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Wednesday, January 4

Murray becomes first female president pro tempore in Senate
When Washington Sen. Patty Murray was elected to the Senate in 1992, she says, male senators treated her with some trepidation. But now she has outlasted almost all of them, becoming the first woman appointed president pro tempore — a senior member of the majority who presides over the Senate and is third in line to the presidency. Murray, 72, says she sees her own ascension to the post as another example of the slow, steady progress of women in the perpetually old-fashioned Senate — not only as an example for young people, but as a platform for women’s issues, like paid leave and child care, that she has championed for years. She first ran as a self-proclaimed “mom in tennis shoes,” and she still wears them to this day, as a grandmother. Continue reading at Associated Press. (Jacquelyn Martin)

Economic downturn anxieties lead Washington lawmakers to ask: To tax or not to tax?
A debate is brewing in Olympia over how to prepare for a potential economic downturn. “Looking forward we still have a very robust economy, it’s the envy of the United States, we still have gangbuster industries doing very, very well and I believe there is a reason that that will continue,” Inslee said while speaking with TVW’s Austin Jenkins. Inslee’s budget is a 12% increase over current spending, despite anxieties over inflation and economic downturns. But the governor says the state also has $2 billion in reserves as a cushion. He further argues that the state plans to give a tax break to some residents (the Working Family Tax credit), but no general tax cuts. Also, the state still has considerable issues to address, which “demand investments.” Continue reading at KUOW. (NW News Network)

WA scores in federal omnibus spending bill
In a mad rush before the end of the year, Congress finally passed an omnibus federal spending bill. Washington’s congressional delegation made sure that important projects around the Puget Sound will receive a federal financial boost, to the tune of $44 million. More than a quarter of that money will fund health care and child development. Pierce County will get help for its homeless residents. Transportation on land and at sea will improve. And there are grants for environmental restoration and economic development, too. Washington will be in line for even more federal support for the next few years. Sen. Patty Murray will chair the budget-writing Senate Appropriations Committee. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (J. Scott Applewhite)

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Associated Press
Murray becomes first female president pro tempore in Senate

Bellingham Herald
Corps of Engineers repairs damaged Nooksack River levee in this once-in-a-career event

Columbian
Nearly $19K awarded to Washington School for the Deaf

The Daily News
Commissioner’s decision stands after rescinding letter to Longview about HOPE Village funding

Everett Herald
Marysville aims to prosecute drug, disturbance cases in municipal court
Decisions on light rail, buses and more loom in 2023
Editorial: 500 reasons to end income cap on Social Security tax

News Tribune
‘This is a crime of terrorism.’ WA men accused of substation attacks appear in court

Olympian
Federal agents: Two Puyallup men arrested and charged for Christmas substation attacks

Peninsula Daily News
Five respiratory illness deaths reported on North Peninsula

Puget Sound Business Journal
WA Supreme Court speeds up review of Albertsons dividend ahead of sale
Microsoft video game workers form company’s first US union

Seattle Medium
New Laws To Watch in 2023
Policies Continue to Restrict Quality of Life For the Formerly Incarcerated in the U.S.

Seattle Times
Seattle building canoe carving center in SLU to showcase Native culture
WA Sen. Patty Murray, for now, is second in line for presidency
Seattle City Council confirms Diaz as police chief
Editorial: WA scores in federal omnibus spending bill

The Skanner
Inflation, Unemployment, the Housing Crisis and a Possible Recession: Two Economists Forecast What’s Ahead in 2023
Congress Considers Bill Making $60K the Minimum Salary for K-12 Teachers
U.S. Supreme Court is Taking Longer to Hear Cases

Sol De Yakima
Senadora Patty Murray es, por ahora, la segunda en la línea de sucesión presidencial

Spokesman Review
Getting there: City Line bus route will use new system to shorten waits at red lights
Spokane County asking state lawmakers for jail funding, reduced housing regulations and baseball stadium money

Washington Post
FDA to permit some retail pharmacies to dispense abortion pills

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle Public Utilities to assess Duwamish River ahead of another king tide
Realtors back Gov. Inslee’s $4 billion housing proposal
Lynnwood protestors, city council concerned about opioid treatment facility
‘Something has to change’: Marysville cracks down on public drug use

KOMO 4 TV (ABC):
New law requires employers to disclose salary ranges on job listings

KNKX Public Radio
No-till farming, cover crops reduce greenhouse gasses but cost growers at the start, study finds

KUOW Public Radio:
Changes to Washington employment laws and wages in 2023
Economic downturn anxieties lead Washington lawmakers to ask: To tax or not to tax?

Web

The Stranger
Seattle City Council Endorses Whole Washington’s Initiative for Universal Healthcare

Tuesday, January 3

Sen. Billig: Voters sent clear message to WA leaders for 2023 Legislative session
By returning every single Democratic incumbent and even growing the majorities in both state legislative chambers, voters sent a clear message on a range of issues. They voted for expanded access to quality, affordable child care. They want leaders who will act on climate change, and they appreciate sending their kids to the nation’s best public schools. They recognized that their communities are safer when we prioritize investments in police training, behavioral health and gun violence prevention, and when we work on real solutions to issues like homelessness, rather than playing politics with it. This is a validation of the path our Democratic leadership. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ted S. Warren)

DUI limits, prison wages and abortion are already on the docket for 2023 WA legislature
State lawmakers have less than a month to go before the 105-day legislative session convenes, and many of those lawmakers have already submitted legislation prior to the Jan. 9 start date. So far, more than 100 bills have been submitted leading up to the Legislature. Continue reading at The Olympian. (The Olympian)

In 2023, WA lawmakers will decide the legal future of drug possession
As they return to Olympia in early January, legislators now seek a longer-term solution for a thorny issue that has scrambled party lines and raised a host of complicated questions. “I think there’s a diversity of views in the Legislature about what the right approach is,” said Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane. “But I do feel like there’s a consensus building to do something that’s public-health focused, but also a little bit of an increased role in the justice system.” A former King County deputy prosecutor, Senator Dhingra said that narratives and political messaging on crime make it harder for many politicians to think clearly about policy solutions. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jovelle Tamayo)

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Associated Press
Seafood company sues over terminated fish-farming pen leases
Crabbers, fishermen seek US aid after disaster declaration
Facial recognition tool led to mistaken arrest, lawyer says

Bellingham Herald
Mail delivery has been sporadic for many Bellingham residents. Here’s what’s going on
Coastal flood watch continues with extreme high tides in Whatcom

Capital Press
Was wet spring the new normal for Palouse?

Columbian
Opinion: Inslee’s plan to end homelessness ambitious
Opinion: Congress slow to address farmworker shortage

Everett Herald
Top health news in 2022
Federal earmarks deliver small sums in a big way for local projects
Comment: Conservative gains on religion in schools may reverse
Comment: New state tax credit will help working families

International Examiner
Opinion: Punishing unhoused people in the CID makes things worse for everyone

News Tribune
Pierce County leaders don’t want an airport. But how much power do they have to stop it?
Are you ready for 2023? Here’s what to know about the new laws affecting workers
Another holiday weekend brings ‘high alert’ after power substations vandalized in Pierce County
Editorial: ‘It’s a mess.’ As the ice storm hit Tacoma, homeless residents were left out in the cold

New York Times
Lawmakers Unveil Sprawling Spending Bill to Avoid Shutdown
E.P.A. Tightens Rules on Pollution From Vans, Buses and Trucks
Amazon and E.U. Reach Deal to End Antitrust Investigation
Nearly Every Country Signs On to a Sweeping Deal to Protect Nature

Northwest Asian Weekly
Lincoln District senior housing

Olympian
Derek Sanders eager to shape Sheriff’s Office in new year, but expects ‘baptism by fire’
Dori Monson, conservative Seattle radio host, dies at 61
Are you ready for 2023? Here are the new WA laws and local changes taking effect
Democrats propose WA state constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights (Kuderer, Keiser)
DUI limits, prison wages and abortion are already on the docket for 2023 WA legislature (Morgan, Simmons, Thai, Leavitt, Lovick, Keiser, Kuderer)

Peninsula Daily News
Volunteers sought for annual Point in Time count
Clallam Transit OKs its budget for this year
In one month, three cities proclaim rights for Southern Resident Orcas

Puget Sound Business Journal
Here’s how long Seattle homebuyers need to save up for a down payment
The window to claim this lucrative business tax credit is closing.
Boeing ends 2022 on high note, but supply chain delays linger
Starbucks illegally refused to bargain with WA, OR stores, NLRB says

Seattle Times
On transportation, WA Legislature looks to tackle safety, equity, inflation (Liias, Lovick)
Washington law requiring salary range on job postings takes effect
Seattle home prices will likely fall in 2023. That won’t help buyers
Housing one of biggest predictors of getting kicked out of WA schools
Sen. Andy Billig: Voters sent clear message to WA leaders for 2023 Legislative session
Here’s what the WA Legislature expects to tackle on climate and environment in 2023 (Doglio, Fitzgibbon, Rolfes)

Skagit Valley Herald
Three Skagit County churches step up to help the homeless

The Skanner
Washington Adopts Plan for Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles

Spokesman Review
Here’s how the $1.7 trillion spending bill Congress passed affects the Northwest
Untreated sewage overflowed into Spokane River after Tuesday rain, snowmelt
WA has high number of homeless students, gets lowest federal funding
Washington lawmakers secure $464 million in congressional earmarks while North Idaho’s representatives opt out
Opinion: Dr. Umair A. Shah: Looking back on coronavirus hasn’t been easy, but it’s time to look ahead

Tri-City Herald
BNSF train derails New Year’s Day in downtown Kennewick
Over $1 billion in Tri-Cities construction in 2022. What’s coming next?
Tri-Cities’ only hospice house reopens after partial roof collapse forces evacuation

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla, College Place approve annual city budgets
College Place Police Department approaches full staffing
Tri-State Steelheaders granted $4.7 million to continue fish passage work in Mill Creek

Washington Post
Biden aims to cut homelessness 25% by 2025

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakama Nation awarded grants to improve fish passages in Yakima River Basin
Massive proposed Central Washington wind farm a step closer to construction
Proposed biomethane plant in Sunnyside could bring benefits, but environmental advocates have concerns
Yakima County Commissioners approve land designation that could expand Yakima Ridge mining

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Recovery for Duwamish area community could take months
2022 was a record-breaking year for weather in western Washington
Owner of only West Seattle warming center says the space is a ‘start to a solution’

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
In wake of devastating flooding, South Park residents worried about water quality
Repairs underway in Whatcom County after levee failure

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Gas prices drop across Washington, rise nationwide as new year begins
Free ‘Identicard’ program now available for those experiencing homelessness

KUOW Public Radio
Lots of whales spotted around offshore wind farm zones along West Coast

KXLY (ABC)
WSDOT captures cougar using I-90 wildlife undercrossing
‘Top of mind’: Local lawmakers focusing on crime, public safety in new legislative session (Riccelli)

Q13 TV (FOX)
These new Washington state laws go into effect in 2023

Web

Crosscut
In 2023, WA lawmakers will decide the legal future of drug possession (Dhingra)
Top environmental bills on the 2023 WA Legislative agenda (Nguyen, Fitzgibbon, Duerr)
Washington remains a hub for reproductive health care post-Roe (Hansen)

MyNorthwest
High amounts of COVID-19 antibodies found among Washington children
Mukilteo waterfront parking on hold until early 2023

The Stranger
State Legislature Could Finally Fix Nonsensical Sentencing Guidelines

West Seattle Blog
SDOT’s new director tours Fauntleroy

Friday, December 16

‘Deeply flawed.’ Why a reset button on Pierce County airport talks could be up for debate
Some Washington state lawmakers seek to restart the three-year process that resulted in rural Pierce County becoming a contender for Puget Sound’s next major airport. The commission is expected in June to recommend to the Legislature a location for potentially siting a two-runway airport. To others, this would delay homing in on any specific site for at least a few years. Starting over would simply mean kicking the proverbial can down the road and again delaying the inevitable need for additional commercial passenger and cargo transportation in the region as officials try to meaningfully respond to projected near-term capacity issues at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. “It’s a crisis, and we need to own it and face up to it,” state Sen. Karen Keiser said. Keiser, D-Des Moines, sponsored the bill that created the commission and directed it to single out a potential landing spot for a new airport, which, if tapped for Pierce County, could see as many as 20 million annual passengers.. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Cheyenne Boone)

Local nurses ask for support from local government leaders over staffing crisis
Oakes was one of several nurses who spoke during the Dec. 13 city council meeting. According to a news release from UFCW 3000, the largest union in the state, nurses from Providence Centralia and St. Peter hospitals planned to speak to Thurston and Lewis county government leaders this week about the staffing crisis in both places. Providence St. Peter nurse Helena Smith said she and the other nurses asked the council to support the safe staffing legislation being introduced in the 2023 legislative session. Last year, House Bill 1868, aimed at establishing minimum staffing ratios for hospitals among other things, passed the House but failed in the Senate this year. If hospitals can’t meet their staffing ratio goals, they may have to close down services. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Thurston County Board of Commissioners)

Rep. April Berg Named Chair of Finance Committee
Washington House Democrats announced this week that Rep. April Berg (D – Mill Creek) will chair the House Finance Committee. Berg is the first Black committee chair in the history of the Washington State Legislature. Berg will chair the committee that addresses revenue while striving to create an equitable, stable, transparent, and just tax structure for the state. “Taxes should be unbiased. Although numbers do not see color, the codification of numbers into revenue policy has historically been unfair to marginalized communities.” Continue reading at Seattle Medium.

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Bellingham Herald
Ecology fines barge owner $38,500 for this Salish Sea fuel spill

Columbian
‘Tripledemic’ tightens its grip on Clark County
Union at Evergreen Public Schools approves new contract
Editorial: In Our View: Strive to curb sales tax leakage, license scofflaws

Everett Herald
Suspects in national organized retail theft group arrested in Lynnwood
Mayor vetoes Everett council’s bargaining policy for projects over $5M
Everett council OKs budget, considers tax increase next year

News Tribune
State environmental regulators fine Tacoma paper mill for failing pollution test
‘Deeply flawed.’ Why a reset button on Pierce County airport talks could be up for debate (Keiser, Fey)

Olympian
Tumwater Starbucks joining three-day ‘Double Down’ strike against unfair labor practices
Local nurses ask for support from local government leaders over staffing crisis
Olympia Police Department will pay you to surrender your firearms. But for how much?

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA lending was robust in 2022, and some notable changes are coming

Seattle Medium
Rep. April Berg Named Chair of Finance Committee (Berg)
Fed Waiver Grants Health Insurance To Undocumented Immigrants

Seattle Times
Women suing Seattle hip-hop artist in sex trafficking case face ticking clock (Orwall)
North King County cities agree to fund Regional Homelessness Authority
WA agrees to coordinate care for people leaving involuntary mental health treatment
Congress OKs spending for Green River dam fish passage
Opinion: Starbucks cannot silence us by closing our stores

Skagit Valley Herald
Salmon fry released into Hansen Creek
Hamilton, Lyman pass 2023 budgets
Affordable apartments complete, opening in January

Spokesman Review
Rebuilt Don Kardong Bridge near Gonzaga, Riverfront Park reopens Friday for Centennial Trail users

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Valley Libraries to eliminate overdue fines beginning Jan. 1
Officials willing to collaborate as crime lab moves ahead without Yakima
City asks whether Yakima’s airport could help solve Sea-Tac congestion issues

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Demand rises for flu and COVID vaccines in Washington ahead of holiday travel season
$5 million grant going toward services for homeless youth in rural Washington counties

KXLY (ABC)
‘I worry about TikTok’: Parents, lawmakers sound the alarm on app’s safety, security
Gov. Jay Inslee issues emergency proclamation for series of severe autumn storms

Thursday, December 15

Housing, homelessness and behavioral health: Here are some of Inslee’s 2023 budget priorities
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee released his proposed 2023-25 budgets and policies Wednesday, highlighting the issues he’ll be focusing on during the upcoming legislative session, including housing and homelessness, behavioral health, and climate change. Inslee said he believes the budget addresses “the real needs” for the state and positions the state to act with “urgency and with audacity at the scale we need to address our challenges in the state of Washington.” Despite the investments made over the last few years, he said that there are still needs that are unmet. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Shauna Sowersby)

Feds announce nearly $40M for dam removal, other projects to help salmon in WA
Projects to help fish navigate Washington’s rivers could get a boost of nearly $40 million from the federal government. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday announced $105 million for 36 new fish passage projects across the U.S., including money for culvert and dam removal projects, and studies that would aim to alleviate barriers to fish passage in the Olympic Peninsula, Puget Sound region, Yakima basin and Columbia River watershed. The funding recommendation will need final approval by NOAA, according to an agency spokesperson. The money was allocated to NOAA from last year’s $1 trillion infrastructure law. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Ringman)

Senator Murray Announces Initial Funding From Landmark Digital Equity Act
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, recently announced $1,076,248.79 in funding for a Digital Equity Planning Grant that will be awarded to the Washington state Department of Commerce. The funding for the digital equity grants comes from Senator Murray’s Digital Equity Act, which was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Washington state will also receive $5 million to plan for broadband access and deployment across the state. “Every American deserves and needs equal access to the internet to succeed, as well as the tools and skills to take advantage of that connection,” said Murray. Continue reading at Seattle Medium. (Seattle Medium)

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Associated Press
Inslee proposes billions for housing, would need voter OK
White House reveals winter COVID-19 plans, more free tests

Capital Press
Ecology issues ‘voluntary clean water guidance’ for farms

Columbian
Vancouver-area legislators react to Gov. Inslee’s budget announcement (Stonier)
Editorial: In Our View: If you love the United States, hold it to its word

Everett Herald
Missing woman’s family: ‘If she had white privilege, we would have answers’
‘Tripledemic’ strains resources at Snohomish County hospitals
Comment: Dreamers’ deferred until immigration opinions change
Comment: Teen cannabis use needs a public health campaign

News Tribune
This part of Pierce County is a Blue Zones Project. Will it improve lives there?
Should you start wearing masks again in WA state this season? Here is what experts say
Jury acquits Sheriff Troyer of false reporting in case involving newspaper carrier

Olympian
Housing, homelessness and behavioral health: Here are some of Inslee’s 2023 budget priorities
1st avian flu outbreak in a WA commercial flock reported near Tri-Cities
Local nurses beg support from Thurston County board of commissioners amid staffing crisis

Peninsula Daily News
Health officials urge masking as respiratory illness rise

Puget Sound Business Journal
Affordable housing project to break ground on Seattle church property
Financial losses for Washington state hospitals near $3B this year
Microsoft disputes FTC claims over anti-competitive practices

Seattle Medium
Senator Murray Announces Initial Funding From Landmark Digital Equity Act
Upthegrove Named New Chair Of The King County Council
What Happened To All The High School Bands? Advocates Claim Funding Has Disrupted The Music Pipeline In Schools

Seattle Times
Deception Pass State Park to expand by 78 acres
WA police academy eyes removing more recruits who show red flags
Feds announce nearly $40M for dam removal, other projects to help salmon in WA
Opinion: EPA knows what it must do: End the use of leaded aviation fuels

Spokesman Review
Ballpark figures: Spokane County says it will pay up to $8 million for Avista Stadium upgrades
Inslee proposes $70 billion budget with focus on housing, homelessness, behavioral health

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Act II: New lease on life for Walla Walla Amphitheater
Veterans virtual town hall to discuss new benefits, other topics
Crafting the future: Libraries strategize to attract more users

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle Public Schools will replace snow days with remote learning for the rest of the year
Seattle Children’s starts giving COVID booster shots for kids 5 and under
Report: Homeownership less likely for people of color as rents, home values rise in western Washington

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer found not guilty in false-reporting trial

KNKX Public Radio
Cooke Aquaculture files suit over terminated net pen leases in WA

KUOW Public Radio
Washington hospitals say financial situation remains dire as viruses surge
No design review for Seattle’s affordable housing projects

KXLY (ABC)
Local nonprofit asks for help finding new building as rent becomes unaffordable

Web

Crosscut
Inslee’s proposed $70B WA state budget focuses on housing

MyNorthwest
Company accused of misleading homeowners into signing 40-year listing deals now facing legal trouble

Wednesday, December 14

Biden signs gay marriage law, calls it ‘a blow against hate’
A celebratory crowd of thousands bundled up on a chilly Tuesday afternoon to watch President Joe Biden sign gay marriage legislation into law, a joyful ceremony that was tempered by the backdrop of an ongoing conservative backlash over gender issues. “This law and the love it defends strike a blow against hate in all its forms,” Biden said on the South Lawn of the White House. “And that’s why this law matters to every single American.” Biden criticized the “callous, cynical laws introduced in the states targeting transgender children, terrifying families and criminalizing doctors who give children the care they need. Racism, antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, they’re all connected,” Biden said. “But the antidote to hate is love.” Continue reading at Associated Press. (Patrick Semansky)

What Washington’s housing legislation could look like in 2023
How to build more housing, quickly, will be on the agenda when the Washington state Legislature begins its session in January 2023. Many lawmakers appear to agree on the need to make three big changes around the state: Removing bans on denser forms of housing, such as townhomes, eliminating “design review boards” statewide for residential projects, and spending at least $1 billion more each year on affordable housing. Disagreement between lawmakers centers around what the minimum allowable density should be, and whether denser housing should be required on all residential land or only near parks and frequent transit. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Big plans for WSU Tri-Cities. Legislature will be asked for $10M for a new energy center
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has big plans for Washington State University Tri-Cities in Richland to become a center recognized globally for its innovation in developing clean energy sources and technology. He will ask the state Legislature this year for $10 million to launch the new Institute for Northwest Energy Futures at WSU Tri-Cities, he announced during a Monday visit to the Richland campus. “The world has to invent new fossil-free methods of energy, and it is going to look right here at the WSU Institute for Northwest Energy Futures,” he said. Inslee said he was cautiously optimistic about legislative support for the institute because it is “so in keeping with the basic DNA of the state of Washington of recognizing the power of R&D,” he said. Continue reading at Tri-City Herald.