Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Wednesday, October 19

Inside the Bolt Creek fire — and the newly burning forests of the western Cascades
Spring this year in Washington was unusually cool and wet, while summer was hot and dry. Some seasonal weather events may be “flukes” but they build upon conditions destabilized by a warming planet, according to state climatologist Nicholas Bond. “Maybe it’s an early indication of climate change,” Bond said. Ongoing fires burning west of the Cascade crest could be a dress rehearsal for longer fire seasons, and longer periods of incessant smoke in urban or metropolitan areas, he said. “It’s not going to be every summer, by any means, but this is the sort of thing that’s going to be happening more.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Very unhealthy: Air quality in east Vancouver, Clark County deteriorates
As the Nakia Creek Fire continues to burn in east Clark County, the air in Southwest Washington continues to deteriorate, pushing into the very unhealthy range in most of east Clark County, according to airnow.gov. Air quality readings in Clark County ran the gamut from 48 in Barberton to as high as 492 in areas around Camas — a reading in the hazardous range, according to purpleair.com. Most of the Portland-metro area is in the unhealthy range. Wildfire smoke has affected much of western Oregon and Washington with unhealthy to hazardous air quality readings up and down the Interstate 5 corridor. The National Weather Service in Portland said that the air quality advisory will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)

These four Whatcom County forest parcels considered for new state carbon project
Four parcels in Whatcom County are included in the state’s proposal for phase two of a plan to lease forest land for carbon offsets rather than logging. However, the Department of Natural Resources proposal includes 11,726 acres statewide, and needs to be narrowed down to 7,500 acres. To do so, DNR is asking for community input on which forests deserve protection. The carbon project is a way for DNR to protect forests while maintaining school construction funding. Instead of leasing forests for logging, it will lease the lands through a third party that will sell carbon credits to organizations as carbon offsets. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (WA Dept. of Natural Resources)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Whale killed by possible ship strike beaches near Ruby Beach

Auburn Reporter
Rain in the forecast for Western Washington

Bellingham Herald
Wildfire smoke blankets Whatcom, air quality plummets. How long will it last?
These four Whatcom County forest parcels considered for new state carbon project

Capital Press
Washington DNR to sell carbon credits rather than timber

Columbian
Better weather conditions aid Nakia Creek firefighting efforts
Very unhealthy: Air quality in east Vancouver, Clark County deteriorates

Everett Herald
Don’t be alarmed: Tsunami siren in Everett is part of Great ShakeOut
‘Language as an asset’: Multilingual students get credits for fluency

News Tribune
Pierce County e-cigarette chain made illicit vape juice in house, ignored FDA, DOJ says
Interim site picked for popular Pierce County library. When it will open remains unclear

Olympian
Wildfire east of Eatonville weakened by moister weather after dry weekend, officials say
Land in Thurston County may be up for conservation. You can help decide

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County eyes extending emergency
Great ShakeOut includes tests on MyShake App, tsunami sirens

Seattle Times
Inside the Bolt Creek fire — and the newly burning forests of the western Cascades
Seattle air quality among worst in world
In Seattle, Kroger-Albertsons merger raises fears of closures, ‘grocery deserts’
Sound Transit train derails, causing disruption in Tacoma

Skagit Valley Herald
State still to decide on PSE rate increase

Snoqualmie Valley Record
North Bend adds water restrictions alongside low-flows in Snoqualmie River
Snoqualmie Tribe releases kokanee salmon, celebrates possible resurgence of threatened species

South Whidbey Record
Conversion of church to homeless shelter approved
Deputy accused of drugging, raping women

Spokesman Review
Spokane County Treasurer’s Office warns of tax scam by mail
Woman arrested while filming Spokane police settles lawsuit with city and county for $57,500

Tri-City Herald
Franklin County sheriff, school officials beg Pasco council to keep ban on cannabis stores

Washington Post
Putin declares martial law in four illegally annexed regions of Ukraine
Biden to announce release of more petroleum from strategic reserve
Bus-riding dog who took herself to park remembered as ‘Seattle icon’
Yes, that letter from the IRS is real. You could be owed $1,400.

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee passes tougher RV tow rules that take effect soon

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima clean air agency names new executive director
Editorial: Paid parking downtown isn’t the answer — not now

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle small businesses can apply for up to $2,000 to repair damaged storefronts
Tacoma motel set to be turned into affordable housing
New trial program asks ships coming into the Puget Sound to slow down for whales
Kent City Council votes unanimously to pass public camping ban

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Skykomish residents look forward to rain as terrible air quality persists from wildfires

KUOW Public Radio
With flu season looming, these tips will help boost your immune system
Seattle weather is set to ‘whipsaw’ after an unusual start to fall
North Bend activates water-saving measures amid ongoing drought

KXLY (ABC)
East Central Neighborhood Council votes to clear Camp Hope by Thanksgiving
‘A matter of weeks’: More services on their way to the Trent Resource Shelter
PNW elections officials amp up defenses against fraud claims ahead of midterms

Q13 TV (FOX)
US warned to prepare as COVID cases rise in Europe
Kent City Council passes ordinance to ban camping on public property

Web

MyNorthwest
UW Medicine nurses reach early contract agreement
Wildfire smoke again pollutes Pacific Northwest air
Bolt Creek Fire crews reach critical turning point

The Stranger
Seattle Could Cover Every Abortion in Town for $3.5 Million
City Leaders Fight over Policing Pirates

West Seattle Blog
VACCINATIONS: West Seattle flu and COVID pop-up clinics this weekend

Tuesday, October 18

Carbon auctions will bring WA more money than predicted. Transportation could benefit
Washington state is likely to collect more than twice as much money from a new carbon credit system over the next three years as originally estimated, possibly setting the Legislature up to spend more on carbon reductions in its transportation and building sectors next session. Although the exact dollar amount the state will reap is uncertain, the new projections have given environmental and transportation advocates reason to hope that more can be spent on reducing emissions from heavy-duty vehicles like freight and garbage trucks, as well as toward converting homes to more energy-efficient heating and cooling systems like heat pumps. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

$275M verdict for toxic exposures at Monroe school, adding to swelling cost
Ten students and parents who say they suffered serious neurological injuries from chemical exposure at a Monroe school have been awarded $275 million by a King County jury. The lawsuit against Bayer Pharmaceuticals — which owns chemical giant Monsanto, the manufacturer of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs — is the fourth to result in a multimillion-dollar verdict. The first three resulted in jury verdicts of $268 million distributed to 14 plaintiffs. In all, more than 200 students, parents and teachers from the Sky Valley Education Center, an alternative school in Snohomish County, have sued Monsanto over environmental contamination at the school. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Ringman)

‘It’s easy, it’s fast’: Millions applied for student loan relief during early beta launch
President Joe Biden on Monday officially kicked off the application process for his student debt cancellation program and announced that 8 million borrowers had already applied for loan relief during the federal government’s soft launch period over the weekend. He encouraged the tens of millions eligible for potential relief to visit studentaid.gov and touted the application form that the president said would take less than five minutes to complete. An early, “beta launch” version of the online form released late Friday handled the early stream of applications “without a glitch or any difficulty,” Biden said. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Susan Walsh)

Print

Associated Press
‘It’s easy, it’s fast’: Millions applied for student loan relief during early beta launch
Evacuation area shrinks near southwest Washington fire
Big ships in North Puget Sound asked to slow down for orcas
$275M verdict for toxic exposures at Monroe school

Bellingham Herald
Wildfire smoke can cause serious health problems, WA officials urge using N-95 masks
Opening up jobs to students by teaching other languages. Pasco program is ‘best’ in WA

Capital Press
Washington eyes stricter mask rule for outdoor workers

Columbian
Officials: Childhood vaccine rate down in Clark County, state
Pacific Northwest’s ‘trees of life’ are dying. Now we know why
Nakia Creek Fire at 1,565 acres; evacuation zones shrink

Courier-Herald
Ransomware attack continues to plague local MyChart users

Everett Herald
Finally, rain in the forecast for Western Washington
US Energy officials visit Everett nuclear research lab

News Tribune
Pierce County deputy fired 12 shots during deadly traffic stop. Did passenger go for gun?
Another Tacoma motel plans to convert to apartments. It is part of a nationwide trend
Opinion: Homeless encampments are inhumane. That’s why I sponsored Tacoma’s new buffer ban

New York Times
What You Need to Know About Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan

Olympian
Port Commissioner Bob Iyall speaks out against proposed Thurston County airport
Change to student debt forgiveness plan could disqualify some Washington borrowers

Puget Sound Business Journal
Delinquent PPP loans are on the rise. Here’s what it means.
Alaska Airlines pilots ratify new union contract
Why remote work has been a game-changer for young workers

Seattle Times
$275M verdict for toxic exposures at Monroe school, adding to swelling cost
Seattle bill aims to end ‘Wild West’ of tree cutting
Seattle social justice leader Garry Owens dies at 77
Carbon auctions will bring WA more money than predicted. Transportation could benefit (Fey, Liias)
Column: Grocery chain merger would affect majority of Seattle-area households

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County seeking churches to host winter homeless shelters

Spokesman Review
Spokane picks service provider for Trent Avenue homeless shelter
With few detox beds available in Spokane, state health department removes portion of license from provider in Spokane
Opinion: Helping Camp Hope residents find stability takes time and effort

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Camouflaged cell towers now allowed in residential areas of Walla Walla

Washington Post
Immune-evading omicron variants are popping up all over the world
Retired U.S. generals, admirals take top jobs with Saudi crown prince
Desperate pleas and smuggled pills: A covert abortion network rises after Roe
What to know about the Nakia Creek Fire forcing thousands to evacuate

Yakima Herald-Republic
Kittitas County Jail receives $500,000 DOJ mental health grant
Editorial: Maybe this will get domestic offenders’ attention

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Western Washington wildfires continue to rage as air quality suffers
Pierce County prepares voting software tests, public viewing area for transparent voting process

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Bolt Creek Fire crews reach critical turning point
Air quality alerts extended as crews battle wildfires across the state

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Kent City Council to finalize camping ban ordinance aimed to improve public safety
Scrapped shelter plans in SODO needed more input from residents, King County officials say

KNKX Public Radio
Big ships transiting Puget Sound asked to slow down for orcas

KUOW Public Radio
Can WA build a new airport and meet its climate goals?
Seattle’s carbon pollution drops with covid. A rebound is expected
As safety nets expire, Seattle food banks expect more people to come through their doors

KXLY (ABC)
Packed In: City of Rathdrum passes ordinance to lower home prices, demand

Q13 TV (FOX)
Wildfire fighting strategy: Why some fires are left to burn, and what it means for air quality
Pierce County residents, fearful of losing homes, farms & wildlife, vow to fight airport proposal
Longer commutes are coming: WSDOT adjusts safety measures after rise in work zone crashes

Web

Crosscut
Jehovah’s Witness church covered up child sex abuse, survivors say
Labor shortages, heat bring tough tides for WA shellfish farm

MyNorthwest
North Bend works to conserve water during driest weather in decades
Fire Marshall: Nakia Creek Fire was human-caused, seeking suspects
The Great Shakeout earthquake drill prepares WA

West Seattle Blog
Here’s why research vessel Thomas G. Thompson is off West Seattle today

Monday, October 17

Proposed WA bill would stop power and water shutoffs during extreme heat
Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, announced Thursday their plans to propose a bill during next year’s legislative session that would protect access to electricity and running water during extreme heat. Should the bill pass, utility companies in Washington would not be able to shut off power or water after temperatures reach or exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The 2021 “heat dome” killed 157 people, according to the state Department of Health, making it the deadliest weather event in state history. Seven towns and cities — Walla Walla, Omak, Moses Lake, Yakima, Spokane, Seattle and Pullman — saw record-breaking heat. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kori Suzuki)

Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation zone increases for Nakia Creek Fire burning near Larch Mountain in SW Washington
The Nakia Creek Fire has broken containment lines and evacuation zones have increased in size, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. High winds over the weekend caused fire activity to increase and new evacuation notices are in place. Clark Regional Emergency Services (CRESA) told KGW that 2,903 homes are under Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation orders. The fire is believed to have been “human-caused,” but Washington state officials are still trying to determine exactly how the flames sparked. Red Cross Cascades has opened a shelter location in Washougal at the request of CRESA. The evacuation shelter is at the Camas Church of the Nazarene, located at 2204 Northeast Birch Street in Camas. Continue reading at KING 5. (Natascha Lavelle)

Leaders of democracies increasingly echo Putin in authoritarian tilt
It is no coincidence that populist leaders, many from business or other nonpolitical backgrounds, are rising in many countries around the same time. “In each of these countries, far-right movements have exploited resentments made much more acute by globalization,” said Kathleen Frydl, a historian at Johns Hopkins University who studies conservative institutions. “Each country has its own reasons why authoritarianism becomes appealing, its own inequalities or racial tensions. But there’s a validation across all these countries, where far-right leaders can point to Putin as a model of authority and control.” Continue reading at The Washington Post. (AFP)

Print

Capital Press
Farm loses water rights lawsuit over USDA wetlands restoration

Columbian
Nakia Creek fire at 1,565 acres; evacuation zones unchanged from Sunday

Everett Herald
Neighbors, advocates at odds over mental health center near Stanwood
Wildfire danger high as smoke spreads across Snohomish County

News Tribune
This free service is meant to keep catalytic converters safe by deterring thieves

Olympian
WA state files motion for maximum $24.6 million penalty against Facebook parent company Meta
Western WA air quality outlook somewhat improved; fire conditions still persist
Outgoing House Majority Leader named governor’s new labor adviser (Sullivan)

Peninsula Daily News
Sequim OKs expanded zones for multiplexes

Seattle Times
Proposed WA bill would stop power and water shutoffs during extreme heat (Nguyen)
Rain (finally) on way to Seattle, Cascade mountains
This Seattle woman is fighting Amazon to help domestic violence survivors
Seattle wants to hear people’s perceptions of police, crime
A1 Revisited: Reexamining our 1970 coverage of Native American protests at Fort Lawton

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County’s COVID-19 case rate takes significant dip

South Whidbey Record
Deputy with sexual harassment history arrested for rape

Spokesman Review
‘What kind of community do we want to be?’ Camp Hope and nearby residents weigh in as state-city fight continues
Spokane County’s housing market continues cooldown in September

Tri-City Herald
Student demand for flexibility fuels increase in online classes. CBC enrollment climbs
Federal prosecutors to open their first Tri-Cities office to fight crime and fraud
It’s time to get a COVID booster, warn health experts. Another Tri-Cities death reported
Nerve toxin detected in Columbia River in Tri-Cities. Warning issued for people and pets

Washington Post
Vatican’s mishandling of high-profile abuse cases extends its foremost crisis
Justice Dept. seeks jail for Bannon in contempt of Congress case
Column: Leaders of democracies increasingly echo Putin in authoritarian tilt

Wenatchee World
Chelan County Fire marshal wants to add a dozen water tanks to use during wildfires

Yakima Herald-Republic
Farmworker group rallies in Yakima against bill that would reform agricultural labor
Slight uptick in weekly COVID-19 cases in Yakima County

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation zone increases for Nakia Creek Fire burning near Larch Mountain in SW Washington
Hearing aids are now a lot cheaper for millions of Americans after ‘milestone’ rule change
Rise in pocket neighborhoods in Seattle comes with mixed reviews

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Bolt Creek Fire burns more than 14,000 acres, remains 41% contained
‘People listened’: CID residents react to King County stopping expansion of SODO shelter

KUOW Public Radio
The calm before the storm? What Covid-19 might look like this fall and winter
New omicron variants emerging in the Northwest
Return of the booster

KXLY (ABC)
US Fish and Wildlife Service conducts prescribed burn near Cheney

Q13 TV (FOX)
Homeless shelter expansion scrapped in SODO after community protests

Web

Crosscut
Labor shortages, heat bring tough tides for WA shellfish farm

MyNorthwest
City councilmember ‘pensive’ about halted CID shelter expansion
Harrell: Progress will be lost if homelessness funding ‘is not renewed’
Kirkland passes new protections for renters to address affordability

Friday, October 14

Paine Field named favorite to expand as counterpart to Sea-Tac
Paine Field took a major step this week toward becoming a “second hub” for Puget Sound flights, as an alternative to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. A state commission zeroed in on the Snohomish County airport as the best bet for expanding passenger airline service at an existing airport to meet future demand for flights in the Seattle area. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

La Nina firms up winter reservation in the Northwest
The La Nina that has influenced the climate for the past two winters looks more likely than ever to stay around for a rare three-peat, federal forecasters predicted Thursday. La Nina has a 75% chance of reigning through February, according to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. A month ago, the center rated the odds at 54%. Continue reading at Capital Press. (NOAA)

Fall COVID-19 surge could happen in Pacific Northwest
Health officials in Washington and Oregon said Thursday that a fall and winter COVID surge is likely headed to the Pacific Northwest after months of relatively low case levels. King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin said during a news briefing that virus trends in Europe show a concerning picture of what the U.S. could soon see, The Seattle Times reported. Continue reading at Tri-City Herald.

Print

Associated Press
Fall COVID-19 surge could happen in Pacific Northwest

Bellingham Herald
Kroger plans to buy Boise’s Albertsons, merging nation’s No. 1 & 2 traditional grocers
Here’s how the Lummi Nation will be providing fast internet to thousands of homes
Unsure how to use public transportation? Bellingham has free classes
Record heat and smoky skies ahead for Whatcom. Here’s the weekend outlook
Wildfire burns near Bellingham park, cause under investigation

Capital Press
La Nina firms up winter reservation in the Northwest
Biosecurity critical for protection against African swine fever, USDA says

Columbian
Nakia Creek Fire not growing but evacuation warnings still in place
Downtown Vancouver eyed to host city’s third Safe Stay Community for homeless people
Sen. Cantwell lauded by ports, businesses during Vancouver visit

Everett Herald
Paine Field named favorite to expand as counterpart to Sea-Tac
County Council dismisses appeal over Cathcart Crossing

Kitsap Sun
St. Michael Emergency Department director exits as ER issues continue to mount
Kroger and Albertsons in talks over potential merger, reports say

News Tribune
Here’s what is causing network outage at health care giant with locations in Puget Sound

Olympian
It’s win or go home for the Mariners Saturday after getting out-muscled twice in Houston
We’re having driest October since the 1940s in Puget Sound area. Any rain in sight?

Peninsula Daily News
Port Townsend Paper mill, parent firm purchased

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle’s Covid-19 civil emergency gets an expiration date

Seattle Medium
Seattle Experiencing Housing Cool Down

Seattle Times
Mayor Harrell seeks to expand Seattle’s homelessness encampment response
WA Supreme Court hands WSDOT a $77M win in Highway 99 tunnel dispute
Seattle’s weekend sports bonanza will mean busy roads, transit
Why University of Washington librarians went on strike for the day
‘A lull before the storm’: Fall COVID surge could be on its way in PNW

Spokesman Review
Chewelah terminates police chief
Woman confronts ex-Spokane Police officer who raped her while on duty as he’s sentenced to 14 years to life
VA postpones rollout of computer system tested in Spokane until mid-2023, warns 41,500 veterans it may have delayed care

Washington Post
Jan. 6 hearing shows Trump knew he lost — even while claiming otherwise
Teenager in custody after five are killed in Raleigh shooting
The staggering scope of U.S. gun deaths goes far beyond mass shootings
What does a Jan. 6 committee subpoena mean for Donald Trump?

Wenatchee World
Forest health project coming to Squilchuck State Park

Yakima Herald-Republic
Editorial: Memorial’s ER numbers add up to a community emergency

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Air Quality Alert issued for most of western Washington this weekend
Department of Justice sending money to western Washington to combat gun violence
Kirkland adopts increased tenant protections against sudden rent hikes
State awarded $77 million for Seattle tunnel completion delays
Seattle mayor hoping to put more funding behind shelter referrals, encampment cleanups

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle mayor shares policy insights on crime, homelessness following polling results
US 2 reclosed due to Bolt Creek Fire
King County Court orders UW to pay PETA $540,000 in open records suit
AG: Millions of Washingtonians may have unintentionally enrolled in a subscription

KUOW Public Radio
The Jan. 6 committee votes unanimously to subpoena Trump
Transported ‘by land, by sea, by air,’ endangered kokanee salmon released into Lake Sammamish

KXLY (ABC)
Crime remains consistent as Spokane Police move into East Central precinct
Spokane County Human Rights Task Force calls on elected leaders to work together to clear Camp Hope
Outgoing Housing and Human Services director says Spokane is failing to ease housing crisis

NW Public Radio
Senator Cantwell visits WSU to discuss new technology funding
‘It’s an invasion.’ North America’s tiniest butterfly spotted in Southeastern Washington
White River celebration: 11 years after dam removal, the river recovers

Web

The Stranger
King County Wants to Help You Clear Your Weed Conviction

Thursday, October 13

Seattle launches emergency command center for homelessness with fed help
One of the last pieces of an ambitious plan to reduce visible homelessness downtown is now up and running in Seattle’s Emergency Operations Center. Known as the Housing Command Center, it’s part of the Partnership for Zero effort that the King County Regional Homelessness Authority announced earlier this year. The partnership, using public money and more than $10 million in private funding, is focused on reducing the number of people living in tents and doorways in Seattle’s downtown core — which includes the neighborhoods of Belltown, Pioneer Square, and the CID — where that population is largest. To get the center off the ground, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development deployed three staff members there last month, a rare move by the federal government to support a region’s local homelessness efforts. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Split Whatcom County Council approves formation of Racial Equity Commission
The Whatcom County Council approved the formation of a Racial Equity Commission, a panel to promote diversity and advise elected officials on policy to address disparities that affect people of color in a range of areas, including economic, educational, housing, health care and criminal justice. The vote Tuesday night, Oct. 11, was split 4-3, with Councilmembers Ben Elenbaas, Tyler Byrd and Kathy Kershner opposed. Whatcom County’s new Racial Equity Commission will be composed of elected officials and appointed members who speak for a variety of community interests, including representatives of business and social justice organizations, according to its founding document approved Tuesday night. Dozens of U.S. cities have similar advisory groups or have pledged to create them, according to the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Robert Mittendorf)

Tacoma council passes a homeless camping ban. Here’s what it means and when it starts
An ordinance to create a homeless encampment ban around temporary shelters and protected waters in Tacoma was passed by the City Council on a 6-3 vote Tuesday night. The ordinance restricts homeless camps from being set up within 10 blocks of the city’s temporary homeless shelters. The implementation and enforcement of the ordinance will be determined by Neighborhood and Community Services and Tacoma Police Department, ahead of the Nov. 14 effective date. Deputy Mayor Catherine Ushka was one of the first council members to say she would not support the ordinance. “I can’t pass something that makes an economic challenge a criminal offense,” she said. Council member Keith Blocker, District 3, said the ordinance is off the mark and could cause more harm than good by causing trauma to those in encampments by moving them around. Continue reading at The News Tribune.