Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Wednesday, Jan. 26

COVID cases decline in Seattle area, surge moves east
Cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 are decreasing in the Seattle metro area, but hospital leaders are warning that the variant is gaining steam in eastern Washington and could further stress health care facilities. In King County, data shows the rise in omicron infections peaked on Jan. 10 with 7,563 daily cases, The Seattle Times reported. Since then, the county has charted a significant decline, dropping at least 43% in the past week. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Karen Ducey)

Here’s how Washingtonians can get free at-home coronavirus tests and masks
The always evolving COVID-19 news cycle can make it hard to keep track of what resources are available and how to seek them. In the last few weeks, federal and local officials have made a frenzy of announcements of free rapid at-home tests and masks, as coronavirus cases caused by the omicron variant have surged. In December, President Joe Biden announced the federal government would buy and distribute free coronavirus rapid test kits. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Slow internet? Effort aims to boost broadband in Yakima Valley with help from infrastructure bill
A lack of broadband infrastructure has hindered education, economic development and public services to rural Yakima County residents for several years, local officials say. And the past two years of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and increased online communication have only amplified the problem. In search of a solution, public officials from various health, education and government organizations met last week for a Connectivity Summit organized by the Yakima Valley Broadband Action Team. Continue reading at The Yakima Herald-Republic. (Emree Weaver)

Print

Associated Press
WA high court to hear case about transit fare enforcement
COVID cases decline in Seattle area, surge moves east
Weekly COVID cases hit record high, but deaths remain stable, WHO reports

Auburn Reporter
How to curb demand for catalytic converters and reduce theft

Bellingham Herald
Sen. Cantwell talks federal aid for public works repairs, flood prevention in Whatcom County
Bellingham raises parking rates, changes hours and adds paid parking in new areas
Alaska/Horizon cancel all flights at WA’s Paine Field Monday as 5G bars regional jets
Another Whatcom school returns to remote learning, as county surpasses 30,000 COVID cases

Capital Press
U.S. Supreme Court to revisit Clean Water Act wetlands authority
WSDA: Farmers in one county would lose 11,000 acres to mandatory buffers
How Western water markets are changing under pressure
WSU narrowing field of candidates for ag dean

Columbian
Staffing shortages affect Vancouver Public Schools’ COVID-19 test site
Vancouver council steps up timeline for I-5 Bridge planning
Opinion: In Our View: I-5 Bridge drawings help span public divide

The Daily News
Cowlitz County commissioners OK rent assistance contract with CAP; give direction on Board of Health changes

Everett Herald
More 5G-related cancellations as Paine Field fog persists
Sentenced to life as a teen, Monroe prisoner to be released
Past the omicron peak? Snohomish County’s COVID cases declining
$16M grant to speed up broadband to north Snohomish County
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: Financial illiteracy isn’t why most people struggle
WaPo Comment: What ‘The Janes’ hope to remind women under 50
Editorial: Keep ‘Mockingbird’ on Mukilteo ninth-graders’ list

High Country News
Humble suckers: Pacific lamprey have survived 5 mass extinctions but are now under threat

News Tribune
Pierce County reports 46 deaths from COVID in weekly totals but says surge is waning
No rule coming, but Pierce health officials to support businesses that require vaccinations
Sunset won’t be until 5 p.m. today. Should WA finally get off time change roller coaster?
Op-Ed: WA weed industry should be safe, equitable. To do it, modernize Liquor and Cannabis Board

New York Times
Covid Live Updates: Vaccination Gap Could Let Another Dangerous Variant Emerge, Experts Say
New Research Hints at 4 Factors That May Increase Chances of Long Covid
E.P.A. Chief Vows to ‘Do Better’ to Protect Poor Communities
Three New Faces to Help Steer the Gates Foundation

Olympian
More funding for low-income housing on the way. Thurston commission approves home fund
State fines developer $72,000 for water quality violations at Lacey townhomes site

Port Townsend Leader
Employment test for marijuana use questioned | 2022 Legislative Session (Keiser)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Effort to end mandated hazard pay for grocery store workers fails in Seattle City Council vote
OSHA scraps mandate-or-testing emergency rule for large employers. Here’s what businesses need to know.
Two more Seattle Starbucks stores file for union elections
King County awards $23M for affordable housing projects
Port of Seattle appoints interim labor relations director
Hotel construction dips in 2021 as industry continues Covid-19 recovery

Seattle Times
Here’s how Washingtonians can get free at-home coronavirus tests and masks
King County schools ask voters to fund billions in levy and bond measures
WA lawmakers consider bills to crack down on theft of catalytic converters (Ryu)
Washington state Supreme Court to hear case arguing fare enforcement is unconstitutional
King County omicron cases decline as ‘second chapter’ of surge gains steam in Eastern Washington
Washington attorney general sues Google over location tracking
Seattle City Council votes to keep hazard pay for grocery workers
Employees at 2 more Seattle Starbucks locations plan to unionize

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County Public Health to offer more vaccine options at Mount Vernon offices
Skagit County sees success in rental assistance programs

Sol De Yakima
Guardia Nacional llega para asistir al Hospital Memorial de Yakima
Escuelas de Wapato, ocho de Yakima anuncian segunda semana de enseñanza a distancia
Cabañas ayudarán a museo a compartir la historia de campesinos del Valle de Yakima

South Whidbey Record
While unemployment rates are low, hiring struggle continues in Island County

Spokesman Review
Schools COVID-19 update: Numbers of cases dropping in Spokane area
SPS to consider raising substitute teachers’ pay to $200 daily as shortage vexes district
Having fake COVID-19 vaccine card could become crime in Washington if bill passes Legislature (Salomon)
Washington restaurant owners testify about omicron’s toll as Cantwell tells them she’s fighting for more aid money

Washington Post
Black and Latino voters have been shortchanged in redistricting, advocates and some judges say
Talks in Paris aim to resolve Ukraine crisis as Russia warns the West
U.S. stocks climb as investors wait on Fed decision
Omicron wave is wake-up call about need to vaccinate the world, say Hill Democrats, experts
Two senators have a bipartisan plan to tackle future pandemics

Yakima Herald-Republic
Slow internet? Effort aims to boost broadband in Yakima Valley with help from infrastructure bill
Yakima County Commissioner Ron Anderson says he’s stepping down in December
Public can weigh in on proposed communication tower near Rimrock Lake
Letter: Why would anyone oppose requiring voter ID?

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Police, prosecutors would receive ‘victim-centered’ training if bill in Olympia passes (Orwall)
King County officials hope to curb carjackings in 2022
Scrap industry pushes back on legislation intended to curb catalytic converter theft in Washington
Washington state sees average of 800-850 new COVID cases among health care staff per day
Washington restaurateurs make pitch for another round of federal funding

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Hazard pay continuing for Seattle grocery workers
New omicron sub-variant part of ‘big family of viruses”
Magnolia phone and internet outage could last three weeks
Mukilteo school board votes to remove ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ from required reading list
WA lawmakers target catalytic converter theft during legislative session
Movement to unionize Starbucks hits Seattle
Seattle University returning to in-person classes next week

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
‘I’m very concerned:’ Washington hospitals worried about unprecedented blood shortage
Effort to unionize Starbucks workers comes to Seattle, coffee giant’s home office location
Cantwell pushes $60B restaurant revitalization fund as many eateries struggle to survive
In unincorporated King County, an encampment stirs concern about crime, trash debris

KXLY (ABC)
Report: Washington leads the nation in potholes
Washington restaurant owners ask for more pandemic relief funding
Wash. schools, libraries get internet funding through American Rescue Plan

NW Public Radio
Money From Timber Sales A Drop In The Bucket For School Budgets

Web

The Hill
Legislatures move to limit governor powers after pandemic (Randall, Chapman, Jinkins, Van De Wege)

The Stranger
Washington Lawmakers Throw a Bunch of Data Privacy Bills at the Wall to See What Sticks (Kloba, Carlyle, Slatter)
Washington Could Get European-Style Recycling. Lobbyists Are Mad About It (Das, Stanford)
Sawant Wants the Council to at Least Pretend to Care About Starbucks Workers
As Omicron Eases, Health Equity Issues in Latino Community Persist

West Seattle Blog
CRIME: Another catalytic-converter theft interrupted. Here’s what’s up with crackdown legislation (Fitzgibbon)

Tuesday, Jan. 25

Long-term care takes a toll on caregivers. Will the WA Cares Fund help?
Angela Petersen always imagined spending her retirement traveling with her husband of over 30 years. But that changed nearly three years ago, when Chris Petersen had two strokes and was diagnosed with dementia. Now, the Tukwila resident’s life revolves around caring for her 63-year-old husband — from brushing his teeth, to putting on his sneakers, to making sure he drinks water and swallows his pills. It’s an extraordinary change for the couple, who met in high school, exercised daily and raised two college athletes. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Free N95 masks now available at some U.S. pharmacies; wider rollout expected soon
Free N95 masks are now available at some U.S. stores as part of the White House’s plan to hand out 400 million of them from the Strategic National Stockpile. Midwest grocer Meijer said Monday that it has received some 3 million N95 masks from the Health and Human Services Department and will hand out boxed sets of three to customers who want them. Another Midwest supermarket chain, Hy-Vee, said in a tweet that its pharmacies are now offering free N95 masks, as well. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Brendan McDermid)

New COVID-19 omicron subvariant BA.2 cases found in Washington state
A subvariant of the COVID-19 omicron variant was detected in two cases in Washington state earlier this month. BA.2 is a descendent of omicron, according to information from the World Health Organization. Recent evidence shows BA.2, which differs in some mutations, including the spike protein, is increasing in “many countries.” The difference between BA.1 and BA.2 is greater than that of the original variant and Alpha variant, according to research done by Statens Serum Institut in Denmark. Continue reading at KING 5.

Print

Associated Press
University of Washington to return to in-person learning
SAT going digital in shifting college admissions landscape

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen students heading back to classrooms

Auburn Reporter
American Rescue Plan Act funding approved for broadband investments in WA schools

Bellevue Reporter
King County Executive announces million in affordable housing funding for construction and preservation

Bellingham Herald
A busy year for Bellingham apartment construction, but will it help renters?
Whatcom’s foggy weather having an impact on travel at Bellingham International Airport
COVID infection rates drop among Whatcom’s fully vaccinated, but climbs among unvaccinated

Everett Herald
‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is no longer required reading in Mukilteo
$16M grant to speed up broadband to north Snohomish County
Everett council, mayor pick districting commission nominees
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Island County jail slammed with first COVID outbreak
Bloomberg Comment: Very few soon will have no covid immunity
Editorial: Nurses, health care workers need better support (Robinson)
Letter: Biden successfully addressed covid’s economic impacts

News Tribune
Homicide suspect found dead in Pierce County Jail
Fox Island residents call for more than just studies on failing bridge. ‘We want action’
Op-Ed: After last year’s noise, WA lawmakers go quiet on addressing racial disparity in prisons

New York Times
Anti-Abortion Marchers Gather With an Eye on the Supreme Court
U.S. Readies 8,500 Troops for Possible Deployment to Europe

Olympian
Who is Debbie Sullivan? The former ranked poker player is first female mayor of Tumwater
Thurston County confirms 10 deaths, record number of COVID-19 cases over past week
Port votes to investigate conflict of interest claims against Evans with outside help
Judge dismisses cases against 4 of 5 defendants charged in wind farm worker’s death
Fake COVID-19 vaccination cards would lead to hefty penalties under proposed WA law (Salomon)
Most Thurston County roads have reopened after floods, but some work still ahead

Peninsula Daily News
Peninsula reaches peak of omicron, but risk factors remain

Puget Sound Business Journal
Women-owned businesses caught between Omicron, labor shortage
Business travel’s comeback was gaining steam. Then Omicron hit.

Seattle Medium
Seattle Legalizes Psychedelics

Seattle Times
Research shows psychedelic mushrooms can help treat depression. Is legalization on the horizon for Washington? (Lovelett, Salomon)
Bills addressing college hazing in Washington moving through state Legislature
Washington state Sen. Reuven Carlyle will not seek reelection in 2022 (Carlyle, Frockt, Frame, Berry, Dhingra)
Redmond officer who killed woman had been fired from another agency for poor performance
Flight cancellations continue Tuesday at Paine Field as 5G restrictions, foggy weather persist
Long-term care takes a toll on caregivers. Will the WA Cares Fund help?
Opinion: Invest in the ferry service our communities need and deserve

Skagit Valley Herald
Hospitality industry affected by omicron surge
Skagit County’s COVID-19 rate takes a slight dip

Tri-City Herald
‘Struggling for relief.’ Tri-City schools scrambling as COVID surge knocks out staff
This test saved a Tri-Cities woman’s life. WA lawmakers may force insurance to pay for it
Connell prison sees spike in COVID cases. Benton jail ‘turning the corner’

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla police extend classes to address rift between public and law enforcement
Education levies on Walla Walla County special election ballots headed to voters

Washington Post
Free N95 masks now available at some U.S. pharmacies; wider rollout expected soon
Russia conducts new military exercises as Biden, Europeans intensify diplomacy on Ukraine
U.S. stocks slide as market volatility continues
Lab study shows omicron-blocking antibodies persist four months after a Pfizer-BioNTech booster
Supreme Court takes EPA case that could narrow Clean Water Act

Yakima Herald-Republic
Strained amid COVID surge, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital welcomes National Guard

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Bill to legalize psilocybin for therapeutic use introduced in Washington (Salomon)
Does a breakthrough COVID infection offer ‘super immunity?’
New COVID-19 omicron subvariant BA.2 cases found in Washington state
‘Out of our control’: 5G, weather blamed for potential flight cancellations out of Everett’s Paine Field

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Fog and 5G cancel air travel at Paine Field
3 Mason County schools closed for threats
‘Brutal,’ ‘crazy’ housing market has Seattle-area homes selling half-million over asking price
‘This is the year to do it’: Bill to reduce Washington sales tax garners bipartisan support (Das, Kuderer)
King County hospitals issue plea to public during ‘worst situation yet’
UW returning to in-person learning Jan. 31
“We can’t invent educators out of thin air” Teachers say staffing shortages remain high
US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
State bill seeks to criminalize use or sale of fake COVID vaccine cards in Washington (Salomon)
Catalytic converter bill to get public hearing in Legislature
FEMA disaster recovery center opens in Whatcom County for people affected by flooding
Washingtonians hope for more at-home COVID tests after state supply quickly runs out
UW researchers invent cheaper, more accurate and faster COVID-19 test

KNKX Public Radio
Homeless camps are often blamed for crime but experts say it’s not so simple
Firefighters hope Washington bill will help remove toxic chemicals from protective gear (Berry)

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: Washington already ran out of free Covid tests
Pandemic updates: January 25, 2022
Pedestrian deaths climb in Seattle, despite city’s pledge to eliminate them
Smell that? Air stagnation advisory for western Washington
Students, staff became ill as this Monroe school let toxic chemicals go unchecked
Turmeric poisoned their kids. Four Seattle-area cases show gaps in lead testing
Pfizer and BioNTech begin testing an omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine

KXLY (ABC)
WA bill that would require kids to start school at 5 years old strikes nerve with homeschool families (Wellman)

NW Public Radio
Washington Commission To Reconsider 2022 Spring Bear Hunt
Showing Or Selling A Fake COVID-19 Vaccine Card Could Become A Crime In Washington (Salomon)

Q13 TV (FOX)
New Omicron subvariant BA.2 detected in Washington
UW researchers develop fast, highly-accurate COVID-19 test

Web

Crosscut
WA farmers markets may get displaced by obscure tax break expiring (Rolfes)
Why immigrant experiences were central to the latest Crosscut project

MyNorthwest
Washington hospitals likely too full to help COVID patients from Idaho
Washington ferry cancellations go ‘beyond COVID’: Report highlights systemic staffing issues
University of Washington returns to in-person learning Jan. 31
‘This is the year to do it’: Bill to reduce Washington sales tax garners bipartisan support
King County hospitals issue plea to public during ‘worst situation yet’
State Sen. Reuven Carlyle to step aside after 13 years in office
New bill has Washington tribes, farmers divided over salmon protective zones
Washington AG claims Google illegally tracks users in ‘dark’ pattern of behavior
Could be 3 weeks before Magnolia internet is restored after vandals undo repairs
Air Stagnation Advisory in effect for Western Washington to start the week
International coalition purchases mining rights to ‘ecologically sensitive’ Skagit River headwaters

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: When it reopens – how best to celebrate?
CORONAVIRUS: New Seattle Public Schools cases this week down a third from last week

Monday, Jan. 24

State offers free home tests; National Guard arrives in Everett
As the Washington National Guard arrived Friday in Everett to help hospital workers, the state also launched an online portal for Washingtonians to get free at-home COVID tests. Both state initiatives aim to combat the recent omicron surge that has increased demand for hospital resources and testing. A National Guard team of about 10 will help with non-clinical tasks at Providence Regional Medical Center, freeing up staff for critical care. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Providence)

Legislators look to make cannabis laws more equitable, again
It’s been seven years since Duane Dunn opened his cannabis dispensary in Tacoma and he still remembers the feeling of joy he had when it first opened. “It was exciting because it was a new industry, it was challenging because it was constantly evolving and changing, and I was happy that I could do something else other than IT,” said Dunn, who had left the IT field after nearly 20 years in the industry. In 2014, he was able to secure a cannabis license after an intense application process and paying a large sum for the application fee. Continue reading at The Olympian.

Omicron’s economic toll: Missing workers, more uncertainty and higher inflation (maybe)
The Omicron wave of the coronavirus appears to be cresting in much of the country. But its economic disruptions have made a post-pandemic normal ever more elusive. Forecasters have slashed their estimates for economic growth in the first three months of 2022. Some expect January to show the first monthly decline in employment in more than a year. And retail sales and manufacturing production fell in December, suggesting that the impact began well before cases hit their peak. Continue reading at The New York Times.

Print

Associated Press
Bill seeks to criminalize use or sale of fake vaccine cards
Washington justices uphold $18M fine in GMO-labeling case
Supreme Court to hear challenge to race in college admissions

Auburn Reporter
State offers free at-home COVID-19 tests
Kent Democratic Sen. Mona Das proposes 1% cut in state sales tax (Das)

Bainbridge Island Review
Get up to 5 free COVID home tests from state

Bellingham Herald
Plastic rope washes ashore in southwest Washington. In Whatcom, it finds new life
Didn’t get your package delivered in Whatcom County? Here’s one reason why
Here’s how much the snowstorms cost Whatcom, and why some streets weren’t plowed
Whatcom sees 614 COVID cases and a death, as this school district returns to remote learning

Capital Press
Senate panel OKs bill to stop sheriff’s cougar pursuits

The Daily News
Capitol Dispatch: Long-term care program pushed back and modified in House (Randall)
Emergency food and shelter money is available in Cowlitz County
As new mayor of Kelso, Mike Karnofski looking beyond current conflicts
Kalama City Council opposes pursuing curbside recycling, moves ahead on 0.2% sales tax for roads

Everett Herald
Anxious, weary, hopeful: How we’re coping with COVID
Nurses face burnout as hospital staffing shortage continues (Robinson)
Snohomish County judge accused of ‘needlessly’ exposing staff to COVID
State offers free home tests; National Guard arrives in Everett
Billionaire Bezos wants to bring free preschool to Everett
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Omicron will pass. but hospitals’ deficiencies won’t
WaPo Comment: Even building back smaller can still help families
WaPo Comment: Harris has plan to help Dreamers; it’s time to use it
WaPo Comment: Will pro-life supporters now march for kids, moms?
Comment: Full commission needed for best wildlife management
Opinion: Viewpoints: We need more than ‘Just the facts’ to span divides

The Facts Newspaper
Inslee shares Washington’s pandemic story with U.S. House COVID committee
Students’ Basic Needs and Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 at Colleges and Universities

High Country News
Electric vehicles drive up demand for ‘green metals’

International Examiner
Chinatown-ID night watch group promotes community safety for unhoused and housed residents
Remembering solidarity and resilience at rallies in 2021
ICHS begins distribution of at-home COVID-19 test kits as part of the Biden administration’s testing supply program
Opinion: Solidarity in the midst of war and hate

Kirkland Reporter
City of Kirkland wants community feedback on police use of force data dashboard

News Tribune
Rep. Thai: Without accountability, police reform won’t work. Civil remedies for victims is needed
Sports make up most of Pierce County school COVID-19 outbreaks, new data shows
UW completes football coaching staff reset with $8.64 million price tag for 2022
A COVID-19 conspiracy ran rampant last week. 2 Pierce County lawmakers helped it spread

New York Times
Virus Live Updates: Omicron’s Spread Could End ‘Emergency Phase’ of Pandemic, Top W.H.O. Official Says
Omicron’s Economic Toll: Missing Workers, More Uncertainty and Higher Inflation (Maybe)
Supreme Court Will Hear Challenge to Affirmative Action at Harvard and U.N.C.
Police Culture on Trial in Case Against Officers in Killing of George Floyd
Something Has to Give in the Housing Market. Or Does It?
Rapid Inflation Fuels Debate Over What’s to Blame: Pandemic or Policy
‘Build Back Better’ Hit a Wall, but Climate Action Could Move Forward

Olympian
National Weather Service issues stagnant air advisory for Western Washington
Most Thurston County roads have reopened after floods, but some work still ahead
Legislators look to make cannabis laws more equitable, again (Saldaña)
Bills to strengthen workers’ rights introduced in Washington State Legislature
700 percent increase in hospitalizations prompts King County hospitals to plead for help

Peninsula Daily News
State Parks commission to consider Fort Worden PDA lease amendment
COVID-19 cases rise on Peninsula
Forks federal disaster recovery center to remain open though Feb. 4
Disaster Recovery Center open in Forks
Lawmakers advance school temblor funding (Tharinger, Chapman, Van De Wege, Frockt)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon endorses affordable housing bills in Washington state Legislature (Bateman, Das)
Federal prosecutors investigating billions in CARES Act, PPP funding for alleged fraud
Government finalizing rule on tracking small business lending, but there is some pushback over privacy
Here’s what American Airlines’ flight cuts mean for Sea-Tac Airport
Teamsters spokesperson calls first day of concrete strike mediation ‘unmitigated failure’

Reuters
Pro-Trump death threats prompt bills in 3 states to protect election workers (Frockt)

Seattle Medium
Pet Clinic Opens In Seattle, Homeless Counterparts Included
Nobles To Sponsor Diaper Need Act (Frame, Nobles)
King County Library System Partners With Public Health—Seattle & King County To Host Vaccine Clinics At Libraries

Seattle Times
Rolling in the deep: Sound Transit’s downtown Seattle tunnel would bring riders 145 feet below the street
Lawsuits claim Urban League, property managers could have prevented deadly 2021 shooting in Seattle
Toxic PCBs festered at a Monroe school for eight years as students, teachers grew sicker (Pollet)
Opinion: Continuing education can unlock family-wage careers
Opinion: We must normalize mental-health days

Skagit Valley Herald
Piece of state legislation has its detractors in Skagit County (Lekanoff)

Spokesman Review
Legislative staff can’t unionize in Washington. A new bill would change that (Riccelli, Saldaña, Jinkins, Billig)

Tri-City Herald
Connell prison sees spike in COVID cases. Benton jail ‘turning the corner’
Bill would pause new WA wind and solar farms, including huge Tri-Cities project
Tri-Cities ‘property manager’ stole $80,000 in COVID rent relief, prosecutors say
12 more Tri-City area COVID deaths. Infection rate still climbing
PNNL leads coastal study to help prep for wildfires, floods and climate change
Audit says Kennewick port official broke law voting to pay his own $49,000 legal bill
‘Emotionally frustrating.’ Tri-Cities health board looks at fighting COVID mask mandates

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Milton-Freewater sees surge in wine-processing businesses with Watermill expansion
Baker Boyer Bank announces new VP, seven new assistant VPs with wave of promotions
Anti-abortion supporters gather at Walla Walla’s annual Walk for Life
With cougars under scrutiny, a Walla Walla hunter remembers the era of the hunting hound

Washington Post
Race-conscious university admission policies to face Supreme Court review
NATO sends more ships, fighter jets to Eastern Europe as Russia masses troops on Ukraine border
Google deceived consumers about how it profits from their location data, attorneys general allege in lawsuits
Four things experts say the Biden administration can do to rein in the pandemic

Yakima Herald-Republic
Three new primary health care clinics open, or will open, in Yakima
Levee repairs on Yakima River set begin Tuesday; portions of Yakima Greenway to be closed
Sunnyside Municipal Court expects to select a presiding judge after three weeks of operating without one
Toppenish School District serves notice it plans to fire two employees after investigation
Advocates push to eliminate state fees charged families of incarcerated youths
Letter: Few Republicans have the courage to defy Trump

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘No one to serve’: Sumas businesses struggling months after historic flooding
Tribes fighting for salmon on Skagit River say $30M spent by Seattle on dam relicensing is ‘mind-boggling’
First images released of possible I-5 bridge replacement designs
Bezos Academy may bring new tuition-free preschool to Everett
Air quality in Puget Sound region isn’t ‘too bad yet’

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington State Board of Health considers making COVID-19 vaccine a requirement for students
Lawsuit filed by AG Ferguson says Google secretly tracks users’ location
Omicron sparks urgent plea from hospitals for more vaccines
UW researchers predict end to the pandemic

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Wash. AG claims Google secretly tracks consumer location
King County hospitals strained with coronavirus patients plea for help
New COVID-19 mass testing site opens in Monroe, expands testing in Snohomish County
Proposed senate bill would make donor breast milk more readily available (Trudeau)
Stolen copper wire affecting internet service for some in Seattle

KNKX Public Radio
Showing or selling a fake COVID-19 vaccine card could become a crime in Washington (Salomon)
Four King County libraries will host COVID vaccination clinics

KUOW Public Radio
‘Safe’ hospital staffing and limiting emergency powers: 2022 legislative check-in (Randall)
Pandemic updates: National Guard begins arriving at Washington hospitals
How colleges are dealing with high COVID case counts on campus
Why rapid COVID tests aren’t more accurate and how scientists hope to improve them
Microsoft, redistricting, and ferries, this week.
Seattle Schools warehouse workers drove hours through snow for 60,000 Covid test kits

KXLY (ABC)
Inland Northwest feels early effects of global supply chain crisis
Healthcare workers, leaders at odds against safe staffing bill (Riccelli)

Web

Crosscut
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ in the hot seat at WA school district
Gov. Inslee’s budget seeks to expand voting access in WA county jails
Podcast: The future of election security and access in Washington state

MyNorthwest
‘I have no illusions the bill will pass’: Why state lawmaker is leading latest push for income tax (Hasegawa)
International coalition purchases mining rights to ‘ecologically sensitive’ Skagit River headwaters
National Guard arrives to Harborview Medical Center to help with COVID testing
UW modelers: State might finally be able to end ‘major restrictions’ once omicron wave passes
Analyst’s advice for Washingtonians who got private long-term care insurance
Washington households can order at-home rapid COVID tests at no cost
Increased security following break-in at site of Bellevue home slide
Gov. Inslee defends mandates to Congress: ‘No intervention is as important as vaccination’

The Stranger
Sawant Reignites Her Push for Rent Control in Seattle

Friday, Jan. 21

Parents and caregivers of young children say they’ve hit pandemic rock bottom
The people who take care of and educate children under 5 years old – both parents and providers – are in a special kind of hell right now. These children are too young to be vaccinated, and it’s difficult for them to wear masks consistently. Many child care directors, like [Cori] Berg, are still following 10- or 14-day quarantines, closing entire classrooms after a single positive test, which has caused nonstop disruptions given the current record numbers of Covid-19 cases. Recently, Berg’s infant room had “double decker” quarantines: closed for two weeks, back for one day, closed for another two weeks. Continue reading at KUOW. (Cooper Neill)

Unvaccinated seniors nearly 50 times more likely to be hospitalized than boosted peers
Unvaccinated adults age 65 or older who contracted the coronavirus were 49 times more likely to require hospitalization than seniors who had received booster vaccine doses, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unimmunized adults in that age group were also 17 times more likely to be admitted to a hospital than those who had received either two shots of an mRNA vaccine or one Johnson & Johnson dose. Meanwhile, unvaccinated people between 50 and 64 years old were 44 times more likely to need hospitalization compared with their boosted counterparts. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Scott Olson)

Most eligible WA residents have gotten COVID boosters, but work still ahead, DOH says
About 53% of eligible people have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose, according to Washington state health officials. Secretary of Health Umair Shah shared the statistic for the 12 and older eligible population during a Wednesday morning briefing. He said 2.2 million booster doses had been given out across the state. Researchers are still studying the ongoing effectiveness of the vaccines, said Acting Assistant Secretary Michele Roberts. However, she emphasized that the vaccines continue to be a key tool in responding to the more transmissible Omicron variant. Continue reading at The Olympian.

Print

Associated Press
Washington justices uphold $18M fine in GMO-labeling case
Washington state supreme court upholds $18 million fine for campaign finance violations by large food brands

Aberdeen Daily World
Ocean City homeowners see flood damage for the third time in five years

Auburn Reporter
Opinion: The cost of shaming the homeless for being homeless

Bellingham Herald
Fog, poor air quality are possible in these Whatcom areas through mid-week
If winter blues are a struggle, try these tips to keep the season from getting you down
Canada: No more mining threat for Skagit River headwaters
Whatcom sees big jump in confirmed omicron COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations grow by 23

Capital Press
Washington Supreme Court lets stand $18M election fine against food makers
Farmers give thumbs-down to Inslee’s buffer bill
Washington sheriff defends cougar policy to legislators

Columbian
I-5 Bridge Replacement Program unveils visuals that are ‘an example of direction we’re going’
Washington legislators introduce two bills to boost affordable housing (Wiley, Walen, Stonier)
Hospital admissions surge 62.7 percent in Clark County as COVID-19 cases rise
Opinion: In Our View: Public’s interest in climate action is growing

The Daily News
New bill asks for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to become statewide WA program (Stonier)

Everett Herald
Neighbors hold out on plan for new Lake Stevens trail
Billionaire Bezos wants to bring free preschool to Everett

News Tribune
Tacoma school levies: Here’s what they would pay for and what it could cost you
A COVID-19 conspiracy ran rampant last week. 2 Pierce County lawmakers helped it spread

New York Times
Covid Live Updates: Booster Shots Are Instrumental in Fighting Omicron, C.D.C. Data Show
Covid Hospitalizations Plateau in Some Parts of the U.S., While a Crisis Remains in Others
Supreme Court Lets Texas Abortion Law Stay in Effect, for Now

Olympian
Man shot, killed by Lacey police after firing at officer Thursday night
Lacey City Council approves city’s version of ‘missing middle’
After mega-quake, there won’t be much time before tsunami waves reach Olympic Peninsula
Tumwater, Thurston County adopt agreement for city to annex unincorporated ‘islands’
Capital student caught yelling racist slur at basketball game with River Ridge
Most eligible WA residents have gotten COVID boosters, but work still ahead, DOH says

Peninsula Daily News
Inslee issues emergency order over green crab infestation
Worker shortage at area hospitals
State House passes pause to long-term care tax (Sullivan)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Tacoma office vacancies expected to drop in 2022, insiders say
Vulcan explains why it’s selling Google’s South Lake Union campus
Renton-based aerospace company raises $27.5M to develop reusable space plane
Seattle-area Teamsters, concrete companies set to meet with federal mediator

Seattle Times
Restaurant workers go ‘missing’ again from Washington’s job recovery
Push for ‘approval voting’ ballot measure in Seattle gets $160,000 boost from national think tank
2 national parks in Washington among most dangerous in U.S., analysis finds
MLK mural on Central District restaurant defaced, but plans are in place to restore it
Washington confirmed the country’s first COVID patient 2 years ago. What have we learned?

Tri-City Herald
1,200+ new COVID cases in Tri-Cities area in 1 day. Hospitals getting slammed
‘Emotionally frustrating.’ Tri-Cities health board looks at fighting COVID mask mandates
3 Kennewick schools locked down after report of a teen with a gun
Franklin County votes on a different home for sexually exploited girls in rural Pasco

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla-based company selected to build new bridge at Harris Park
Prayer vigil rebukes controversial books in Walla Walla schools

Washington Post
Unvaccinated seniors nearly 50 times more likely to be hospitalized than boosted peers
House panel broadens probe into climate disinformation by Big Oil
DeSantis suggests vaccines hurt fertility. A study indicates otherwise — but says catching coronavirus might.
Supreme Court, investigators force Trump and his children on the defensive on multiple fronts

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Bill would allow creation of local income taxes, but only following tax cuts (Hasegawa)
Here’s how quickly Tsunami waves could move after a major earthquake in Washington

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Hospitals still struggling during omicron surge
Why some people with good credit are still seeing sky-high insurance premium increases
Mass COVID-19 testing site to open at Evergreen State Fairgrounds
Olympia School District apologizes after students yell racial slurs at Black basketball player
Thursday marks 2 years since first COVID-19 case reported in Washington
Lawmakers push bill to better prepare houses of worship for potential attacks
Refrigerated trailers at Puyallup hospital due to staff shortage, not surge in COVID-19 deaths
Protesters in Cosmopolis ask for mayor to step down after fire department quits

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Two years into COVID-19 pandemic, state still determined to reach the unvaccinated
On two year anniversary of discovery of local COVID case, top experts look ahead
Downtown crime, repeat break-ins at Seattle Shirt Company concern business owner

KUOW Public Radio
Covid updates today: Covid will likely become endemic
Today So Far: Time for some Covid context
Parents and caregivers of young children say they’ve hit pandemic rock bottom
Omicron hits Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center harder than other surges

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington’s unemployment rate falls to 4.5% in December
Washington Senator introduces bill to allow for local income tax if other taxes are cut (Hasegawa)

Web

Crosscut
Gov. Inslee’s budget seeks to expand voting access in WA county jails

MyNorthwest
Gov. Inslee defends mandates to Congress: ‘No intervention is as important as vaccination’
Legislature debates WA hospital staffing ratios as healthcare labor problem steeps (Riccelli)
Puget Sound housing market hits record numbers as prices continue to soar
‘Right to repair’ bill would give Washington state consumers control over electronics repair (Gregerson)
State lawmakers take up abortion debate amid uncertain future for Roe v. Wade (Randall)
2 years after Washington identified nation’s first COVID case, future of pandemic remains unclear
King County officials announce March unsheltered population count
Washington Senate bill would reimburse doctors, nurse practitioners at same rate
Most of Western Washington appears to be ‘close’ to omicron peak
FAA clears most passenger planes to land at Sea-Tac with 5G signals limited to buffer zones
Statewide upzoning proposal aims for ‘stout’ housing density near mass transit (Walen)
Racist video from Olympia’s Capital High School basketball game sparks outrage
New study highlights devastating effect pandemic has had on Washington arts
Lawsuit claims Washington’s new redistricting maps discriminate against Latino voters
Amazon continues to run afoul of state regulators over safety conditions in warehouses
Democrat-backed bill would give Legislature more control of emergency powers (Jinkins, Randall, Van De Wege)
State mulls changes to Washington marijuana industry amid claims of bias, abuses of power
State House passes 18 month delay for long-term care tax (Sullivan, Jinkins, Billig)

The Stranger
BIPOC-Led Cultural Organizations Got Tons of Funding in 2020—Then We Left Them High and Dry
After a Lackluster Response, Regional Homeless Authority Wants More Money to Shelter People During Bad Weather

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Here’s when the second work platform goes up
CORONAVIRUS: New reduced schedule for Seattle Public Library branches – here’s what will and won’t change locally

Thursday, Jan. 20

As omicron surges, frustrations and challenges mount in correction facilities
Omicron is ripping through state corrections facilities, forcing the suspension of visitation, mounting overtime for guards and deployment of managers to the front line as staffing shortages persist. There were 1,643 confirmed cases among those in custody Wednesday, with outbreaks of varying proportion at 11 of 12 prisons and nine of 11 work release facilities. Visitation is halted across the system until at least Feb. 3. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Sue Misao)

Lawmakers hit brakes on WA Cares payroll tax, plan big changes
Washington House lawmakers Wednesday approved a pair of key bills to delay the payroll tax collections for WA Cares until July 2023 and make broad changes to the first-of-its-kind long-term care program in the face of criticism. The votes come in the second week of the 60-day legislative session, with Democratic House lawmakers moving speedily to address critiques and concerns that have emerged over the program this past year. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ted S. Warren)

Thursday marks 2 years since first COVID-19 case reported in Washington
It has been two years since the United States was rattled by its first COVID-19 case, which was reported in western Washington. A man in Everett who had just returned home from a three-month trip visiting family in China was diagnosed with COVID-19. In the following months, the Seattle area became the epicenter of the early U.S. outbreak. At Life Care Center in Kirkland, 39 residents died from complications from the virus within a four-week span. Continue reading at KIRO 7.