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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)

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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)

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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.

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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.

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Associated Press
Seattle to end COVID-19 emergency proclamation
Jan. 6 hearing promises ‘surprising’ details before election

Bainbridge Island Review
Cyber attack continues to raise havoc with medical systems
Kitsap auditor’s office wins security award
Monkeypox (MPV) vaccine clinics coming soon

Bellingham Herald
Split Whatcom County Council approves formation of Racial Equity Commission

Capital Press
Upper Snake River reservoirs need big winter to fill
Professional fees top $25 million in Easterday bankruptcy

Everett Herald
Hearing postponed on Stanwood-area mental health center

News Tribune
Tacoma council passes a homeless camping ban. Here’s what it means and when it starts
Pierce County leaders want 2 rural sites scrapped from new airport short list. Here’s why

Seattle Times
What to know about the updated COVID booster in WA
Why WA has seen a big increase in these community college degrees
Smoke will stick around in Seattle area; health officials urge residents to take protective steps
Seattle launches emergency command center for homelessness with fed help
Column: More Black kids are dying by suicide. The reasons, unfortunately, aren’t surprising

Skagit Valley Herald
Friendship House with new executive director

Spokesman Review
House Call: Technology can benefit senior health care
Spokane may be leaving millions in federal grant dollars on the table, former housing and homelessness director says
More heat records could be in store for Spokane as balmy October continues
University of Idaho grant will help farms across Idaho adopt better practices for both soil and climate
Former Spokane Police officer who raped women on duty sentenced to 14 years to life

Tri-City Herald
Flu season likely to be a rough one in Tri-Cities. Is it too early to get a shot?

Washington Post
Trump’s pressure to overturn election to be focus of panel’s likely final hearing before midterms
Trump worker told FBI about moving Mar-a-Lago boxes on ex-president’s orders
Biden designates Colorado’s Camp Hale as his first national monument

Yakima Herald-Republic
New home for Highland Food Bank building almost complete in Tieton
EEOC sues Monson Fruit in federal court for sex discrimination, retaliation
Officials focus on connection between unlawful firearms and domestic violence in Yakima area
Editorial: Property rights and water rights aren’t quite the same

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Kokanee salmon population rising in Lake Sammamish
Orting School Board director, stepson arrested for their actions during Jan. 6 Capitol riot
Social Security payments get biggest raise in over 40 years
Fishermen fear going out of business after Alaska cancels snow and king crab harvest

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle invests $8.3 million in program to end traffic deaths, serious injuries by 2030

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
City-sanctioned encampment offers one-of-a-kind approach in Tacoma

KNKX Public Radio
Tacoma approves polarizing ban on unsanctioned encampments

KUOW Public Radio
It’s so hard to find a Covid booster in WA, experts worry people will just give up
Not just an Eastern WA issue; King County prepares for wildfires
West Coast gray whale population declining, according to latest count
The flu is slated for a 2022-23 comeback. Are you ready?
Seattle is ending its Covid emergency Oct. 31

Q13 TV (FOX)
Tacoma City Council passes ban on homeless encampments

Web

Crosscut
Incarcerated Natives gather for first powwow in three years
Even in Washington’s ‘mildest’ regions, heat is deadly

The Stranger
King County’s Housing Crisis Limits Its Efforts to Reduce Crime

Wednesday, October 12

FDA clears updated COVID boosters for kids as young as 5
The U.S. on Wednesday authorized updated COVID-19 boosters for children as young as 5, seeking to expand protection ahead of an expected winter wave. Tweaked boosters rolled out for Americans 12 and older last month, doses modified to target today’s most common and contagious omicron relative. While there wasn’t a big rush, federal health officials are urging that people seek the extra protection ahead of holiday gatherings. Now the Food and Drug Administration has given a green light for elementary school-age kids to get the updated booster doses, too — one made by Pfizer for 5- to 11-year-olds, and a version from rival Moderna for those as young as 6. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Pfizer)

‘We are in trouble’: Study raises alarm about impacts of long covid
A new long-covid study based on the experiences of nearly 100,000 participants provides powerful evidence that many people do not fully recover months after being infected with the coronavirus. The Scottish study found that between six and 18 months after infection, 1 in 20 people had not recovered and 42 percent reported partial recovery. There were some reassuring aspects to the results: People with asymptomatic infections are unlikely to suffer long-term effects, and vaccination appears to offer some protection from long covid. The study found that the risk of long covid was greater among women, older people and those who live in economically disadvantaged communities. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Eve Edelheit)

Arlington program reaching out to those with mental, behavioral health struggles sees success
Arlington police already embed social workers to deal with addiction and homelessness. This team takes outreach to the next level by seeking out those who have avoided previous offers for help. They’ve ignored phone calls, texts and emails to come to the CJSW offices for assistance, so social workers are now showing up right at their front doors. Since the program started a year ago social workers have made contact with 500 people in need across Arlington. Their efforts have decreased transports to the hospital by nearly 60% and trips to jail by 90%. “It’s working,” said Dr. Kaitlyn Goubeau. “I get goosebumps when I think about it.” Continue reading at KING 5.