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Tuesday, November 8

WA building council votes to require heat pumps in new homes and apartments
New homes and apartments in Washington will be required to install heat pumps beginning in July, the Washington State Building Code Council ruled Friday. The council voted 9-5 last week on the ruling, a decision that could help the state further reduce carbon emissions by electrifying the heating systems of new buildings. Homes, apartments, offices and other buildings account for a large portion of planet-warming greenhouse pollution. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ruth Fremson)

Tribe receives federal funding supporting relocation
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Wednesday a $10 million investment in tribal communities across Washington to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on those communities. The investment will send $150,000 to the Quinault Indian Nation for the hire of an emergency management administrative coordinator, according to a summary from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. For over a decade, the Quinault tribe has planned to relocate the village of Taholah — home to roughly 650 residents — beyond tsunami zone and flooding inundation areas. Continue reading at The Daily World. (Quinault Indian Nation)

What is COP27? What you need to know about the U.N. climate summit.
Tens of thousands of people from around the globe will descend on Egypt starting Sunday for the annual United Nations climate change summit. Since 1995, world leaders and their delegates have convened annually to discuss the critical issue of global warming, carbon emissions and how to tackle climate change. This year’s meeting marks the 27th gathering of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change — or COP27 for short. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Sedat Suna)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Tribe receives federal funding supporting relocation

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham mayor denounces symbols of hate downtown
Twitter files to lay off 208 Seattle employees under Elon Musk’s new ownership

Capital Press
Washington timber board on sidelines as carbon plan takes shape

Everett Herald
State leaders ‘deeply frustrated’ by Everett mayor’s homelessness letter

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Learning earthquake preparedness during ShakeOut 2022

Mercer Island Reporter
City to host Climate Action Plan workshop

Olympian
Friday night storm knocked out power to 14,500 residents in Thurston County, PSE says
Olympia school board president, new member respond to recent backlash from public
Daylight saving time: Changing the clocks is terrible. That’s why we should refuse

Puget Sound Business Journal
Median home sale prices flatten in Kitsap, decline in Skagit County
Here’s how many people Twitter has laid off in Seattle

Seattle Times
Power outages continue on Whidbey Island and in Snohomish County
Can Chief Diaz, SPD insider, end Seattle’s federal consent decree?
Seattle-area homes linger on the market as higher rates hit buyers’ power
WA building council votes to require heat pumps in new homes and apartments

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Snow coats Snoqualmie Pass; drivers must use chains

Spokesman Review
Spokane City Councilman Bingle’s dam resolution runs into a wall of resistance – for now at least
2 arrested after white supremacist ‘Patriot Front’ graffiti found on Gonzaga on Saturday night
Monday’s snow makes way for colder temperatures
Opinion: Washington wildlife management must evolve to meet its responsibilities to the people

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities homelessness rate outpacing WA state. Survey reveals other health concerns too

Washington Post
Over 1 million Americans with diabetes rationed insulin in past year
What is COP27? What you need to know about the U.N. climate summit.
White House says ‘lines of communication’ with Russia are still open

Yakima Herald-Republic
City manager fires Sunnyside police chief, places commander on leave pending investigation
Land transfer helps secure access and Yakima River environment

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Over 200 Seattle-based employees part of recent Twitter layoff

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Early childhood learning faces critical shortage
Tech industry facing unique struggles amid wider economic stress, experts say

KUOW Public Radio
Frigid temps to chill Western Washington this week

Q13 TV (FOX)
Know before you go: Winter weather driving tips, what to keep in your car

Web

Crosscut
Hanford is a huge deal, but most Seattleites don’t know of it

MyNorthwest
Truckers urge caution with snowy conditions on Snoqualmie Pass

Monday, November 7

Dungeness crab dying amid low oxygen levels linked to climate change
Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced a $4.2 million award for a four-year study on Dungeness crab and krill that will bring together researchers and experts from coastal tribes, public universities and federal agencies from Northern California to Washington. Climate change has been exacerbating existing marine environmental stressors through changes in temperatures, ocean chemistry and seasonal cycles. The Quileute Tribe declared a fishery resource disaster after an algal bloom shut down their Dungeness harvest in 2015. Since then, they’ve used disaster relief funds to purchase instruments to measure current ocean conditions and start to piece together trends, said Jennifer Hagen, Quileute Tribe marine policy adviser. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Austin Trigg)

Tacoma sets goals to end homelessness. Here’s the city’s $34M plan for the next 5 years
More than 1,850 people are homeless in Pierce County, and Tacoma wants to reach “functional zero” with its homelessness response by supporting permanent housing and providing supportive services for those who are homeless. The City of Tacoma’s Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness, which was released this week, outlines five goals to create immediate access to shelter and for those who are experiencing homelessness to access shelter, services and a pathway toward stable permanent housing. The city has proposed $34 million in homeless services in its 2023-2024 biennial budget. Almost $16 million is one-time resources that will allow for the stand-up of expanded permanent shelter and more temporary and emergency shelters. Continue reading at The News Tribune.

Editorial: State fund an investment to exit poverty cycle
Efforts to address child poverty — with good reason — typically focus on the more immediate needs for children and families: the availability of basic assistance, of child care and preschool, of health care coverage, of free and reduced-price school meals, of the federal child tax credit. The problem, notes state Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, is child poverty’s persistence through childhood and into young adulthood and the lost opportunities for education in college and trade schools and the capital that more well-off families can call on to help young adults begin to build financial stability and generational wealth. Currently, about 47 percent of the children born in Washington state — more than 37,000 each year — are eligible for Apple Health, Washington state’s Medicaid health care program; about 226,000 children under 18 years of age — about 16 percent — live below the federal poverty level. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.

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Bainbridge Island Review
Homeless shelter for men, women, families, pets

Capital Press
Washington small-forest landowners push buffer proposal
PNW apples closer to gaining access to Australia market

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: New I-5 Bridge project stymied by old problems

The Daily News
First look at Longview’s 2023-2024 budget: more general fund spending

Everett Herald
Earlier, later service proposed for Everett Transit in March
Storytime for all: Sno-Isle Libraries get $100k to expand outreach
Everett mayor decries plan to house homeless in local motels
Editorial: State fund an investment to exit poverty cycle

News Tribune
Tacoma sets goals to end homelessness. Here’s the city’s $34M plan for the next 5 years

Olympian
State Court of Appeals rules against Olympia group opposed to West Bay Yards development

Peninsula Daily News
NOAA funds research into ocean conditions
Counties consider procurement assistance, traffic plan

Puget Sound Business Journal
As open enrollment looms, many remote workers are anxious. Here’s why.

Seattle Times
Snohomish County power outages prompt school closures, delays
How families can help loved ones experiencing serious mental illness
Dungeness crab dying amid low oxygen levels linked to climate change
Wait times for mental health services in WA jails worsen as fines spiral

Skagit Valley Herald
A rise in minimum wage unlikely to have large impact on Skagit County businesses

Spokesman Review
WSU Police officer resigns after investigation finds he engaged in ‘predatory grooming behavior,’ had sex on duty

Tri-City Herald
Soaring food prices and holidays push ‘very high’ demand at Eastern WA food banks
Tri-cities hospitals treating more babies for respiratory illness. 1 more COVID death
Ferocious Tri-Cities winds knock out power, topple trees. Top gusts nearly 70 mph

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Public Schools could see first wave of electric buses early next year
Walla Walla School Board recognized by the Washington State School Directors Association as school board of the year
Draft budget for College Place, eyeing major infrastructure improvements, nearly double prior years

Washington Post
Meta expected to lay off thousands in broader tech slowdown
How mixed-race neighborhoods quietly became the norm in the U.S.
In a shift, U.S. says companies are pivotal to climate talks’ success
Tribes fear ‘an earthquake’ as Supreme Court takes up Native adoption law
Climate news is relentlessly, objectively grim. Should we ever allow ourselves to feel optimism?

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County’s federal rental assistance grant cut again, this time by $900,000

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
More than 40,000 without power across western Washington due to downed trees, gusty winds

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Thousands still without power; temperatures drop and some areas could see light snow
Tech layoffs and hiring freezes, including at Meta, Amazon
King County opens extra beds, extends hours for overnight shelter as temperatures drop

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Average gas price in Seattle drops below $5 a gallon, per GasBuddy
Compass Housing Alliance in Seattle to extend shelter hours due to cold weather

KNKX
Capitol Lake will revert to an estuary, but it will take a decade

KUOW Public Radio
WA AG orders DIY rape kit company to stop sales in the state
Seattle and Washington state’s future plans to address homelessness (Macri)

KXLY (ABC)
Thousands of Avista customers without power as snow falls

Q13 TV (FOX)
Crews working to clean storm damage, restore power across Snohomish County
How to report a power outage, what to do to prepare and stay safe during a storm

Web

Crosscut
Hanford turns its nuclear past into a tourist destination

MyNorthwest
Numerous school delays, closures in wake of severe storms

Friday, November 4

WA court pauses Albertsons’ $4B payout to shareholders amid Kroger merger
A King County court has temporarily blocked Albertsons from paying a controversial $4 billion dividend to investors as part of the retailer’s proposed merger with rival Kroger. On Thursday, King County Superior Court Commissioner Henry Judson approved a motion by state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to temporarily block the dividend, scheduled to be paid Monday, until the court can more fully consider whether the payment violates antitrust laws. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (John Froschauer/The Associated Press)

SPD’s Million-Dollar Parking Space
According to the jury in a recent lawsuit, protesters aren’t the only ones the Seattle Police Department has hurt with toxic gas. After finding SPD negligent for failing to protect a sergeant in the downtown precinct from getting carbon monoxide poisoning on the job, the jury awarded the cop $1,325,000 in damages. Continue reading at The Stranger. (Peter Gamlen)

Atmospheric river brings rain, snow, flood fears to Pacific Northwest, Puget Sound region
An atmospheric river is bringing strong to damaging winds, heavy rain and below-normal temperatures for the Puget Sound region from Thursday evening through Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said. Snow in the passes is expected as is potential river flooding, The Seattle Times reported. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun.

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Associated Press
Atmospheric river brings rain, snow, flood fears to Pacific Northwest, Puget Sound region

Aberdeen Daily World
Library hit with PDC complaint
Hospital CEOs talk staffing shortages

Everett Herald
Long-awaited repair: Bridge to the Big Four Ice Caves reopens
Study calls for nine more Everett police positions

Kitsap Sun
Bremerton City Council expands property tax exemption for affordable housing developments

News Tribune
Pierce SWAT planned to surprise suspect who shot deputy dead in March. What went wrong?
Editorial: Pierce County’s ambitious homeless village plan is a good start. But questions remain
Former Tacoma hospital director sued over handling of child-abuse cases as state expert

Olympian
Lacey City Council names Rick Walk interim city manager
Get ready. Freezing temperatures to follow heavy rain, wind this weekend in Olympia

Puget Sound Business Journal
WA court pauses $4B payout to Albertsons shareholders ahead of merger

Seattle Medium
Seattle’s Green New Deal A Hit
Clashes At Port Of Seattle Over Terminal Duties
When It Comes To Education, Coaches Can Help Fill The Gaps And Increase Positive Outcomes For Student Athletes

Seattle Times
Daylight savings time Q&A: What to know about the time change
Storm brings flurry of weather warnings, watches to Seattle area
In a ‘foreboding sign’ for Seattle, Amazon freezes corporate hiring
WA tribes get $11M from feds to help tackle climate change impacts
Washingtonians split on social media regulation, WA poll says
WA court pauses Albertsons’ $4B payout to shareholders amid Kroger merger

Skagit Valley Herald
Mount Vernon School District with state music teacher of the year
Head Start program expands in Burlington

Spokesman Review
With graduation rates increasing, Spokane Public Schools’ Native Education Program hopes to build on success
Snow blankets Spokane ahead of dangerous windstorm

Washington Post
A wide majority of Americans are concerned about politically motivated violence
Elon Musk begins mass layoffs at Twitter
U.S. added 261,000 jobs in October, as labor market softens slightly

Washington Times
New felony law for threatening election workers online gets tested in Washington state (Frockt)

Wenatchee World
Waterville planning commission proposes changes to comprehensive plan

Yakima Herald-Republic
Newhouse, ag leaders urge Senate to pass Farm Workforce Modernization Act before year’s end
Kittitas County, state and tribal officials gather to celebrate water conservation efforts
State officials visit solar farm sites on eastern edge of Yakima County

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle Department of Transportation prepares plows for snowstorms
King County judge temporarily blocks $4 billion dividend payment to Albertsons investors
Quinault Indian Nation’s coastal residents moving to higher ground

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Local families left hanging after hired contractor suddenly files for bankruptcy (Orwall)

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Snoqualmie Pass reopens after closing in both directions due to spinouts, collisions
Judge grants Ferguson’s restraining order to block $4B payout to Albertsons shareholders
Road crews ready as snowfall begins at Cascade passes in western Washington
Pierce County microhome village project facing development obstacles
Washington’s hospitality industry still struggling to get back to pre-pandemic staffing

KXLY (ABC)
WSU student employees successfully unionize

NW Public Radio
Judge rules DNR violated environmental policy; department amends 5 timber sales

Web

The Stranger
SPD’s Million-Dollar Parking Space
Opinion: Mayor Harrell Is Effectively Cutting Wages for Domestic Violence Workers

Thursday, November 3

Inslee wants Legislature to focus on housing lower-income Washingtonians
Last year, Washington state poured hundreds of millions of dollars into homelessness and housing, largely due to a one-time infusion of federal pandemic relief funding. Much of the state’s focus was on increasing temporary shelter units and getting people living outdoors off state rights of way, such as near highways. This year, Inslee said he wants to see policies that prevent people at lower-income levels from being priced out of available housing and becoming homeless. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Report points to why Seattle area lacks enough housing near transit
A new report from the Washington, D.C.-based Urban Institute finds that restrictive zoning may be a chief reason for the Puget Sound region’s lack of affordable housing near transit. According to the report, one-third of the land near transit lines is zoned for single-family housing only, yet less than 5% of housing permits are located in such zones. The result is that fewer people can live close to transit, which offers an affordable alternative to owning a personal vehicle. Continue reading at Puget Sound Business Journal. (Anthony Bolante)

In Our View: More housing is only answer to homelessness
But in seeking long-range solutions, Inslee is focusing on changes to zoning laws. As a policy statement from his office states, “Restrictive zoning ordinances drastically limit areas where middle housing is allowed, and limit equitable opportunity for homeownership.” The result, Inslee said, is a lack of housing for aging populations, first-time homebuyers and middle-income residents. From 2000 to 2015, population growth required 225,000 more housing units than were actually built. Continue reading at The Columbian.

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Associated Press
State attorneys general sue to block Albertsons’ $4B payout

Aberdeen Daily World
McCleary middle school students test Wildcat Creek water
Fishing on most coastal rivers and tributaries back open

Auburn Reporter
King County warns of potential for severe flooding

Bellingham Herald
WA attorney general files lawsuit against Kroger, Abertsons to delay $4 billion payment
Fierce storm aims for Whatcom County. Outages and flooding are possible

Capital Press
PNW wildfires burned far fewer acres this year

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: More housing is only answer to homelessness

Everett Herald
After rough spring start, Snohomish County farmers see mixed results in harvests
Editorial: County needs a school to train dental hygienists

News Tribune
DaVita cutting 200+ workers. Finances ‘challenging’ for former major Tacoma employer
A strong atmospheric river is headed to Pierce County with rain, wind and possible flooding

Olympian
Thurston County asks for public input ahead of major comprehensive plan update

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson PUD seeks funds for broadband

Port Townsend Leader
State committee OKs renaming proposals

Puget Sound Business Journal
Report points to why Seattle area lacks enough housing near transit
Tacoma City Council OKs increase for business license fees in 2023

Seattle Times
When grandma calls fraud: WA election workers take accusations personally
WA lawsuit: 3 men illegally moved from juvenile detention to adult prison
Heavy rain, strong winds and freezing temps expected in Seattle area
Inslee wants Legislature to focus on housing lower-income Washingtonians (Macri)
FAA mandates seaplane inspections as Whidbey crash causes concerns

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Valley Farm settlement to benefit local salmon

Spokesman Review
Spokane International Airport completes second phase of rail, truck facility geared toward attracting manufacturers
Most Americans want to end twice-yearly clock changes, but Congress can’t decide what to do with daylight saving time

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Draft budget for College Place, eyeing major infrastructure improvements, nearly double prior years

Washington Post
Fossil fuel projects were stalled a year ago. Now they’re making a comeback.
Psychedelic mushroom dose can treat stubborn depression, trial suggests
Glaciers in Yosemite and Africa will disappear by 2050, U.N. warns
Countries vowed to ramp up climate pledges in 2022. Very few have.

Yakima Herald-Republic
West Valley School District hears from public about what to do with $19M bond surplus
Yakima City Council OKs property tax rate increase of 1%

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington state auditor reports progress made on backlog of sexual assault kits
Several western Washington tribes will receive federal funding to prepare for flooding, heat waves
Increase in Washington college students dealing with food insecurity
Alcohol impairment detection systems could be required in all new vehicles

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
White House touts efforts to cut energy costs; immediate impacts limited, experts say
Time to fall back although legislation passed Senate to OK permanent daylight saving time
Tacoma’s budget looks to increase funding for police, expanding homelessness services
Washington hospitals see surge in patients seeking mental health care, counseling

KNKX Public Radio
Seals and sea lions vex Washington tribes as Marine Mammal Protection Act turns 50

KUOW Public Radio
Some progress made on Washington’s backlog of sexual assault kits

KXLY (ABC)
FAA mandates seaplane inspections after Puget Sound crash
North Cascades Highway to temporarily close starting Thursday night

Q13 TV (FOX)
WSDOT continues work to remove camps from state right-of-ways

Web

Crosscut
Housing vouchers sit unused at some rural Washington agencies

MyNorthwest
Gov. Inslee touts homeless housing successes, lays out new proposals
Delta Airlines pilots overwhelmingly vote ‘yes’ to strike
Boeing execs try to calm investors after multi-billion dollar loss

West Seattle Blog
City budget schedule changes after new prediction of lower revenue

Wednesday, November 2

WA needs to expand mental health care. What happens when neighbors object?
Since 2018, Washington state has slowly attempted to integrate mental health care into communities — a move necessitated after Western State Hospital lost its federal certification and after years of reports from families who’ve struggled to find care. State psychiatric hospitals were the norm for much of the 20th century, but in 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Act, marking the start of deinstitutionalization. Now Washington is catching up, investing in community-based mental health care by piecing together funds across several state agencies. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)

Toxic metal pollution is 10 times worse in racially segregated communities
Racially segregated communities in the United States are exposed to airborne toxic metals at a rate that’s nearly 10 times higher than more well-integrated areas, according to a new study published Tuesday. The study, published in Nature Communications, also found that highly segregated locations were exposed to two times the degree of total air pollution of well-integrated communities.It has long been known that communities of color bear a disproportionate burden of pollution. But the study puts a finer point on it — documenting that people in segregated communities breathe much higher levels of certain toxic heavy metals. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Tamir Kalifa)

CVS, Walgreens agree to settle opioid lawsuits for $10 billion
CVS Health and Walgreens, two of the nation’s largest retail pharmacies, have agreed to pay about $10 billion to states, cities and Native American tribes to settle all opioid lawsuits. If the CVS settlement goes through, the chain would distribute roughly $4.9 billion to states and local governments and about $130 million to Native American tribes over 10 years, beginning in 2023. Walgreens has tentatively agreed to pay $4.79 billion to states and $154.5 million to tribes. Walmart also has a settlement pending that will pay $3 billion to resolve similar lawsuits, people familiar with the matter told The Washington Post. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Gene J. Puskar)