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Friday, September 30

WA state ferries free for people 18 and under starting Saturday
Starting Saturday, trips on Washington state ferries will be free for children and teens 18 and under. Earlier this month, bus and other transit fares were lifted for young riders in most of Washington. It’s part of a move by agencies across the state toward providing free rides for people 18 and under. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert/ Seattle Times)

Woman raped by on-duty police officer says Spokane Police Department ignored ‘red flags’ in claim against city
One of the women raped by a former Spokane police officer has filed a $1 million claim against the city alleging the police department ignored “red flags” in the officer’s behavior. The city allowed Nathan Nash “to use his uniform and authority to prey on women,” the 25-year-old victim wrote in her claim for damages, an administrative precursor to a lawsuit. A Spokane jury convicted Nash, 39, of raping two women in 2019 during follow-up visits to physical assault investigations he responded to in his role as a Spokane Police officer. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Jesse Tinsley/ The Spokesman-Review)

How climate change is rapidly fueling super hurricanes
As Hurricane Ian barreled toward Florida this week, it did what six other storms did over the past six years as they approached the United States: It intensified, quickly. A few factors help account for the shift, including the warming waters — fueled by climate change — that give hurricanes more energy to release through crushing winds and pounding waves. Climate scientists suspect the slow movement of storms like Ian also stems from global warming, giving them a greater opportunity to strengthen and destroy as long as day-to-day conditions remain ripe. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Wilfredo Lee/AP)

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Capital Press
State kills two wolves in NE Washington pack

Everett Herald
Plan seeks to transform Smokey Point Blvd. into ‘neighborhood corridor’
Welcome aboard, kids! Ferry rides are free for those 18 and under
Should light rail skip Paine Field and Boeing? We asked, you answered

Kitsap Sun
St. Michael Medical Center denied preliminary accreditation

News Tribune
Another construction setback for Tacoma Link extension. When will it finish?

Olympian
Hurricane Ian death toll rises in storm-stricken areas. ‘Takes days’ or longer to determine
Are we in an El Niño or La Niña year? What this winter could mean for Washington weather

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle restaurateurs rethink business model with fewer workers
Analyst: Amazon ‘playing defense’ with move to boost pay at warehouses
Report: Travel demand — and frustration — returns to Sea-Tac Airport

Seattle Medium
Washington Healthcare Providers In Trouble

Seattle Times
Snoqualmie Tribe says Forterra misled it, feds in $20M grant application
Bodies, majority of wreckage recovered from Whidbey Island plane crash
Seattle area to see weather at or near 80 degrees
WA state ferries free for people 18 and under starting Saturday
What we know about trauma’s effect on our health, and how people can recover
Magnolia, Fremont poised to swap Seattle council districts in redistricting

Skagit Valley Herald
New carpenters training center unveiled in Burlington
Leaders in flood response expecting another wet year

Spokesman Review
Woman raped by on-duty police officer says Spokane Police Department ignored ‘red flags’ in claim against city
Public hearing on heat pump mandate in Washington draws split testimony
Opinion: Sheriff and prosecutor making unsubstantiated claims about bail
When community will ‘finally grow up’ it will be ‘unstoppable,’ Knezovich says

Washington Post
U.S. imposes new sanctions over Russia’s illegal annexation
Judge overrules special master, says Trump lawyers need not clarify claims on seized files
FDA approves first ALS drug in 5 years after pleas from patients
How climate change is rapidly fueling super hurricanes

Yakima Herald-Republic
Inflation, public safety are top topics in Yakima city budget process
Unprecedented salmon recovery funds to benefit Yakima Basin projects
Editorial: Hybrid classes are the path to success for schools

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle Children’s ER faces ‘unprecedented demand’
‘The law has let us down’: Family of man killed by Olympia police want legislative change
Study finds wide gap between number of BIPOC and White homeowners in Washington
Seattle Public Schools faces nearly $190 million budget shortfall
SR 520, southbound I-5 closures in the Seattle area this weekend
Director of US Cyber Defense Agency focused on protecting Washington state agencies from attack

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Southern Resident orca population is the lowest its been in decades
Photos and video of orcas and humpback whales clashing near US/Canada border
Weekend traffic: SR 520 closing over Lake Washington for Montlake Lid Project work
Kent to discuss stronger ban to address homeless camping

KXLY (ABC)
Voters voice displeasure with polling location, County Commissioner expects it to remain
WSDOT clearing out excess trash to set up fences around Camp Hope

NW Public Radio
33 States, Including Washington, Idaho & Oregon Exempt Clergy From Reporting Abuse

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘It feels like I lost a family member’; Endangered orca population drops from 74 to 73 in annual census

Web

The Stranger
Mayor Harrell Proposes $1 Million for Questionable Surveillance Tech
The Mayor Wants to Pay Human Service Providers Less

Thursday, September 29

BIPOC homeownership would have to increase by 140K in Washington to reach parity, report says
A new report says the home ownership gap in Washington state is so large that Black, Indigenous and people of color would have to purchase more than 140,000 houses to achieve parity with white homeowners. Breaking it down by county: 49,494 homes would have to be purchased in King County, 9,645 homes in Snohomish County, and 17,550 in Pierce County. Among the findings that the Homeownership Disparities Work Group found over its 10-month lifespan is that the homeownership gap between Black and white households is worse today than it was in the 60s. Continue reading at KUOW. (Tierra Mallorca)

First school-based clinic in Snohomish County opens at Meadowdale High
This fall, the Edmonds School District opened a school-based health center — an on-campus walk-in clinic that provides medical, dental and mental health services. The clinic is run by Community Health Centers of Snohomish County out of a small room formerly used to store library supplies. Not one student at Meadowdale High School started school late this year because they were missing the required vaccines to attend school. Instead of waiting up to a month for a doctor’s appointment, students who needed immunizations visited the health center, received their shots and got right back to class. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry)

Washington state auditor taking a closer look at law enforcement use of deadly force investigations
Washington has announced that it will be taking a closer look at investigations into the use of deadly force by law enforcement. The State’s Auditor’s Office (SAO) will run audits into investigations going back to January 2020, comparing them against rules and best practices established by the state Criminal Justice Training Commission. “We want to increase trust in government, that’s a goal of ours,” [State Auditor Pat McCarthy] said. “I think everyone wants the system to work, and they want to see that it’s working, and we provide that outside, independent, objective set of eyes to do that.” Continue reading at KING5.

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Associated Press
33 States, Including Washington, Idaho & Oregon Exempt Clergy From Reporting Abuse

Bellingham Herald
Here’s what the latest Southern Resident killer whale census showed for the past year

Capital Press
Easterday now claims Tyson owes him $163 million

The Daily News
Campers cause third fire in Gifford Pinchot; rain Wednesday slows down growth
Wahkiakum School District asks for Longview’s support in lawsuit against WA state
Cowlitz County salmon recovery projects receive $5.7 million in state grants

Everett Herald
First school-based clinic in Snohomish County opens at Meadowdale High
Snohomish County leaders reject light rail routes bypassing Paine Field
Comment: $55 billion only a drop of what water systems need
Comment: Free school lunches, yes, but how else to end hunger
Comment: Progress on vaccination for HPV too vital to lose

News Tribune
Tacoma’s proposed homeless camping ban is short on answers. Here’s why it won’t work

Olympian
Feds award $2.1 million grant to The Evergreen State College
Saint Martin’s University receives $580,000 to increase support, programs for veterans
Democrats press airlines against resuming stock buybacks

Peninsula Daily News
OlyCAP director says housing projects on track

Seattle Medium
Three Sites Recommended For Next Airport
Office Of Economic Development Accepting Applications To Support Local Small Business Communities

Seattle Times
King County wants to add homeless housing while many of its buildings are still empty
Seattle area could see its warmest start to October in decades
Seattle Public Library staff authorized to administer naloxone
Seattle doubles parks levy to add rangers, services
King County homelessness agency may see modest budget boost

Skagit Valley Herald
Work on local fish projects continues

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Valley leaders host affordable housing summit as need grows

Spokesman Review
VA official pledges budget shortfall related to medical record system won’t result in service cuts in Spokane
‘Beneficial to the whole community’: Fence to be erected around Camp Hope

Washington Post
Supreme Court, dogged by questions of legitimacy, is ready to resume

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County immigrants can apply for Washington COVID relief funds
Lack of housing in Yakima puts more people at risk for homelessness, local officials say

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma firefighters create documentary to spotlight mental health crisis
Washington state auditor taking a closer look at law enforcement use of deadly force investigations

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Kids, teens 18 and under to ride ferries free beginning Oct. 1
“Yakima Valley Memorial is not going bankrupt,” hospital plans to survive financial losses
Seattle Children’s Hospital emergency room sees unprecedented demand

KUOW Public Radio
BIPOC homeownership would have to increase by 140K in Washington to reach parity, report says

KXLY (ABC)
Senator Cantwell highlights successful electric airplane test, cleaner air travel
SPS wants to build a strong, safe, well-informed community with gun security

NW Public Radio
All-New, All-Electric Commuter Aircraft Takes Off On Maiden Flight From Moses Lake

Web

Crosscut
How will Seattle Public Schools pay for the new teacher contract?

The Stranger
The Mayor Wants to Pay Human Service Providers Less
Very Little for Progressives in Mayor Harrell’s 2023-2024 Budget

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)