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Wednesday, September 28

Recycling isn’t enough to slow plastic pollution, WA scientists say
Dealing with the life cycle of plastic, hundreds of solutions await, from alternative bioplastics that might be able to degrade themselves through the magic of fungus to complex chemical recycling that can break down plastics to become other petroleum products or to be rebuilt good as new. But as promising as chemical recycling and next-generation plastics may sound, experts also say some of the most realistic solutions to plastic pollution involve eliminating it from packaging as much as possible. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Dan DeLong)

King County to create new hotline for victims of hate crime
King County will create a new community-based, hate-crime hotline to help victims access services more easily, and to improve the county’s data collection on reported crimes motivated by hate and bias. The Stop Hate Hotline is intended to serve as a non-law enforcement reporting system that allows victims to get help through an online portal or on the phone. King County allocated $150,000 in COVID-19 relief funding last year toward the creation of the reporting system. The Metropolitan King County Council unanimously approved the proposal during its Tuesday meeting. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Alan Berner)

More electric vehicle charging stations are coming to Washington
More electric vehicle charging stations are coming to Washington and the United States. The plan is to have a fast charging station every 50 miles along major U.S. highways. The U.S. Government gave the final “OK” Tuesday to begin releasing $5 billion over five years to install or upgrade electrical chargers along 75,000 miles of highway. In the program’s first year, Washington will receive $10.5 million and $15 million each of the following years. The total federal investment is $71 million. The Washington State Department of Commerce said $90 million in state funding is also being invested in charging infrastructure. Continue reading at KING5.

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Auburn Reporter
King County Executive proposes broad investments to behavioral health infrastructure
State Board awards nearly $76 Million in grants to fund salmon recovery projects

Bainbridge Island Review
BI looks at 2-year budget Sept. 27

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham council will return to in-person meetings for the first time since pandemic started
Bellingham, Whatcom are approaching winter shelter differently this year

Columbian
Vancouver City Council backs state’s plan to add regional police academies (Lovick)

The Daily News
Mental health and fentanyl overdoses brought up at second six-member Cowlitz County Board of Health meeting
Cowlitz County burn ban extended until further notice
Woodland looks to purchase land next to new library site to build public space, visitors center

Everett Herald
No penalty for Lynnwood council member’s ‘underinformed’ views on racism

Kent Reporter
Kent City Council to consider camping ban on public property

News Tribune
Highway 2 closes again in Washington because of wildfire

Olympian
4 unfair labor practice violations filed against Port of Olympia, union official says

Puget Sound Business Journal
Rural businesses feeling the pinch of post-pandemic problems
Providence Swedish staff latest to land big pay raises with new deal
Raises are rising, but that’s not the only way pay is evolving
Seattle mayor unveils budget with ‘unprecedented’ funding for housing

Seattle Medium
Train Service To Vancouver Bc Returns
Seattle Is At $110k Median Income

Seattle Times
Mental Health Perspectives: For Black men like me, the pandemic’s been a reminder of our psychological masks
King County budget plan has money for housing, environment, but shortfalls loom
Harrell’s first Seattle budget proposes increased police funding
King County to create new hotline for victims of hate crime
Column: Idaho is yanking women back to the stagecoach era

Spokesman Review
Spokane sets heat record for latest 90-degree day
Opinion: Instead of offering charity care, hospital chain hounded poor patients

Tri-City Herald
‘The fear was palpable.’ Tri-Cities hospital staff remember COVID pandemic’s tough times

Washington Post
Women said coronavirus shots affect periods. New study shows they’re right.
Check our map to find out how much hotter this summer was in your county
Lawsuit aims to stop Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Armed veteran patrols on sidewalk outside of North Thurston schools after Texas school shooting
More electric vehicle charging stations are coming to Washington

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Tacoma takes feedback on homeless camping ban proposal

KUOW Public Radio
No More Vaccine Requirement for Travelers Entering Canada Next Month

KXLY (ABC)
Northern Lakes Fire District receives grant to open third fire station

Web

Crosscut
Recycling isn’t enough to slow plastic pollution, WA scientists say

Tuesday, September 27

Skykomish residents told to be prepared for evacuation as Bolt Creek Fire continues to burn
Evacuation orders have been raised once again for some people affected by the Bolt Creek Fire burning in Snohomish and King counties. Those in Skykomish, and in some communities along the Old Cascade Highway west and east of town, are now under level two evacuation orders. That means “be ready to leave.” “We’re going to be into a fire weather watch, which means increased fire activity throughout the next 72 hours,” [Incident commander Kevin] Griffey said. “We’ve brought in extra resources to deal with that increased activity for days and nights, we’ve got helicopters on standby … ready to come in. If the activity increases enough, we’ll order that up.” Continue reading at KUOW. (Snohomish County)

WA schools ask for more time to spend $2.6B in COVID relief
Superintendents across Washington state say deadlines to spend billions in federal education relief dollars risk cutting off key student supports just as they get off the ground. Washington K-12 schools have spent about half of $2.6 billion in combined relief, largely intended to help schools navigate immediate coronavirus-related challenges. Now as they look to the remaining $1.3 billion, administrators say they fear federal deadlines in 2025 will cut short projects addressing lost academic progress, student mental health and school air quality. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Lindsey Wasson)

Five things about covid we still don’t understand at our peril
Since a new coronavirus launched the global pandemic that has now killed more than 6.5 million people — 16 percent of them in the United States alone — scientists in record numbers have devoted themselves full time to unraveling its mysteries. In less than three years, researchers have published more than 200,000 studies about the virus and covid-19. That is four times the number of scientific papers written on influenza in the past century and more than 10 times the number written on measles. Still, the virus has kept many of its secrets, from how it mutates so rapidly to why it kills some while leaving others largely unscathed — mysteries that if solved might arm the world’s scientists with new strategies to curb its spread and guard against the next pandemic. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (CNS/AFP)

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Associated Press
Pfizer asks FDA to approve omicron COVID-19 booster shots for 5- to 11-year-olds
Starbucks says it wants union bargaining to begin

Bellevue Reporter
DCYF launches Workforce Retention Grant to fund child care provider retention efforts

Bellingham Herald
Latest Census estimates show how COVID changed where Whatcom County is working
Amtrak’s Cascade service is running again. Here’s what you need to know

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: 988 hotline plays key role in mental health care
Editorial: In Our View: Reject stunts by solving immigration problems

The Daily News
Red flag warning comes as Goat Rocks Fire battle continues

Everett Herald
Arlington firm’s all-electric plane, Alice, takes first test flight
U.S. 2 closed near Skykomish as Bolt Creek fire spreads
Editorial: Everett’s budget crunch points to larger tax issue

Kitsap Sun
COVID-19 cases in Kitsap County increasing again
Officials request funds for more fast ferry sailings

Olympian
Port’s Joe Downing casts doubt on future of KGY radio station building

Puget Sound Business Journal
Starbucks asks unionized stores to begin bargaining talks

Seattle Times
Nearly 40% of U.S. adults have strong feelings about Seattle
Bolt Creek fire closes 4-mile stretch of Highway 2
Navy, NTSB prepare to recover plane wreckage in Mutiny Bay
Bellevue protest in solidarity with Iranian women
Property tax levy proposed to fund mental health care in King County

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County’s COVID-19 case rate takes slight drop

Spokesman Review
Heat burst expected to break records on Tuesday
Odds of native trout’s survival jumps as fish hatchery near Usk nears completion
Shortage of corrections officers could force closure of Geiger
Opinion: Sheriff Knezovich’s divisive letters fails to acknowledge progress made at Camp Hope

Washington Post
Five things about covid we still don’t understand at our peril
Considering an electric vehicle? Here’s how to prep your home for one.
Biden to reveal plan for reducing obesity, ending hunger by 2030
Staffing shortages continue to plague schools, data shows

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
King County behavioral health plan would be funded with $1.25 billion tax levy

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Drivers stuck in I-90 gridlock push for no tolls on detour routes

KNKX Public Radio
Hurricane Ian strengthens to a Category 3 storm as it takes aim at Florida
Stocks and bonds both get clobbered this time. Here’s what’s behind the double whammy

KUOW Public Radio
After 2-year pandemic pause, Seattle-BC train service returns
Skykomish residents told to be prepared for evacuation as Bolt Creek Fire continues to burn

KXLY (ABC)
City asking for public’s input on proposed updates to City Council districts
Outgoing head of Spokane’s Neighborhood, Housing services praises mayor’s effort in resignation letter

NW Public Radio
Rising Tide: Pacific Northwest Could Soon Double Or Triple Its Small Number Of Seaweed Farms

Q13 TV (FOX)
Bolt Creek Fire approaches US 2; crews shut down part of highway

Web

Crosscut
WA schools ask for more time to spend $2.6B in COVID relief

Monday, September 26

Green buildings get a boost in WA, but policy and demand still lag
Two decades ago, Washington became a foothold for a global movement to decarbonize buildings. But since then momentum has sputtered. The state has access to some of the cleanest and cheapest electricity in the country and yet its building codes remain strict, customers remain skeptical of upfront costs and state policy efforts have struggled to find traction. Homes, offices and other buildings account for a large portion of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. In Washington, public officials are looking to eliminate or reduce the carbon footprint of our built environment primarily through forms of financial assistance. But that approach has its limits. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)

After a stressful few years, school districts prepare to support students with fragile mental health
Buffeted by the pandemic and social media, the mental health of children and teens appears increasingly fragile, according to one national survey. However, local school districts are attempting to meet the challenge. Based on a survey of insurance claims from more than 20 million children aged 1 to 19, the survey showed several troubling trends. From 2016 to 2021, inpatient admissions rose 61% and emergency department visits increased 20%. The rise was particularly acute among adolescents 12 to 15 years old, increasing 84% among girls and 83% among boys. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Colin Mulvany)

Another Olympia mother grieves as police reform inches along
It’s been over two years since the murder of George Floyd set off a reckoning about racism and police killings of Black men. It’s been seven years since the Olympia police shooting of Black brothers Andre Thompson and Bryson Chaplin, which left Chaplin paralyzed. So why, after all this, is the Olympia City Council still confronted by a grieving mother looking for an explanation for why the police took her son’s life during what was clearly a mental health crisis? How did all the training in de-escalation fail? Where was the mental health crisis responder who should have been there? Continue reading at The Olympian. (Olympia City Council)

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Associated Press
Canada won’t require masks on planes, drops vaccine mandate

Capital Press
U.S. trustee objects to millions of dollars in fees in Easterday bankruptcy case

Columbian
Bolt Creek fire ‘picks up’ in hot, dry conditions

The Daily News
Survey results: More Cowlitz County teens classified as obese following pandemic
Coast Guard brings in large crane to remove sunken ship from Columbia River

Everett Herald
County executive lays out blueprint for $85M in federal relief
Water district keeps leadership, for now, despite staff woes

Journal of the San Juan Islands
There is help for those in crisis | September is suicide prevention month

News Tribune
A large fire that destroyed homes in Pierce County could’ve been prevented, lawsuit alleges

Olympian
Protection efforts nearly complete with Goat Rocks Fire half a mile from Packwood neighborhood
Olympia council member says no time to waste in funding fight against climate change
Thurston and Pierce counties become focus of search for new 2-runway airport site
Editorial: Another Olympia mother grieves as police reform inches along

Peninsula Daily News
Face masks urged at some Peninsula schools

Puget Sound Business Journal
Alaska Airlines reaches tentative agreement with pilots union

Seattle Medium
Nobles Advocates To Reduce Child Hunger And Accelerate Learning (Nobles)
Private, Public Bus Stops On The Way
Cannabis Industry Update in Washington State

Seattle Times
Green buildings get a boost in WA, but policy and demand still lag (Duerr)
Unraveling needs of WA students may take more tests and screenings
Inquest into fatal Federal Way police shooting begins after month delay
Is Seattle Police Department ready to embrace alternative responses to a gun and a badge?
Chinatown International District pushes back at expanded homeless shelter. Officials ask where else?

Spokesman Review
After a stressful few years, school districts prepare to support students with fragile mental health
‘The future is electric’: Spokane’s prioritization of electric vehicles part of a larger trend

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities COVID deaths still worry officials. More outbreaks reported
Richland researchers advance science to convert plastics to more valuable fuels

Yakima Herald-Republic
Derogatory term for Native women removed from state creek, lake names

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Multiple protests held in Bellevue after death of Mahsa Amini in Iran

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Updates made to evacuation notices as winds increase activity from Bolt Creek Fire

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Community members hold “Bullet Free Weekend” event, efforting to lower gun violence

KNKX Public Radio
Flu is expected to flare up in U.S. this winter, raising fears of a ‘twindemic’

KUOW Public Radio
What to expect in the PNW after an especially dry summer
$6.5 million slated for Seattle Green New Deal
Should Seattle Public Library employees carry Narcan?
Seattle will launch a new unit of crisis responders under revamped 911 system
Monkeypox continues to infect about 20 people each week in Washington state

Q13 TV (FOX)
Bolt Creek Fire: Level 2 Evacuations issued again in Skykomish

Web

Crosscut
WA battery maker faces accusations of providing U.S. tech to China

MyNorthwest
New evacuations ordered for Bolt Creek Fire as containment drops to 7%

The Stranger
Seattle’s Left Proposes Defunding the Police, Stopping Sweeps, and Building Housing in Solidarity Budget

Friday, September 23

COVID and monkeypox levels are down in WA; prevention efforts continue
Viral infection levels continue on a downward trend in Washington, bringing the state into a “cautiously optimistic” place as public health teams continue to work on COVID-19 and monkeypox prevention this fall. The state is approaching an “important milestone” in its COVID recovery journey, state Secretary of Health Dr. Umair A. Shah said Thursday, referring to the Oct. 31 date when the state’s COVID state of emergency is set to expire. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ted S. Warren/AP)

Knezovich plans to ‘clear’ Camp Hope by mid-October
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said he intends to clear Camp Hope by mid-October, citing crime and public health implications, and the plight of those living on the state-owned land off Interstate 90 in east Spokane.

Part of his plan is to provide bus tickets for the 600 homeless people living there so that they might reunite with family and find assistance in their recovery. Knezovich sent a letter outlining his plans and concerns to the Washington state Department of Transportation. The letter did not address the number of Camp Hope residents who may have come from outside the region and would therefore use the tickets. He said he will also engage church leaders to help with drug, alcohol and mental health treatmen Continue reading at Spokane Spokesman-Review. (Jesse Tinsley/Spokesman-Review)

Low unemployment rates continue in Yakima County, across Washington
Yakima County’s jobless rates remain at the lowest levels in decades. Continuing 17 months of decline, unemployment in the county in August stood at the lowest rate in at least 32 years. A newly released report shows the county’s jobless rate at 5.7% for last month, the lowest for that month since data began to be recorded electronically in 1990, said Don Meseck, regional labor economist with the state’s Employment Security Department. Continue reading at Yakima Herald.

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Associated Press
COVID, monkeypox levels down
State employees likely to get 1K bonuses for COVID booster

Auburn Reporter
Auburn to receive money from a settlement with opioid distributors

Capital Press
Fish and Wildlife targets Leadpoint wolf pack
Q&A: Simpson continues to push lower Snake River dam plan
Western Innovator: Washington farm advocate embraces tension

Courier-Herald
Buckley hires new city administrator

The Daily News
Longview police awarded 200K in state funds for mental health response team

Everett Herald
Complaint accuses Starbucks of anti-union threats in Marysville
Stanwood mental health facility clears hurdle, but faces opposition
New deal gives Swedish nurses, health care workers a big boost in pay
4th defendant pleads guilty in white supremacist attack

News Tribune
How much will your water and electric bill go up? Tacoma utilities propose rate increase
Man stole Lakewood police cruiser, drove onto I-5 before arrest, cops say
Fire burns on upper deck of shipping vessel docked at Port of Tacoma
Ex-politician’s car stolen from outside his Tacoma home. His father’s ashes were inside

Olympian
More closures of Ensign Road to come as city looks to end long-term parking indefinitely
Update: WSP trooper shot in Walla Walla. Then he drove himself to the hospital

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing settles on Max crashes with SEC for $200M
Senate aims to extend federal small-business investment programs
Pierce County awards $17M for affordable housing
Employers are staring at steep costs due to long Covid

Seattle Medium
Nobles Advocates To Reduce Child Hunger And Accelerate Learning (Nobles)
Private, Public Bus Stops On The Way
Cannabis Industry Update in Washington State

Seattle Times
Seattle looks to transform Third Avenue from transit-only to inviting ‘front door’
COVID and monkeypox levels are down in WA; prevention efforts continue
King County may offer loans to help people replace old furnaces
Column: What Seattle Mayor Harrell’s budget will reveal on city’s core beliefs
Seattle Mayor Harrell announces first steps toward Green New Deal

Skagit Valley Herald
Anacortes moves to fast-track trestle repairs
Work continues on Veterans Community Plaza

Spokesman Review
Washington in ‘markedly different place’ in COVID pandemic
Knezovich plans to ‘clear’ Camp Hope by mid-October

Tri-City Herald
Highway 395 reopens in south Kennewick after fire burns near Southridge High School

Washington Post
Inside the plant building the fastest passenger trains in America
U.S. has sent private warnings to Russia against using a nuclear weapon

Yakima Herald-Republic
Low unemployment rates continue in Yakima County, across Washington

Broadcast

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Man fatally shot during officer-involved-shooting in Wapato, police say
Police agencies in new video urge Washington lawmakers to reconsider 2021 pursuit law

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Sheriff releases statement on plans to clear Camp Hope
‘The letter is disappointing’: Health agency reacts to sheriff’s vow to clear Camp Hope
Local organizations seek more volunteers to battle mentor shortage
Spokane Police officer under investigation for sexual assault of sheriff’s deputy
West Glen neighbors turn to C.O.P.S. after being fed up with crime
WA COVID, monkeypox levels down, prevention efforts continue

NW Public Radio
Pasco Ponders Pot
Washington Wine Grape Harvest Could Be “Biggest Yet”

Q13 TV (FOX)
More than $17M awarded to develop affordable housing across Pierce County

Web

Crosscut
What local leaders think of Seattle police chief nominee Adrian Diaz
The complicated process of recycling batteries in Washington state

The Stranger
Smell That? It’s the Sweet Smell of Seattle’s New Film Commission

Thursday, September 22

Projections lowered in latest Washington revenue forecast
Revenue projections for Washington state’s current two-year budget period increased by about $43 million more than projected at the state’s last quarterly update, but a series of factors — including slowing home sales due to high interest rates — led officials to lower the forecast for the next budget cycle. Updated numbers released Wednesday by the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council show that projected revenue collections for the 2021-2023 budget slightly exceed what had been forecast in June. But the council lowered the forecast for the next two-year budget cycle that ends in mid-2025 by $495 million. Continue reading at The Olympian. (The Olympian)

Yakima City Council accepts funds shy of $1 million for new affordable housing projects
Several new affordable housing projects planned in Yakima will get funds for water and utility improvements through the state Department of Commerce’s Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program. The Yakima City Council on Tuesday accepted a total of $922,283 in CHIP funds, which can be used to pay for waived connection fees and utility improvements at affordable housing developments. Also at the meeting, the council moved to accept a Justice Assistance Grant of $66,982 to support recruitment efforts and software for the Yakima Police Department and radio upgrades for the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office. Continue reading at Yakima Herald-Republic. (Evan Abell)

Bolt Creek Fire is 95% contained. Smoke continues to drift into Western Washington
The Bolt Creek Fire in Snohomish County is now 95% contained after charring more than 10,000 acres this month. But it’s still burning and pumping out lots of smoke. Part of Highway 2 closed to through traffic between Index and Skykomish. Meanwhile, the smaller Goat Rocks Fire continues to burn southwest of Ellensburg in Central Washington. It flared up again this month after lightning sparked it in August. Smoke from both fires have been wafting into Western Washington recently, but forecast models show things should start clearing up by sometime Thursday. Continue reading at KUOW. (Puget Sound Clean Air Agency)