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Tuesday, July 11

Rep. Ramel: Big Oil, not cap and trade, is gouging your wallet
Over the last few weeks, the public has been increasingly besieged by a public relations campaign focusing our attention on gas prices in Washington. You, your family and your wallet should be aware of what’s truly at stake here — corporations that stand to profit would prefer to blame Olympia when gas prices go up. The Climate Commitment Act is already utilizing revenue raised from its first two auctions to help our communities have access to affordable active transportation, alternative fuel and electrification that creates good-paying jobs, and modernizing our railways, ports and ferry systems. This funding will tangibly change Washington for the better. If oil companies or their surrogates suggest repealing the Climate Commitment Act, we should ask what they propose to replace it. Until I hear a better idea, I’m convinced that polluters’ pay is a fair system and an efficient way to support the emerging clean economy, a healthy, clean energy workforce, and real climate justice. Continue reading at Cascadia Daily News. (Hailey Hoffman)

Washington’s juries have a diversity problem, survey finds
People of color and those with lower incomes are underrepresented in Washington’s juries, according to a report released Monday. Black and Native jurors in particular “continue to face greater barriers to jury service,” Frank Thomas, an analyst for the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, said in a statement. The study, completed by the Minority and Justice Commission in partnership with Seattle University researchers, collected nearly 250,000 usable survey responses over 17 months in 2022 and 2023. The authors of the report say it’s the largest and most comprehensive survey to date of juror demographics in Washington. On average, people who reported for jury service were more educated and had higher household incomes than the median in their respective counties. The study uses data from demographic surveys required under a state law the Legislature passed in 2021. The purpose of the effort is to determine whether people reporting for jury duty are representative of their respective counties’ demographics.. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

WA public colleges match private schools on diversity despite affirmative action restriction
Washington’s public universities are just as diverse as the state’s private colleges, even though they’ve had to work under a statewide ban on affirmative action for the past 25 years. Neither public nor private colleges are racially representative of the K-12 school population at large. But the available enrollment data from four-year colleges with more than 1,000 students show both types of colleges are around 50% students of color. As colleges around the country navigate the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling on race-conscious admissions, Washington and several other states with their own affirmative action bans might serve as examples of what happens to college enrollments if more colleges adopt a “race-neutral” doctrine when making decisions on applications. If Washington’s experience were indicative of the country, minus the most selective of institutions, not much would change — at least in the long term. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Alan Berner)

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Associated Press
Judge holds Washington state in contempt for not providing services to mentally ill people in jails

Axios
How Seattle-area demographics have changed since 2000
Republicans want to make state’s long-term care tax optional (Billig)

Columbian
Report: Crime up in Clark County and Washington

The Daily News
Coweeman River Bridge closes for inspection Thursday

Everett Herald
Edmonds drops $100K deposit on 10 acres off Highway 99
25 Snohomish County cooling centers provide a safe place to cool off
Paine Field or Sea-Tac? A tale of two prices
Port of Everett welcomes back ferry rides to Jetty Island
Comment: New tools can help high school grads get career skills
Comment: Officials, individuals must prepare for extreme heat
Comment: Finding a back door for popular gun restrictions

News Tribune
Opinion: Affirmative action ruling creates big opportunity for US schools. The kids deserve it

Olympian
Housing opportunity vanishes as new owner of Oyo Hotel plans no change, port official says

Puget Sound Business Journal
Why American manufacturing might be hitting a ‘supercycle’
Seattle one of the best big cities for biking, report says

Seattle Times
WA public colleges match private schools on diversity despite affirmative action restriction
WA Republicans propose making new long-term care tax optional (Keiser, Billig, Macri)
Homicides, violent crime up in WA as police staffing hits all-time low
UW study: Marine heat waves can endanger healthy seabird populations
Editorial: Congress must stand up to tech bullying on news content
Opinion: Increase federal investment in agriculture research institutions

Spokesman Review
After four years steering the City Council, Breean Beggs signs off
UW report offers solutions to help prevent deaths during WA heat waves
Veterans face Aug. 9 deadline for retroactive toxic exposure benefits
Campfire bans begin to take hold in Washington as dry weather persists
EWU graduate who bounced around foster homes credits state assistance for defying odds, receiving degree
Opinion: Increasing language access helps in many ways
Opinion: What is the legacy we are leaving with assault weapons?

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla seniors to share housing challenges at upcoming listening sessions
Walla Walla Public Schools receives $1.6M grant
Army Corps of Engineers plans herbicide treatments at Lake Wallula

WA State Standard
Murders hit record, auto thefts soared in 2022, new figures show
Washington’s juries have a diversity problem, survey finds

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee Valley schools project continued enrollment decline

Yakima Herald-Republic
WA Commerce director Mike Fong promotes affordable housing programs in visit to Yakima
Editorial: Look around — the climate has already changed

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Push to change public disclosure laws after trans woman’s complaint leads to harassment, death threats

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
TSA intercepts more than 3,000 firearms in first half of 2023
Budget cuts spark widespread concern: Washington school districts face backlash over potential job losses, program cuts

KUOW Public Radio
UW, other hospitals in Washington state relax masking policies
It’s hot. For farmworkers without federal heat protections, it could be life or death

KXLY (ABC)
More speed cameras could be coming to neighborhoods soon
Spokane Transit’s 10 years of work pays off with City Line

NW Public Radio
Solar development maps: Where is there less conflict?
Support outside of the classroom: how one western Washington school district aims to help families

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham’s tiny home villages must move next year
Hundred Acre Wood to be protected in perpetuity
Rep. Ramel: Big Oil, not cap and trade, is gouging your wallet

MyNorthwest
Yakima County, businesses raise funds to get more flights to Seattle

Monday, July 10

Judge holds Washington state in contempt for not providing services to mentally ill people in jails
A federal judge has found Washington state in contempt and ordered it to pay more than $100 million in fines for failing to provide timely psychiatric services to mentally ill people who are forced to wait in jails for weeks or months. In her order released late Friday, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman said the Washington Department of Social and Health Services has been violating the constitutional rights of these people since 2015 due to a “lack of foresight, creativity, planning and timely response to a crisis of its own making.” Continue reading at The Olympian. (Getty Images)

UW report offers solutions to help prevent deaths during WA heat waves
Two years after the 2021 heat dome, Washington’s deadliest weather-related disaster, researchers are still trying to pin down its full impacts and what lessons can be learned. Officials estimate 126 people died from the heat between June 26 and July 2, 2021, when Washington set 128 all-time high temperature records, including in Seattle where people sweltered in up to 108 degrees. But a new report from the University of Washington says the heat dome was likely far deadlier, with 441 more people dying during that week than would have been expected based on previous years, after accounting for COVID-19. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Colin Mulvany / The Associated Press)

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Columbian
Ridgefield troubled waters: Failures in stormwater system send runoff into an already ailing Gee Creek
Spectacular Silver Star: Recreation planners foresee area as next big zone for increased hiking and camping access
Hayden Island holds its breath as Interstate Bridge Project takes shape
Editorial: In Our View: Homeless aren’t newcomers, but our neighbors
Editorial: In Our View: Take long and slow look at traffic issues, Buttigieg

The Daily News
New digital permit applications, virtual inspections aim to speed building in Cowlitz County

Everett Herald
Deputies shoot Sultan man who was reportedly wielding knife
Snohomish County to fund 360 new child care slots
Sauk-Suiattle members urge feds to step in against leaders ‘abusing’ power

News Tribune
Newlyweds, free hugs and drag queens. Tacoma turns out for LGBTQ Pride on Saturday

Olympian
Judge holds Washington state in contempt for not providing services to mentally ill people in jails
McEwan fire in Shelton now 70% contained, cause still under investigation

Peninsula Daily News
High fire risk expected to continue on Peninsula
Full burn bans in effect on Peninsula

Seattle Medium
Energy Response Unit – ENERGY 1 Unveiled To Fight Electrical Fires

Seattle Times
UW report offers solutions to help prevent deaths during WA heat waves
What survived Seattle schools’ budget cuts, and what didn’t
Column: Why some tragic deaths seem to matter more than others
Flags stolen, vandalized throughout Washington during Pride month

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla, Columbia counties see positive signs in May job growth
Grain merchant predicts poor yields for Walla Walla Valley wheat growers
WWCC wine program now accepts part-time students

WA State Standard
Gluesenkamp Perez dishes on gas prices, energy policy and electric vehicles
Centuries-old discriminatory policies cast long shadow on Puget Sound region

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
9-year-old injured in drive-by shooting at Point Defiance Park
Snohomish County allocating $7.6 million to increase high-quality, affordable childcare

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington residents express concerns before annual crime report release
CenturyLink fined $923,000 for unlawfully disconnecting Washington customers during pandemic
Washington state department slapped with $100 million fine for neglecting mental health services in jails
Mayor Bruce Harrell assures readiness as Seattle expects influx of fans for MLB All-Star festivities
What to know about Tacoma’s Pride celebrations starting this weekend

KNKX Public Radio
It’s hot. For farmworkers without federal heat protections, it could be life or death
Red flag, dry conditions, multiple wildfires worry Northwest fire managers after July Fourth holiday

KUOW Public Radio
Inside Seattle Schools’ budget: Staff cuts, but no teacher layoffs or school closures
Why many judges in WA won’t order abusers to turn in guns (Davis)
Week in Review: Air quality, guns, and SCOTUS
Child care gets $7.6 million boost in Snohomish County
It’s still Pride month in Tacoma where the celebration continues through July

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane City Council raises questions about proposed housing entity
Potential UPS strike threatens small businesses

NW Public Radio
DOJ’s Regional Outreach program will strengthen investigation of MMIP cases in eastern Washington

Q13 TV (FOX)
Fire season on track to match ‘some of the most devastating wildfire years’ in Washington

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Compass Health works to fill gaps in youth mental health services
Community celebrates Pride amid national anti-LGBTQ+ legislation

MyNorthwest
Seattle getting new safe RV parking lot with one catch
Twitter threatens legal action against Meta over its new rival app Threads
Snohomish County to allocate millions of dollars for nearly 360 child care spots
State of Washington held in contempt for not providing services to mentally ill people in jails

The Stranger
What the Gay Wedding Website Supreme Court Case Means for Washington – (Liias, Pedersen, AG Bob Ferguson)

Friday, July 7

What is the cost of extreme heat? $1B, according to a new report
Heat is bad for human health and leads to a rise in hospitalizations for cardiovascular, kidney and respiratory diseases, particularly among the urban poor, who often lack access to air conditioning and green spaces. Those hospitalizations will come with a hefty price tag. A new report from the public policy research group Center for American Progress estimates extreme heat will create $1 billion in health care-related costs in the United States this summer. The analysis, provided exclusively to Grist, projects that excessive heat will spur nearly 235,000 emergency department visits and more than 56,000 hospital admissions for conditions related to increased body temperature across the country this summer. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Brandon Bell)

UW study shows Seattle’s historically redlined communities have worse air quality
As Seattleites awoke to a hazy concoction of wildfire and Fourth of July firework smoke Wednesday morning, a new study dropped, revealing that some neighborhoods in the city are regularly subject to worse air pollution, reflective of historic racist policies. Those neighborhoods, according to research published Wednesday from the University of Washington, are today living with the impacts of redlining. Neighborhoods classified as “hazardous” under historical redlining practices are today exposed to higher concentrations of all types of pollution than those once labeled “desirable,” the study found. Black and lower-income communities were subject to some of the worst pollution. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Luke Johnson)

Statewide drought advisory issued for Washington. Here’s what that means
The Washington State Department of Ecology issued a statewide drought advisory Wednesday. The department said the state saw the warmest May on record and an abnormally dry spring and early summer which resulted in an early snowmelt. The snowmelt caused an initial surge for snow-fed rivers and streams but now most streamflows are projected to be 75% below normal. In addition, the department said the state only received 47% of normal precipitation between April 25 and June 23.The drought advisory is an early warning of a possible drought to make sure those in areas where drought conditions are developing are prepared. Continue reading at KING5.

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Associated Press
Wildfire in Washington state near Columbia River Gorge grows slowly, still at 5% containment
US hiring cools but employers still add 209,000 jobs in sign of resilient economy

Axios
Judge approves suit against UW over COVID-era tuition

Bellingham Herald
What should residents do during a wildfire evacuation? Review this guide to avoid danger

The Daily News
Fire near Hood River has burned almost 550 acres, at 5% containment

Everett Herald
Buttigieg visits Mukilteo for plans to electrify Washington ferries
Snohomish County to fund 360 new child care slots
Comment: Ebb in military recruiting a U.S. security crisis
Comment: Supreme Court’s conservative stance in sharper focus

News Tribune
We spoke with 5 transgender people in Tacoma about their joys and fears this Pride
Details emerging about 2018 TPCHD database hack. Pierce records among those affected
96 percent of the workers in this Pierce County city don’t live there, report says

Olympian
CenturyLink fined $923,000 for illegally disconnecting service during pandemic
Fire calls rose 6 percent the week of July 4, Lacey fire official says
Nearly 100 firefighters are battling still-uncontained McEwan Fire near Shelton
DSHS asks sheriff’s office to consider action against caretaker in case of abused disabled man

Peninsula Daily News
Protection Island fire burns 15 acres before it’s extinguished

Puget Sound Business Journal
Space industry leaders aim to land WA manufacturing institute
Amazon gave us a rare glimpse into its warehouses. Here’s what we saw.

Seattle Medium
Seattle Airbnb Revenue, Profits in Focus
Department Of Education And Early Learning Awards $7.2 Million To Youth Programs
Opinion: Affirmative Action: Time To Shut Down The Show If My Homies Can’t Go

Seattle Times
The puzzling rise of defendants too sick to stand trial in WA
UW study shows Seattle’s historically redlined communities have worse air quality
What actually happens in WA when someone’s not competent to stand trial
Opinion: Caregivers need help from Big Tech to keep elders with memory disorders safe online

Spokesman Review
Washington gained more residents last year, but growth slowed
Justice Department chooses Eastern Washington as focus of effort to solve cases of missing and slain Indigenous people

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima City Council approves contract to restore Sea-Tac flights
FBI, tribal police investigating two shooting deaths on Yakama Reservation
Caton Landfill appeals operating permit denial, refuses to shut down
Editorial: In the Yakima Valley, some elected leaders come up short on Pride

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Statewide drought advisory issued for Washington. Here’s what that means
Thursday was the hottest day on Earth, a record broken for the third time this week

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle city attorney appeals federal injunction blocking enforcement of graffiti law
Snohomish County allocates $7.6 million to combat child care desert crisis
Olympia City Council sells vacant site to LIHI for $1, paving way for 70 new affordable housing units

KNKX Public Radio
Red flag, dry conditions, multiple wildfires worry Northwest fire managers after July Fourth holiday

KUOW Public Radio
Space summit hypes Washington’s out-of-this-world industry

NW Public Radio
Idaho abortion patients traveling to WA more than doubled after Dobbs

Q13 TV (FOX)
Secretary Buttigieg visits Washington, talks funding for aging ferry fleet

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham housing proposal has environmentalists calling foul

Crosscut
Maritime v. real estate: Seattle’s decades-long rezoning fight
What is the cost of extreme heat? $1B, according to a new report

Thursday, July 6

Can WA state utilities turn off your electricity in a heat wave? New law says they can’t
According to NWS Seattle, the Emerald City experienced one of its warmest Independence Days on record. The hot-temperature trend isn’t unique to Washington or even the U.S. On July 4, the planet experienced its warmest day in recorded history at 17.18 degrees Celsius, according to Climate Reanalyzer. No matter the region, summer heat poses a risk to residents’ safety. In 2021, a scathing heat dome hit Washington, resulting in 100 people dying due to heat-related illness, according to the Washington State Department of Health. In anticipation of extreme summer heat, the Washington state legislature passed a law in early 2023 that prohibits utility services from shutting off someone’s power due to nonpayment during heat advisory periods. The legislation, which Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law in April, goes into effect July 23. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (News Tribune)

NW drinking water concerns could get worse as the climate changes
In the Northwest, climate change is expected to alter how precipitation falls. Changes in snowpack and streamflow could mean places like the Yakima Basin in Washington and the Willamette River Basin in Oregon have bigger chances for more frequent water shortages in the summer, according to the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group and the Oregon Climate Assessments. Climate change also could damage infrastructure and lead to service disruptions, according to the Climate Impacts GroupClimate, including concern for the quality of drinking water sources, especially surface water sources. With the heat, the city’s backup water wells might not have held enough water. So, the city asked residents to conserve water for a few days – by washing their clothes and dishes only when machines are full, taking shorter showers, and watering gardens in the early morning or late evening. Continue reading at KUOW. (Flickr)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg returns to Washington
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will be in Washington Thursday and Friday to highlight major infrastructure projects. Buttigieg will visit Mukilteo and Port Orchard to talk about the ferry system Thursday near the site of the future Port Orchard Marina Breakwater and include highlighting Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments. He will give remarks at a press conference with Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee, Democratic Rep. Derek Kilmer and both of the state’s U.S. Senators, Democrats Patty Murray and Nancy Cantwell. On Friday morning, Buttigieg will visit Washougal to speak on infrastructure investments that are intended to improve safety, speed up emergency response times, and strengthen supply chains. The visit is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to highlight the new $4.4 billion infrastructure law. Over 350 projects in Washington have been identified for funding. There are 416 bridges and over 5,469 miles of highway that have been identified as needing renovation. In addition, 281,000 households across the state are now getting lower-cost high-speed internet because of the new law. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Matt Freed)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Officials tighten burn ban as wildfires spark, grow

Axios
Study: Mothers are dying more often – especially if they’re Indigenous

Bellingham Herald
Wildfire smoke drifting across Whatcom County. Here’s how long will it hang around
WA wildfire information: What’s the difference between a controlled and a contained fire?
Can WA state utilities turn off your electricity in a heat wave? New law says they can’t

Capital Press
Washington senator calls for cap-and-trade changes (Nguyen)

Columbian
Tunnel Five Fire in Columbia River Gorge still at 5 percent containment
Fireworks spark six fires in Clark County, cause nearly $1M in damage
Clark County Public Health outlines key environmental goals
Editorial: Take action, help people prepare for extreme heat

The Daily News
Coweeman River Bridge closes for inspection Thursday

Everett Herald
Sauk-Suiattle members urge feds to step in against leaders ‘abusing’ power
Comment: As bullets fly at schools, stores, streets, are we free?
Comment: To ‘forever chemicals, add ‘Frankenstein’ byproducts
Comment: America’s student loan debt mess was avoidable
Comment: For court, others LGBTQ+ lives are viewed as imposition
Comment: Court’s affirmative action ruling built on mushy logic
Comment: Court student debt ruling exposes its judicial activism
Editorial: Everett tax on guns, ammo would fund safety work

The Inlander
Can the high court’s recent ruling impact Washington’s cannabis industry?

News Tribune
Why’s it so hazy? Here’s what we know about factors affecting Pierce County air quality
Editorial: Don’t scrap new CO2 reduction program, but a fix to WA’s soaring gas prices can’t wait
Opinion: I’m a high school teacher in Tacoma. Ending affirmative action is bad for my students

New York Times
Ex-Prisoners Face Headwinds as Job Seekers, Even as Openings Abound
Fight or Flight: Transgender Care Bans Leave Families and Doctors Scrambling

Olympian
Gov. Inslee speaks at new Lacey homeless shelter as 16 residents settle in to new home
Firefighters work to contain McEwan Fire near Shelton, but evacuations downgraded
WDFW looking for weather window to conduct prescribed burns in Thurston as soon as next week

Peninsula Daily News
Forks fire contained; new blaze on Protection Island

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle council OKs legislation to streamline housing production
Groundbreaking to be held for $150M road project in East Pierce County
Seattle’s richest have gotten richer in 2023

Seattle Medium
The Washington Cares Fund Begins Now
King County Officials Urge Caution Around Bodies Of Water
Department Of Education And Early Learning Awards $7.2 Million To Youth Programs

Seattle Times
Where are King County’s homeless residents from?
Pedestrians gain space as Seattle closes part of Pike Street to traffic
WA ferries alert system down as some sailings are canceled
Seattle cuts a bit of red tape for affordable housing construction

Skagit Valley Herald
Broadband in the works for rural Skagit County
Long-awaited decision looms for protection of wolverines

Spokesman Review
NASA chief, industry officials say Washington is a leader in space
July Fourth was Earth’s hottest day on record. What does this mean for Spokane?
Free meals for kids available at sites around Spokane this summer

Tri-City Herald
WA felony prison and jail sentences fell by 47% in 5 years. Here’s why

Washington Post
Why a sudden surge of broken heat records is scaring scientists

WA State Standard
Why WA is taking a new approach to caring for newborns exposed to drugs
State sells land to Kitsap County for affordable housing

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington nursing homes getting more help with new Medicaid boost from the state

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
PLU’s new ‘Seed Teachers Program’ aims for more diverse classrooms in Tacoma

KNKX Public Radio
Disappointed but optimistic: WA student loan borrowers react to Supreme Court debt relief ruling

KUOW Public Radio
NW drinking water concerns could get worse as the climate changes
2 things just happened that could affect your wallet: Today So Far

KXLY (ABC)
Bomb threat briefly halts flights in and out of Spokane International Airport

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Federal affirmative action ruling has ‘little impact’ at WWU

Crosscut
WA repurposes a Days Inn in Lacey for those living along highways

MyNorthwest
U.S. job openings dip to 9.8 million but remain high, showing resilience in labor market
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg returns to Washington
Help arrives to battle wildfire near Columbia River Gorge

Wednesday, July 5

WA must double-down on its investment in sustainable aviation
For the first time since the pandemic, the Paris Air Show returned to Le Bourget last month with a focus on air travel’s next great challenge: sustainability. Washington state should get ahead of the competition by creating incentives for the development of sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, with infrastructure grant programs and even more aggressive tax credits than we already have. The aviation industry aims to decarbonize commercial flying by 2050, and Washington state is taking advantage of its existing aerospace infrastructure to become a leader in developing the technology needed to get us there. Washington state has taken a big step in the right direction, but we’ve only just left the starting blocks. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Dominic Gates)

Why many judges in WA won’t order abusers to turn in guns
In June 2019, a woman lay on the floor of a trailer home in Kitsap County, struggling to breathe after her boyfriend, Dwayne Allen Flannery, allegedly beat and choked her. After a neighbor called the police, Flannery was charged with second-degree assault. The county’s Superior Court issued a no-contact order prohibiting Flannery from going near his girlfriend. The court also issued an order requiring him to immediately turn in his firearms. Four years later, Flannery has not turned in a single weapon. He claimed the weapons surrender order violates his Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures and self-incrimination, since turning in his weapons would mean admitting he had firearms that he wasn’t legally allowed to have under the no-contact order, which made it a felony offense for him to possess firearms. The Washington Court of Appeals agreed with Flannery, dropping the weapons surrender order in a November 2022 decision. State legislators attempted to clarify Flannery’s Fifth Amendment concern with a “Flannery fix” contained in recently passed legislation, but it’s unclear whether judges will find the change sufficient when the law takes effect in late July. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

Cantwell, Murray Announce $1.2 Billion Federal Investment In Broadband Infrastructure For Washington
Last week, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the State of Washington will receive $1,227,742,066 from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to help expand broadband access to areas that remain without high-speed broadband. “The COVID pandemic laid bare just how crucial fast and affordable internet access is for all Washingtonians. But for more than a quarter of a million households in the State of Washington, broadband remains inaccessible,” said Sen. Cantwell. “This major new broadband investment will help ensure that more Washingtonians – from patients booking a telehealth appointment, to students filing an assignment, to small business owners connecting with customers – are able to fully participate in our 21st Century economy.” Continue reading at Seattle Medium.