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Wednesday, July 16

After a child care worker is detained by ICE, a community is left reeling
Already, the staffing shortage in child care is near crisis levels. It’s far worse for children with disabilities — about a third of those families say they face significant difficulty finding care for their kids, partly because there are too few people with the ability, expertise or desire to work with their children. Immigrant women like Orozco Forero have been helping to fill that void. They now make up 20 percent of all child care workers. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Stephanie Wishon)

Disability advocates concerned about destruction of WA state records
In 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, and later in 2024, the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) quietly changed its policy for how those documents are stored, allowing even decisions that disability advocates say have precedential value to be deleted after six years. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

Washington’s DOL is sharing information with ICE. Are they using that data to deport people?
In 2018, the Washington state Legislature passed a law that, among other things, prevents state agencies from sharing residents’ personal information with federal officials when it comes to immigration enforcement. It’s part of a range of laws and policies that makes Washington a sanctuary state. A new investigation from KING 5 shows at least one state agency has quietly been sharing that kind of information with some Homeland Security agencies as deportations ramp up. KING 5 investigative reporter Kristin Goodwillie told KUOW’s Kim Malcolm about her reporting. Continue reading at KUOW. (Lindsey Wasson)

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Auburn Reporter
Medicaid cuts projected to heavily impact, strain local hospitals

Axios
Why Seattle votes in August — and how it got that way
DHS sends migrants to Eswatini in new 3rd-country deportation
Trump’s Powell attacks show why Fed was designed to be independent

Capital Press
Trump’s beef with Brazil cheers cattlemen’s groups
Oregon governor requests tariff reports from state agencies
Court rejects hazelnut farmer’s case against organic labeling rules

Everett Herald
State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment
Monroe unveils its new $17M City Hall and municipal court
Snohomish County will host climate resiliency open house on July 30

The Inlander
Federal indictment leads to arrest of several who tried to block ICE on June 11

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Passenger ferry study released

Kitsap Sun
What is the Education Department’s role? What it supports in Washington
Ready to fly: A look at the first Kitsap-built, electric-powered, solar-sourced airplane

News Tribune
Starbucks CEO sends a stern message to loyal employees
Tacoma refugee-aid group scores a victory against Trump administration
Loss of ‘operational funding’ leads to layoffs at Tacoma, Seattle shipping firms
Opinion: Nuclear power is a key piece of Washington’s clean energy future

New York Times
Student Loan Repayments Are About to Look Very Different
Rum, Fisheries and a Sculpture Garden: The Quiet Winners in Trump’s Big Bill

Olympian
New DNC website blasts Big Beautiful Bill for ‘robbing working Washingtonians’

Port Townsend Leader
City identifies $111 million needed in transportation projects

Puget Sound Business Journal
Federal bill boosts affordable-housing credits, but local policy hurdles remain

Seattle Times
Federal agents arrest Spokane ICE protesters
‘Inexcusable’ — Washington joins suit over federal education cuts
Disability advocates concerned about destruction of WA state records (Pollet)
Spiking lawsuit payouts put WA self-insurance fund $1 billion in the red

Skagit Valley Herald
Concrete Town Council appoints new member, rejects $56,000 building study

Spokesman Review
Federal government accuses nine Spokane protesters of violence against ICE
Spokane and Seattle bishops ask federal judge to block new mandatory reporting law (Frame)
Washington joins multistate lawsuit challenging pause in funds to after school programs
Cantwell, Baumgartner team up to oppose legislative ‘power grab’ for college sports’ richest conferences
Gonzaga President Katia Passerini talks changes, initial ideas and higher ed woes in first day leading the school
Opinion: Reimagining the Columbia

Washington Post
Justice Dept. hits states with broad requests for voter rolls, election data
Trump administration has suspended work on NOAA tool to predict extreme rainfall
This conspiracy theory used to be niche. Now it’s embraced by Republican lawmakers.

WA State Standard
After a child care worker is detained by ICE, a community is left reeling
Deportation flights at WA airport up dramatically this year, advocates say
English ivy added to list of plants that are illegal to buy or sell in Washington
Video feeds from Washington’s wildfire detection cameras now available online
US Senate Republicans advance bill stripping funds from NPR, PBS, foreign aid
Education Department in the middle of a growing tug-of-war between Trump, Democrats
Comment: My city was one of hundreds expecting federal funds to help manage rising heat wave risk

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle community calls for urgent action on ‘chaotic’ stretch of road
ICE deportation flights escalate at Boeing Field, drawing scrutiny, outcry
Trash delays hit dozens of Washington cities amid Teamsters strike expansion

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Car crashes into work zone along I-5 in Tukwila
King County reaffirms status as sanctuary county
Seattle City Council approves new penalties to fight graffiti
Where to drop off your trash as Republic Services strike continues
Deputies: 4-year-old in Lynnwood accidentally shoots mom, Dad arrested
Seattle Police Department unveils high-tech crime center, raising privacy concerns
Public Health says avoid the water at these King County beaches due to high levels of bacteria

KUOW Public Radio
Washington state bans invasive ivy
Washington’s DOL is sharing information with ICE. Are they using that data to deport people?

KXLY (ABC)
Stuckart makes first appearance for ICE protest charges in packed Federal courtroom

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham retail, office vacancies rise
Voters to decide on Bellingham Port Commission expansion from three to five members
Bellingham Public Schools’ old district office could become site of new cohousing community

MyNorthwest
King County re-affirms status as sanctuary county
WA law: No penalty for rescuing kids, pets from heatstroke in cars
13 migrants transferred out of Tacoma onto ICE flight while immigration groups protest

Washington Observer
Counting the costs of annexations

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Wednesday watch, with heat alert
UTILITY WORK ALERT: SPU plans ‘smoke testing’ in some West Seattle sewers

Tuesday, July 15

Pacific Northwest cities swelter as summer nights get hotter
The Pacific Northwest is bracing for a short but intense heat wave that will bring some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far. Why it matters: Even the nights will stay warm, prolonging the potential health effects of extreme heat. Driving the news: Much of western Washington and Oregon — including the Seattle and Portland metro areas, the Willamette Valley, and the Columbia River Gorge — are under a heat advisory through Wednesday night as unusually high temperatures sweep the region. Continue reading at Axios. (Axios Visuals)

Seattle judge rules U.S. must allow entry for refugees previously approved before travel ban
A federal judge in Seattle ruled that the U.S. must allow refugees blocked by the travel ban to enter the country. According to The Washington State Standard, U.S. District Court Judge Jamal Whitehead argued that the Trump administration must allow entry for the approximately 80 refugees who were already approved and cleared all requirements. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (The Associated Press)

This measure would make WA residents prove they are citizens when they register to vote
A state GOP leader drafted a 2026 ballot measure imposing new rules that critics warn will deter some residents from registering and kick some voters off the rolls. A Republican-led effort to make Washington residents prove they are U.S. citizens before receiving a ballot is hitting the streets. Continue reading at KUOW. (Elaine Thompson)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Letters to the editor: Immigration, state budget

Auburn Reporter
Medicaid cuts projected to heavily impact, strain local hospitals

Axios
Bear Gulch fire spreads near Lake Cushman
Pacific Northwest cities swelter as summer nights get hotter

Bellingham Herald
WA officials warn ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will wreak havoc on Medicaid system

Capital Press
Yakima basin water supply drops even lower

Courier-Herald
Construction on Spiketon Bridge has begun

The Daily News
No longer rural? New state data changes Cowlitz County designation
Will more timber sales on SW WA public land reduce wildfires? Conservationists say no
Sanctuary county status unlikely to risk federal funding, Cowlitz County commissioners say

Everett Herald
Mini heat wave moving into Snohomish County
Snohomish County to receive portion of latest $16M opioid settlement
Opinion: State should have given ferry contract to shipyard here

Kent Reporter
Weeklong closure of SR 18 at I-90 begins July 17
Republic Services work stoppage continues in Kent
I-405 weekend closures scheduled for this summer in Renton

Kitsap Sun
Mason County fires report signs of containment, slowing spread

Mercer Island Reporter
Prescribed burns are an essential tool for forest health

News Tribune
Recent upgrades and future plans for popular 150-acre park in Pierce County
With temperatures pushing 90, Tacoma announces beat-the-heat resources
Alert asks Pierce County residents to follow watering schedule, skip Fridays
Whatcom County activist held at ICE facility for 4 months makes ‘sad’ decision

New York Times
PBS and NPR’s Last-Ditch Fight to Save Funding
Trump Is Gutting Weather Science and Reducing Disaster Response
Dismissals at Justice Dept. Would Bypass Civil Service and Whistle-Blower Laws

Olympian
WA officials warn ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will wreak havoc on Medicaid system (Jinkins)

Seattle Medium
Seattle Waste Collection Continues Amid Garbage Strike Affecting Surrounding Areas

Seattle Times
Pierce County sheriff’s major strikes pregnant woman, kids in crash, WSP says
Employees at the nation’s consumer financial watchdog say it’s become toothless under Trump

Skagit Valley Herald
State awards $4.6 million in local recreation grants

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Carnation issues statement about Tolt Dam flood warning system

South Whidbey Record
Rezoning request denied by Langley City Council in 2-1 vote
Jury finds former head of Island County Republicans guilty in Elections Office mask mandate case

Spokesman Review
Annual survey shows decrease in Spokane County homelessness from last year
High winds escalate fire in Okanogan County, forcing evacuations
Conservationists celebrate as Blue Fern surprisingly backs out of one Thorpe Road development
Washington set to launch first renovated hybrid-electric ferry in fleet

Washington Post
What a dismantled Education Department could look like
Senate Republicans divided over looming vote to rescind $9 billion in spending
Trump wants to automate the work of federal employees. Here are 6 agencies to watch.
Inflation heated up in June, as Trump’s tariffs began to pressure more sectors in the economy

WA State Standard
Public school enrollment continues to fall
After a child care worker is detained by ICE, a community is left reeling
Refugees from travel ban countries must be allowed to enter US, Seattle judge rules

Yakima Herald-Republic
Newhouse introduces bill to help Astria Toppenish hospital
Yakima domestic violence coalition marks four years. Here’s what has changed
Selah-based juice company accused of not paying Eastern WA workers full wages

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Judge expected to issue injunction against WA law designating clergy as mandatory reporters
Farm worker activist Alfredo Juarez to self-deport in order to get out of Northwest Detention Center

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Protecting kids against window falls
New WA law protects pets, kids from hot cars
COVID-19 on the rise in King County as summer wave hits
Speeders Beware: Cross-country speed enforcement to begin
Pierce County major arrested, accused of DUI crash in Graham
Washington bans sale of a common plant, deems it noxious weed
City of Seattle ordered to come up with plan to address public lewdness at Denny Blaine Park
Report: 76% of tested Washington beaches showed unsafe fecal contamination levels in 2024
Starbucks takes aim at remote work, says some employees may need to relocate to headquarters

KNKX Public Radio
Portland family detained at border facility for 2 weeks in apparent violation of immigration policy

KUOW Public Radio
This measure would make WA residents prove they are citizens when they register to vote

KXLY (ABC)
Several homes lost in wildfire burning near Omak airport
Report: Spokane County seeing decline in homeless population
WSP troopers arrest suspects for vandalizing electrical boxes and stealing copper wire
“There’s pretty much nothing left”: Spokane-based rancher loses over 100 acres to Hope Fire

NW Public Radio
WA farm labor organizer ends his deportation fight after 4 months in ICE detention

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Consolidation of Blaine schools paused for one year
Detained Northwest WA farmworker activist ‘Lelo’ will voluntarily depart to Mexico

Cascade PBS
For Washington Latinos, fear of ICE raids is reshaping daily life

MyNorthwest
Lewis County’s unanimous vote to become non-sanctuary county
Seattle judge rules U.S. must allow entry for refugees previously approved before travel ban

The Urbanist
Op-Ed: The War Over Tacoma’s Planting Strips

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Tuesday info, with heat alert ahead

Monday, July 14

How Latinos in Washington are coping with ICE crackdowns: ‘I don’t really have time for therapy’
Alejandra Guzman-Mercado was just weeks away from graduating college – the first in her family to do so – when a judge denied her father’s request to remain in the United States and ordered his deportation. Now, two months later, Guzman-Mercado said she’s still grappling with the emotional weight of her father’s deportation. “My mental health has had to take a backseat because I’m taking care of other people’s mental health,” she said. “I know it’s counterintuitive, but I don’t really have time for therapy.” Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Michael M. Santiago)

Majority of homeless students in Washington live ‘doubled-up’
More than three-quarters of Washington’s 42,000 homeless students aren’t sleeping outside or in shelters. They’re on someone’s couch, staying temporarily with friends, relatives, or acquaintances, often without a room or a bed of their own. It’s a situation known as being “doubled-up.” The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s report shows that more than 24,000 students are sharing housing with other people, due to housing loss or financial hardship. Continue reading at NWPB. (Jenni Rodas)

Bolder efforts needed to save Northwest’s endangered orcas, report finds
Efforts to save the Northwest’s endangered orcas are not working on either side of the U.S.-Canada border, according to an international panel of scientists. In a new report, the panel of 31 researchers call for bolder measures to bring the endangered whales back from the brink of extinction. The whale experts say these orcas urgently need comprehensive action for quiet, clean, salmon-rich waters. Continue reading at KUOW. (John Durban)

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Bellingham Herald
What’s the ideal capacity for Whatcom County’s new jail? It’s complicated
Washington state bans the sale of common ivy varieties starting in August
Whatcom County food banks bracing for impact of federal SNAP program cuts
Congresswoman tracks down U.S. citizen children detained at Ferndale facility

Capital Press
Trump lawsuit narrows attack on California egg rules
Oregon governor declares drought in Baker, Lincoln counties
Eastern Snake water rights impacts increase as dry spring takes toll

The Daily News
Cowlitz County seasonal burn ban starts Tuesday
Columbia Basin’s salmon are in hot water, literally, says report from environmental group
‘I hope we don’t spend 1 penny on storage’: Longview divided on solution for ‘resistant few’

Everett Herald
Everett approves new fines for non-emergency lifts
Commentary: Bill will deliver dirtier energy at a higher price

Kitsap Sun
New Pierce County approach to fentanyl treatment extends stay in detox
Immigration arrests are up 65% in Washington state since Trump took office
Potential for ‘pretty dire consequences’ for WA health care due to Trump’s budget bill

News Tribune
Updates to major bridge projects across Pierce County
Tacoma Public Schools manages to close its $30 million budget gap
Fire destroys Tacoma manufacturing plant, sends smoke over freeways
40 acres of Pierce County park closed for two years for logging, updates

Northwest Asian Weekly
Max Londonio released from ICE detention
Asian woman accused of robbing Seattle banks

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam first in state to implement jail healthcare program
Peninsula Behavioral Health head discusses the fallout from federal bill (Tharinger)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Large Mill Creek complex to be converted to affordable housing
Alaska Airlines takes delivery of 2 Embraer planes after tariff delay

Seattle Medium
Washington Lawmakers Respond To Passage Of Controversial Domestic Policy Bill

Seattle Times
How the Tulalip Tribes are using a helicopter to restore a salmon river

Spokesman Review
Trump tariffs and DEI crackdown disrupt Seattle arts groups
Seattle police who went to Jan. 6 still fighting to keep names hidden
Notice barring undocumented immigrants latest change to Head Start
4 U.S. citizen children detained in Washington, Oregon lawmaker says

Tri-City Herald
1,100 jobs could be cut at U.S. national lab in Tri-Cities under Trump budget
Trump review halts $11M in Tri-City school funds. These are the biggest impacts

Washington Post
When will Trump’s ‘big’ tax law take effect? Here’s what to expect.
Under current administration, the government mobilizes in response to fringe theories

WA State Standard
Measles reaches highest level in 33 years, now in 39 states
Idaho preps to roll out artificial intelligence in state government
Congress, state lawmakers move to juice aviation biofuel production
Judge’s order blocking Planned Parenthood funding ban unlawful, Trump DOJ says
After suing, WA gets carveout from Trump administration plan to return gun conversion devices
How Latinos in Washington are coping with ICE crackdowns: ‘I don’t really have time for therapy’

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Judge allows Port of Seattle’s Sodo housing challenge to move forward
ICE arrests up 65% in Washington: Communities respond with action, advocacy
Green card holder who was detained at SEA Airport released after 2 months in ICE detention
Two years after murder of pregnant woman in Belltown, her story sparks a ripple of life-saving change

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Bellevue lowering speed limit on several streets, citing safety
Hundreds of firefighters battling wildfires around Washington
WSDOT: ‘Wild West Weekend’ of highway closures wrapping up early Monday
Five children fall from windows in Snohomish County so far this year, officials warn

KNKX Public Radio
Bellingham passes new laws to limit “junk fees” for renters

KUOW Public Radio
Bolder efforts needed to save Northwest’s endangered orcas, report finds

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane faces $3 million loss in federal funding for community programs
Homeowners insurance costs rising due to natural disasters in Inland Northwest
“There’s pretty much nothing left”: Spokane-based rancher loses over 100 acres to Hope Fire

NW Public Radio
Majority of homeless students in Washington live ‘doubled-up’
US Senate GOP under pressure on Trump demand to defund NPR, PBS, foreign aid

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County to get $198K from opioid settlement
Report: To save Puget Sound’s orcas, governments need to act fast
End in sight for Mount Baker School District in binding conditions

Cascade PBS
Seattle Public Library gets $450K to boost English-language classes

The Urbanist
Harrell Administration Cancels Planned Lake Washington Boulevard Traffic Calming

Washington Observer
A ferry update for your Friday
A look at rising overtime costs

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Post-festival Monday

Friday, July 11

Washington’s first battery ferry to enter service next week
Washington’s first plug-in ferry will begin shuttling cars and passengers across Puget Sound by the end of next week. Gov. Bob Ferguson made the announcement Thursday during a celebratory demonstration lap around Elliott Bay on the ferry Wenatchee, concluding a challenging conversion to hybrid-electric propulsion over the past 22 months. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Tom Banse)

Obamacare is most affordable in these 6 states. Is Washington one of them?
Washington is one of the most affordable states for buying health insurance through marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as “Obamacare,” according to a new analysis. The personal finance company WalletHub found that the average Washington household spends about 5% of its income on these types of health insurance premiums. That’s among the best rates in the United States. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (Wallet Hub)

Washington state law to shield rescuers saving kids, pets in cars
A new Washington state law will shield people from lawsuits if they break into a car to rescue a child or animal in danger. Why it matters: Good Samaritans who act to save someone from a hot or freezing vehicle in Washington generally won’t be liable for property damage, such as broken windows, once the law takes effect July 27. Continue reading at Axios. (Jonas Walzberg)

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Axios
Father still at large 1 month after daughters’ deaths (Walen)
Seattle’s trash pickups stay on track as strike hits suburbs
Governors accuse Trump admin of stalling disaster recovery
Washington state law to shield rescuers saving kids, pets in cars (Leavitt)

Bellingham Herald
WA Congress members demand feds release $137M in school funds: ‘Unacceptable’

Capital Press
USDA forecasts California almond crop to be second largest ever
Oregon’s fourth conflagration declared for Klamath County fire
Border closed again as New World screwworm advances north

Columbian
Columbia Basin’s salmon are in hot water, literally, says report from Save Our Wild Salmon

Everett Herald
Edmonds school board approves 2025-26 budget
State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment
Comment: About that Social Security email sent to retirees
Opinion: Schwab: Yes, your Medicaid’s gone but you can gloat over gators

The Inlander
Spokane updates its anti-camping rules, Mayor Brown proposes further changes to help build affordable housing

Kitsap Sun
Obamacare is most affordable in these 6 states. Is Washington one of them?
East Bremerton growth could continue with 270 new apartments proposed along Highway 303

Olympian
WA Congress members demand feds release $137M in school funds: ‘Unacceptable’

Puget Sound Business Journal
Justice Department clears T-Mobile’s $4.4 billion deal with US Cellular
Washington hospitals face mounting financial pressure, forcing widespread cuts

Seattle Times
WA’s first electrified ferry sails, with 2 governors on board

Tri-City Herald
Trump review halts $11M in Tri-City school funds. These are the biggest impacts
Opinion: WA Supreme Court hides the ball on state employee union negotiations

WA State Standard
Washington’s first battery ferry to enter service next week
Should WA Cares funds be invested in the stock market? Ferguson says yes
Trump emergency tariffs violate Constitution, Democrats argue in court case
US Senate Dems from Western states blast Trump budget for cutting federal aid
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Gun violence drops 50% in South King County
Major closures planned along I-405, I-5 this weekend
New hybrid-electric ferry transforms Puget Sound travel
Trump cuts could silence beloved community radio station in Skagit Valley
Washington sheriff proposes $1,000 fine for reckless hikers amid surge in rescues
Microsoft president talks $4B AI investment amid sweeping layoffs: ‘We have to prioritize’
Jam-packed bins line city streets as strike delays trash pickup in King, Snohomish counties

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle family sues Big Oil over 2021 heat dome death
Republic trash collector strike: When will it end and what can you do?
Washington State Ferries launches largest hybrid-electric ferry in North America
‘How many more of these do we have to write?’ Another WSDOT crew member hit on the job

KNKX Public Radio
Small Washington hospitals brace for ‘severe’ effects of Medicaid cuts

KUOW Public Radio
Microsoft launches $4 billion AI reskilling institute
Federal judge to pause Trump’s birthright citizenship order
Fears of ICE arrests cause tension at Seattle immigration court
Snohomish planners reflect on flood safety in wake of Texas tragedy
New Washington hotline to report hate crimes launches in 3 counties
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Web

Cascade PBS
Bellingham passes new laws to limit ‘junk fees’ for renters

MyNorthwest
Washington to receive $16 million from opioid settlements
Washington State Ferries launches largest hybrid-electric ferry in North America
WA to fund Medicaid gap for Planned Parenthood after ‘big, beautiful bill’ passage
As SPD relies on borrowed tech, King County prosecutor warns of legal and privacy tradeoffs

The Urbanist
Rinck Backs Capitol Hill Crisis Center, Other Seattle Officials Coy

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: SDOT says it won’t add more parallel parking on Alki Avenue after all
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: West Seattle Summer Fest Friday + more

Thursday, July 10

Washington to cover Planned Parenthood funding gap after Trump signs ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
Gov. Bob Ferguson said Wednesday that Washington state will temporarily cover a sudden loss of Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, following the signing of a controversial federal law by former President Donald Trump. Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” signed July 4, includes a one-year moratorium on Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood that took effect immediately. Medicaid, which by law cannot be used to fund abortion services, is one of the organization’s largest payers for preventive care, cancer screenings and contraception. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

With Texas floods and Northwest fire season in mind, Cantwell questions Trump’s NOAA nominee on weather research cuts
President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the agency that oversees weather told senators at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that a proposal to cut more than a quarter of the agency’s budget wouldn’t jeopardize its ability to predict severe events like wildfires in the Northwest or the recent deadly flooding in Texas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration includes the National Weather Service, which has been scrutinized in recent days over the impact of layoffs on its ability to warn the public before the floods that hit Texas on Friday. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Tyler Tjomsland)

Amid rising risk, can a WA utility company shut off power during a heat wave?
As temperatures in parts of eastern Washington reached triple digits on Tuesday, it’s safe to say that summer is in full swing. A heat wave can put the power grid at risk of being overwhelmed, as demand spikes. In these scenarios, utility companies can opt to employ smaller, temporary shutoffs to avoid large-scale blackouts. But this can leave people without power on the days when they need it the most. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Tony Overman)