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Wednesday, Jan. 19

COVID numbers set daily record over weekend in Washington state, but cases trending down
The Washington state Department of Health reported 7,802 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday and 32 deaths since Friday. The state listed 21,055 cases on Saturday — a record high. It saw 18,066 cases on Sunday and 17,280 cases on Monday. As of Tuesday, statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus were 1,105,622 cases and 10,230 deaths. The case total included 134,200 infections listed as probable. Continue reading at The News Tribune.

Biden to give away 400 million N95 masks starting next week
The Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to U.S. residents starting next week, now that federal officials are emphasizing their better protection against the omicron variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings. The White House announced Wednesday that the masks will come from the government’s Strategic National Stockpile, which has more than 750 million of the highly protective masks on hand. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Elaine Thompson)

Child care’s heightened burden takes parents out of workforce
Mariko Perez, a mother of two, always planned to return to work. After she and her husband had children, however, they found it was nearly impossible. Perez’s salary as a para-educator didn’t cover the cost of child care. Reluctantly, she took a career break, intending to wait until their children — now 7 and 8 — were old enough to start school. Then the pandemic struck. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Kevin Clark)

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Associated Press
Biden to give away 400 million N95 masks starting next week
US plans $50B wildfire fight where forests meet suburbia

Aberdeen Daily World
Local EMT trainers struggle to hang on

Bellingham Herald
Staffing shortages affect Bellingham Police as special units are mothballed
Here’s why Bellingham Police Department has a drone
Conditions ‘strained,’ but Bellingham hospital meeting demand with record 79 COVID patients

Capital Press
EPA committee offers WOTUS recommendations
Hemp compounds block COVID-19 from infecting cells, research shows
Soaring nitrogen prices begin dropping in 2022
Vilsack has $50B plan for more thinning, controlled burns to reduce wildfire
Bill would sink Department of Ecology stockwater policy
Inslee’s proposal mandating stream buffers seen as shift to regulations
Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit over cherry patent infringement

Columbian
Bill would allow Vancouver businesses to continue getting assistance, tax credits (Cleveland)
Washington minimum wage increase ripples through Clark County
Opinion: In Our View: Vaccines, caution best ways to slow COVID
Opinion: In Our View: Legislature must make transportation a priority (Liias)

Everett Herald
Child care’s heightened burden takes parents out of workforce
How many ICU beds open in Snohomish County? One.
Pierce College Puyallup president picked to lead EvCC for now
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Cannabis rules slow research into covid treatments
WaPo Comment: What a ICU doctor tells a patient as covid advances

Kent Reporter
Garbage service returns this week in Kent after work stoppage

Kitsap Sun
Opinion: Reforming our criminal legal system means asking hard questions (Simmons)

News Tribune
Good Samaritan, other hospitals use refrigeration trailers to expand morgue capacity
COVID numbers set daily record over weekend in Washington state, but cases trending down
Gig Harbor man, once CEO of region’s largest electronics recycler, sentenced for tax fraud
Record high COVID cases might have peaked in Pierce County, health officials say
Officials: Officer-involved shooting leaves passenger dead after traffic stop

Olympian
Thurston County’s weekly COVID-19 case count reaches record heights yet again
Bills to strengthen workers rights introduced in Washington Legislature (Saldana, Randall)
Lawmakers introduce bill to reform solitary confinement in Washington prisons (Peterson)
Providence caring for record number of COVID-19 patients, but fewer need critical care

Peninsula Daily News
Peninsula COVID-19 cases grow by 407 over weekend
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Nearly 100 hospital workers kept home

Puget Sound Business Journal
Washington restaurants struggling under mounting debt, trade group says
Covid study rocks Pacific Northwest hemp industry, raising hopes
PPP, EIDL fraud top list of SBA management challenges

Seattle Times
Washington’s snow response snowballs into an ideological storm
Excessive force claim against Issaquah police officers can proceed in death of detained man, court rules
Newest member of King County Council says she has no wish list. Not yet.
Opinion: Fund behavioral health integration for children at primary care clinics

Skagit Valley Herald
Hours extended at Skagit County Fairgrounds COVID-19 testing site

South Whidbey Record
Rep. Paul sponsors long-term care tax exemption bill (Paul)

Tri-City Herald
Nearly 100 Benton inmates sick with COVID. 1 in 50 Tri-Citians testing positive
Feds find Hanford sloppy in disposal of sensitive items, from body armor to hard drives
Tri-City police roll out body cams after new WA law takes effect
Expert endorses new Franklin voter map. But one big change is needed for legal elections

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla High School Principal Ron Higgins announces retirement
Baker Boyer Bank promotes Jessie Ilaoa, Rosendo Guizar to senior vice president roles
Walla Walla unemployment down to 2.8%, but businesses still shorthanded as omicron spreads

Washington Post
The long slide: Inside Biden’s declining popularity as he struggles with multiple crises
White House to distribute 400 million free N95 masks starting next week
Omicron hasn’t peaked in U.S., surgeon general says, warning that ‘next few weeks will be tough’
A hot year in North America … and the world
Microsoft has avoided the hot seat for years. Its new mega deal may change that.

Whidbey News-Times
Island Transit seeks public input on service expansion

Yakima Herald-Republic
Commissioners working on Yakima health board restructure, as called for in state law

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
State chipping away at surveying Washington’s most seismically-vulnerable schools
As catalytic converters thefts rise 3,800% in Washington state, lawmakers look for solutions (Ryu, Goodman)
Here’s how to get free N95 masks from the government, starting next week
Here’s where to get your four free COVID tests from the government
‘Come on home’: Washington arts groups seek community’s help in COVID comeback
Some King County inmates should be released amid COVID-19 spike, unions say

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Launch of 5G near airports delayed amid debate over aircraft interference
COVID-19 testing options expanding in Seattle
Challenges mean ‘no timeline’ on when Bellevue residents impacted by slide can return home
You can get a free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 test starting Wednesday; here’s how you do it
COVID forces North Beach School District to stop all classes for the week

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
COVID cases may have peaked in Western Washington but hospital stays still a concern
Mukilteo students stage walkout in bid to get more help for classmates sick with COVID
King County youth diversion program under fire over gun crimes, other felonies
Seattle police won’t enforce some minor traffic violations, a move to boost public safety

KNKX Public Radio
New executive order, ‘missing middle’ plan, school changes, gas tax pause create buzz in Olympia

KUOW Public Radio
Washington state could require cities to allow more multi-family housing options
Has omicron peaked in Washington? Possibly. The view from the Covid tunnel
Some Washington schools are shifting back to remote learning. What’s the plan?
Covid updates today: Cases down 20% in Seattle area
Washington bill aims to stop controversial cougar hunts in Klickitat County (Van De Wege)

KXLY (ABC)
AG’s Office wants Washingtonians to report price-gouging on COVID test kits

Web

LandLine Media
Washington state House panel discusses truck driver restroom access bill (Sells)
Washington state parking, restroom access bills backed by WTA, OOIDA, ATA (Sells)

Tuesday, Jan. 18

Bill to ramp up recycling a top priority for green coalition in 2022 Washington state legislative session
A state Senate bill that seeks to improve Washington’s waste and recycling systems will be one of the top priorities of environmentalists for the 2022 legislative session. Senate Bill 5697 includes provisions that would shift the burden of curbside recycling costs from consumers to packaging producers. It also would require all packaging and paper products sold in Washington to be designed for reuse, recycling or composting by 2031. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Washington students’ test scores drop significantly
Washington students took their first state exams since the pandemic began last fall and their scores dropped. The Seattle Times reports that between 2019 and 2021, the overall percentage of students who met state standards on the math portion of the exam fell by 20 percentage points. Just 30% of children — public school students enrolled in grades 4 through 11 — met standards in math. In English, the portion of kids who met the standard fell by 9 percentage points. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

‘No shortage of questions to be answered’ for region’s shrinking orca population
While scientists, wildlife managers and others continue to untangle the complex web of fish, boat and water quality issues that affect the health of Southern Resident orca whales, the population remains endangered — and continues to shrink. The National Marine Fisheries Service published a five-year review of the species on Jan. 4 in which it recommended the orca’s status under the federal Endangered Species Act remain unchanged. The species uses West Coast and Salish Sea habitat and eats the region’s salmon. Continue reading at Skagit Valley Herald.

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Associated Press
Washington students’ test scores drop significantly

Bellingham Herald
Changes on the horizon for Whatcom nonprofit connecting Latinx families with outdoors
During the pandemic Whatcom bankruptcy filings have tumbled to record lows. Here’s why

Courier-Herald
Can’t get a COVID test right now? Here’s what to do
Omicron continues to surge in Enumclaw

The Daily News
Port of Kalama marketplace moves forward as latest tourism booster

Everett Herald
Free mass-vaccination site opens Tuesday at Everett Mall
Annual homeless count could shed light on pandemic’s impact
Cornfield Report: Ports and potties, and a delay in long-term-care payroll tax (Liias)
Lawmakers consider Snohomish County request for 2 more judges (Lovick)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Survey shows link between racism, election views
WaPo Comment: Those with compromised immune systems need our help
Editorial: Keep ‘Mockingbird’ on Mukilteo ninth-graders’ list
Letter: Lawmakers should restore public employees COLA

The Facts Newspaper
It has been a week of firsts in the Washington State Legislature. (Slatter, Dhingra, Trudeau, Das)
Inslee provides support to hospitals to fight Omicron variant

Kent Reporter
Shoreline senator’s bill would close loophole on police disciplinary actions (Salomon)

Kitsap Sun
Washington State Ferries cancels final Friday night Bremerton sailings with little notice
Bremerton’s Jackson aiming to ‘change the game’ for serving homeless (Simmons)

New York Times
Covid Live Updates: Omicron May Be Peaking in Parts of U.S., but Hospitals Are Strained
Senate Democrats Press Ahead With Debate on Voting Rights Bill
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Family Tells Senate to Legislate, ‘Not Celebrate’
Marchers Honor King and Call on Senate to Pass Voting Rights Legislation

Olympian
Gov. Inslee, Washington Democrats push election bills as they weigh threats to democracy (Frockt, Saldana)
Providence caring for record number of COVID-19 patients, but fewer need critical care

Peninsula Daily News
Nearly 100 hospital workers kept home
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Puget Sound Business Journal
Meta to hire thousands more in Puget Sound area over ‘next couple of years’
Light rail won’t save downtown Bellevue from heavy traffic, analyst says
Opinion: Community colleges and apprentice programs can bridge skills gap

Seattle Times
Washington students’ test scores drop significantly in first exams since pandemic began
Bill to ramp up recycling a top priority for green coalition in 2022 Washington state legislative session (Das, Carlyle)
Second woman sues King County, claiming deputies failed to protect her during prostitution probe in 1990s
Jay Inslee executive order could restore some affirmative action policies in Washington state government
Abuse allegations mount against South King County politician charged with domestic violence
Opinion: Washingtonians deserve equitable access to infertility care

Skagit Valley Herald
‘No shortage of questions to be answered’ for region’s shrinking orca population
Number of new COVID-19 cases in Skagit County eclipses 1,000
Maritime academy announces move to Anacortes

Tribal Tribune
Revitalizing the nselxcin language “Our children, our sovereignty, our future”
Chief Joseph Hatchery update

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Defendants have a right to counsel, but Tri-Cities struggles to hire enough lawyers

Washington Post
How coal holds on in America
They relied on rapid coronavirus tests to gather safely. Some wish they hadn’t.
Texas’s six-week abortion ban remains in effect after federal appeals court ruling

Yakima Herald-Republic
Spokesman-Review: New program at Heritage University aims to narrow attorney shortage in Central Washington
Spokesman-Review: Lawmakers to consider multiple gun control proposals this session (Kuderer)

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Mandatory nurse overtime, too many patients the targets of proposed Washington bills
DNR map shows if your home is in an area susceptible to landslides
‘He is the reason why I dream’: Martin Luther King Jr. mural a sense of pride in the Central District
Inmates describe ‘The Hole’ as they testify in support of bill limiting solitary confinement
Election worker harassment could lead to prison, big fine under Senate-approved bill (Frockt)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
How Tonga volcano eruption pushed out Seattle fog from nearly 6,000 miles away
Events celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Gov. Inslee readies $600M stepped up plan to address climate change
Photos: Seattle honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with rally and march
On MLK Day, Seattle marchers honor slain civil rights leader, talk school inequality
Mass COVID-19 vaccination site opens at Everett Mall amid case count surge

KXLY (ABC)
Has Washington’s omicron surge peaked?

Web

Crosscut
Ways to fix the child care system in Washington state

MyNorthwest
Child rapist lost in backlog gets max sentence nearly 20 years after Torchlight attack (Orwall)

Monday, Jan. 17

Staff shortages prompt some schools to resume remote learning
Schools across Snohomish County have been scrambling to keep their doors open as a surge in COVID cases has left classes without teachers, bus routes without drivers and cafeterias without cooks. “The reality is staffing is just getting thinner and thinner. … The district has done the best they can, they’ve sent people from the district office to help,” said Amy Stevenson, a music teacher at Lynnwood High School. “It’s been all hands on deck but it’s just not enough.” Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Dan Bates)

Tsunami advisory canceled for Washington, but serves as reminder for the ‘Big One’
After 12 hours Saturday, West Coast emergency management agencies canceled a tsunami advisory following an underwater volcanic eruption near Tonga in the Pacific Ocean. While the Washington coastline saw minimal impacts from the tremors, it was a reminder of past Pacific tsunamis and the potential earthquake and tsunami of the Cascadia subduction zone. The South Pacific eruption on Friday evening spewed ash, steam and gas, according to satellite images, and a sonic boom could be heard from Alaska, according to the National Weather Service. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (National Weather Service)

The Nooksack River is in “grave danger,” warns Whatcom scientist with numbers to back it up
The Nooksack River is in “grave danger” of experiencing irreversible changes and ecosystem collapse if Whatcom County doesn’t rapidly reform the way it manages nearby human activity. That was the warning that Western Washington University environmental sciences associate professor John McLaughlin gave at the annual environmental caucus meeting for the Water Resource Inventory Area #1 on Monday, Jan. 10. The Water Resource Inventory Area #1 is the watershed designation for the Nooksack River system. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

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Associated Press
State Supreme Court OKs Cooke Aquaculture steelhead farming

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County school districts fighting battle with COVID to keep students in classrooms
The Nooksack River is in “grave danger,” warns Whatcom scientist with numbers to back it up
Bellingham mayor, council urge action on voting rights bills on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Whatcom’s COVID weekly infection rate reaches quadruple figures, as 2 new deaths reported
New Whatcom state senator says bipartisan outreach is key to success

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Sports gambling legislation needs adjustments
Opinion: In Our View: ‘Forced quarantine’ claims endanger society
Opinion: Cheers & Jeers: Back in session; blood needed

Courier-Herald
Enumclaw library passing out at-home rapid COVID tests

The Daily News
Capitol Dispatch: Reps expect debate over long-term care to land next week.

Everett Herald
MLK celebration honors leaders, urges people to uproot racism
Death, grief and comfort at Everett’s pandemic epicenter
After snowstorms, cities make a roadmap for next time
Staff shortages prompt some schools to resume remote learning
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Comment: Honor King by passing voting rights legislation
Comment: North Sound families need aid after flooding, cold
WaPo Comment: Invoking King’s legacy without exhausting it
WaPo Comment: NPR holds master class in confronting Trump, Big Lie
Editorial: Fix WA Cares and let it resume its important work
Letter: Voting rights bills needed to defend democracy

Federal Way Mirror
8 King County libraries passing out at-home rapid COVID tests

Journal of the San Juan Islands
San Juan ferry routes are fully staffed, but WSF proceeds with caution

Kitsap Sun
Supreme Court agrees to hear case against Bremerton schools about on-field prayers

News Tribune
Tsunami advisory canceled for Washington, but serves as reminder for the ‘Big One’
Syphilis cases among infants show concerning increase in Pierce County, experts say
There’s been a rise in behavioral health needs. East Pierce Fire is hiring an expert
Tacoma’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration to recognize community leaders Monday
Peninsula schools superintendent addresses COVID plan, staffing, need for substitutes
Editorial: ‘It really is that bad.’ WA doctors grateful for National Guard’s help amid COVID spike
Op-Ed: Using Growth Management Act, WA lawmakers can create resilient climate future. Here’s how

New York Times
Census Memo Cites ‘Unprecedented’ Meddling by Trump Administration
The C.D.C.’s New Challenge? Grappling With Imperfect Science
Supply Chain Woes Could Worsen as China Imposes New Covid Lockdowns

Olympian
Here are the Thurston County ZIP codes that saw higher COVID-19 cases per capita
Learn more about North Thurston proposal for shorter summer breaks at Wednesday forum
Lawmakers aim to adjust and refine police accountability laws passed during 2021 session (Jinkins, Goodman, Bronoske, Johnson)
National Guard members will be activated to assist at Washington state hospitals
City of Tenino loses $280,309 to phishing email scam, state Auditor’s Office says

Peninsula Daily News
Tsunami advisory prompts Peninsula to watch for waves
State Supreme Court OKs Cooke Aquaculture steelhead farming
Hospitals strained as COVID-19 cases grow
Shorter leash for Inslee considered (Chapman, Tharinger, Van De Wege)
Seattle students rally for stronger COVID-19 safety protocols at schools

Port Townsend Leader
Another COVID death reported in Jefferson County

Puget Sound Business Journal
Omicron sharpens labor pains for short-staffed businesses
Affordable housing shortage puts many workers on the doorstep of a crisis
No end in sight: Seattle-area concrete workers strike grinding development to a halt
Many restaurants were already in dire straits. Omicron made it worse.
Opinion: Inslee’s low carbon task force is long overdue

Seattle Times
Seattle is plagued by potholes, Bellevue not so much
Inslee, Washington Democrats push election bills, as they weigh threats to democracy (Frockt, Saldaña, Hunt)
Most of Seattle area’s 200,000 unvaccinated adults say they will ‘definitely not’ get COVID shots
Column: As students rally for stronger school health and safety protocols, ‘let the youth speak their truth and let them be heard’
House bills target crisis of missing Indigenous people in Washington state (Lekanoff)
Abuse allegations mount against South King County politician charged with domestic violence
Gun control, transportation, housing among Seattle leaders’ wish list for state Legislature (Pollet, Saldaña, Carlyle)
COVID’s invisible toll on Seattle’s trans community
Opinion: MLK said it best: ‘Love is the greatest force in the universe’

Skagit Valley Herald
Sauk-Suiattle tribe: Seattle City Light violating rights of salmon under “natural law”
Skagit County to begin work on strategic plan

The Skanner
Pierce County deputy fatally shoots person

Sol De Yakima
Falta de personal afecta a hospitales del Valle de Yakima
Escasez de suministro de sangre afecta a hospitales locales

South Whidbey Record
Port sets $20 an hour minimum wage for staff

Spokesman Review
Thousands of current and former Spokane County residents would be repaid for fines from unconstitutional drug law under new bill
As staffing crisis worsens in hospitals, legislators look to implement safe staffing standard (Riccelli)
Omicron season: How can you prepare in the event you test positive?

Tribal Tribune
Colville Tribes Address Covid-19 Surge

Tri-City Herald
Expert endorses new Franklin voter map. But one big change is needed for legal elections
New details on Amazon’s plans for hiring 1,500 Tri-Cities workers
‘To help other people.’ Tri-Cities nonprofit leader awarded MLK Spirit Award
1 in 100 Tri-Citians test COVID positive in last two weeks. New pandemic record
Record numbers slam Tri-Cities COVID test sites. How to order new home kits
CBC postpones Martin Luther King award presentation because of COVID spike

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla unemployment down to 2.8%, but businesses still shorthanded as omicron spreads
From the Vault: 1968 Martin Luther King Jr. memorial service at Whitman College

Washington Post
How the Tonga volcano generated a shock wave around the world
Martin Luther King Jr.’s family marches in D.C. for Senate action on voting rights bill
As nations decide to live with the virus, some disease experts warn of surrendering too soon
Inside a pioneering U.S. site authorized to monitor people using drugs

Yakima Herald-Republic
A push for equality in Yakima: Ester Huey tells her story
It Happened Here: Yakima residents conduct first Martin Luther King Jr. Peace March

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Where to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day across Puget Sound
22-year-old senator says priority is flood relief for Whatcom County
Here’s how to get four free COVID tests starting Wednesday
COVID-19 booster clinic held as some schools in Washington go remote again

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Local Tongan community working to get updates on situation after volcanic eruption near Tonga
Omicron expected to peak Sunday
$1.5M reserved in funding for families impacted by November flooding in North Sound
It will cost Tacoma $3.5M to settle fight over pipes tied to I-5 construction project
Schools struggle to stay open in omicron surge

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Delayed rape kit links Florida man to 2006 Seattle child rape
Parents, students weigh in on more COVID testing, learning platforms amid COVID spike
Expert hopes Tsunami Advisory helps people prepare: ‘It’s a good wake-up call’
Asian Giant Hornet nests eradicated in 2021 came from nest found the year prior nest

KUOW Public Radio
Police Reform, Guns, and Pickleball: First Week of Washington’s 2022 Session (Jinkins)
‘The worst’ it’s been: Covid hospitalizations reach all-time high in Washington state
Covid updates for today: Don’t go to the hospital if you’re in Washington state
Volcano eruption sends tsunami to Washington Coast
What’s happening with schools, snow, and… pickleball? We’ve got you covered
Seattle’s ‘green’ power violates salmon’s legal rights, tribe says

KXLY (ABC)
Where and how to get your free home COVID-19 tests
Lewiston changes form of government, adds council members
Washington legislature priorities: police, health benefits, and more

Q13 TV (FOX)
Several groups fighting against human trafficking in King County

KATU TV
Washington one of few states to fund new suicide hotline (Orwall)

Web

MyNorthwest
‘Health care workers are at their breaking points’: Coalition pushes state lawmakers for solutions
State lawmaker proposes bill to offer people money in exchange for gas-powered yard tools
Nearly 600 potholes reported to SDOT last week in wake of frigid weather
State makes discovery about Asian giant hornets eradicated in 2021
Skagit County COVID test site to temporarily shut down over staff shortage
Legislature considers bill to ban fur farms, production, sale in Washington
Supreme Court to hear case of Bremerton coach in lawsuit over praying at games
Burien extends eviction moratorium until state of emergency ends
With ‘quiet weekend ahead,’ Seattle area poised for longest dry streak in over 100 days

Friday, Jan. 14

‘The worst’ it’s been: Covid hospitalizations reach all-time high in Washington state
Since the highly infectious omicron variant was discovered in Washington state last month, health officials have warned that a surge in cases could cause hospitals to become severely overwhelmed. Health care workers say that moment is now here. “This is the worst situation hospitals in Washington state have been in compared to any prior point during the pandemic,” said Taya Briley, vice president and general counsel for the Washington State Hospital Association during a press conference Thursday morning. Continue reading at KUOW. (Jae C. Hong)

Inslee deploys National Guard to assist hospitals, testing
Gov. Jay Inslee is deploying 100 members of the state National Guard to some hospitals to set up testing sites and to assist in non-medical tasks amid crowding due to a spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations. Inslee announced Thursday that teams will be deployed to assist four overcrowded emergency departments at hospitals in Everett, Yakima, Wenatchee and Spokane, and that testing teams will be based at hospitals in Olympia, Richland, Seattle and Tacoma. There are plans for additional Federal Emergency Management Agency testing sites in King and Snohomish counties. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

Family hopes to turn loss into legislation after hazing leads to death of son at WSU: ‘It’s to save a life for the one taken from us’
It’s a day that Jolayne Houtz remembers vividly. She was sitting at her desk at work and heard ragged breathing outside her door. It was her husband, Hector Martinez, telling her they needed to go home immediately. When they pulled up to their home, they saw three police officers and a police chaplain. Their 19-year-old son, Sam Martinez, had been found dead at his fraternity house. It would later be revealed that the Washington State University freshman and pledge of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity had died of alcohol poisoning after attending a fraternity event. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review.

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Associated Press
Inslee deploys National Guard to assist hospitals, testing
AG: $45M settlement with student loan company
Senate hardens penalties for election worker harassment (Frockt)
State health board inundated with false fears of camps for unvaccinated
Microsoft to review workplace harassment, including Bill Gates allegations
Supreme Court halts COVID-19 vaccine-or-test requirement for businesses
WA Supreme Court OKs Cooke Aquaculture steelhead farming

Aberdeen Daily World
Gov. Inslee gives State of the State speech calling for action from lawmakers (Frockt)

Auburn Reporter
Surgeries paused, National Guard deployed to assist hospitals
Sequim senator seeks improvements to police accountability laws (Van De Wege, Mullet)
Auburn teachers and staff struggle during omicron wave
Unions: 2021 hosted a record number of workplace safety complaints vs. hospitals

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom adds 560 COVID cases, 26 hospitalizations, 2 deaths, as Base Camp sees outbreak
National Guard members will be activated to assist at Washington state hospitals
Sandbags placed to reduce Nooksack River flooding
Officials issue a burn ban in this Whatcom community due to air quality concerns
Washington hospitals describe ‘worst’ level of operational crisis since start of COVID
One in 77 Whatcom residents tested positive for COVID-19 during first 10 days of 2022

Columbian
Clark County emergency rooms report drastic increase in patients
Opinion: In Our View: Pandemic can’t squelch county entrepreneurs

Everett Herald
Sketchy firm’s COVID-test sites shut down as questions mount
Mail delays frustrate and perplex Snohomish residents
Surgeries paused, National Guard deployed to assist hospitals
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: Filibuster showing cracks but could prove resilient
WaPo Comment: Supreme Court invites chaos if lawsuit model spreads
Letter: Ferry system’s reduced sailings affect commutes of many

Federal Way Mirror
Federal Way police are now wearing body cameras

New York Times
Sinema Rejects Changing Filibuster, Dealing Biden a Setback
Biden Will Nominate Three New Fed Officials
New Virus Cases Begin to Slow in U.S. Cities Where Omicron Hit First

Peninsula Daily News
National Guard aid requested
Bill aims to help homeless community college students (Leavitt, Tharinger)
State lawmakers consider Women’s Suffrage Day (Lekanoff)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Inslee declares state hospital crisis, deploys National Guard to provide aid
Omicron, Great Resignation and supply chain woes? Businesses are still optimistic.
Supreme Court’s OSHA ruling puts many employers back on the spot
Inslee: Supreme Court ruling doesn’t bar future vaccine mandate for Washington employers
Microsoft commits to outside review of sexual harassment policies
Op-Ed: Viewpoint: Why cities should embrace life sciences as an economic driver

Seattle Times
Downtown Seattle light rail closed for weekend tunnel repairs
Celebrate Martin Luther King’s life by retracing his footsteps from his 1961 visit to Seattle
After weeklong closure, Stevens Pass and White Pass reopen
Inslee calls out National Guard to help at overtaxed hospitals, testing sites
Head of corrections union calls for 2-week quarantined shutdown of King County jails
Editorial: Kent assistant police chief must resign over Nazi insignia

Sol De Yakima
¿Qué sabe de la variante ómicron en el condado de Yakima?
Distritos escolares de Yakima, Toppenish cambian aprendizaje en línea la próxima semana
The Truth Sanctuary ayuda a familias afectadas, en necesidad

Spokesman Review
Family hopes to turn loss into legislation after hazing leads to death of son at WSU: ‘It’s to save a life for the one taken from us’ (Senn)
National Guard deployed to help Sacred Heart; Inslee pauses nonurgent procedures statewide
Critical staff shortages will close Spokane Public Schools on Tuesday

Tri-City Herald
Omicron COVID variant is surging in Tri-Cities. Next 2 weeks could be worse
National Guard to set up Tri-Cities COVID testing site. Here’s where else you can go
Mid-Columbia School Delays & Closures
COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases on the rise amid unprecedented surge, WA says
Washington hospitals describe ‘worst’ level of operational crisis since start of COVID

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla mayor and mayor pro tem appointed for another two-year term
Tri-State Steelheaders seeks grants in Walla Walla’s Mill Creek fish passage remediation
College Place City Council approves purchase of new fire truck and other fire equipment

Washington Post
Lawmakers begin discussing government spending deal as Democrats eye virus aid, paid leave
These mass shooting survivors were called journalism heroes. Then the buyouts came.
Doctors call out Spotify over Joe Rogan spreading ‘false and societally harmful’ covid-19 claims

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Valley hospitals strained by staffing shortages, rising hospitalizations
Memorial hospital in Yakima to get help from National Guard; Inslee pauses all non-urgent procedures

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘Sam’s Law,’ named after WSU student, would strengthen penalties for hazing-related deaths
Inslee pauses non-urgent medical procedures, deploys National Guard to Washington hospitals
Washington trash service workers on strike address frustrations over garbage collection delay
Upgrading your mask? Here’s how to make sure you’re spending your money on an authentic respirator
Pierce County schools adjust COVID guidelines, lower isolation times
Kittitas County ‘disappointed’ vaccine mandate prevents state from accepting help in clearing snow
Why it took longer to reopen Stevens and White passes

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
COVID testing company suspends operations in Washington while under investigation
Inslee deploys National Guard, halts non-urgent procedures to help hospitals
Food safety investigations – another casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic?
Classes canceled or shifted to remote learning for some schools under SPS
South Kitsap Schools closing campuses for several days due to COVID-19
DOH: Breakthrough COVID-19 cases on the rise during omicron surge

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
COVID-19 omicron surge: Inslee to deploy National Guard to help overwhelmed hospital
Local businesses weigh in on SCOTUS vaccine mandate decision
Columbia Sportswear plans to fire employees who won’t get COVID-19 vaccines
Seattle schools cancel classes, switch to remote because of COVID cases
Seattle students plan walkout, demanding tighter COVID safety measures
Test sites run by Center for COVID Control now under investigation; close temporarily

KNKX Public Radio
Inslee deploying 100 National Guard to help hospitals, orders pause on non-emergency procedures

KUOW Public Radio
‘The worst’ it’s been: Covid hospitalizations reach all-time high in Washington state
Covid updates for today: Don’t go to the hospital if you’re in Washington state
As WA lawmakers consider a safe staffing bill, nurses warn of crisis conditions and risks to patients
Washington grocery workers ‘begging’ for more hours as wages don’t keep up with bills
We asked how you’re feeling about Covid these days. This is what you told us

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington hospitals in ‘worst situation’ yet since COVID-19 pandemic started: WSHA

Web

MyNorthwest
Burien extends eviction moratorium until state of emergency ends
WSDOT accuses Kittitas County of ‘misinformation’ on snow removal dispute
Franklin High School students stage sick-out to demand better COVID safety precautions
King County Corrections Guild calls for two-week shutdown of jail operations
Spate of Puget Sound region K-12 schools return to remote learning
Gov. Inslee deploys National Guard, halts non-urgent procedures amid hospital staffing crisis
Settlement over ‘predatory’ practices to erase student debt for over 1,400 Washingtonians
‘And then there were none:’ 4 major Washington mountain passes reopen
State Board of Health will not yet make a decision to require COVID vaccine for students
Seattle-area trash service could be delayed longer due to out-of-state strike

Reuters
U.S. suicide hotline 988 is set to go live, but many states may not be ready (Orwall)

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: Chief Sealth International High School closed Friday due to ‘sickout’ over safety concerns

Thursday, Jan. 13

Washington logs 1M coronavirus cases
The number of coronavirus cases in Washington state has surpassed 1 million, with a new surge in cases largely driven by the highly transmissible omicron variant. The state Department of Health confirmed the number on Wednesday, just nine days shy of two years since the first case in the country was confirmed in Washington on Jan. 21, 2020. Washington surpassed 500,000 total coronavirus cases in August, the wave at that time fueled by the delta variant. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

WA troopers still more likely to pull over Native American drivers
Two years after InvestigateWest reported that the Washington State Patrol was searching some racial and ethnic groups at a rate one researcher called “disturbing,” the agency has released a new analysis of its stop-and-search data. The headline: “No systematic agency bias.” The State Patrol and Washington State University researchers who released the study this month, however, acknowledge the problem InvestigateWest uncovered in 2019 persists. State troopers are still more likely to search Black, Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander drivers, even though the troopers are more likely to find contraband like drugs or weapons when they search white drivers. Continue reading at InvestigateWest. (Jason Buch)

No, Washington state isn’t forcing people into quarantine camps
A routine meeting of the Washington State Board of Health on Wednesday became the topic of a nationwide misinformation campaign this week as social media users, political hopefuls and conservative pundits spun bogus claims that the meeting would include a vote to force unvaccinated residents into COVID-19 quarantine camps. A communication manager for the board said it had been inundated with more than 30,000 public comments, some threatening, related to the false theory, which misrepresented the board’s scheduled discussion on HIV as a proposed change to COVID-19 policy. Continue reading at The Associated Press.