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Wednesday, July 23

‘He’s definitely in shock’: WA high school employee detained by ICE, district confirms
An employee from Juanita High School has been taken into custody by immigration officials. The Lake Washington School District confirmed that Fernando Rocha, who manages the theater department at Juanita High School, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “We are aware that one of our employees appears to have been detained by ICE,” the district said in a prepared statement. “We have been in contact with the employee to provide appropriate employment documentation. Due to privacy considerations, we are limited in what we can share, but we are monitoring the situation closely.” Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Lake Washington School District)

25 new or rare bee species reported by Washington Bee Atlas in first year
The Washington Bee Atlas has made significant progress in documenting the state’s native bees, discovering numerous state records and rare species in its first year. Volunteers with the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Washington Bee Atlas collected over 17,000 bee specimens from more than 600 different host plants in 2024. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (Joshua A. Bickel)

Sneak Peek: New Airo Trains Coming to Amtrak Cascades in 2026
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) this week provided railfans with a glimpse of the future of Amtrak Cascades, providing the first photos of the new “Airo” trainsets coming off the line as they head to Colorado for testing. Set to go into service along the Cascades corridor between Vancouver, B.C. and Eugene, Oregon by next year, these eight new trains will be the first to be delivered as part of a larger, nationwide order of 83 trainsets. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (WSDOT)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Grays Harbor County health assessment underway

Axios
How Seattle is tackling its pothole problem
1 in 6 Americans planning World Cup road trips
Washington state allows inmates to be billed for their incarceration

Capital Press
Research looks at hemp byproduct to feed livestock
Kotek signs bill that could help farmers manage water shortages
9th Circuit: Farm records wrongly blocked from bolstering labor advocacy

Columbian
A Clark County renter needs to make $33 an hour to afford a 1-bedroom apartment, study finds
Fear grips Vancouver family after ICE detains father while dropping kids off at Franklin Elementary

The Daily News
Kelso debate over feeding the poor by spray park ends with denied protection order

Everett Herald
New interchange, ramps, set to open in Marysville
Lynnwood faces ‘substantial budget shortfall,’ mayor says
Snohomish County gets funding boost for $35M rail project
Stanwood hosts a new police academy for community members

Kitsap Sun
Plans to shoot thousands of barred owls in doubt after feds cancel grants

News Tribune
‘Unfit for children.’ Allegations grow against ex-school for disabled WA kids
Will a ‘speed table’ make this Pierce County crosswalk safer? Expect detours

New York Times
Trump Administration Plans to Speed Up A.I. Development

Olympian
Dormant Grays Harbor pulp mill fined $2.3 million for toxic chemical spills
‘Perfect storm’ coming for WA amid federal health-care cuts, authorities warn

Port Townsend Leader
City signs bargaining agreement with union

Puget Sound Business Journal
Affordability challenges persist despite market shift to buyers
These coaches top Washington’s highest-paid state employees
Micro-retirement is the latest Gen-Z buzzword. Is this the answer?

Seattle Medium
Appeals Court Considers Dispute Over Seattle Black Firefighters’ Property Sale

Seattle Times
Juanita High School theater manager detained by ICE (Dhingra)
WA fines defunct pulp mill $2.3 million for violations, inaction
Seattle I-5 closure: Avoid traffic by taking public transit, officials say
EPA Is Said to Draft a Plan to End Its Ability to Fight Climate Change
Trump’s Labor Department proposes more than 60 rule changes in a push to deregulate workplaces
Opinion: Nurses’ warnings on Trump’s tax and policy bill were too long ignored

Spokesman Review
Spokane police and fire to receive millions in new equipment
After years of 777X line delays, Boeing’s new freighter hits milestone
‘It’s a top-of-mind issue’: Officials look for options to address state’s housing shortage
‘Fundamentally a transit town’: New STA chief embraces the promise of public transportation

Washington Post
EPA drafts rule to strike down landmark climate finding
Trump says U.S. has a deal with Japan to lower proposed tariffs
Trump’s norm-breaking closeness to Justice Dept. helped fuel Epstein furor

WA State Standard
Immigration arrests surged last month in Washington
‘Literally no way’: Idea of redrawing WA’s congressional map gets bipartisan brush off (Fitzgibbon, Pedersen)
‘One big, beautiful’ law provision on Planned Parenthood funding partly blocked by judge

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
King County approves sales tax to avert public safety cuts amid $160M deficit

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle sees surge in knife-involved assaults
Republic Services agreement with Teamsters ends trash strike
Seattle’s median home sale price reaches eye-popping new high
25 new or rare bee species reported by Washington Bee Atlas in first year
Stay out of the water! More King County beaches report high levels of bacteria

KXLY (ABC)
Failed contract negotiations mean the end of Spokane C.O.P.S. partnership with the city

NW Public Radio
Burdoin Fire destroys 14 homes, threatens 250 more in Washington
Homeless organization turns former WSU fraternity house into shelter for families
Unpacked: What federal cuts could mean for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
As Travis Decker manhunt stalls, Wenatchee veterans call for more mental health services

Web

Cascadia Daily News
La Conner the first local district to make major cuts due to shaky federal funding

InvestigateWest
For and by Christians: How Idaho’s influential Christian Nationalist group wants to reshape the state

MyNorthwest
King County’s new tax puts it among highest taxed in WA
‘He’s definitely in shock’: WA high school employee detained by ICE, district confirms (Dhingra)

The Urbanist
Sneak Peek: New Airo Trains Coming to Amtrak Cascades in 2026

Washington Observer
More on Amazon and Medicaid dollars

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Wednesday info
King County Council votes to raise sales tax one-tenth of one percent to help fund public-safety services; Seattle might do it too

Tuesday, July 22

Washington state agency under fire for sharing drivers’ data with ICE
The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) is facing scrutiny after a KING 5 investigation revealed it has been sharing private driver’s license information with federal immigration authorities, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. Washington’s DOL agency is responsible for issuing driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

Trump cuts could leave 250,000 Washingtonians without health coverage, shutter rural hospitals
State leaders and hospital officials say the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law earlier this month by President Donald Trump could impact the access of hundreds of thousands of Washington residents to health care, especially in rural parts of the state. “On so many levels, it’s just possibly the worst piece of legislation I’ve seen in 20 years in politics,” Gov. Bob Ferguson told KUOW’s “Soundside.” “As a state, it’s going to be a challenge for us.” Continue reading at KUOW. (AP)

AI data centers are using more power. Regular customers are footing the bill
Regular energy consumers, not corporations, will bear the brunt of the increased costs of a boom in artificial intelligence that has contributed to a growth in data centers and a surge in power usage, recent research suggests. Between 2024 and 2025, data center power usage accounted for $9 billion, or 174%, of increased power costs, a June report by Monitoring Analytics, an external market monitor for PJM Interconnection, found. PJM manages the electrical power grid and wholesale electric market for 13 states and Washington, D.C., and this spring, customers were told to expect roughly a $25 increase on their monthly electric bill starting June 1. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Dana DiFilippo)

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Axios
Mount Rainier’s quake swarm breaks seismic records

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham medical, hygiene facility for unhoused far exceeds service projection
Bellingham joins suit challenging Trump’s withholding of allocated federal funds

Capital Press
Idaho wolf population down for now but could rise
Bangladesh commits to buying 700,000 tons of U.S. wheat each year
Central Washington drought dominates irrigation district policy director’s time

Columbian
Wahkiakum considers $1 ticket increase after state reduces ferry funds
Federal money that helps homeless students in Vancouver, Evergreen school districts is at risk

Everett Herald
Boeing starts production of first 777X Freighter
Edmonds Environmental Council files fish passage complaint
Garbage strike over for now in Lynnwood, Edmonds and Snohomish
Comment: Withholding weather data will harm disaster forecasts
Bloomberg Opinion: ICE deportations ignore the promise of ‘never again’

Journal of the San Juan Islands
All about ferries | Governor Bob Ferguson visits Orcas

Kent Reporter
Kent state Sen. Kauffman reacts to X post by Ann Coulter (Kauffman)

Kitsap Sun
Here’s when no tax on overtime, tips start in Washington state. Are you eligible?
Bear Gulch Fire expands, crews fight to keep flames from spreading to national park

News Tribune
Trump administration sanctions Mexico over air carrier trade pact
Popular Tacoma dock closed for more than a week after seal gives birth on it
Northbound I-5 in this part of Pierce County to see lane closures, congestion
Opinion: Science education in Washington is being quietly starved

New York Times
Climate Change Is Making Fire Weather Worse for World’s Forests
States Sue Over Unauthorized Immigrants’ Access to Federal Programs
White House Leads Push to Block Watchdog’s Inquiries Into Spending Cuts

Northwest Asian Weekly
Donnie Chin’s legacy lives through the work of CID volunteers

Olympian
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray demands answers over plans to close WA’s only Army museum (Leavitt)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Port of Everett braces for ‘brutal’ Q3 amid tariff uncertainty and import decline
Opinion: Gov. Ferguson strips away Washington’s appeal with slate of tax increases

Seattle Times
Deaths and critical injuries spike in WA’s child welfare system (Wilson)
Budget office says Trump’s tax law will add $3.4 trillion to deficits, leave 10 million uninsured

Spokesman Review
Homeless people in Washington state visited ER less after moving into King County’s hotels
Spokane COPS’ future in jeopardy; board members resign after failure to reach agreement with city
Trump administration restores grants for after-school programs, while billions in K-12 funding remains frozen
Spokane County files suit against jail contractor seeking reimbursement related to $27 million wrongful death decision

Washington Post
NPR editor in chief says she’s leaving, days after federal funding cuts
House grinds to halt before planned recess to avoid voting on release of Epstein files
Border Patrol arresting migrants far from U.S.-Mexico border, alarming some lawyers, advocates

WA State Standard
AI data centers are using more power. Regular customers are footing the bill
For first time, WA agency calls for new investigation of a fatal shooting by police
‘Literally no way’: Idea of redrawing WA’s congressional map gets bipartisan brush off
Judge orders Trump administration to ‘stop violating the law!’ and publish spending details

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Boeing begins production on 777-8 Freighter in Everett
4-year-old injured in cougar attack in Olympic National Park
Washington state agency under fire for sharing drivers’ data with ICE (Wellman, Mena)
Family of Black man killed by Lakewood Police in 2013 one step closer to reinvestigation

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Is this our life for the next month on I-5?
4-year-old attacked by cougar at Hurricane Ridge
Burdoin Fire grows to nearly 11,000 acres, Highway 14 remains closed
Travel warning: Measles cases at highest since virus was considered eradicated
Former Everett bar owner sentenced to 109 years in prison for raping customers
2013 fatal police shooting referred to Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office for new investigation

KUOW Public Radio
As Travis Decker manhunt stalls, Wenatchee veterans call for more mental health services
Trump cuts could leave 250,000 Washingtonians without health coverage, shutter rural hospitals

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane County Treasurer to hold property tax Q&A event

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham council affirms LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination in new ordinance

Cascade PBS
WA, OR taxpayers left to pay for removal of derelict federal ships

MyNorthwest
WA rent cap for 2026 announced under Gov. Ferguson’s landmark bill

The Urbanist
Op-Ed: It’s Time to Ban Ratio Utility Billing

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Tuesday info

Monday, July 21

WA’s new rent cap set just below 10% for 2026
Washington’s statewide cap on annual residential rent increases will be just shy of 10% next year, down slightly from its current level. The limit, which takes effect Jan. 1, will be set at 9.683%, the state’s Department of Commerce said Friday. House Bill 1217, signed into law in May by Gov. Bob Ferguson, restricts annual residential rent increases to 7% plus inflation, or 10%, whichever is lower. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Jason Finn)

Washington sets record for concealed pistol licenses
More Washingtonians than ever have a license to carry a concealed weapon, state data shows. Why it matters: The rise comes as state legislators have moved to tighten rules surrounding gun purchases. A new state law, which goes into effect in 2027, will require Washington residents to receive live-fire training, be fingerprinted and get a permit before buying guns, a change expected to affect thousands of potential buyers each year. Continue reading at Axios. (Aïda Amer)

Washington law requiring clergy to report child abuse put on hold by federal judge
A federal judge has blocked a new mandate for members of clergy to report suspected child abuse or neglect from taking effect next week. The law, adopted during the 2025 legislative session, has sparked a federal lawsuit, an investigation by the Department of Justice over claims of anti-Catholic bias and vows by Catholic leadership in Seattle and Spokane that their congregations would not fully abide by the requirement. The law was set to take effect on July 27. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Dan Pelle)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Commissioners develop mission and vision statements

Axios
Washington sets record for concealed pistol licenses
King County stands out for walking and biking, but driving dominates

Bellingham Herald
Washington State Patrol issues MIPA alert for missing Bellingham teen
Do Bellingham’s tiny home shelters generate more 911 calls? Here’s the data
Bellingham medical, hygiene facility for unhoused far exceeds service projection

Capital Press
WSU veterinary hospital closes to large ag animal emergencies, after hours

Everett Herald
CEO: Port of Everett pushes forward, despite looming challenges from tariffs
New federal DEI restrictions on County Health Department funding spurs hiring halt
Comment: State got cheaper ferries and a policy rebuke
Bloomberg Opinion: Never mind gas prices; your power bill will cost you

The Inlander
Opinion: Broadcast journalism is a mix of show business, advertising and news — and as Edward R. Murrow observed, that can lead to ethical conflicts

Kitsap Sun
Health officer who led Kitsap through pandemic resigns, warns of challenges ahead
Bremerton looking at potential of installing ‘speed cameras’ nears schools and parks
‘It builds neighborhoods’: Federal funds support Port Orchard self-help housing project
Washington has the highest average hourly pay across the 50 states. See the federal data

News Tribune
Luxury automakers have a more aggressive tariff battle plan
Pierce County city asks residents to save water, limit showers to 4 minutes
New traffic signal is being installed along Shaw Road. Here’s what to know
Training for living-wage trade jobs available at new Tacoma center. Have a look
Opinion: Washington needs climate change solutions. The GOP is failing

Peninsula Daily News
Complex for seniors sued by AG
State funds to benefit coastal habitat

Puget Sound Business Journal
Alaska Airlines temporarily grounds fleet after IT outage

South Whidbey Record
Law change adds challenges to kindergarten program

Spokesman Review
ICE releases Washington green-card holder after nearly 2 months
Port Angeles tanker crash prompts ‘Do Not Drink’ order for residents (Frame)
Washington law requiring clergy to report child abuse put on hold by federal judge

Tri-City Herald
River rescues are on the rise. Tri-Cities officials urge water safety
WA senator fighting to save Nobel Prize-winning Tri-Cities observatory

Washington Post
ICE chief stands by mask use in immigration raids, despite criticism
Cars. Medicine. Wine. See the potential impacts of U.S. tariffs on E.U.
Harvard and the Trump administration face off in court over funding cuts
Global hack on Microsoft product hits U.S., state agencies, researchers say
Trump officials accused of defying 1 in 3 judges who ruled against the president

WA State Standard
WA’s new rent cap set just below 10% for 2026
Washington’s outdoor school programs reel from state funding cuts
No one knows whether Trump’s $50B for rural health will be enough
Deaths and critical injuries spike in Washington’s child welfare system
Trial foot ferry serving San Juans ends, with return doubtful anytime soon (Liias)
Dead fish and disrupted water supply after fuel truck crash near Port Angeles
Some frozen federal funds for schools released to states by Trump administration

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Republic Services resuming garbage collection in King, Snohomish counties on July 21
Pierce County man recommends use of 988 despite Trump’s cut of LGBTQ youth lifeline

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Bear Gulch Wildfire near Lake Cushman growing in size
‘Do Not Drink’ order lifted in Port Angeles after fuel tanker spill
Trash pickup service to resume in King, Snohomish Counties on Monday
Alaska Airlines lifts ground stop, passengers experience lingering delays after tech failure

KXLY (ABC)
Wildfire smoke could cause health issues for sensitive groups in Spokane
More areas evacuated as crews battle Lake Spokane fire from the ground and the air

Web

Cascade PBS
The Newsfeed: Trans Seattleites still struggle to update passports

Washington Observer
Big hospital chain goes back to court

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Monday info

Friday, July 18

Civil rights, democracy hits put Black America in ‘state of emergency,’ National Urban League says
Since taking office Jan. 20, President Donald Trump has issued executive orders that forced businesses, schools, universities and state and federal agencies to dismantle all diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Describing Black America as in a “state of emergency,” the National Urban League said the directives show the federal government is “determined to sacrifice its founding principles—equality, liberty, and justice—rather than accept the truth of a diversifying nation and deliver equitable opportunity for all.’’ Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Megan Varner)

Bullies or demonstrators? How court records are describing Portland’s ICE protests
As protesters and federal law enforcement have clashed outside the Portland offices for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Mindan Ocon has had a front row seat. Her corner-unit apartment looks down on the frays along the South Waterfront. From her balcony, she’s recorded arrests and fights, which have been happening since early June. Continue reading at InvestigateWest. (Conrad Wilson)

LGBTQ+ crisis hotline shuts down. WA commits help for those 988 callers
A federal decision announced in June is causing the closure of a resource for LGBTQ+ Americans. But Washington state officials have a plan to try to fill the gap. “We’re deeply concerned about the loss of this vital service,” said Michele Roberts, the Department of Health’s assistant secretary for prevention and community health. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Liesbeth Powers)

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Axios
Trash strike stinks up Seattle suburbs
Washington slips in CNBC’s top states for business rankings

Capital Press
U.S. to probe Brazil’s agricultural trade practices
E. Idaho groundwater district works to optimize usage, monitoring
Arizona company fined for breaking Washington cap-and-trade rules

Everett Herald
Paving project will close I-5 lanes in Everett
Little Pilchuck salmon project gets boost from $4.6M state grant
Snohomish County PUD plans open house to discuss new transmission line

Kitsap Sun
Shellfish harvesting suspended in Kitsap due to biotoxin levels
Fueling delays cancel Sunday morning Seattle-to-Bainbridge ferry for 2 weeks
The Seattle metro area is growing. Here’s where people are coming from, new report finds
Will Washington get cooler temperatures this fall? What NOAA, Old Farmer’s Almanac predict

News Tribune
Pierce County improperly diverted $4.5M meant to improve 911 calls, audit finds
Tacoma’s homeless healthcare program is up and running. Is it what was promised?

Olympian
LGBTQ+ crisis hotline shuts down. WA commits help for those 988 callers

Peninsula Daily News
Olympic Medical Center CEO says Medicaid cuts will hit hard

Seattle Times
WA public radio stations brace for ‘devastating’ federal funding loss
1.4M of the nation’s poorest renters risk losing their homes with Trump’s proposed HUD time limit

Spokesman Review
Washington sues over new regulations to health care exchange
Spokane urges residents to water lawns less as river diminishes for the summer
The vague appearance of ICE agents could create problems for local police. Spokane’s police chief is trying to prevent that.

Washington Post
Activists try to preserve IRS’s Direct File now that Trump has ended it
Health insurance through Affordable Care Act faces big premium hikes
With PBS funding cut, will the next generation be raised by ‘Skibidi Toilet’?
Trump’s antisemitism task force targets other conservative complaints about colleges

WA State Standard
Creative marketing and open arms: Is it enough to draw business back to WA’s border towns?
Civil rights, democracy hits put Black America in ‘state of emergency,’ National Urban League says

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
WA distributes 2,000 Hope Cards to survivors with protection orders
988 suicide & crisis hotline to end specialized service for LGBTQ+ youth
Fecal matter, toxic algae blamed for high bacteria at King County beaches
OFCO: 45 child deaths or near-deaths in WA last 3 months, many involving fentanyl in the home

KNKX Public Radio
Zero-emissions drayage trucks coming to Seattle and Tacoma

KUOW
Advocates for immigrants sue to stop courthouse ICE arrests
WA food banks, hospitals and more bracing for Big Beautiful Bill

Web

Cascade PBS
PBS, NPR rescission vote passes Senate, heads back to U.S. House

InvestigateWest
Bullies or demonstrators? How court records are describing Portland’s ICE protests
The U.S. government sold off these aging ships — leaving states in the Pacific Northwest to pay the price

MyNorthwest
WA distributes 2,000 Hope Cards to vulnerable survivors
Federal judge blocks WA law requiring clergy members to report confessions
OFCO: 45 child deaths or near-deaths in WA last 3 months, many involving fentanyl in the home

The Urbanist
Seattle Inspector General Violating Disclosure Laws by Altering, Withholding Records

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Friday info, + big weekend ahead

Thursday, July 17

Advocates for immigrants sue to stop courthouse ICE arrests
Immigration advocacy groups sued the Trump administration Wednesday for dismissing cases in immigration courts in order to place immigrants in expedited removal for swift deportations without judicial review. As the White House aims to achieve its goals of deporting 1 million immigrants without permanent legal status by the end of the year and a 3,000 arrests-per-day quota for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, immigrants showing up to court appearances have been arrested or detained. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Grace Deng)

1.4M of the nation’s poorest renters risk losing their homes with Trump’s proposed HUD time limit
Amid a worsening national affordable housing and homelessness crisis, President Donald Trump’s administration is determined to reshape HUD’s expansive role providing stable housing for low-income people, which has been at the heart of its mission for generations. The proposed changes include a two-year limit on the federal government’s signature rental assistance programs. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Lindsey Wasson)

Pierce County violated state law by diverting millions in tax revenue meant to improve 911 calls, state audit finds
The accountability audit, published in June by the Office of the Washington State Auditor, centered on Pierce County’s installation of a distributed antenna system throughout a county building in 2022, which is home to a handful of government entities, most notably the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the county jail. The county claims in a written response to auditors that it had met the obligations to invest locally in the enhanced 911 system. Continue reading at InvestigateWest. (Moe K. Clark)