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Wednesday, March 9

WA advisory group recommends against adding COVID vaccine to school-required immunizations
A state advisory group has decided against recommending a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students in K-12 schools, leaving one more step before a final decision is made on the matter next month. The question of whether Washington students should be required to get a COVID vaccine has divided many school communities over the past year, with some citing a desire to make schools safer and others concerned about a lack of reliable vaccine data for younger kids. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

The hidden billion-dollar cost of repeated police misconduct
[Officer Lynn Christopher] Moore is among the more than 7,600 officers — from Portland, Ore., to Milwaukee to Baltimore — whose alleged misconduct has more than once led to payouts to resolve lawsuits and claims of wrongdoing, according to a Washington Post investigation. The Post collected data on nearly 40,000 payments at 25 of the nation’s largest police and sheriff’s departments within the past decade, documenting more than $3.2 billion spent to settle claims. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Nick Hagen)

State lawmakers pass expanded charity health care bill
The Washington state legislature passed an expanded charity health care bill Tuesday that would make approximately half of Washingtonians eligible for free or discounted healthcare. House Bill 1616 will expand charity care eligibility to an additional 1 million Washingtonians than who qualified before. According to the state attorney general’s office, about two-thirds of people who file for bankruptcy nationwide say medical bills are the biggest reason why, and more than half of collection items on credit reports are for medical debt. Continue reading at KIRO 7.

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Aberdeen Daily World
The cost of defiance in Cosmopolis

Bellevue Reporter
Local officials and organizations looking to reinstate greenhouse gas emission reduction targets

Bellingham Herald
These are the top-paying state jobs available now in Whatcom County
See where 68 townhomes may be built in Bellingham
Gas is suddenly very expensive, this is the reason why
Gas prices are through the roof in WA. Here are five things you can do to use less fuel

Capital Press
Washington lawmakers nix forced buffers, embrace conservation
Farm Bureau: Drought impacts stretch beyond West

Everett Herald
Rep. Sutherland investigated after argument with security chief
Rental assistance applications closed for now
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Supply chain problems further slow Boeing deliveries

News Tribune
Name of Tacoma police officer who shot homicide suspect is released
Op-Ed: WA immigrant communities deserve strong data privacy laws — not half measures

New York Times
Live Updates: Costs of War Mount for Russia, and for Civilians in Ukraine
How Air Pollution Across America Reflects Racist Policy From the 1930s
A House panel calls for a criminal investigation into Amazon.
Biden Takes Step Toward Regulating Cryptocurrencies

Olympian
What’s changing — and what’s not — after WA schools go mask optional next we
17 more Thurston County residents die of COVID-19 as case counts plummet to July levels

Peninsula Daily News
Health officer: Vaccines, masking offer protection

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing keeps up order activity in February as jet deliveries lag
Nurse staffing bill dies in state Legislature as session winds down
Amazon ‘unlikely’ to make major announcements about returns to office
Starbucks suspends operations at 130 stores in Russia
Businesses see a labor shortage. For workers, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Seattle Times
Boeing may ask Congress to extend MAX 10 exemption from safety rule
WA advisory group recommends against adding COVID vaccine to school-required immunizations
Unlicensed teachers taught in 3 WA charter schools, audit finds
WA redistricting commission chair resigns after Democrats refuse to defend new maps (Jinkins, Billig)

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County commissioners get update from state lobbyists
Farmers express their frustration with Gov. Inslee

Spokesman Review
Local businesses feel the pinch as gas soars above $4 per gallon, with consumers expected to see higher prices as a result
Congress passes bipartisan Postal Service reform bill, dividing Northwest Republicans
White supremacists pick Hayden Lake for meeting this weekend, leading human rights group to organize counter-events
Official overseeing VA records system that crashed last week in Spokane says she’s confident problem won’t repeat

Washington Post
The hidden billion-dollar cost of repeated police misconduct
Chernobyl plant disconnected from power grid; Ukraine demands cease-fire for urgent repairs
Lawmakers release $1.5 trillion spending package that provisions emergency aid to Ukraine
Redlining means 45 million Americans are breathing dirtier air, 50 years after it ended
A new iron curtain descends on Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County deputy prosecutor arraigned on sex-crime charge in Kittitas County court
Yakima County on track to beat record high for average price of gas, according to AAA
Two of Yakima County’s top cops say bills fix flaws in police-reform package, increase safety
Yakima School District refinances bonds, saving millions for taxpayers

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Rising gas prices hurting small Seattle businesses
Washington’s rising gas prices may push some to pursue electric vehicles
Washington’s gas tax will remain in place as prices at the pump soar
Bellevue PD filed extreme risk protection order against man killed outside Seattle federal building
Advocates creating alternative approach to address homelessness in Tacoma

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle police release bodycam footage from Saturday’s fatal shooting
Gas prices on the rise in Washington
Fentanyl use in Washington continues rise to ‘stunning’ levels, warns UW survey
Starbucks suspends all business in Russia
Everett police warn of rise in gas theft
Seattle extends outdoor dining program through 2023
Russia attacks Ukraine: Chernobyl plant disconnected from power
State lawmakers pass expanded charity health care bill

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Businesses, drivers brace for soaring gas prices; costs of goods and services go up
Time is running out on bill designed to rein in Washington governor’s emergency powers (Jinkins, Sullivan)

KNKX Public Radio
U.S. looks to boost cooperation with tribes on land management

KUOW Public Radio
Masks work. But do mask mandates work in schools? That’s debatable
Sick veterans demand medical coverage for illnesses caused by burn pits
‘Defending freedom is gonna cost’ at the gas pump: Today So Far
Stalled and frustrated, Putin will likely double-down in the coming weeks, CIA says

KXLY (ABC)
Hit the trails in Washington for free Wednesday

Web

Crosscut
Climate Pledge Arena bumps free medical clinic to host concerts
Tacoma methane storage stirs conflict over climate, health and tribal rights

The Stranger
The Mayor’s “Holistic” Approach to Crime Does Not Yet Include Social Services

Tuesday, March 8

Covid long-haulers face grueling fights for disability benefits
[Deepa] Singh, who worked as a project manager for a Fortune 100 company, is among a cohort of long covid patients who have been denied disability benefits, either by private insurance companies, which operate benefit plans offered by employers, or by the Social Security Administration, which manages government disability benefits. Tasked with sorting legitimate health claims from fraudulent or marginal ones, these gatekeepers now face a novel challenge as the coronavirus pandemic drags on: a flood of claims citing a post-infection syndrome that is poorly understood by the medical community and difficult to measure. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Jeff Swensen)

Washington residents face sticker shock at the pump as prices skyrocket
On Monday, Washington state’s average gas price hit $4.449 per gallon, the highest it has ever been. Monday’s average beat the record set in 2008 by nearly 10 cents, according to AAA, and the price will likely continue to increase for some time to come. In just one week, the average Washington gas price has soared more than 40 cents and is currently well above the national average of $4.065 per gallon. Experts point to the war in Ukraine, which has caused the price of crude oil to skyrocket, as the main reason why gas prices have risen so drastically and at a dizzying pace in recent weeks. Continue reading at KING 5.

Washington lawmakers pass bill to weaken the reach of employer NDAs
A bill championed by tech workers that targets employer nondisclosure agreements is headed to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk after passing through the Washington state Legislature last week. House Bill 1795, introduced as the Silenced No More Act, mimics a California law that prevents employers from using NDAs to block employees from talking about harassment, discrimination and retaliation. Tech whistleblowers, including former Google manager Chelsey Glasson and former Apple software engineer Cher Scarlett, have led the support for the bill, which was introduced by state Rep. Liz Berry, D-Seattle. Continue reading at Puget Sound Business Journal.

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Associated Press
Washington Legislature OKs alert system for missing Indigenous women (Lekanoff)
Washington state redistricting commission chair resigns

Bainbridge Island Review
Inslee set to ban high-capacity gun magazines (Liias)

Bellingham Herald
Northwest Indian College announces $100,000 contribution from Amazon
Bellingham hospital reports fewest COVID patients since August, but Whatcom adds a death

Capital Press
Russian war in world’s ‘breadbasket’ threatens food supply

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Put pedal to metal to finish transportation bill (Jinkins)

Everett Herald
Cornfield Report: Time to work out budget deals, iron out policy disputes (Duerr)
Election offices, government meetings will be gun-free zones (Berg, Senn)
Marysville offers $200,000 in federal grants to nonprofits
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Editorial: Fill ‘pothole’ in state’s transportation package (Liias)

High Country News
The far-reaching consequences of woodsmoke pollution

News Tribune
Pierce County talks of investing in ‘dumping ground.’ Would forming city there be better?
Dozens of bomb threats have HBCUs looking to Biden for support, FBI for answers
Average price for a gallon of gas in Tacoma highest its ever been, AAA reports
Op-Ed: As president of TCC’s Black Student Union, I know Tacoma colleges need more state support

New York Times
Live Updates: Biden Bans Russian Oil Imports as Civilian Toll in Ukraine Grows
The New York Times Pulls Its News Staff From Russia
Covid Live Updates: U.S. Mask Mandates Ease Quickly, With a Few Holdouts
Supreme Court Allows Court-Imposed Voting Maps in North Carolina and Pennsylvania
States Aren’t Waiting for the Supreme Court to Tighten Abortion Laws
Most Women Denied Abortions by Texas Law Got Them Another Way
E.P.A. to Tighten Tailpipe Rules for the Biggest Polluters on the Road

North American Post
Nobuko Miyamoto: Giving Voice to Asian American Stories – Part 1
Women May Need Financial ‘Catch-Up’ ~ MONEY TALK

Olympian
Gas prices reach ‘unprecedented’ levels in Thurston County and WA state on Monday
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state
WA Center for the Performing Arts to drop COVID protocols effective March 16

Peninsula Daily News
Makah to open land to public after two years
Clallam County adds two deaths due to COVID-19
Free days coming up for state parks

Puget Sound Business Journal
Kitsap to create center for autonomous water vehicle research
Washington lawmakers pass bill to weaken the reach of employer NDAs (Berry, Keiser)

Seattle Times
Seattle’s record high gas prices leave drivers, gas stations with tough choices
Seattle’s eviction ban has lifted. Here’s where to find help
Large food bank provider increases wages to $25 an hour, as nonprofits see high turnover, burnout
How much oil do Pacific Northwest refineries get from Russia?
As WA gas prices continue to soar, here are some tips for conserving fuel
In survivors’ words: How colleges should better respond to sexual misconduct
Rep. Hackney: Electrify diesel trucks serving the ports to build a cleaner supply chain

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County commissioners get update from state lobbyists
Burlington mayor pitches adding to homeless services during Gov. Inslee tour
State reports only 80 new cases of COVID-19 for Skagit County during past week

Sol De Yakima
Brandt & Sons en Wapato adquirirá planta empacadora
Planean complejo de apartamentos en antiguo Hotel Gateway

South Seattle Emerald
‘Reckoning’ Exhibit at Seattle Central College Examines Racism and White Complicity
Inside The New Othello Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic
Celebrating Women in our Lives — Part 1

Spokesman Review
Bipartisan pressure grows in Congress to ban U.S. imports of Russian oil, risking higher gasoline prices
Ballot, envelope and casting location bills pass Washington Senate (Kuderer)
Fairchild deploying tankers, 150 personnel to support NATO operations

Tri-City Herald
Columbia River salmon return forecast. And what it means for the 2022 fishing season
Richland School Board in ‘disarray,’ says state leadership expert brought in for coaching

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Whitman College director launches fundraiser to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland

Washington Post
U.S. to ban oil imports from Russia as White House explores drastic plans to buffer economy from energy shock
In historic crisis, 2 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of Russian invasion, U.N. says
Covid long-haulers face grueling fights for disability benefits
In Texas, the nation’s largest children’s hospital is halting gender-affirming care for trans youths
The forgotten woman behind International Women’s Day
Longtime Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio charged with conspiracy in Jan. 6 attack on Capitol
Global covid-19 death toll tops 6 million, another grim milestone in the pandemic

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Veterans who died by suicide would be honored under Washington bill (Orwall)
Washington residents face sticker shock at the pump as prices skyrocket

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Russia attacks Ukraine: Biden expected to ban Russian oil imports
Islamic community center in Burien damaged in hit-and-run
Sales of high-capacity magazines brisk as bill banning them heads to Governor’s desk (Liias)
Washington Legislature OKs missing Indigenous women alert (Lekanoff)
People in Northwest helping with Ukraine humanitarian crisis
Price for gas hits highest-recorded average in Washington, AAA reports
Concern grows over rising crime in the South Sound after violent weekend

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Construction companies ordered to pay fines for worker death
Washington state to change names to 18 geographical features to get rid of derogatory word
Measure to ban high-capacity gun magazines heads to Gov. Inslee, who plans to sign it (Hackney)
Inslee orders state agencies to review ties, contracts with Russia that can be canceled

KNKX Public Radio
This tribe has fought for years to get federal recognition. It’s about their identity

KUOW Public Radio
Teachers Without Licenses Taught at Seattle-area Charter Schools, Audits Find
What do you do when there’s no local news source? You make one
Pandemic updates: Covid cases waning in the Seattle area
Returning to the office, a moment of joy for some. Others, would rather stay home
How sanctions are pinning down the Russian economy
Gasoline prices surge to a national record, with prices topping $4.17 gallon
Senate passes anti-lynching bill and sends federal hate crime legislation to Biden
WATCH: Biden expected to ban imports of Russian oil because of Moscow’s war on Ukraine
Visiting the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial (Lekanoff)

KXLY (ABC)
Pickleball one step closer to becoming official state sport of Washington
How to keep you and your family safe amid rising property crimes

NW Public Radio
Washington State Redistricting Commission Chair Resigns
Cybersecurity Concerns – From Ukraine To The Northwest

Web

Crosscut
Life in incarceration: Japanese Americans in WA reflect on WWII
Lawsuits over venue relief grants help some applicants secure millions

MyNorthwest
Islamic youth community center in Burien damaged in hit and run
All lanes of southbound I-5 reopen in Lakewood after sign falls on freeway
Organized labor burgeons in Congress with collective bargaining success for legislative staff
‘No relief in sight’ for hyper-competitive Puget Sound housing market
Proposal requiring employers to include salary ranges in job postings nears passage
State lawmakers approve changes to how voter initiatives appear on ballots
Gas prices soar to record levels across Washington state
Tacoma offering grants for small businesses to replace broken windows
Whatcom County deputies shot in February suing alleged shooter

West Seattle Blog
UKRAINE: What an exchange student in West Seattle wants you to know
Would you pay more to speed up West Seattle light rail? You might be asked to, under bill that state legislators just approved
TRANSIT: Here’s what Metro’s next ‘service change’ brings for West Seattle routes

Monday, March 7

Death toll surpasses 6 million for the pandemic now in its 3rd year
The official global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 6 million on Monday — underscoring that the pandemic, now entering its third year, is far from over. The milestone, recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is the latest tragic reminder of the unrelenting nature of the pandemic even as people are shedding masks, travel is resuming and businesses are reopening around the globe. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (AP)

State legislature approves ban on sale of high-capacity magazines
A ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines was passed by the Washington state Legislature Friday. Senate Bill 5078 prohibits the sale, attempted sale, manufacture and distribution of magazines with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The bill does not prohibit the possession of high-capacity magazines. “For too long we have accepted gun violence as an inevitable part of life,” said Senator Marko Liias, who sponsored the bill. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7 News)

These clarifications to police accountability legislation will go into effect immediately
In an effort to clarify police accountability laws passed by the legislature in 2021, two new measures were signed into law Friday and will go into effect immediately. Gov. Jay Inslee held a virtual meeting to sign those bills, along with other bills, at the state capitol. Legislators last year introduced major reforms in order to set a baseline of standards for police use of force and behavior, as well as requiring more transparency from law enforcement. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Gene Johnson)

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Associated Press
Inslee signs bills clarifying police reform laws in Washington
Death toll surpasses 6 million for the pandemic now in its 3rd year
On ‘Bloody Sunday,’ Harris reflects on the current fight for voting rights
Pickleball to soon be the official state sport of Washington
Public transit gets $3.7B to boost old vehicles, introduce new fleet of electric buses

Aberdeen Daily World
Hoquiam business owners fight for revitalization
Elma School District shows off new electric school bus

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom is avoiding the West’s drought. That’s good, except for this one key thing
Injured Whatcom sheriff’s deputies share pain, frustration and appreciation after shooting
Whatcom County executive joins some statewide leaders in criticizing PSE’s clean energy plans

Capital Press
Could inbreeding slow down Asian giant hornets?
Drought persists in most of Pacific Northwest
Lawmakers give Inslee more power over energy projects (Carlyle)

Columbian
Second anniversary of COVID-19 in Clark County a time of optimism for some, pain for others
Sen. Cleveland: Local View: I-5 Bridge project collaborative, vital to region
Opinion: In Our View: Purdue Pharma settlement sends a message
Opinion: Cheers & Jeers: Ramping up reading; lousy litter (Stonier)

The Daily News
Capitol Dispatch: Inslee signs off on two police use-of-force bills

Everett Herald
Lawmakers OK limit on sale of high-capacity ammo magazines (Liias, Peterson, Ortiz-Self)
Inslee signs laws that fine-tune last year’s policing reform
Gender-identity clubs face resistance in some local schools
Everett eyeing $1.35M to expand bike paths east of Broadway
By 2044, Snohomish County population projected at 1.1 million
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Rep. Kloba: Close risky loophole on synthetic cannabis products
Rep. Paul: Training, certifying 911 staff helps them help us (Paul, Donaghy, Rule, Taylor, Johnson, Frame, Ryu)
WaPo Comment: Some better news on slowing climate change
Comment: What future have we gotten our kids into?
Editorial: Chance to slow, adapt to climate change dwindling

The Facts Newspaper
Visit to tiny home village shows promising pathway to permanent housing

High Country News
Pacific Coast crabs are suffocating

Kitsap Sun
Bomb threat disrupts Bainbridge, Bremerton state ferry service, prompts terminal evacuation

News Tribune
Tacoma, Pierce County brace for potential Russian cyber attacks after U.S. sanctions
Man fatally shot by Tacoma police is identified by medical examiner
This Pierce County city plans a $9 million park upgrade. Locals want a spray park

New York Times
Ukraine Live Updates: Civilians Caught in Escalating Russian Attacks
Energy prices jump amid fears of a cutoff of Russian supplies.
Car Industry Woes Show How Global Conflicts Will Reshape Trade
Ukrainians Find That Relatives in Russia Don’t Believe It’s a War
Led by Truckers, Hundreds of Vehicles Protesting Covid Mandates Encircle Washington
Employer Practices Limit Workers’ Choices and Wages, U.S. Study Argues

Olympian
WA House votes to ban ‘high-capacity’ magazines, bill now heads to the governor (Liias, Harris-Talley, Hackney, Kirby)
These clarifications to police accountability legislation will go into effect immediately (Bronoske, Johnson)
Anti-mandates rally on WA state Capitol Campus falls short of attendance expectations
Tacoma police officer placed on leave after posting ‘Let’s go Brandon’ video while on duty
Gathering for Ukraine attracts about 150 to WA state Capitol Campus
Black Student Union to file class-action lawsuit against North Thurston Public Schools
Public transit gets $3.7B to woo riders, adopt green fleets

Peninsula Daily News
Nurse ratio bill halted in state Senate (Tharinger, Chapman, Van De Wege)
COVID-19 case rates are continuing to drop
FEMA deadline on Monday
Gas prices reach $4 per gallon on Peninsula
School seismic safety grant plan approved (Tharinger, Chapman)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Series of bills in Olympia show how tech workers’ political clout is growing (Kuderer)
Concrete flows at some job sites as bitter strike drags on
Washington lawmakers near passage of bill requiring employers to disclose pay to job applicants (Randall)
Tacoma Housing Authority to break ground this fall on $78M Hilltop development
Why workplace culture will be even more important in the hybrid era

Seattle Medium
Seattle School Board Votes To Offer Dr. Brent Jones Permanent Position As Superintendent

Seattle Times
What you need to know about mask, vaccine rules at Seattle-area arts and music events
A new kind of union is forming at Amazon Fresh stores in Seattle
Harrell says he ‘inherited a mess,’ will solve crime issues by putting arrests first, social services second
WA Legislature stalls on efforts to preserve salmon habitat (Lekanoff)
New traffic camera enforcement begins in Seattle. Your fine comes later
WA Legislature enters final stretch with budget, policing and transportation proposals in play (Jinkins, Bateman, Lovick)
‘Nothing should have happened to any of us.’ A sexual assault case at Washington State University highlights gaps in how colleges respond to misconduct
Letter: Move Ahead Washington: Historic opportunity for cyclists, climate action
Opinion: With Washington’s nuclear targets, Putin’s war feels closer to home

Skagit Valley Herald
Ask the Undersheriff: Neighborhood Watch a good tool for combating crime
Area tribes in midst of legal dispute over fishing rights on the Skagit River
Once plentiful in Skagit County, the number of dairy farms continues to shrink

Sol De Yakima
Nuestra Casa, La Casa Hogar celebrarán el Día Internacional de la Mujer
Yakima Valley College ayudará a personas que salen de la cárcel a obtener educación
Senado estatal aprueba primer sistema de alerta en EE.UU. para indígenas desaparecidos, asesinados (Lekanoff)

South Seattle Emerald
Harrell Touts “Hot Spot” Arrests in “Operation New Day” Announcement
Rainier Valley Food Bank Reopens in a Bigger Building on Rainier Avenue South
Seattle Opera Plans To Address Racial Inequity On And Off Stage With ‘resi’ Proposal

Spokesman Review
Getting There: Now out of the North Spokane Corridor’s path, SCC’s clock tower is set for renovations
UI professor says Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination is a ‘profound achievement for African American women in the legal profession’
Looking for a way to support Ukraine? Here are a few options

Tri-City Herald
Richland School Board in ‘disarray,’ says state leadership expert brought in for coaching
Number of new COVID deaths in Tri-Cities still high, as case rates, hospitalizations drop
Tri-Cities street racing a growing problem even before deadly Richland crash
A different kind of ‘gun’ caused the Hanford nuclear site’s active shooter lockdown
‘It’s terrorism, it’s genocide.’ Tri-City Ukrainians who escaped persecution now fear the worst
Tri-Citian who lost millions in Pasco biofuel scam wants to turn site into brewery

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Buyer frustration could slow real estate demand in Walla Walla Valley, brokers worry
Courts in Walla Walla and Columbia counties still behind two years into pandemic

Washington Post
Amid the death and rubble, Ukrainian teams hunt for evidence of possible war crimes
Putin’s extreme isolation leaves few world leaders to convince him of a peace deal
Russian forces attack airfields in Ukraine as Zelensky pleads for fighter jets
Biden administration moves to cut smog-forming pollution from heavy trucks
This is why it’s so hard to find mental health counseling right now
White House must go further on new pandemic response, say former Biden advisers, outside experts
Putin’s full-scale information war got a key assist from Donald Trump and right-wing media

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
These major companies are cutting ties with Russia
Former Russian news anchor living in Seattle discusses ongoing censorship
Seattle police shoot, kill man with long gun outside Federal Office Building downtown

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Price for gas hits highest-recorded average in Washington, AAA reports
Supreme Court won’t review decision that freed Bill Cosby
Russia attacks Ukraine: Ukrainian official rejects corridors to Belarus, Russia
Officers open fire, kill armed man in downtown Seattle
Everett man killed after shots fired in fight between at least 10 people
Bainbridge Island ferry terminal resumes operations after bomb threat
State legislature approves ban on sale of high-capacity magazines (Liias)
Seattle leaders emphasize arrests, prosecution in plan to clean up downtown
Hundreds march in Seattle to support of Ukraine
Tacoma Police Department taking action against officer over social media post
Historic decision: Employer faces jail time for worker’s death in trench collapse
Climate experts: Much of Northwest remains drought-stricken

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle average gas prices jump nearly 44 cents in one week, up to $4.60
Inslee orders state agencies to review ties, contracts with Russia that can be canceled

KUOW Public Radio
Thousands have been detained in anti-war protests across Russia
The end-emic phase is near? Washington’s mask mandate ends soon
Week in Review: Ukraine, Wheat, and Masks
Marking the 80th anniversary of Executive Order 9066

KXLY (ABC)
‘Housing, not fences’: Protesters urge Spokane mayor to take down Browne St viaduct fences

NW Public Radio
Why Does Russia Want Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants? WSU Expert Weighs In
Gov. Inslee Signs Police Reform “Fix” Measures
Sam’s Law Passes In WA Legislature

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington a step closer to creating nation’s first alert system for missing Indigenous people (Lekanoff)

Web

Crosscut
Lawsuits over venue relief grants help some applicants secure millions
WA auditors sift through waves of federal dollars to detect fraud
Help us with our yearlong investigation into recovery spending
Will WA ban high-capacity gun magazines in 2022? (Liias)

MyNorthwest
Whatcom County deputies shot in February suing alleged shooter
Gov. Inslee to have ‘further discussions’ about vaccine mandate for state employees
Monthly $35 insulin cap for Washingtonians among bills signed into law Friday
Officers open fire, kill armed man in downtown Seattle
State lawmakers approve expansion of Dolly Parton’s ‘Imagination Library’ program
After years of stalled efforts, state lawmakers approve ban on high-capacity magazines
Inslee OKs bills clarifying police reform laws in Washington
Unclear when efforts to remove homeless camp outside Seattle City Hall will resume
Neighbors concerned about mega-warehouse proposed in South Tacoma
Seattle mayor unveils plan to ramp up police presence downtown amid surge in violence
Sea-Tac Airport doubles international arrival capacity with new terminal
State insurance commissioner issues apology following reports of abusive behavior toward staff
Staffing shortages delay expanded ferry schedules to April
Washington gas prices climb amid uncertainty with Russia

The Stranger
Joe Biden’s Job Boom Is Real and Will Change the Political Landscape
The People of 3rd and Pine

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Haven’t commented on routing/station locations yet? ‘Deep dive’ on Tuesday
CORONAVIRUS: How one West Seattle business has decided to handle masks after mandate ends
WEST SEATTLE SCENE: $5 gasoline
UPDATE: West Seattle Water Taxi service interrupted by state-ferry threat investigation
WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Rallying for Black lives outside Louisa Boren K-8 STEM

Friday, March 4

WA Senate passes first U.S. alert system for missing and murdered Indigenous people
A new bill to create the country’s first-ever alert system to help identify and locate missing Indigenous women and people passed the Washington state Senate Thursday, March. 3. The bill had previously passed the house unanimously on Jan. 28 and must go back for concurrence. Similar to “silver alerts” for missing vulnerable adults, the system created by House Bill 1725 would broadcast information about missing Indigenous people on message signs and highway advisory radio messages as well as through press releases to local and regional media. Continue reading at The Olympian.

Anti-hazing bill ‘Sam’s Law’ inches closer to passing WA Legislature focusing on education, transparency
An anti-hazing bill that was proposed in part in response to the death of a Washington State University student, appears headed toward passing the Washington state Legislature. House Bill 1751, which is now being amended to formally change its name to “Sam’s Law,” received broad bipartisan support in what advocates say will change the culture of college life by increasing transparency and education around hazing. If signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, the law would update the state’s 30-year-old definition of hazing and require higher education institutions to make public all reports from hazing investigations. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Courtesy of Jolayne Houtz and Hector Martinez)

The U.S. added 678,000 jobs in February. It’s another sign of a hot labor market
Hiring accelerated sharply last month as U.S. employers added 678,000 jobs, the largest gain since last July, as a resilient economy continues its recovery from the stubborn coronavirus pandemic. The unemployment rate fell to 3.8% last month, from 4% in January. Job gains for December and January were also revised up by a total of 92,000 jobs. The health outlook has improved significantly since a winter wave of infections tied to the omicron variant. Continue reading at KUOW. (AP)

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Associated Press
WA insurance commissioner accused of mistreating staff
“Freedom Convoy” leaves Spokane for Washington, D.C.

Bellevue Reporter
King County buys La Quinta Inn & Suites in Kirkland to become homeless shelter

Bellingham Herald
This Bellingham restaurant is sending care packages to Ukraine. Here’s how to help
This Bellingham waterfront condo hits the market with a record-breaking list price
Rally, ‘teach-in’ planned as Whatcom residents react to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Nearly 40% of eligible Whatcom residents have not yet received a COVID vaccine booster

Capital Press
First Yakima water-supply forecast looks good

Everett Herald
Bill to set minimum hospital staffing dies in state Senate (Robinson, Riccelli, Sells)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Cassandra Lopez-Shaw, county’s first Latinx judge, dies at 54

International Examiner
Little Saigon 2030 Action Plan seeks community input by March 5

Kirkland Reporter
Community input needed on potential use of body-worn cameras within Kirkland Police Department

News Tribune
To support Ukraine, WA is cutting ties with Russia. Should Tacoma’s sister city be next?
Tacoma officer was justified in shooting homicide suspect who killed K-9, prosecutors say

New York Times
Ukraine Live Updates: Panic Grips Some Cities as Russia Tightens Cordon
Economic Ties Among Nations Spur Peace. Or Do They?
February Jobs Report Shows Another Strong Gain
Decades of Neglect Leave I.R.S. in Tax Season ‘Chaos’
Florida Lawmakers Vote to Ban Abortions After 15 Weeks

Olympian
WA Senate passes first U.S. alert system for missing and murdered Indigenous people (Lekanoff)
2 protests against state’s COVID-19 response planned for WA Capitol Campus on Saturday

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County man dies of COVID-19
State residents can order more free COVID-19 tests
House passes bill allowing unionization for staff in 2024 (Riccelli)
Two fixes to police reform laws head to Inslee’s desk

Puget Sound Business Journal
US universities sever Russian ties, shed investments following Ukrainian invasion
Seattle launches $8M small business loan program
First look: Sea-Tac Airport cuts ribbon on International Arrivals Facility (Photos)
Mayor Harrell to revisit decision that killed off affordable micro-apartments
Why employers’ labor challenges won’t be going away — unless they take action.

Seattle Times
Droughts continue in the Pacific Northwest despite early snow and rain
Celebrating a grand new facility at Sea-Tac airport, WA officials pledge to welcome Ukrainian refugees
WA bill would give raises to Uber/Lyft drivers. Some in labor are concerned (Berry)
Brent Jones a step closer to being Seattle superintendent as board votes to negotiate contract with him
New traffic camera enforcement begins in Seattle. Your fine comes later
What health experts say about the ‘natural experiment’ of ditching mask mandates in WA
Anti-hazing bill ‘Sam’s Law’ inches closer to passing WA Legislature focusing on education, transparency (Heck, Leavitt)
Opinion: Prioritize small-business racial and gender equity as part of economic recovery

Skagit Valley Herald
Bill to improve riparian habitat to benefit salmon fails to make it out of committee (Lekanoff, Van De Wege)
Volunteers do their part to clean up Deception Pass State Park campgrounds
Skagit County mental health center hits another snag

South Seattle Emerald
Washington’s First Black-Owned Hospice Agency Waits For State Approval
Pallet, a For-Profit Provider of Utilitarian Shelters, Could be a Contender For County Funding

Tri-City Herald
Franklin sheriff won’t concede after Teamsters win contract dispute to go inside jail
Will there be enough water for Tri-Cities lawns and crops this year? Here’s the outlook
Former Tri-Cities fire chief to be paid $400,000+ in lawsuit over racial discrimination

Washington Post
Russia seizes nuclear plant in Ukraine; radiation levels stable after fire
Zelensky calls for direct talks with Putin; U.S. Embassy says nuclear plant attack is ‘a war crime’
New evidence shows Trump was told many times there was no voter fraud — but he kept saying it anyway
U.S. adds 678,000 jobs in February, with labor market nearing full recovery from pandemic

Yakima Herald-Republic
Sunnyside’s Nuestra Casa expands services for people seeking citizenship
Yakima Basin water supply in good shape for 2022 season, Bureau of Reclamation says
Opinion: Yakama Tribal Council’s resolution on Ukraine sets an example for us all
Comment: Putin is a prisoner of his own delusions about Ukraine. They will be his undoing
Letter: If you stand for decency, stand by Ukraine

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Sharp surge in violence brings mobile police precinct to downtown Seattle
Activists create human mural to support saving orcas, salmon
Striking concrete workers hold rally in Seattle
City’s focus switching to mobile clinics as some vaccination sites close in Seattle
Growing call for president to ban Russian oil imports
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport unveils new international arrivals facility
WA insurance commissioner accused of mistreating staff

KUOW Public Radio
How the Olympic Marmot Became Washington’s Fuzziest State Symbol (Chopp)
The U.S. added 678,000 jobs in February. It’s another sign of a hot labor market
Civil rights activists are prepared to fight for Jackson’s nomination to the court
Abortions after 15 weeks are one signature away from being banned in Florida
Tens of thousands of Ukrainians can stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation

KXLY (ABC)
As Idaho looks to restrict abortion care, Washington seeks to protect it

Web

Crosscut
Will WA ban high-capacity gun magazines in 2022? (Liias)
Human Elements: Using Indigenous knowledge to identify toxic shellfish

MyNorthwest
Washington gas prices climb amid uncertainty with Russia
Seattle council floats using public library as emergency homeless shelter
King County moving forward with plan to convert Kirkland hotel into homeless shelter
Puget Sound orca gives birth to calf in ‘good physical condition’
Battle lines drawn in fight over historic district designation in Wallingford

Thursday, March 3

WA to get $183M from Purdue Pharma settlement, more than double original proposal
Washington will receive $183 million from Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family as a result of the state’s lawsuit over the widely abused prescription painkiller OxyContin, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced. The settlement amount is more than double what the state was initially slated to get under a prior bankruptcy plan, announced last year. Under that plan, which Ferguson objected to in August, Washington would have gotten $70 million. Ferguson and nine other state attorneys general argued that the proposed settlement had been far too lenient and allowed the Sackler family, which founded and owns Purdue Pharma, to walk away with a “legal shield for life.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Mark Lennihan)

For some WA families, gardening starts with food stamps
Many people know that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, known colloquially as food stamps, makes it possible for more people to buy food at the grocery store. Households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level or making about $4,400 per month for a family of four, can use their SNAP benefits to purchase milk, bread, vegetables and various other food products. Immigrants may be eligible for the State Food Assistance Program, which offers the same benefits as SNAP. But fewer people know that these benefits can help them grow their own fresh produce, according to people involved in King County gardening nonprofits and the SNAP program itself. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Hannah Weinberger)

State expands free COVID testing program to allow two orders per month
Washington households can now order a free COVID test kit directly to their homes twice a month, while supplies last. The Washington Department of Health announced Wednesday that the state’s online portal that allows residents to order COVID-19 rapid tests directly to their homes will now allow residents to place two orders a month. Residents can go to sayyescovidhometest.org to order the test kits, which each contain five tests. The website originally launched in January and quickly ran out of tests. Continue reading at KIRO 7.