security office, fear, lines and misinformation
Democrats weigh options as Gov. Ferguson rejects WA wealth tax (Robinson, Berg, Jinkins, Thai, Scott)
Immigration officials raid Bellingham roofing company, arresting 37
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha could be recognized as WA state holidays (Salahuddin)
Laid off by Trump, student loan workers leave hundreds of cases behind
Tariff-weary WA businesses brace for another round of Trump trade tactics
The Latest: Markets plunge as Trump tariffs deliver shock waves to world economy
Editorial: Seattle is weary of gun violence. City auditor’s report is a lifeline

Skagit Valley Herald
Commerce selects three local groups for clean building grants

Spokesman Review
Gov. Ferguson noncommittal on gas tax increase, Speaker of the House says (Jinkins)
Trump announces 10% tariffs on all imports, additional taxes for some 60 countries
Spokane Valley passes ‘not a sanctuary city’ resolution meant to show allegiance to Trump
As the needs of Spokane’s vulnerable grow, so does Spokane Fire Department’s community assistance team
‘We are in a trade war’: Washington leaders, business sectors largely express confusion and concern at Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement (Heck)

Washington Post
Stocks fall, businesses recoil after Trump imposes tariffs
EPA cuts could leave small rural towns choking in smoke

WA State Standard
WA House passes $15B transportation budget backed by gas tax hike (Fey)
Push for social media safeguards to protect children derails in Washington House (Frame, Walen, Dhingra)

Wenatchee World
City of Wenatchee files lawsuit against Chelan County over breach of jail contract

Yakima Herald-Republic
Federal cuts raise serious concerns for recreation on Washington’s Forest Service lands

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
HHS Seattle office closes, Head Start staff placed on leave
ICE arrests 37 people at Mount Baker Roofing in Bellingham
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival tiptoeing through Trump’s trade war
‘This place is your home’: Tacoma’s Thrive Center offers services to refugees, immigrants
Microsoft president discusses $80 billion investment in AI, how it will reshape the future
Seattle U. professor warns U.S. companies will likely take advantage of tariffs by raising prices

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
37 arrested in Bellingham ICE raid
Local Head Start employees locked out, let go due to federal program cuts
Social Security Administration planned job cuts leave many seniors in Puget Sound alarmed

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Sea-Tac Airport expects a jump in spring break travelers
Washington consumers, lawmakers react to new Trump tariffs
Boeing CEO defends safety improvements to Senate while admitting ‘serious missteps’
Washington food banks targeted by federal cuts, putting hundreds of thousands at risk
Anti-hazing advocates report majority of Washington colleges are failing to report hazing

KNKX Public Radio
Mass layoffs rattle Head Start leaders already on edge over funding problems

KUOW Public Radio
How budget woes might affect your summer on public land
ICE arrests 37 in workplace raid at Bellingham roofing company
WA Senate rolls out plan to cover $1 billion transportation budget gap (Liias)
Victim of alleged transgender hate crime ‘distraught’ at news of second attack

KXLY (ABC)
Closure of regional Head Start office leaves programs across INW in limbo
Spokane research facility laying off all employees, shutting doors completely by end of June

Web

Cascadia Daily News
37 workers arrested at Mt. Baker Roofing in ICE raid Wednesday
37 trabajadores son detenidos en redada de ICE el miércoles en Mt. Baker Roofing
Opinion: Threats to public health at every angle

Cascade PBS
Central and Eastern Washington brace for possible Medicaid cuts

MyNorthwest
Bill to ban flavored tobacco products introduced in WA
Major corporations oppose Washington wealth and payroll taxes
WIAA says vote on member amendments banning transgender athletes violates state law
Immigration officials raid Washington state roofing company and arrest over 3 dozen people

The Stranger
Could the LA Fires Happen Here?
“Chinga La Migra” Unions and Migrant Advocates Protested Outside of the Northwest Detention Center Last Weekend
Slog AM: Cory Booker Is a Badass, Trump Calls Today “Liberation Day,” and Bob Ferguson Shoots Down a Wealth Tax

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Thursday info

Wednesday, April 2

Tax the rich? UW economist calls WA a ‘tax haven like the Cayman Islands’
Vigdor is a professor at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance with a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard. He said if he were designing a tax system from scratch, he might not choose a 5% payroll tax on pay packages above $176,000, as legislative Democrats are proposing. (The tax is paid by the company and would apply only to larger firms, with payrolls topping $7 million per year.) Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Washington sues over RFK Jr.’s canceled health funding
Washington was among 23 states that sued the Trump administration Tuesday over the cancellation of $12 billion in federal funding to address infectious diseases, substance abuse and mental illness, including about $160 million for Washington. The lawsuit comes on the heels of the abrupt termination last week of grants related to disease tracking, vaccination efforts and other work that officials said could cost thousands of jobs in public health departments nationwide. This pot of money makes up $11 billion of the $12 billion cut last week. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (George Frey)

Eid moves one step closer to becoming a Washington state holiday
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, two holidays celebrated by nearly 100,000 Muslims in Washington state, is one step closer to state recognition. On Monday, the state House of Representatives passed a bill that adds Eid to a list of holidays that are unpaid but have cultural or historical significance. The Senate passed a similar bill, sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma) in February. Continue reading at KUOW. (LSS)

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Associated Press
Tesla sales tumble 13% as Musk backlash, competition and aging lineup turn off buyers

Axios
Trump tariffs would hit lower-income Americans hardest
Washington’s recycling system could get a major makeover
HHS sees day of chaos as layoffs hit scientists, policy experts

Bellingham Herald
WA lawmakers unveil capital budget ideas. Here’s some of the major project proposals (Trudeau)

Capital Press
Onion association, Texas produce groups support Mexico water denial
Boise irrigation deliveries expected April 10

Columbian
‘What’s happening now is unprecedented’: Political activism, protests in Vancouver accelerate
Columbia River Gorge Commission facing funding cuts as Legislature grapples with state’s budget deficit

Everett Herald
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location
Letter: SAVE Act would hamper voting for many Americans

High Country News
Forest Service pauses commercial huckleberry picking in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Kitsap Sun
Where is my Social Security check? See SSI payment schedule for 2025
Washington REAL ID basics: What flyers need to know before May deadline

News Tribune
Is Trump doing better or worse than expected? Poll finds sizable shift from last month
Gov. Ferguson rejects ‘untested’ wealth tax, sends state budget writers back to drawing board (Robinson)

New York Times
Trump Is Set to Unveil Expansive Global Tariffs
Federal Judge Orders Legal Funds for Solo Migrant Children to Be Restored
Supreme Court Rules Against Makers of Flavored Vapes Popular With Teens

Northwest Asian Weekly
Nonprofit executive Chin hired as interim director at the Pike Place Market Foundation

Olympian
WA co-leads lawsuit against DHHS, RFK Jr. to reverse cuts to public-health grants
Gov. Ferguson rejects ‘untested’ wealth tax, sends state budget writers back to drawing board (Robinson)

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA abruptly ends loan-relief program
Industrial real estate braces for impact as tariffs cloud landscape

Seattle Medium
Seattle Opens First-of-Its-Kind AI Hub To Drive Equity And Innovation
Washington State Senate Approves Gas Tax Increase Amid Budget Shortfall
Newly Appointed City Councilmember Mark Solomon Steps Into Role With Bold Vision And Clear Priorities

Seattle Times
WA Head Start staff locked out and let go due to Trump cuts
Gov. Ferguson says he won’t sign a WA budget with a new ‘wealth tax’
Seattle man charged with hate crime, assault in attack on trans woman
Will WA see $100M in police hiring grants promised by Gov. Ferguson?
WA’s Democratic majority joins a Republican trend — make initiatives harder
Westneat: Tax the rich? UW economist calls WA a ‘tax haven like the Cayman Islands’
Editorial: Lawmakers, heed the warnings of Puget Sound-area mayors on taxes

Spokesman Review
WSU medical school celebrates 10th birthday, marking nearly 250 medical doctors graduated
Spokane County set to vote on housing, climate policies in line with state law but at odds with feds
Spokane mining safety lab loses staff as part of 10,000 federal health job cuts: ‘I don’t believe the administration understands the work being done at these sites’
Opinion: Living with fire in the 21st century

Tri-City Herald
Feds ask more workers overseeing Eastern WA nuclear cleanup, others to sign up for layoffs

Washington Post
Supreme Court rules FDA properly rejected fruit-flavored vape liquids popular with teens
Supreme Court takes up Planned Parenthood funding and patient rights

WA State Standard
Washington sues over RFK Jr.’s canceled health funding
Washington governor rejects use of wealth tax to balance budget (Frame)
Consumers and business owners await more details on Trump tariffs
Washington House passes budget, clearing way for talks with Senate
Climate disasters are on the rise. These states want to make oil companies pay.
State’s hasty swap of 200-acre Thorpe Property in Spokane should be reexamined

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Kennewick school board seeks federal help on trans athletes policy
Microsoft president cautions against Washington’s proposed ‘wealth tax’
Abrupt cancellations of federal grants causing ‘chaos’ at WA health agencies
Mother questions school training after incident on bus involving son who has autism
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson rejects state budget proposals citing concern over wealth tax, federal cuts (Hill, Riccelli)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Debate over taxes to balance budget
New Redmond light rail stations set to open soon
Limited train service to resume for Amtrak Cascades
Boeing CEO to testify in front of U.S. Senate over safety issues

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle dealership brace for potential tariff on imported cars
24 states sue Trump administration for cutting $11 billion in public health grants
Ferguson says a wealth tax will be vetoed, urges new discussions to clost $16B deficit
Tacoma deputy police chief separates from department after external agency investigation
Amazon, Alaska, Costco, Microsoft, Nordstrom asking Washington to skip payroll, wealth tax

KNKX Public Radio
How Seattle’s record-high minimum wage has — and hasn’t — paid off
Green card holders, travelers caught in Trump’s immigration crackdown

KUOW Public Radio
Federal health office in Seattle closing, WA lawmakers say
Eid moves one step closer to becoming a Washington state holiday (Salahuddin)
Looming taxes on E-Bike sales threaten to put a damper on local bike shops (Liias)
‘No budget gimmicks’: WA Gov. Ferguson won’t support legislative Democrats’ wealth tax plans
Washington joins multi-state lawsuit against Trump administration for cutting billions in public health funding

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Valley City Council passes resolution declaring it is not a ‘Sanctuary City’
Spokane research facility laying off all employees, shutting doors completely by end of June

NW Public Radio
Whitman County reports first flu-related death of the season

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Amtrak brings in replacement cars as stopgap measure on Cascades route
Port eyes business growth at Bellingham International Airport, surrounding areas

Cascade PBS
Gov. Ferguson rejects Democrats’ budget proposals with new taxes (Robinson)

MyNorthwest
Citing high taxes, Governor Bob Ferguson rejects Democratic budgets from Senate and House
‘A budget that relied only on cuts would set us backward’: WA Democrat defends tax increases (Robinson)

The Urbanist
Op-Ed: Don’t Believe Corporate Elite Claiming to Fight for ‘Affordable Washington’

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Wednesday watch
FOLLOWUP: King County Executive position moves from one West Seattleite to another – for now

Tuesday, April 1

‘We affirm you.’ Transgender pride flag flies over Tacoma Dome for first time
In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility, for the first time a blue, pink and white trans pride flag was flown over the Tacoma Dome on Monday. Similar flags were raised above the Tacoma Municipal Building, Tacoma Police Department headquarters and the Tacoma Fire Department, according to the city. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Brian Hayes)

Washington House passes budget, clearing way for talks with Senate
The Washington state House passed its budget just after midnight on Tuesday, setting the stage for negotiations with the Senate and the governor on a spending blueprint to address a looming multi-billion dollar shortfall. The House approved the two-year $77.8 billion operating budget on a 54-44 vote in which five Democrats joined all Republicans in opposition. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

Senate passes Transportation budget that increases gas tax, funds major projects
The Washington State Senate adopted a bipartisan transportation package on Saturday that would raise billions of dollars through higher gas taxes and some car registration fees, close a deficit in the transportation budget and fund the completion of the North Spokane Corridor. “Washington faces some serious transportation problems, from unsafe roads that contribute to a high number of traffic fatalities, to highway projects that are far from being completed, to a failing ferry system,” said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, the ranking Republican on the Transportation Committee. “The transportation budget passed by the Senate today reflects the collaboration and compromises from both sides as we try to fix our state’s transportation problems.” Continue reading at Spokesman-Review. (WSDOT)

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Axios
King County’s health wins come with affordability tradeoffs

Bellingham Herald
As Trump squeezes the immigrant workforce, employers seek relief
March 31 was Transgender Day of Visibility: About the history and celebration in WA state

Capital Press
USDA scientist asks bigger weed questions
Meat sales hit record high in 2024

Columbian
Washougal School District needs to make up to $1.5M in additional cuts as enrollment continues to drop

The Daily News
RiverCities mulls bus service in Rainier
Pause in Columbia River Treaty talks stokes worry for flood control
Children’s Justice and Advocacy Center hosts child abuse awareness events
Columbia Theatre plans for another century in Longview with $3.5M donation campaign

High Country News
Is a nuclear renaissance coming?
Bird flu finds its way into Western wildlife

Islands’ Weekly
Debate continues on fund to aid journalism (Kaiser)

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Rent cap law continues to move despite objections

Kitsap Sun
Poulsbo announces new municipal court judge following previous judge’s 31-year tenure

News Tribune
‘We affirm you.’ Transgender pride flag flies over Tacoma Dome for first time
Tacoma deputy police chief Paul Junger fired following workplace investigation
March 31 was Transgender Day of Visibility: About the history and celebration in WA state
Opinion: Rainier School is a home, not just a facility. WA lawmakers’ proposed closure cruel

New York Times
Millions of Women Will Lose Access to Contraception as a Result of Trump Aid Cuts

Northwest Asian Weekly
Bellevue student participates in state page program (Walen)

Olympian
WA mayors urge state leaders to avoid more taxes for businesses: ‘Crisis is existential’
‘Remove, Reverse, Reclaim’ protest on Saturday could bring thousands to Capitol Campus
March 31 was Transgender Day of Visibility: About the history and celebration in WA state

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA issues new fees on popular lending programs

Seattle Medium
How Inflation Of 10 Items In Seattle Compares To The Rest Of The Us
Trump And DOGE Target 14 Federal Buildings In Washington State For Lease Termination
A Good Care Team Makes A Significant Difference On The Road From Kidney Dialysis To Transplant

Seattle Times
WA may be getting new highways — for cyclists (Liias)
House Judiciary Committee investigating WA sanctuary policy
School district files federal complaint over WA policy on trans athletes
$5B proposal for salmon restoration aimed at addressing tribal lawsuit (Trudeau, Tharinger)
WA schools served food from local farms. Then Trump cut the program
Supreme Court seems likely to side with Catholic Charities in religious-rights case
Supreme Court weighs whether states can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood
Layoffs begin at US health agencies responsible for research, tracking disease and regulating food
Opinion: Rep. Frank Chopp was a champion of housing equality (Lovick)
Editorial: Cutting aid now for struggling students will cost a lot more later

Spokesman Review
Winter sea ice in the Arctic just hit a record low
Gov. Ferguson visits Spokane Veterans Home as state plans replacement project
Senate passes Transportation budget that increases gas tax, funds major projects (Liias, Fey)
Baumgartner and House Judiciary Committee investigating Washington AG, state’s sanctuary policies
Spokane Valley City Council considering reiterating it’s ‘not a sanctuary city’; resolution would carry no practical weight
Opinion: Spokane is not represented for 911 (Ormsby, Hill)

Washington Post
Massive layoffs, purge of leadership underway at U.S. health agencies
Where days of flooding rains, tornadoes and heavy snow will hit hardest
Trump aides draft universal tariff plans as some experts warn of economic havoc

WA State Standard
Washington Democrats divided on school funding plans
Washington House passes budget, clearing way for talks with Senate (Ormsby, Gregerson)

Wenatchee World
‘A humanitarian crisis’: Legal aid for unaccompanied minors slashed in Washington state

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima City Council could approve $1 million fund to help bring in new flights at airport

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tesla drivers in King County are seeking other EV options
Transgender hate crime in Seattle sparks outrage, calls for justice

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
KIRO 7 Investigates: License plate readers going in on SR-167
Social Security Administration implementing in-person ID checks
Docs: Man accused of impersonating ICE says he did it for a YouTube video
Teamsters not ‘giving up:’ Why Seattle school bus drivers may strike this week
WA sees uptick in opioid-related deaths, while nation sees first overall decline since 2018

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington hospitals brace for financial strain as Medicaid cuts could bring layoffs
New Seattle legislation reinforces protection for gender-affirming, reproductive care
Highway dangers escalate as road crew incidents rise sharply in western Washington
Auditor urges King County to reassess waste projects to curb rising trash service costs
Community urges tighter security for late-night venues following Rainier Beach tragedy

KUOW Public Radio
As Utah bans fluoride, two Washington cities consider the same
Tax the rich? Not so fast, say Microsoft, other Washington state businesses (Frame)
A stop-work notice for lawyers aiding unaccompanied minors hits close to home
Proposal to limit transgender athletes’ participation in sports blocked in Washington state

KXLY (ABC)
Concerns rise around proposed funding cuts for homeless services
Washington state lawmakers consider tax increases that could raise costs at the gas pump (Liias)
City Council votes to send letter to WA lawmakers urging them not to pause funding for North Spokane Corridor

NW Public Radio
United Farms Workers call for boycott of Windmill Farms products at Tacoma rally

Web

Cascadia Daily News
NWYS Skagit facility closed abruptly for safety and health concerns
Bellingham Public Library seeks donations to upgrade children’s department

Cascade PBS
Canada, U.S. Columbia River Treaty negotiations in jeopardy
WA lawmakers’ capital budgets boost housing, school & environment (Trudeau)

MyNorthwest
WA State Senate passes bill to hike gas tax (Liias)
Feds v. WA: Lawmakers challenge state’s sanctuary law thwarting immigration enforcement

The Urbanist
Seattle Police Department Is “Increasingly Unstable,” Email from Top Official Claims

Washington Observer
Senate boosts, inflation-proofs gas-tax (Krishnadasan, Cortes)
Transit-oriented housing takes a dicey turn (Reed, Liias, Bateman)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Welcome to April
TUESDAY: City Council’s Transportation Committee focuses on existing traffic-safety cameras

Monday, March 31

‘The feeling was of friendship’: Blaine border rallies meant to ease U.S.-Canada tensions
For the past few weeks, hundreds of Canadian and U.S. residents have participated in a weekly border rally in hopes of easing tensions from a trade war between the two governments, who have enjoyed friendship for decades as “children of a common mother,” according to a slogan etched on one side of the Peace Arch. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Jeffrey Smith)

Who’s stockpiling abortion pills amid bans
A growing number of people are requesting abortion medications before they’re pregnant, a shift driven in part by fears of future abortion bans, a study led by a University of Washington researcher suggests.Why it matters: The number of states enforcing near-total abortion bans since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022 has varied, but as of this month, 41 states have either restrictions on abortions after a certain point in pregnancy or near total bans, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Continue reading at Axios. (Shoshana Gordon)

Vaccine clinics canceled, health jobs cut as feds rescind grants to Washington state
Federal cuts are beginning to be felt in Washington state clinics, hospitals, and public health departments. The Centers for Disease Control immediately ended $130 million in “pandemic-related” grants this week, terminating jobs for over 200 employees at the state Department of Health, and potentially more at local health authorities, tribal clinics and community organizations. It’s part of a plan by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to overhaul the federal health department and gut its spending to make it more efficient. Just on the federal level, some 10,000 jobs are on the chopping block – at the CDC, FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and more. Continue reading at KUOW. (Getty)