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Wednesday, Feb. 2

Seattle police ‘failed to de-escalate’ before shooting man to death on waterfront, SPD watchdog says
Two officers who shot and killed a man who was carrying a knife as he walked along Seattle’s waterfront last year failed to first try to defuse the situation or use other defensive strategies before resorting to using deadly force, Seattle’s police watchdog announced Tuesday. In turn, the Office of Police Accountability recommended suspensions for each officer — identified by the Police Department as Cassidy Butler and Willard Jared — for violating the department’s “de-escalation” policy during the fatal encounter in February 2021 with 44-year-old Derek Hayden along Alaskan Way. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Alan Burns)

Pfizer and BioNTech seek emergency use authorization of the first coronavirus vaccine for children under 5
Pfizer and BioNTech said Tuesday that they were seeking emergency-use authorization for the first coronavirus vaccine for children younger than 5 and have begun submitting data on the safety and efficacy of the first two doses of a planned three-dose regimen. The Food and Drug Administration asked the companies to apply for authorization of their vaccine, and in an email, FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Caccomo said the omicron surge had generated new data “impacting the potential benefit-risk profile of a vaccine for the youngest children.” Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Matt Roth)

Washington insurance commissioner adopts credit scoring ban
Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has adopted a rule prohibiting insurers from using credit scoring to set rates for auto, homeowner and renter insurance for three years after the end of pandemic-related federal and state emergency financial protections, whichever is longer. The rule was announced Tuesday and takes effect March 4. Kreidler’s office said it started the process of implementing a permanent rule after an emergency rule the commissioner issued last year was struck down by a court. The court found there was no justification to bypass normal rulemaking procedures. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

Print

Associated Press
Washington insurance commissioner adopts credit scoring ban
Deal seeks to revive last aluminum smelter in PNW, cut waste (Frockt)

Aberdeen Daily World
Shortage of nurses at Harbor Regional Health

Auburn Reporter
Attorney General files lawsuit against COVID testing company

Bellevue Reporter
Federal investigation finds that multiple Menchie’s location failed to pay workers, stole tips

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham’s St. Joe’s hospital moving forward with these plans on major expansion
Feel the shaking? This small earthquake just struck near Whatcom County
How big is omicron’s impact? Whatcom’s COVID pandemic case total jumped by 66% in January
Parts of Whatcom County see snow. Here’s when more is in the forecast
Whatcom Sheriff relocating inmates, halting visiting as jail elevators fail

Capital Press
Cool, wet spring in store for much of Pacific Northwest

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Congress key to getting cash out of cannabis

Everett Herald
It’s time: Rep. Mike Sells says he won’t seek re-election (Sells, Wicks, Robinson)
Snohomish County turns a corner on omicron, but it’s not over
Can fusion-powered Helion Energy change the world — from Everett?
Workers at an Everett Starbucks seek a unionization vote
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg: Supreme Court picks long used to promote diversity
WaPo Comment: Black women jurists’ history justifies Supreme Court

High Country News
Wildfires’ unequal impacts on pregnant people

Mercer Island Reporter
Rep. Senn: Protecting our communities from hatred

News Tribune
City leaders propose paying for smashed windows, increasing security at Tacoma businesses
Pierce County Superior Court’s first Latino judge has died
Editorial: WA state House adds a 2nd way to speak on Gov. Inslee’s COVID mandates
Op-Ed: The far right is substituting ideology for data, and replacing analysis with name-calling

North American Post
New Film “Paper Chase” Tells the Story of Japanese American Media

Olympian
Active shooter drills cause depression, anxiety in students. Lawmakers want to change that (Walen)
20 more Thurston residents die of COVID-19 as virus activity remains high
Coroner identifies man shot, killed by Lacey police after he fired on officers

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam OKs federal funds for food programs
COVID-19 vaccine in works for children under 5
Lawsuit accuses COVID-19 testing company of faking results

Seattle Times
3 WA cities will pay $3 million to settle lawsuit after man is killed in SWAT-like assault
Didn’t WA just vote in November? Why is there another election already? (Gregerson)
One month in, it’s already past time for the new Seattle City Hall to jump on crime
King County homeless shelters left to deal with omicron mostly on their own
Seattle police ‘failed to de-escalate’ before shooting man to death on waterfront, SPD watchdog says
Officials ask for fewer bookings as COVID, staffing shortages worsen King County jail conditions
WA lawmakers advance proposals to allow duplexes, fourplexes in some single-family neighborhoods (Bateman, Pollet, Das)
Opinion: Invest in complete and accessible sidewalks in every community

Skagit Valley Herald
Navy releases technical report from jet noise study

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Snoqualmie police look to hire behavioral health specialist (Callan)

South Seattle Emerald
Black History Today: In Community, the Power of ‘I am’ Becomes ‘we are’
Opinion: Lunar New Year in the Seattle Asian American Diaspora

Tri-City Herald
DOE estimates $100s of billions needed to finish Hanford nuclear waste cleanup
Here’s why ‘ghost-cattle’ fraudster Easterday isn’t starting his federal prison term yet
Post urging school levy ‘no’ vote pulled from Kennewick councilman’s site
Amazon will put 2,800 trucks, cars a day on Tri-Cities roads. But where?
Two dozen Richland students walk out of classes over WA COVID mask rules

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Man fleeing on bicycle from Walla Walla officers struck by police car, later jailed
Walla Walla Valley Transit bus routes hindered by staffing shortages

Washington Post
Biden dispatching additional U.S. troops to Eastern Europe
WHO urges caution as countries begin to loosen restrictions
Fear, anxiety follow third wave of bomb threats targeting HBCUs
Black History Month founder showed how schools should teach about race
Pfizer and BioNTech seek emergency use authorization of the first coronavirus vaccine for children under 5

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Man shot near the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle
Thieves are stealing copper wire along Washington’s highways
Washington state lawmakers consider limitations on active shooter drills in schools (Walen)
Important context left out of COVID-19 natural immunity claims after CDC study release

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
King County to consider booking fewer suspects during latest COVID-19 spike
Déjà vu: Commissioner bans credit-based insurance scores, again
‘We can’t keep up’: Copper wire thieves plague roadways, shut down I-5 express ramp
Fire stations burglarized in Skagit, Whatcom counties

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Council hears proposal aimed at keeping non-violent offenders out of King County jails
Coalition wants officers to stop jailing those arrested for non-violent crimes
Downtown Seattle Association hires private security guards amid police staffing issues
Bellingham Public Schools receives fewer COVID tests because of supply chain issues

KNKX Public Radio
Tax reform discussion, bill deadline on the horizon in Olympia

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Is a guaranteed income program right for Washington? Lawmakers are considering it (Berry)
‘Forbidden housing’ or ‘speakeasy housing?’: Today So Far
Think 85,000 invasive crabs is a lot? Wait ’til you see Vancouver Island

KXLY (ABC)
Washington Department of Transportation ranks Latah Creek Bridge ‘poor’
Washington Board of Health survey for requiring COVID vaccine for students closes Wednesday

Q13 TV (FOX)
2 bills call for higher penalties for hazing after death of WSU fraternity pledge
State licensing, renewal website down causing delays for business owners
King County jails consider releasing non-violent suspects due to staffing shortages, ‘inhumane conditions’
Scientists deploy buoy in Puget Sound to measure noise, risks to orcas

Web

Civic Skunk Works
Opinion: Two Bold Bills Under Discussion Would Combat Washington State’s Growing Inequality

MyNorthwest
Fourth Echo Glen inmate arrested as county files felony charges stemming from escape
‘Outdoor dining is part of the fabric of our city:’ Seattle council moves on free street use
Washington’s Unemployment Trust Fund starting to bounce back in 2022 (Keiser)
Bill to rework Washington’s single-family zoning advances ahead of deadline
Washington Attorney General files lawsuit against COVID testing company
‘Significant amount of wire theft’ shuts down Seattle I-5 express lane ramp
City of Bellevue sues owners of home that slid off foundations in landslide
FAA gives green light for jets flying out of Paine Field after 5G rollout
Downtown Seattle group spends $564,000 on private security, more to come for 3rd Avenue
‘Extraordinary rise in gun violence in King County’ in 2021, says county prosecutor
Gov. Inslee ‘not excited’ about emergency powers reform, thousands voice support
‘High’ frequency in armed robberies at pot shops in Puget Sound region
State reopens COVID test portal with more free at-home tests available
The best car theft prevention methods, according to local insurance agents

The Stranger
The Council Will Let SPD Spearhead Changes to Its Ruse Policy

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: Fewer suspects are booked into jail because of pandemic restrictions. Now there’s a call to further reduce the number.
CITY CHANGES: Mayor Harrell’s new Department of Neighborhoods director, and 2 other new department leaders

Tuesday, Feb. 1

COVID testing company faked test results, lied to patients, WA lawsuit says
An Illinois-based coronavirus testing company with at least 13 sites in Washington, faked or delayed test results (or provided none at all), lied to patients and failed to properly store test samples, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, describes how the company, Center for COVID Control, expanded to about 300 U.S. locations and allegedly took advantage of residents at a time when frequent testing was in high demand as a “critical tool in the fight against COVID-19.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Washington state Attorney General’s Office)

Washington state lawmakers mull ‘sales tax holiday’
A proposal in Olympia would eliminate sales tax for three days in September to help people pay for back-to-school items and other necessities. House Bill 2018, authored by Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor), would create what is being called a “sales tax holiday” for Sept. 3-5 this year. It would include purchases of $1,000 or less on items such as clothing, computers, Energy Star appliances, health care equipment, over-the-counter drugs and school supplies. Continue reading at KING 5.

4.3 million Americans left their jobs in December as omicron variant disrupted everything
Some 4.3 million people quit or changed jobs in December — down from last month’s all-time high but still near record levels, as the labor market remained unsettled and the omicron variant swept through the United States. Employers reported some 10.9 million job openings in a survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, well above pre-pandemic averages. December proved to be an incredibly disruptive month for the labor market. Continue reading at The Washington Post.

Print

Associated Press
Deputy seeking suspect mistakenly shoots off-duty officer
Lawsuit accuses COVID-19 testing company of faking results
AP source: Pfizer to ask FDA to authorize COVID vaccine for kids under 5

Auburn Reporter
State Democrats push new round of open-carry gun restrictions (Berg, Kuderer)
After a record-breaking 2020, gun violence continues to increase in King County

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom Sheriff relocating inmates, halting visiting as jail elevators fail
‘It makes me mad, just like before,’ Whatcom fire chief says after second station burglary
Whatcom isn’t planning to intentionally send floodwater into B.C., Sidhu says
Bellingham school district received a third of COVID tests it needed from state last week

Capital Press
House panel endorses voluntary conservation in Washington (Springer)

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Doxxing legislation needs more time, discussion (Lovick)

The Daily News
Capitol Dispatch: Emergency power limits and election lies get major Senate hearing Jan. 28
City of Kalama accepting applications for pandemic relief funds from residents, businesses
City of Longview holding open houses on bicycle and pedestrian plan

Everett Herald
$20B order launches Boeing 777X freighter, a boost for Everett
Attorney General sues company behind ‘sham testing centers’
Cornfield Report: Cutoff countdown to punish lying politicians, curb governor (Robinson, Randall, Van De Wege, Mullet, Hunt, Ortiz-Self)
2022 real estate market: A reprieve for buyers is unlikely
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
UW’s ‘problematic’ word list: ‘crazy,’ ‘ninja’ — and ‘grandfather’?
WaPo Comment: A history of blaming teachers for schools’ problems
WaPo Comment: After 2 years of pandemic why aren’t we better at it?
Editorial: The importance of pickleball and a dinosaur bone (Lovick, Morgan)

High Country News
A just transition for farmworkers

News Tribune
These new homes are first in Pierce County to be ‘permanently affordable’ under new model
Puyallup police say bomb squad safely detonates explosive downtown
Op-Ed: Pot industry lobbyist wrong about WA Liquor and Cannabis Board. Here’s the truth
Tacoma’s Lincoln District Lunar New Year block party is back and ready for the Tiger

New York Times
Despite Labor Shortages, Workers See Few Gains in Economic Security
Biden Administration to Reinstate Mercury Pollution Rules Weakened Under Trump
Judges Increasingly Demand Climate Analysis in Drilling Decisions

North American Post
80th Anniversary of E.O. 9066: Editorial

Olympian
Student walkout calls attention to racism at North Thurston Public Schools
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state
State reopens COVID-19 test ordering portal after successful launch two weeks ago
‘The time is now for the flood-control structure’: Congresswoman tours Centralia flood damage

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County man dies of COVID-19
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Puget Sound Business Journal
State bill would lengthen sentences for pot shop robberies
Boeing launches 777X freighter with giant order from Qatar Airways
T-Mobile issues vaccination ultimatum to office workers in an internal memo
State funding for higher education tops $100B for the first time

Seattle Medium
Seattle Office Of Labor Standards Secures Over $2 Million For Pizza Workers
AG Ferguson Files Lawsuit Against Center For COVID Control Over Invalid And False Test Results
State Re-Opens COVID-19 Test Portal After Successful January Launch
House Passes Bills To Clarify Police Reform Laws (Johnson, Bronoske)

Seattle Times
WA lawmakers debate limits to governor’s emergency powers after 2 years of COVID (Randall, Jinkins)
COVID testing company faked test results, lied to patients, WA lawsuit says
Off-duty Vancouver officer was shot by deputy pursuing robbery suspect, investigation finds
Opinion: Combating antisemitism and Holocaust denial is everyone’s fight

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Transit moves to improve service in Skagit County
Federal flood, weather recovery assistance expanded
Skagit County’s COVID-19 rate drops for second consecutive week

Sol De Yakima
WA reabre sitio de internet para solicitar pruebas gratis de COVID, una semana después que se agotaron
Yakima Herald-Republic: Área infantil de la tienda de segunda mano San Vicente intenta ayudar a madres, niños

South Seattle Emerald
Opinion: HB 1747 Offers a Pathway To Keeping Families Together
The Fifth Annual Black Lives Matter At School Set To Start Monday

Spokesman Review
At long last, Spokane will decide if it will study costs of adding fluoride to city water
Spokane County commissioners could pick a naturopathic doctor for Board of Health
Bingle censured for violating mask mandate

Washington Post
4.3 million Americans left their jobs in December as omicron variant disrupted everything
Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children under 5 could be available by the end of February, people with knowledge say
When a sudden, small expense threatens an entire college career
Critics slam Cruz for saying Biden’s vow to nominate first Black woman to Supreme Court is ‘offensive’
How the falsehood of athletes dying from coronavirus vaccines spread

Yakima Herald-Republic
Bill seeking to remove drive-by shootings from aggravated murder dies; Yakima officials happy (Simmons)
City staff recommend against secure parking lot for people living in cars in Yakima
Washington attorney general sues company that ran COVID-19 test site in Yakima, other locations
Former Yakima area State Trooper who resigned over COVID vaccine has died
Letter: Don’t conform to state’s long term care plan
Letter: It’s about public safety, not self-expression

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington state lawmakers mull ‘sales tax holiday’ (Paul, Rule)
Washington attorney general sues Center for COVID Control over ‘sham testing centers’
120,000 more free at-home COVID test kits available in Washington
Anti-Semitic graffiti found near Jewish Family Service of Seattle
‘Unprecedented’ expedition to study oceanic habitat of salmon leaves Port Angeles

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
City of Bellevue suing landslide victims for not demolishing home
State reopens online portal to order at-home COVID-19 tests
FAA gives green light for jets flying out of Paine Field after 5G rollout
Graffiti near Jewish service agency followed rabbi’s op-ed
Students hold protest, walk out of Olympia high school

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
State lawmakers mull changes to police reform laws that some say has hindered response (Goodman)
Wash. State AG sues COVID-19 testing company over fake results, handling of tests
FAA lifts ban on use of Embraer E175 at Paine Field during bad weather despite 5G concerns

KNKX Public Radio
International expedition will explore mysterious life of salmon at sea
A torrent of support for curbing Inslee’s emergency powers as lawmakers take public testimony (Randall, Dhingra)

KUOW Public Radio
‘Forbidden Houses of Bothell’ Show How Multifamily Housing Fits Into Single-family Zones
Covid testing company sued by Washington AG over ‘inaccurate and deceptive’ test
Pandemic updates: More Covid tests arrive in Washington
Japanese Americans remember the legacy of ‘camp’ 80 years after their incarceration
Washington lawmakers are considering criminalizing fertility fraud — but what exactly is that?
Inslee has entered the 2022 session
Earthquake safety for Washington schools heading to the ballot (Frockt)

KXLY (ABC)
Another batch of free COVID tests now available for Washingtonians
State of Washington sues company accused of producing false COVID test results

Q13 TV (FOX)
WA Legislature considers curbing governor’s emergency powers
Washington state sues Center for COVID Control over ‘fake test’ allegations

Web

Crosscut
How many students did WA public schools lose during the pandemic?

My Edmonds News
Senate bill aims to protect communities from unplanned development (Salomon)

The Stranger
Washington Lawmakers Find Momentum in Push to End Apartment Bans (Bateman, Pollet, Das)

Monday, Jan. 31

‘Few core staff left’: Droves of nurses take high-paying travel jobs
Travel nursing is a field that has boomed in the past two years, with demand up for short-term positions, and those who fill them enjoying significantly higher wages. More nurses are making the same choice. [Cecillia] Hoglund estimated her Providence unit was about 80% travel nurses when she left this month. “There’s very few core staff left,” she said. “Since COVID we’ve been getting droves and droves and droves of travelers.” Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry)

Rents are up more than 30 percent in some cities, forcing millions to find another place to live
Rental prices across the country have been rising for months, but lately the increases have been sharper and more widespread, forcing millions of Americans to reassess their living situations. Average rents rose 14 percent last year, to $1,877 a month, with cities like Austin, New York and Miami notching increases of as much as 40 percent, according to real estate firm Redfin. And Americans expect rents will continue to rise — by about 10 percent this year — according to a report released this month by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Bridget Bennett)

Free N95 face masks now available at some pharmacies in Washington
You can now pick up free N95 face masks at some pharmacies and health centers around western Washington. Earlier this month, the Biden administration announced it would send 400 million non-surgical N95 masks to locations across the country for Americans to pick up for free to help protect them against the COVID-19 omicron variant. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said there will be a limit of three free N95 masks per person through the program, which is set to be up and fully running by early February. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
Inslee testifies in favor of bill targeting election lies (Frockt)
WA Legislature considers curbing governor’s emergency powers (Randall)
Washington police reform bill backfired on people in crisis (Johnson, Orwall)
Moderna announces full US approval for its COVID-19 vaccine

Bellingham Herald
This new climate change solution could be tested on Whatcom, Skagit farms
New homes are so hot in Bellingham, reservations are set before framing is complete
Bellingham security patrols add ‘eyes on the street’ in advance of new programs
Whatcom County sees 905 new COVID cases, along with 40 hospitalizations and 3 deaths
Whatcom County takes action as environmentalists fight to preserve this century-old forest
State pauses logging of this 130-year-old forest near Nooksack River in Whatcom County

Capital Press
Inslee’s mandatory buffer bill failing to move
Ranchers tout bill to douse Ecology’s stockwater policy
Elk feast on farmers’ haystacks across Pacific Northwest

Columbian
Sen. Annette Cleveland bill seeks hazard pay for health care workers (Cleveland)
Clark County reports 28 new COVID-19 deaths, a record number
Opinion: In Our View: Invest in teachers to aid schools’ COVID rebound
Opinion: In Our View: Public transit warrants rethinking in wake of virus
Opinion: Cheers & Jeers: Defending facts; foolish prank

Everett Herald
‘Few core staff left’: Droves of nurses take high-paying travel jobs
Hospital lost 1% of staff to vax mandate, so why the shortage?
Amid concerns, Everett council puts off traffic camera vote
Lynnwood to send inmates to Kirkland while new jail is built
State Democrats push new round of open-carry gun restrictions (Berg, Kuderer)
State trooper who told off Inslee over vaccine mandate dies from COVID
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Reps. Berg and Slatter: Your digital privacy rights need a stronger shield
Rep. Duerr: Our connected problems require connected solutions
Comment: Supreme Court needs term limits for its own sake
Editorial: Worth of Sno-Isle’s Lake Stevens library now clear

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Free N95 and KN95 masks available

News Tribune
Volunteers spent a night counting the homeless. Is that the best way to collect data?
Tacoma’s Eastside, Hilltop lost libraries a decade ago. Is it time to bring them back?
State trooper who told off Inslee over vaccine mandate dies from COVID
Editorial: WA state House adds a 2nd way to speak on Gov. Inslee’s COVID mandates

New York Times
Covid Live Updates: Some U.S. Governors Say It’s Time to Learn to Live With Virus as Omicron Recedes

Olympian
Emails show confusion, frustration after displaced camp residents moved to Lacey hotels
Olympia police chief recruitment restarts with focus on reform, equity
Hospital administration, unions disagree on legislation for safe staffing (Riccelli, Robinson)
False election statements by elected officials could be illegal under proposed WA law (Frockt)
Robbery spike at WA pot shops has owners on ‘high alert.’ Reliance on cash the problem
Washington Senate Democrats introduce legislation to limit the governor’s powers (Randall)
Gov. Inslee signs changes to WA Cares Act into law

Peninsula Daily News
Students push for mask guidance
Lawmakers mull nurse numbers (Tharinger, Van De Wege, Chapman)
Disaster recovery center will serve 3 Clallam County locations

Puget Sound Business Journal
UW launches center as part of software engineering network to aid researchers INNO
Cannabis industry supplier to lay off 150 employees in Washington, shift assembly to California
Seattle area has 2nd-highest average tech salary in US, report finds INNO
Seattle businesses frustrated, angry about escalating crime, new council member says
Chancellor and Biden-administration adviser talks future of free community college (Conway, Keiser)

Seattle Times
Real or not, threats of violence have serious consequences in Seattle schools
As police were abandoning East Precinct, Seattle officials drafted plan to give station to a Black Lives Matter group
Where profits are soaring most for home sellers in Washington (Hint: It’s not Seattle)
Orchestrating social justice: Next steps for classical music in Seattle
78 years after disastrous World War II mission, bombardier Anel B. Shay Jr. comes home to Seattle
WA lawmakers, advocates call for PCB testing in schools in response to Seattle Times story (Pollet, Wellman, Nobles)
New bill in WA Senate targets quotas for warehouse workers (Conway)
‘Those funds are overseas now’: Tens of millions of dollars from state unemployment fraud likely won’t be recovered
Seattle to Bremerton route will be model for new electric foot ferry
Editorial: Expand and improve Washington’s apprenticeship programs (Keiser, Randall)

Skagit Valley Herald
High prices, empty shelves make for miserable shopping trips across U.S.

Sol De Yakima
Davis, IKE, dos primarias tomarán clases en línea; el resto regresa a clases presenciales
Qué necesito saber este año para declarar mis impuestos
Fuertes nevadas continúan en los pasos de monaña Snoqualmie, Stevens

Spokesman Review
Getting There: Several Spokane, Kootenai county bridges in ‘poor’ condition – what does that mean?
Fight over hospital safe-staffing standard continues in Legislature (Cody, Sullivan)
Maggie Yates, the woman leading the region’s criminal justice reform efforts, resigns
Helping neighbors in need: Spokane’s Little Food Pantry sites grow as families juggle pandemic losses, inflation

Tri-City Herald
‘Stretched to their limit.’ Tri-Cities yet to hit COVID peak with hospitals nearly full
Tri-Cities works to fend off another Biden administration snub to pay for schools, roads

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
More schools go remote as COVID-19 cases, staffing shortages plague Walla Walla area
Syphilis rate in Walla Walla, nation and world at record high
Walla Walla-based Organix’s worm solution part of area trend toward restorative business practices

Washington Post
Rents are up more than 30 percent in some cities, forcing millions to find another place to live
White House frustrations grow over health chief Becerra’s handling of pandemic
America’s split-screen pandemic: Many families resume their lives even as hospitals are overwhelmed
Fed tries to thread the needle by raising rates without endangering economy

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Free N95 face masks now available at some pharmacies in Washington
Here are the long-term symptoms of the omicron variant
University of Washington returns to in-person learning Jan. 31
How you can avoid a false negative on an at-home test
Community, lawmakers talk about new vision for Aurora Avenue (Carlyle)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle rabbi believes he’s the target of anti-Semitic graffiti
Two-day protest being held in North Thurston School District
UW and Seattle students returning to in-person classes
One of Tacoma’s largest homeless encampments set for removal after multiple fires, city says
Gov. Inslee hopeful state could reach turning point in pandemic ‘in relatively near term’
Hospital administration, unions disagree on legislation for safe staffing (Riccelli)
Supporters rally for missing Oakley Carlson

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Local pharmacies in Seattle begin distributing free N95 masks
LISTEN: Senator Reuven Carlyle retiring from state legislature
Chinatown International District businesses worried about crime are moving out of Seattle
Survey asks Washington parents if COVID vaccine should be required for students

KNKX Public Radio
Criminal justice reform in WA starts with resentencing push, helping youths (Hackney)
Listen: Why aren’t more wayward orcas reunited with their pods like Springer was?

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: What to know about the second omicron variant
It was a wild week for stocks. Should you worry? Here are 4 things to keep in mind
Why omicron is crushing hospitals — even though cases are often milder than delta
Debating Washington’s renewable energy: Today So Far
A school principal’s blunt warning: We can’t pretend the pandemic is over
After 2 years, growing calls to take masks off children in school

KXLY (ABC)
Track the WA legislature that matters most in 2022
Senator Murray announces more than $60M to go towards improving Washington supply chain
How punishing people for ‘doxxing’ could prove tricky for WA lawmakers (Lovick, Dhingra)

Q13 TV (FOX)
2 bills call for higher penalties for hazing after death of WSU fraternity pledge

Web

Crosscut
Are WA traffic cameras reducing dangerous driving or making it worse?
How punishing people for ‘doxxing’ could prove tricky for WA lawmakers

MyNorthwest
Seattle rabbi says he was target of anti-Semitic graffiti
UW, Seattle University students return to in-person classes
Clark County deputy unintentionally shoots, kills off-duty Vancouver officer
Gov. Inslee hopeful state could reach turning point in pandemic ‘in relatively near term’
2 injured, 13 displaced after fire breaks out at Tacoma apartment building
State trooper who told off Gov. Inslee dies after battle with COVID-19
Woman arrested for string of arsons in Tacoma
Point Roberts business owner says despite border opening, revenue barely up
Would Inslee bill making it illegal to lie about election fraud survive a court challenge?
From Seattle to Atlanta: Starbucks union push builds steam across nation

The Stranger
You Own It. Why Aren’t You Allowed to Fix It? (Gregerson)

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Second repair-work platform raised

Friday, Jan. 28

Delay of Washington’s long-term-care program signed into law
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday signed into law an 18-month delay of the state’s new long-term-care program, which creates a defined benefit to help offset the costs of such care. His signature comes a day after lawmakers gave final approval to the move amid concerns about the program’s solvency and criticism about elements of the underlying law, including the fact people close to retirement would pay in but not receive the benefit. “We do have to get this right because this is so important to so many people,” Inslee said at a news conference. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Ted S. Warren)

With fares depressed, Sound Transit grapples with ‘financially unsustainable’ trajectory
Revenue from fares on Sound Transit buses and trains has cratered in recent years as operating costs climb, creating a “financially unsustainable” trajectory for the regional transit agency, CEO Peter Rogoff told board members Thursday. Depressed ridership because of COVID-19 underpins much of the drop in revenue. But Rogoff also blamed an increase in passengers who ride without paying, which comes as Sound Transit’s enforcement presence is significantly scaled back. “When you’ve got a situation with a 98% chance of being out on the system and not being contacted by anybody to have any conversation, that just lends itself to further noncompliance,” he said. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Washington State Patrol, criticized for lack of diversity, removes psychologist from hiring decision
The Washington State Patrol permanently stripped its staff psychologist of his power to approve or reject trooper candidates, a role that for nearly 30 years shaped the agency’s ranks. Under criticism for a lack of progress to diversify the force, WSP Chief John Batiste recently made the long-term shift to an outside contractor for psychological evaluations of candidates. Lawmakers, frustrated at the lack of progress, are considering legislation, released last week, that would step up oversight of the WSP’s diversity efforts. Today, 86% of troopers are white, a number that has barely budged in two decades even as the state has become more diverse. Continue reading at KUOW. (Washington State Patrol)

Print

Associated Press
Delay of Washington’s long-term-care program signed into law

Aberdeen Daily World
Mayor praises Aberdeen resident’s cleanup effort
Vaccine ‘obstinance’ is fueling Delta variant’s spread across America
Biden says social media ‘killing people’ with virus falsehoods
CDC: U.S. had most drug overdose deaths on record in 2020
Appeals court: Age-based handgun purchase ban unconstitutional

Bellingham Herald
Investment firm in talks with BPA for power contract that could reopen Whatcom’s Intalco
Here’s where to get free at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests Whatcom County is distributing
Whatcom sees 1,206 new COVID cases, 6 deaths reported, as 5 more classrooms go remote
State Senate to offer this tribute to Whatcom’s late Sen. Doug Ericksen
COVID test shortage from state forces Bellingham school district to adjust prioritization

Capital Press
Ranchers tout bill to douse Ecology stockwater policy
Washington’s ag director recommends expansion of Columbia River Office
Federal vaccine mandate could delay H-2A workers at border
U.S. apple growers see dramatic drop in exports to SE Asia, China

The Daily News
Local legislators will host upcoming virtual town halls, briefings

Everett Herald
COVID cases prompt Community Transit to cut 36 bus trips
Hundreds seek housing in Snohomish County — but are on hold
High court: State must pay for some, not all, ballot boxes
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance

The Inlander
Lesley Haskell, wife of Spokane County Prosecutor, calls herself ‘White nationalist,’ uses N-word as slur

News Tribune
Pierce County reports 50 school-related COVID outbreaks, most happening in classrooms
Homeless encampment in southeast Tacoma to be cleared early next month, city says
Fed up with crime, hundreds of business owners gather in Tacoma to demand city action
Biden promises a Black woman on SCOTUS. Here’s what WA’s first Black female justice says
Will Pierce County see economic gains in 2022? Here are some key indicators to watch

Olympian
Lacey gun purchases soared in 2020, police data show
Gov. Inslee signs changes to WA Cares Act into law

Peninsula Daily News
Forks to receive $2.4 million for wastewater treatment plant
Grant to install solar at PUD
COVID case rates decreasing, but flu cases are here
Online open house seeks input on Simdars interchange design
State approves pause to long-term care program and tax (Billig)
Three flu-related deaths amid moderate flu activity, state reports

Puget Sound Business Journal
The Omicron variant disrupted return-to-office plans. Here’s how employers can prepare for the next variant.
Amazon settles with Washington state AG over price-fixing allegations

Seattle Medium
King County Sheriff’s Office Seeking Public Health To Locate Escapee
King County Awards $2 Million To Develop At Resource Center For Skyway
Eviction Suicide-Homicide In Graham
Black Lives Matter At School Look To Defeat Bill That Would Prohibit Teaching CRT In Public Schools
Constantine Announces $23.4 Million In Affordable Housing Funding

Seattle Times
With fares depressed, Sound Transit grapples with ‘financially unsustainable’ trajectory
Triple-deck $287M Kirkland interchange gets Sound Transit’s green light
3 teens who escaped from juvenile facility near Snoqualmie caught; 28 have fled in a decade
MyShake earthquake warning app now available in WA
Gov. Inslee signs bills to delay, expand exemptions in WA Cares long-term care program
Editorial: Make homegrown pickleball official sport of WA state

Skagit Valley Herald
La Conner School District unveils new logo

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Snoqualmie Tribe to open child care center, teach indigenous culture

South Seattle Emerald
40th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. March Demands Truth in Education Now

Tri-City Herald
Kennewick schools may voice opinion on WA governor’s emergency powers
New solar farm planned as Tri-Cities officials back WA bill to halt energy projects

Washington Post
Lack of Medicare coverage for at-home coronavirus tests sparks outcry
They were sentenced to life in prison. Who should decide if they get a second chance?
Dow falls almost 300 points as January sell-off continues

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Gov. Inslee signs bill to delay long-term care tax until 2023 (Paul, Macri)
Worker alleges understaffing led to detainees’ escape in Snoqualmie
West Seattle salon ‘bombarded’ with financial loss due to omicron surge
Verify: Is your mask a counterfeit?

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Jeff Bezos opening a second free preschool for low-income families in Everett

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Tuning in or tuning out: making sense of growing WA State COVID numbers

KUOW Public Radio
Two Washington bills, two different approaches to renewable energy projects (Fitzgibbon)
WA police may regain authority to use force to stop people fleeing crime scene (Goodman, Johnson)
With his signature, Inslee pauses WA Cares program for 18 months
A second version of omicron is spreading. Here’s why scientists are on alert
Seattle police won’t pull you over for this: Today So Far
Washington State Patrol, criticized for lack of diversity, removes psychologist from hiring decision (Lovick, Van De Wege, Valdez)

KXLY (ABC)
Whitman County Public Health says hospitals are at or above capacity

NW Public Radio
Latino Voters Challenge Yakima Redistricting Map
What Does It Mean To Produce Sustainable Wine?
Public Provides Varied Testimony On Keep Washington Evergreen Bill (Harris-Talley)

Q13 TV (FOX)
State-commissioned survey uncovers ongoing safety, staffing problems at youth detention centers

Web

Crosscut
New King County homelessness authority kicks off with $170M budget
How punishing people for ‘doxxing’ could prove tricky for WA lawmakers (Lovick, Dhingra)
WA Bill tracker 2022

MyNorthwest
Washington residents can soon pick up free N95 masks
Cool ocean waters, abundant nutrients provide rosy outlook for Washington salmon
Dramatic rise in car thefts blamed on new Washington state law
Echo Glen youth detention center, site of recent escape, understaffed, underfunded, report says
Competing proposals for catalytic converter theft crackdown up for Thursday vote
Gov. Inslee approves 18-month delay on long-term care tax
Rideshare companies pour millions into PAC ahead of push for Washington ballot initiative
Earthquake early warning app now available in Washington

The Stranger
Rep. Berry: It’s Time for a Guaranteed Basic Income in Washington State

West Seattle Blog
Here’s what HPAC heard from SPD and SDOT at 2022’s first meeting
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Platform-raising Saturday; testing closures Sunday; party-planning postscript
West Seattle Transportation Coalition talks buses and ferries, and what else is up for the rest of your Thursday

Thursday, Jan. 27

State Senate approves delay of WA Cares, sending long-term care bills to Inslee’s desk
The Washington Senate Wednesday passed a pair of bills to delay the payroll tax for WA Cares by 18 months and change other parts of the fledgling long-term care program, sending the legislation to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk. The passage of bills to address criticisms and concerns over a major Democratic priority comes just three weeks into the 2022 legislative session. The House voted on both pieces of legislation last week. Speed appears to remain the order of the day, with Inslee expected to sign the bills Friday, according to a spokesperson for the governor. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

The flu is reemerging in Washington amid Omicron wave
The Washington Department of Health reports that influenza activity in the state has reached “moderate” levels for the first time in two years. Three people, all over the age of 65, recently passed away from the flu. The last time a person died from the flu in Washington was in the 2019-20 season — there were 114 reported flu deaths during that time. Comparing 2020 to 2022, there were 36 flu deaths by the end of January. The Covid-19 pandemic had driven flu cases to a “historically low” level in Washington, according to the DOH. Continue reading at KUOW. (Elaine Thompson)

South Sound region’s blood supply at crisis levels. Centers plead for donations
The people who collect blood and those who use it — blood banks and hospitals — are calling the current shortage in the South Sound unprecedented, historic and a crisis. Bloodworks Northwest declared a “Code Red” this month — the highest level of need the agency has. Normally, blood collection establishments try to have four to five days of blood on hand. On Tuesday, Bloodworks had a one-day supply, said Vicki Finson, vice president for blood services. Still, that’s an improvement from earlier in January when they were measuring their supplies in hours. Continue reading at The Olympian.