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Thursday, April 21

Biden to issue Earth Day order to safeguard old-growth forests
President Biden will sign an executive order on Friday in Seattle laying the groundwork for protecting some of the biggest and oldest trees in America’s forests, according to five individuals briefed on the plan who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it was not yet finalized. Biden will direct the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to inventory mature and old-growth forests nationwide, three of the individuals said. He will also require the agencies to identify threats to these trees and to use that information to write policies that protect them. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Salwan Georges)

Summer wildfire smoke leaves mark, as Whatcom air quality ranked among 25 worst in U.S.
Wildfire smoke has choked portions of Whatcom County’s summers in recent years, impacting the quality of the air we all breathe. The American Lung Association has noticed, handing Whatcom County a failing grade for its air quality for a second straight year and placing it among the top 25 most polluted counties in the United States based on daily particulate matter. The Bellingham metropolitan area, which is basically all of Whatcom County, tied the Boise, Idaho, metro area (which includes a portion of eastern Oregon) for 24th most polluted by daily particulate matter, according to the American Lung Association’s 2022 State of the Air report, which was released Thursday, April 21. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Warren Sterling)

As COVID policies loosen, health officials urge caution
State health experts urge people to keep wearing masks in public even as they’re no longer federally or locally required on buses, ferries, planes and trains. Transit agencies across the Puget Sound region, including Everett Transit and Community Transit, announced Tuesday they’ve ended mask mandates for passengers. It is a “new era of this pandemic,” said Kathleen Custer, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 1576, the union that represents Community Transit drivers. She said the union has been frustrated by the agency’s apparent refusal to assist drivers with mask enforcement. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.

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Associated Press
Cannabis shop robberies, deaths fuel calls for banking bill
Justice Dept. to appeal order voiding travel mask mandate
Commuter airline to buy 75 Washington-built electric planes
CDC asks Justice Department to appeal judge’s travel mask mandate ruling

Bellingham Herald
Summer wildfire smoke leaves mark, as Whatcom air quality ranked among 25 worst in U.S.
Here’s what’s now open at Hovander Homestead Park as flood repairs continue

Capital Press
Statement describes Easterday’s post-plea actions

Everett Herald
As COVID policies loosen, health officials urge caution
Stanwood chief picked to lead Bellingham Police Department
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Column: When pieces of cloth become social battlegrounds
WaPo Comment: Were masks really such an imposition on liberty?

High Country News
Air quality report card flunks the West
EVs’ demand for copper escalates threat against Apache’s Oak Flat

Indian Country Today
NW tribe opposes water release for farmers
Earth Day across Indian Country
On Earth Day ‘the world is not on track’

The Inlander
Sixteen young Montanans will be first in the nation to take their climate change case to trial
Despite indicators of a healthy retail sector, some pandemic uncertainty can be hard to shake

Kitsap Sun
Face masks now optional on ferries, buses, planes and more after court ruling

News Tribune
Pierce County, Tacoma strike deal to develop long-vacant parcel into affordable housing
‘We’ve got an epidemic of lawlessness,’ Pierce County executive says in address

Olympian
Thurston County adds 189 new COVID-19 cases but hospitalizations hold steady
Board that oversees Thurston County public health to expand to eight members
Neighbors weigh in on troubled property as Thurston Commission OKs condemnation plan
Washington state COVID cases tick up. Should you be worried?
Pot shop customers can help protect WA cannabis retailers against robberies. Here’s how
Concerned about crowded emergency rooms? This Lacey proposal aims to help

Peninsula Daily News
Grant to aid plans for housing
County to lease encampment to OlyCAP

Port Townsend Leader
Jefferson Transit no longer requiring masks on buses

Puget Sound Business Journal
Why faculty morale is a major factor in higher education’s workforce problem
Report: New home construction is up, but projects are stalling at a higher rate
Pierce County to transfer 3-acre property to Tacoma for affordable housing
Washington health officials weigh in on mask mandates amid latest rise in Covid cases
As salary offers soar, here’s how much wages are rising in Seattle

Seattle Times
‘The ugliest building in downtown Seattle’ or ‘a piece of public art’? Either way, King County is closing it down
President Biden to make Portland and Seattle appearances starting Thursday
Seattle CEO and big-business antagonist Dan Price accused of assaulting woman after dinner meeting
Some unvaccinated Seattle-area firefighters are pushing to get their jobs back
Alaska Air cuts its growth plan for the year, but earnings beat expectations
Lagging behind national trend, Seattle workers not in hurry to return to the office
A first as the world warms: New forecasts could help predict marine heat waves
Editorial: Require safety courses for pistol-packing Washingtonians (Salomon)

Skagit Valley Herald
Anacortes updates Maritime Strategic Plan
Program uses the outdoors as a way to promote good health

South Seattle Emerald
A day to serve, a day to be well, and a day to connect across the Atlantic

Tri-City Herald
After 34 years, this Tri-Cities police chief is calling it quits
This new Tri-Cities prosecutor partnership promises justice for abused children
WA state charges Tri-Cities doctor with unprofessional conduct
Deal close in ‘ghost cattle’ scam that toppled one of NW’s largest ranch families

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Whitman College partners with Umatilla Indian Reservation for educational opportunity
Walla Walla Community College teacher won’t lose job after not getting vaccinated for COVID-19

Washington Post
Biden announces millions in new aid and a ban on Russian-affiliated ships
Rents are rising everywhere. See how much prices are up in your area.
Musk says he’s lined up $46.5 billion for his Twitter buy
What to know about the latest student loan forgiveness waiver
Biden to issue Earth Day order to safeguard old-growth forests
GOP turns to false insinuations of LGBTQ grooming against Democrats
Opinion: That ‘homeless person’ could be someone’s son. Mine, for instance.

Yakima Herald-Republic
State officials get a close up look at Union Gap, and its transportation issues
Yakima City Council adopts redistricting plan, adding third Latino district

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
President Biden to arrive in Seattle Thursday
Seattle law clinic helps target ‘wage theft’

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
President Biden to arrive in Seattle Thursday
Tacoma City Council unanimously passes ‘spectator ordinance’ to reduce street racing
Survey details how riders got hurt on Seattle scooters
Pot shop robberies, deaths fuel calls for US banking bill
Coronavirus: Justice Department to appeal ruling that voided indoor transportation mask mandate

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Biden to begin Earth Day trip to Seattle Thursday after stop in Portland, Oregon
With slight rise in COVID cases, Washington health officials see optimism in other trends

KUOW Public Radio
Delivery apps boomed during the pandemic. Gig workers say it’s time for companies to pay up.
The number of people fleeing Ukraine has surpassed 5 million
An unhoused woman built herself a weatherproof shed. Seattle just knocked it down

Q13 TV (FOX)
Seattle City Attorney drops nearly 2,000 cases to ease backlog
SPS to relax physical distancing in schools starting Monday
Scientists working to uncover mystery of disappearing salmon population in Pacific Northwest

Web

MyNorthwest
Joe Biden to arrive in Seattle Thursday night for his first visit as president
Tacoma City Council unanimously passes ‘spectator ordinance’ to reduce street racing
‘Focus remains on hospitalizations,’ WA health secretary says amid slight uptick in omicron cases
King County Metro involved in 104 preventable accidents over last four years
Justice Dept. to appeal order voiding travel mask mandate
Washington leaders rally around push to change banking laws for pot shops amid rash of robberies
Seattle Public Schools employee faces child molestation charges
PETA activists superglue themselves to counter at Seattle Starbucks headquarters
Seattle city attorney details plan to address case backlog with focus on violent crimes
King County adds additional sheriff patrols to downtown campus following courthouse incident
‘If Starbucks can do it, why not us?’: Lynnwood, Everett Verizon workers join union push
Six Eastside Fire & Rescue firefighters fired over vaccination status
After initial hesitance, Puget Sound transit agencies officially end mask requirements

The Stranger
Sen. Patty Murray Sees a Path to Finally Letting Pot Shops Use Banks
It’s High Time for Cannabis Equity in Seattle

Wednesday, April 20

More pandemic fallout: The chronically absent student
Isaac [Mosley] is one of millions of public school students across the United States who is considered chronically absent — often defined as missing 10 percent of the days in a school year, whether the absences are excused or not. “Chronic absence has skyrocketed” during the pandemic, said Hedy Chang, the director of Attendance Works, a national group that promotes solutions to chronic absenteeism, which been linked to weaker academic performance and can predict whether a student is more likely to drop out before finishing high school. Continue reading at The New York Times. (Ilana Panich-Linsman)

Washington just designated its first seagrass sanctuary. Here’s why.
Last month, the state of Washington announced a new kelp and eelgrass protection zone off the shores of Everett. Covering roughly 2,300 acres, this marine plant sanctuary is the first of its kind. Officials hope the designation will help preserve the vital ecosystem seagrass provides, while also opening an avenue to understand the threats seagrasses face. Seagrasses, which comprise local favorites like eelgrass and are adjacent to our famous kelp forests, support all kinds of life. Continue reading at KUOW. (Katie Campbell)

‘Seattleites should feel safe’: City attorney plans to eliminate criminal case backlog by 2023
Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison says her office will eliminate the criminal case backlog, which was up to nearly 5,000 cases when she took office in January, before 2023 under a new plan. Davison, who inherited the backlog after taking over the office from Pete Holmes, announced the new plan Tuesday, saying it has been informed by former U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. “Today’s plan will eliminate the backlog by the end of the year. We will also improve the processes of the Criminal Division to prevent another miscarriage of justice like this backlog,” Davison said Tuesday in a statement. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
Seattle Seeks Volunteers to Help With Litter, Graffiti

Bainbridge Island Review
U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on WA state law to help ill Hanford nuclear workers

Bellingham Herald
City selects Stanwood police chief to lead Bellingham Police Department
Good luck getting solar any time soon. Here’s how Bellingham, Whatcom colleges plan to help
Here’s what a federal official learned about pandemic funds in Bellingham classroom visit
Employees at this Bellingham Starbucks are petitioning for a union election
As judge ends transportation mask mandate, agencies around Whatcom County make it optional

Capital Press
Washington mulls rule for working in smoke

Columbian
Vancouver sees wins, losses from Legislature (Cleveland)
Opinion: In Our View: Salary transparency will benefit workers (Randall)

The Daily News
Housing authority received more than 1,300 applications for voucher waiting list

Everett Herald
Swift Orange line to link Edmonds, Mill Creek to Lynnwood rail (Fey, Liias)
Community Transit, Paine Field, ferries drop mask requirement
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Comment: Even amid climate change harms, reason for optimism
Bloomberg Comment: What to expect when expecting inflation to linger

High Country News
How marijuana, legal and not, is reshaping the West

The Inlander
Downtown Spokane COVID test site reopens near CHAS this week

News Tribune
Tacoma police chief debuts citywide crime reduction plan focused on violent crime
With new federal rules in place, what is Pierce Transit doing about its mask mandate?

New York Times
More Pandemic Fallout: The Chronically Absent Student
With Inflation, Workers Are Facing Return-to-Office Sticker Shock
How America’s Farmers Got Cut Out of the Supply Chain

Olympian
Examiner expects to approve permit for off-campus emergency department in Lacey
Masks no longer mandatory on Intercity Transit buses and other vehicles

Peninsula Daily News
Transit masking is now optional

Puget Sound Business Journal
Sea-Tac Airport, Alaska Airlines announce changes to mask policies
Delta pilots picket at Sea-Tac Airport amid industrywide scheduling challenges
Amazon hires former US attorney general to conduct racial equity audit
Restaurants push Senate for more Covid-19 relief funding

Seattle Times
Startups promise Seattle home shoppers a way to buy a new home before they sell their old one
What Seattle learned from one year of electric scooters
What to know about Sea-Tac Airport’s new arrivals facility
How do you move the needle on literacy? This Eastside city is retraining teachers
Community Transit breaks ground on voter-approved bus corridor in Snohomish County
King County Metro could be more proactive about safety, audit finds
Editorial: WA insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler’s apology for racist slurs is inadequate
Sens. Dhingra and Saldaña: Women of color are changing the dialogue in WA’s Legislature

Skagit Valley Herald
Deputy secretary of education visits Sedro-Woolley school
Skagit Transit no longer requiring masks

Sol De Yakima
Mascarillas son opcionales en autobuses de Yakima Transit, Terminal Aérea de Yakima
Aeropuertos de Washington se apresuran a informar sobre cambio en uso de mascarillas.
Condado de Yakima priorizará salud pública, seguridad, servicios públicos para fondos ARPA

South Seattle Emerald
What led to an impending Hutchinson Park overhaul: an advocacy story
New intertribal parenting group offers Indigenous families a way to reconnect with tradition
Davison’s plan to clear case backlog includes dismissing nearly 2,000 misdemeanors

Spokesman Review
Former Bureau of Reclamation employee in Ephrata receives $1.7M age discrimination judgment
City to restart process for proposals for east Spokane homeless shelter, citing potential conflicts of interest
Northwest Flight Service relocates to new hangar, training facility at Felts Field

Washington Post
Mariupol ‘holding on’ despite calls to surrender; West to send fighter jets
You don’t have to wear a mask on planes. Do it anyway, experts say.
For Ala. families with trans kids, a countdown to decide their futures
The rise of solo judges nixing nationwide policies

Yakima Herald-Republic
Increase in Yakima County housing sales flattens a bit in March
Yakima tweaks school choice process in attempt to balance student populations at Davis and Ike
Masks optional on Yakima Transit buses, at Yakima Air Terminal
Opinion: We can’t stop wind, but we can stop COVID
Letter: Quit whining — things could be much worse
Letter: Putin’s cruel war helps us focus on gratitude

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘Seattleites should feel safe’: City attorney plans to eliminate criminal case backlog by 2023
Lt. Governor says state legislators should earn higher salary (Heck)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Commuter airline to buy 75 Washington-built electric planes
Tacoma police chief outlines citywide crime reduction plan
Gig Harbor police officer fires at suspect who pointed gun at police
Delta pilots picket at SEA, citing fatigue from staffing shortfall
Groundbreaking held for new Snohomish County rapid bus line
Seattle city attorney details plan to reduce criminal case backlog
Puget Sound-area public transportation agencies drop mask mandate

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Tacoma Police Department working with Texas criminologists to take down violent crime
Bethel School District says they faces hundreds of job cuts if levy is not approved
Seattle City Attorney Davison announces plan to eliminate staggering case backlog

NKX Public Radio
‘It’s a huge deal’: Federal dollars speed up Port Angeles project
WA insurance commissioner apologizes for using racial slurs

KUOW Public Radio
Dozens of Northwest places have a slur in their name. People are coming up with replacement names
Washington just designated its first seagrass sanctuary. Here’s why.
Voice of the farmworker: How Spanish-language radio cultivated community in Yakima Valley
Seattle Now: POTUS in the PNW
DOJ may appeal mandate ruling, if the CDC says masks are still needed

KXLY (ABC)
Masks no longer required on Spokane Transit Authority buses
City to restart selection process for provider of new homeless shelter

NW Public Radio
Employees Say State Insurance Chief Used Racist Slurs, Mistreated Staff

Q13 TV (FOX)
State leaders pushing for pot shop banking legislation
Seattle attorney shares plan to knock down city’s backlog cases

Web

Crosscut
WA Supreme Court to hear fraud case concerning Value Village
Podcast | The toll that ’normal’ school takes on students of color
WA prosecutors who withhold evidence rarely face discipline (Dhingra)
As the light rail expands, so do housing options for UW students

The Stranger
City Attorney’s Office Will Decline to Prosecute Nearly 2,000 Cases to Help Clear Pandemic-Related Backlog
King County Deems Paying Real Rent to Duwamish an “Inappropriate” Use of Public Funds

Tuesday, April 19

Fed up with lackluster reading scores, Wenatchee schools turned to science
Until this year, Sofia was among the roughly 50% of students in Washington state who were reading below grade level. But under a model of instruction adopted by the Wenatchee School District in 2019, the third grader has now surpassed her age group in reading, according to the district’s assessments. She can rattle off the meaning of “morpheme” (the smallest meaningful part of a word) and spot prefixes and suffixes on the fly. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Washington’s newest state park is taking shape, and it’s in Pierce County
A new state park that would incorporate the Nisqually River confluences with the Mashel River and Ohop Creek was just a dream in 1987 when state planners first proposed it. Now, 35 years later, Nisqually State Park is taking shape as the first state park with a campground co-managed with a tribal government. Washington State Parks wants to include the public on how facilities and trails should look at the state’s newest park. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Steve Bloom)

Planes, trains and ferries: Where are masks still required while traveling in Washington?
Nationally, most major airlines have announced they have lifted their mask requirements, but in Washington state, some public transit agencies are still requiring them. Alaska Airlines announced Monday that passengers would no longer be required to wear masks in the air, and Sea-Tac International Airport said the TSA would no longer be requiring masks. However, other local transportation companies are keeping their mask requirements in place while they wait to see if the federal government appeals the ruling. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
President Joe Biden to visit Pacific Northwest
Masks required on Seattle-area buses and trains, not ferries
Masks optional on Alaska Airlines after court ruling
Cheers and fears as US ends mask mandates for travel
Klickitat County denied parts of Yakama Reservation it wanted

Bellingham Herald
Time in the White House and fighting for the Sacred Sea. A Lummi matriarch tells her story
As judge ends transportation mask mandate, Bellingham airport awaits guidance from CDC
Bellingham hospital hits COVID milestone, while Whatcom reaches vaccination mark
Op-Ed: Inslee and Ferguson: SAFE Banking Act is a matter of life and death for WA pot businesses

Capital Press
Infrastructure package invests $31 million in landscape restoration

Courier-Herald
Feds to rename derogatory Mount Rainier National Park lake

The Daily News
Fentanyl drives increase in drug overdose deaths in Washington, Cowlitz County

Everett Herald
Why Snohomish County’s youthful murderers are being resentenced
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Comment: Better access to methadone can ease opioid OD deaths
Bloomberg Comment: Slower Fed acts on inflation, worse recession will be
WaPo Comment: Fact check: Biden blaming inflation on Putin takes explaining
WaPo Comment: GOP had its chances to elevate Black women jurists

Indian Country Today
Supreme Court denies claim to portion of Yakama lands

International Examiner
A push for racial justice, one BIPOC farmer at a time

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Climate and Sustainability Advisory Committee to launch on the eve of Earth Day

News Tribune
Name of Pierce County deputy who shot man during suspected child abuse call is released
Washington’s newest state park is taking shape, and it’s in Pierce County

North American Post
Looking South: Anglophone Canadian Reactions to Japanese American Incarceration – Part 2

Olympian
U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on WA state law to help ill Hanford nuclear workers
WA airports scramble after mask ruling. Delta, Alaska already lift in-flight mandates

Peninsula Daily News
Housing grant approval expected
Jefferson County to address encampment’s future

Puget Sound Business Journal
Meta says headcount has grown faster than expected in Washington state

Seattle Medium
Conventions Returning To Downtown Seattle

Seattle Times
What you need to know about changing mask rules in Seattle area, WA and the U.S.
Drug overdoses: How to be safe and find help in Seattle and across WA
Tacoma’s pioneering needle exchange now using smoking supplies to reach fentanyl, meth users
WA insurance chief Mike Kreidler apologizes for using racist slurs
Seattle street barber gives out more than just free haircuts
Fed up with lackluster reading scores, Wenatchee schools turned to science
Road rage, injury at Pike Place Market comes amid debate over limiting vehicle traffic
WA ferries drop mask rule, but most Seattle-area transit agencies keep theirs
Opinion: For the next King County sheriff, we need a proven change agent

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County Board of Commissioners may vote on planning changes

South Seattle Emerald
5 places in south Seattle President Biden should visit
Delridge traffic barrier causes hardship for community preschool

Tri-City Herald
Richland names new police chief. She’s the 1st woman to hold the job
U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on WA state law to help ill Hanford nuclear workers
WA airports scramble after mask ruling. Delta, Alaska already lift in-flight mandates

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Milton-Freewater asparagus farmer loses week’s crop to frost
College Place continues discussions on possible ambulance utility fee
Future uncertain for Touchet Valley Trail between Dayton and Waitsburg

Washington Post
End of federal transportation mask mandate greeted with confusion, relief
Russia begins ‘battle for Donbas’ in east, sets new Mariupol surrender deadline
The U.S. will boycott some G-20 meetings to protest Russia’s invasion
Biden restores climate safeguards in key environmental law, reversing Trump
Border numbers jump in March, with striking increase in Ukrainians
Report: Majority of renters can’t afford to buy in their city

Yakima Herald-Republic
Moderna announces step toward updating COVID shots for fall
Glenwood Valley is within Yakama Reservation, U.S. Supreme Court affirms
Stay up-to-date on vaccines before Omicron strain increases cases in Yakima, health official urges

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Planes, trains and ferries: Where are masks still required while traveling in Washington?
A group of King County firefighters plea to drop vaccine mandate as jobs put in jeopardy
Langley swears in first Black police chief
Uber, Lyft drop COVID mask requirements

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
State ferries drop masks, but still required on most Seattle-area public transportation
Alaska Airlines, other major airlines make masks optional, effective immediately
Delta pilots to picket at SEA, citing fatigue from staffing shortfall
Six Eastside Fire & Rescue firefighters fired over vaccination status
Tacoma demolition accident leads to power outages
Federal judge voids national mask mandate for travelers
3 light rail stations to be reduced to a single track due to maintenance work
Mayor announces ‘One Seattle Day of Service,’ volunteer event to clean up city

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Masks no longer required aboard Washington State Ferries
Florida judge’s ruling to toss air masks for planes stirs confusion, elation, anxiety
Unvaccinated King County firefighters facing deadline to comply with mandate or lose job
Teachers union asks Seattle Public Schools to add more COVID-19 protocols

KUOW Public Radio
TSA will no longer enforce travel mask mandate after a federal judge strikes it down
Mayor Bruce Harrell looks back on his first 100 days and details his plans moving forward
Ukraine says Russia’s offensive in Donbas has begun. Here’s what we know
China’s temp agencies recruit underemployed migrants to enforce lockdown restrictions
Pentagon says Russia is still laying the groundwork for offensive in eastern Ukraine

KXLY (ABC)
Seattle proposes minimum wage for DoorDash, Rover, other gig workers
WA prosecutors who withhold evidence rarely face discipline (Dhingra)

Q13 TV (FOX)
Mask mandate for travelers: Where masks are optional, still required in Washington
Climate change is killing Northwest salmon, scientists warn

Web

MyNorthwest
Masking rules no longer in effect at Sea-Tac Airport, Paine Field
Seattle restaurants gradually returning to pre-pandemic volume amid mixed city revenue forecast
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Klickitat County’s claim to portion of Yakama Indian Reservation
Mayor Harrell unveils sweeping volunteer initiative as part of One Seattle vision

West Seattle Blog
GONDOLA? West Seattle SkyLink’s response to Sound Transit’s feasibility report
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: 10 days left to comment; 2 meetings this week

Monday, April 18

It’s not over: COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in US
Yet again, the U.S. is trudging into what could be another COVID-19 surge, with cases rising nationally and in most states after a two-month decline. One big unknown? “We don’t know how high that mountain’s gonna grow,” said Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University. No one expects a peak nearly as high as the last one, when the contagious omicron version of the coronavirus ripped through the population. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (David Zalubowski)

WA has more money for transit, bikes, pedestrians — but who gets to spend it?/strong>
The only problem with “walk to school day” in Coupeville, Island County, on Whidbey Island, is that not every student has a path to walk. “There are some routes where kids live where they’re walking on the street or there’s no bike lane,” said Donna Keeler, Coupeville’s planning director. This is just the sort of problem the state’s “active transportation” grants are meant to address — a pot of money for communities to build out bike and pedestrian projects and safe routes to school. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Lawmakers provided $800M for homeless programs, but advocates say there’s more to be done
For multiple years, the Washington legislature has attempted to come up with new programs to help people in the state who are experiencing homelessness. This year’s investments, totaling more than $800 million, are the most ever allocated in a session. While several organizations that worked on legislation this year think the state is on the right path, they still believe more can be done to move Washington forward. Data from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness shows that 22,923 people in the state were experiencing homelessness as of January 2020. Continue reading at The Olympian.

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Associated Press
Yakima growers worry about cold snap impact on fruit crop
It’s not over: COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in US
Biden to require US-made steel, iron for infrastructure

Aberdeen Daily World
Local child care providers struggle to balance financial realities and parental needs

Bellingham Herald
Wheelchair users are free to roll along the road where sidewalk access is restricted
Here’s how housing in Bellingham, Whatcom is stacking up
COVID started it. Will rising food prices continue this trend?
We flush and forget, but should bio-sludge go on crops? Bellingham Council considers
This drag show grant for Whatcom Middle School draws criticism on conservative media
Major delays at the Whatcom border crossings as Canadians celebrate long weekend
These are some surprising positives for Whatcom County’s spring economic outlook
Op-Ed: Fourth-generation forester says thriving forestry sector needs private and trust lands

Capital Press
Highly contagious avian flu confirmed in Idaho
Easterday settlement filed in bankruptcy court
White House study of lower Snake River dams raises farmers’ questions

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Building bridges; map morass

Everett Herald
I-5 HOV lane, Highway 529 interchange work to start this year
Snohomish, Everett robotics teams headed to world competition
Bike lane considered for stretch of Madison Street in Everett
Bikes, horses, hikers: At Lord Hill Park, who gets priority?
Catching waves and wind: Clean energy search turns offshore
Schools eye fixes to leaky roofs, aging boilers, old tech
Verizon stores in Everett, Lynnwood vote to join union
Study reveals how public, officers feel about Everett police
Sultan, Granite Falls face cuts if school levies fail again
Comment: Exports offer county’s small businesses recovery path
Letter: Keep state forests in timber production
Comment: State’s $40 million stake will aid small businesses
Editorial: Playing whack-a-mole against teen use of nicotine
Letter: Prison not an effective deterrent to crime
Column: Media failing public on economy’s strong job numbers
Comment: Inflation’s new normal may be 4%; get used to it
Comment: What the neutral terms of ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bills do say

High Country News
A revolution, a Coast Salish story, a memoir

Indian Country Today
Tribes holding out hope of salmon recovery
In drought-stricken West, officials weigh emergency actions
Boosting equity in the federal government

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap Mental Health Services expands facility in Bremerton for youth programs (Simmons, Rolfes)

News Tribune
Want people to support development in Tacoma? Don’t shut off their power on short notice
Megachurch prompted Pierce County city to examine its code. But it’s back to square one
Sheriff’s deputy shoots, wounds Parkland man during standoff after child calls 911

New York Times
What if Public Funds Were Controlled by the Public?
Americans Over 60 Should Get Second Booster, Official Says

North American Post
The Tokita World War II Diary

Olympian
Tumwater police say pandemic, legislation lowered crime statistics in 2021
Olympia’s hotel stays for the homeless helped few gain housing. Most are back on the streets
Lawmakers provided $800M for homeless programs, but advocates say there’s more to be done
Millions behind on student loan payments being offered fresh start. What to know
New law could affect the way voters in WA decide on ballot initiatives

Peninsula Daily News
Improved reporting sees rise in COVID
Housing grant approval expected

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amid labor shortages, businesses are taking a more proactive approach to college recruitment
How much office-upfit costs have surged, and how they’re factoring in to space decisions
Here’s how the March housing market fared and what’s on the horizon
Delta pilots plan to picket at Sea-Tac Airport over heavy schedules
Washington’s manufacturing workforce is shrinking, but don’t blame the robots
Opinion: It’s a critical moment for Boeing and China
SBA releases ‘equity plan’ to better serve minority-owned businesses

Seattle Times
3 WA cities among nation’s most physically active
How do you move the needle on literacy? This Eastside city is retraining teachers
Why you keep hearing the word ‘grooming’ in the news
Russian-speaking families in Seattle area split: That Ukraine video is fake!
WA insurance chief Mike Kreidler accused of using racist slurs; staff allege mistreatment
WA has more money for transit, bikes, pedestrians — but who gets to spend it?
With COVID-19 and now abortion, WA is Idaho’s civilization. Can that hold?
Editorial: Pairing health care and housing to reduce chronic homelessness (Chopp)
Opinion: A COVID-19 lesson: America needs to invest in K-12 science

Skagit Valley Herald
Number of new COVID-19 cases in Skagit County takes slight dip

South Seattle Emerald
No judgment fitness brings LGBTQ+ and fat positive fitness to White Center
What I wish my younger self knew about money that no one told me
Examining the Seattle Chamber of Commerce poll

Tri-City Herald
Private plane crashes and flips at Richland Airport
Car charging stations coming to WA’s scenic White Pass thanks to a Tri-Cities agency
Tri-Cities has one of worst rates of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in WA state
Yes, cougars live near Tri-Cities. But why are we seeing so many this spring?
‘Fantastic time.’ Here’s what Tri-Cities astronaut will remember about her months in space
More COVID deaths in Tri-Cities as new case rates tick upward elsewhere. Boosters urged
Tri-Cities students shared hard-learned advice from COVID pandemic. It’s now a book
Amazon plans Tri-Cities job fair in April. Warehouse hiring coming this summer
Tri-Cities transit riders speak out against cuts. Board debates trimming taxes
Wheelchair users are free to roll along the road where sidewalk access is restricted
Watch Richland, Washington astronaut Kayla Barron speak from space

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla law enforcement adjusts to evolving reform laws
Temporary storage containers, new buildings planned for Port of Walla Walla’s Burbank Business Park
Old Shopko store in Walla Walla swarms with activity again — as temporary training ground for active-shooter drills
Head of Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla being replaced
Columbia Pulp ordered to relinquish assets to property manager in postponement of sale for debts

Washington Post
The nuclear missile next door
Missiles strike Lviv as Ukrainian forces refuse to surrender in Mariupol
Elon Musk wants a free speech utopia. Technologists clap back.
A food pantry’s closure means more than lost meals for hundreds of families
On Tax Day, the White House takes aim at GOP Sen. Rick Scott’s tax plan
Americans’ taxes used to be public — until the rich revolted
You agreed to what? Tax sites want your data for more than filing.

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County planning commission to address potential loophole for kitchens at wineries, breweries
The Yakima City Council is setting up new climate advisory board. Here’s how it will work
Bloomberg Opinion: Biden moves forward on gun violence
Letter: Do you hear your hypocrisy, Sen. Honeyford?

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Delta pilots to picket at Sea-Tac Airport over schedules causing ‘fatiguing trips’

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Unvaccinated firefighters face termination
SR 520 on-ramp closure in Redmond impacts thousands of commuters
Ukrainians ‘weep and pray’ for peace on what is their Palm Sunday
First of final concrete pours for West Seattle Bridge begin
Delta pilots to picket at Sea-Tac Airport citing fatigue from staffing shortfall
First Black US attorney for the Western District of Washington hopes to make lasting impact
Major delays at the Whatcom border crossings as Canadians celebrate long weekend

KVVU FOX 26 Medford
President Biden to visit Portland next week to talk infrastructure (Cleveland)

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Low Income Housing Institute offers space in downtown Seattle for police precincts
Tacoma businesses hope for more police presence throughout city

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle’s Payroll Tax May Survive Legal Threat
It’s time to screen all kids for anxiety, physicians’ task force recommends

KXLY (ABC)
War in Ukraine affects global food chain: meat, wheat, vegetable oil prices at all-time high

Web

Crosscut
Seattle proposes minimum wage for DoorDash, Rover, other gig workers
Small and rural WA restaurants left behind by SBA relief program

MyNorthwest
State insurance commissioner issues second apology in as many months, this time over reports of racial slurs
Marshawn Lynch, Macklemore join with Seattle Kraken as part-owners
Seattle sees positive results from scooter share pilot, lays groundwork for full-time program
Delta Airlines pilots to become latest to picket at Sea-Tac citing strain from low staffing
Seattle takes another shot at renter protections after failed eviction moratorium extension
Sound Transit reworks communications system after 6-hour closure of two light rail stations
Could newly-enacted changes to ballot initiatives curtail effort to repeal capital gains tax?
Return to mask mandate not in Washington’s ‘best interest’ right now, says state epidemiologist
Workers at two Seattle Starbucks take to picket lines on Friday over claims of union busting
Boycotting Russia? Watch out for king crab, says Seattle fishmonger
Fire safety outage closes Sound Transit’s University District and Roosevelt stations
King County health officer provides context behind recent rise in COVID cases
FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft from Sea-Tac, crash

The Stranger
The Seattle City Council Considers Giving You More Time to Pay Back Your Landlord

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: What’s up, what’s down in this week’s local trend check
WATER TAXI CHANGES: Reduced service Monday-Wednesday; summer schedule starts Thursday
From White Center Now: Balloon blamed for power outage
VIDEO: Specialized concrete arrives for West Seattle Bridge repairs
WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Duwamish Alive! brings hundreds of helping hands to Seattle’s only river

Friday, April 15

Homelessness, behavioral health take precedence in ‘historic’ WA spending plan
The Washington Legislature is using one of the largest infusions of federal money in state history to invest in a wide spectrum of attempts to reduce homelessness. Supported largely by surplus revenue, fewer debts and leftover federal funds from the American Rescue Plan, the extra money meant Democrats could be ambitious in their spending to address some of the state’s hot-button issues around homelessness. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Alex Berner/The Seattle Times)

Report To Washington State Parks Commission Shows Barriers For Black Community Outdoors
The Washington State Parks Commission says it wants more Black community members to enjoy the outdoors. Trina Baker didn’t grow up hiking, camping or adventuring in the snow. However, as soon as she began walking outdoors with GirlTrek, a program designed to get Black women outdoors, Baker said she fell in love with nature. Continue reading at Northwest Public Broadcasting. (Udo S/Flickr)

Washington Ends Practice Of Parents Paying For Their Child’s Incarceration
After more than three decades, a law that dramatically impacted families in the state of Washington was repealed. The policy, known as “parent pay,” which required parents to pay for their child’s time in incarceration, came to an end last month with overwhelming bipartisan support. The executive director of the Washington State Stand for Children advocacy group, Kia Franklin, called the program “exploitative, inequitable, and destabilizing.” Continue reading at South Seattle Emerald.