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Friday, October 22

Four people killed in mass shooting in Tacoma’s Salishan neighborhood
Four people were shot dead in Tacoma’s Salishan neighborhood Thursday evening, Tacoma police said. The incident was first reported at 4:24 p.m. The victims appeared to be adults, police said, but their identities were not immediately known. Continue reading at Tacoma News Tribune. (Drew Perine/News Tribune)

CDC signs off on Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters and says people can get a shot different from their original one
Tens of millions of Americans can sign up to get Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters beginning Friday after the nation’s top public health official endorsed recommendations from expert advisers that the shots are safe and effective at bolstering protection against the coronavirus. The green light from Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, means that eligible Americans at risk of severe disease can choose any of the three boosters now authorized in the United States regardless of their original shot. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Tool for police reform rarely used by local prosecutors
Isaiah Obet was behaving erratically and in mental distress in 2017 when Auburn police officer Jeff Nelson ordered his police dog to attack and then shot Obet in the torso. Obet fell to the ground and Nelson fired again, fatally shooting Obet in the head. Police said the officer’s life was in danger because Obet was high on drugs and had a knife. The city later reached a settlement of $1.25 million with Obet’s family. The next year, Joseph Allen was crossing in front of Nelson’s patrol car when the officer swerved and pinned him against a fence, breaking both his ankles. His justification: Allen was a dangerous criminal. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (AP)

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Associated Press
Senate confirms first Asian American as US judge in Seattle
Tool for police reform rarely used by local prosecutors
COVID vaccine: CDC expands booster rollout, OKs mixing shots
Report: COVID-19 cases dropping rapidly in Washington

Auburn Reporter
VRFA loses seven firefighters over vaccine mandate

Bainbridge Island Review
90 new COVID cases confirmed in Kitsap
It’s a gamble not getting COVID vaccine

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County sees 70 new confirmed COVID cases reported Thursday

Capital Press
Washington high court mulls forest management by ‘all the people’
NW Washington raspberry harvest down 30% due to heat wave
Parties in federal salmon lawsuit seek pause in litigation
Inslee, Murray lay out game plan for dam-breaching assessment
Winter forecast cool, wet for much of Northwest
Leadership change at Washington Crop Improvement Association

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Workers who refuse vaccine are not victims
Opinion: In Our View: Time to end state’s eviction moratorium
Skybridge, new buildings part of vision for Vancouver’s Waterfront Gateway
Agreement on Columbia, Snake dams cuts risk of blackouts, high electric costs

Courier-Herald
Dunn proposes memorial for King County residents lost to pandemic
Black Diamond approves Traffic Impact Fees ordinance

Everett Herald
State reduces penalty for Lake Stevens safety violations
‘Drop, cover, hold on!’ Stanwood kids hear new alarms in quake drill
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo comment: Parents being used in a campaign against education
WaPo comment: Trump’s claims of privilege don’t pass ‘giggle test’

The Facts Newspaper
Proof of Vaccination required for entry to all Seattle Community Centers, Pools, and Tennis Center

The Inlander
Some differences in Washington’s medical and recreational cannabis products, from an expert

Kent Reporter
Enrollment drops again in Kent School District

Mercer Island Reporter
Drug disposal event set for Saturday

News Tribune
Tacoma mass shooting updates: What is known about how 4 people were shot dead
COVID cases dropping, immunity rising, but WA state’s hospitals still face hard season
Fatal shooting: What to know about Tacoma’s Salishan neighborhood
Four people killed in mass shooting in Tacoma’s Salishan neighborhood
Despite being free and in-person, Pierce County school meals stuck with pandemic ills
Facing charges, Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer uses dog whistles to play the victim
Pierce County deputies seek person of interest in arson at Islamic Center of Tacoma

New York Times
Covid Live Updates: Pfizer Says Vaccine Is Highly Protective in 5- to 11-Year-Olds
Sinema’s Tax-Rate Blockade Prods Democrats Left Toward Billionaires’ Tax
How the Supply Chain Broke, and Why It Won’t Be Fixed Anytime Soon
Biden Crafts a Climate Plan B: Tax Credits, Regulation and State Action

Olympian
Thurston County warns of toxic algae bloom at Black Lake
Train hits, kills man on tracks in South Thurston County
Agreement on Columbia, Snake dams cuts risk of blackouts, high electric costs
Pedestrian fleeing COVID quarantine disrupts traffic on I-5 near Maytown Tuesday

Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
1,887 state workers fired, leave jobs due to vaccine mandate

Port Townsend Leader
Search for new Jefferson County administrator may start over after top pick declines job offer
Port OKs order for vax proof

Puget Sound Business Journal
Analyst says housing prices in Snohomish County ‘have never been higher’
Microsoft’s diversity numbers at executive level show improvement
Seattle chamber looks to help businesses prepare for vaccine verifications

Seattle Times
New estimates show 50% drop in COVID infections in Washington, according to state report
Lawsuit over dams on hold as Gov. Inslee, Sen. Murray pursue breaching assessment on Lower Snake River
After $1.15 billion renovation, Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena ‘will surprise people in the greatest way’
Madison Street merchants brace for disruption as RapidRide construction looms
Why losing daily walks to rainy season is hitting us hard — and what to do about it
How stigma prevents people from accessing mental health care and what can be done about it
Renting bees to farms and gardeners keeps Bothell company buzzing
Opinion: Repeal Tim Eyman’s misleading advisory votes-initiative, a waste of time and money (Hunt, Valdez)
Editorial: A trail of dishonesty: Sheriff Ed Troyer should leave office

Skagit Valley Herald
Trail closure suggested in Anacortes forest lands plan; climate change a future discussion

Sol De Yakima
Activistas de Yakima, fuerzas del orden crean coalición para abordar la violencia doméstica
Distrito escolar de Grandview cancela clases tras posible amenaza de violencia
Habrá tres ferias de empleo en Yakima, Kittitas la próxima semana

Spokesman Review
Spokane Public Schools hopes for legislative help on basic education, special ed, transportation
Forced to downsize their agenda, Democrats make final push for priorities and spin scaled-back bill as ‘good first step’
‘Fair’ and ‘historic’: Committee approves map splitting Spokane County into five new commissioner districts
Faced with equity concerns, EWU athletics aims to focus on ‘revenue problem,’ not spending
Washington’s hospital occupancy could stay high through the year as delayed surgeries are expected to resume

Tri-City Herald
‘Absolutely, positively infuriating.’ COVID vaccine rule locks out 2 Tri-Cities lawmakers
Agreement on Columbia, Snake dams cuts risk of blackouts, high electric costs
Drop in new Tri-Cities COVID cases, hospitalized patients is no fluke, says doctor
Some kind words kept this Tri-Cities leader in college. Now she’s honored as ‘an inspiration’

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla County outlines their mental health care needs at forum
Few Walla Walla Valley schools lose staff over Washington state vaccine mandate

Washington Post
Where President Biden’s economic plan stands: From taxes to climate policy to Medicare to immigration
CDC signs off on Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters and says people can get a shot different from their original one
Lyft says it recorded more than 4,000 cases of sexual assault over 3 years

Yakima Herald Republic
COVID-19 outbreaks continue in Yakima County even as cases, hospitalizations decline
Yakima area fire departments, WSP see a few losses in ranks tied to vaccine mandate

Broadcast

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Ballard businesses hurting after series of break-ins
Sammamish scores top spot on list of best small US cities to live in
King County Board of Health delays vote to repeal bike helmet law

KNKX FM
CDC advisers back rollout of COVID vaccine boosters from Moderna and J&J

KUOW FM
When the big earthquake hits, 648 brick buildings in Seattle won’t be ready
Pandemic blog: Updates for Seattle and the NW
Will the passes get plowed? Impact of vaccine mandate firings on state services not yet clear
U.S. House approves criminal contempt referral for Steve Bannon

KXLY (ABC)
Proposed WA redistricting maps may violate Voting Rights Act
Spokane redistricting plan to create five new County Commissioner districts
Union calls on city to find accommodations for unvaccinated Moses Lake firefighters

Web

Crosscut
Podcast | Exploring the racist roots of America’s economic inequity

MyNorthwest
Washington Rep. Herrera Beutler breaks from GOP party line again over Bannon contempt vote
Explosions heard during fire in Bellevue
Police search for suspects in Tacoma shooting that left four people dead
King County Board of Health delays vote to repeal bike helmet law
Washington lawmaker is locked out of capitol over COVID vaccine mandate
Sammamish scores top spot on list of best small US cities to live in
Seattle among cities competing for hosting duties in 2026 World Cup
Seattle firefighter union reports 5 members facing termination over vaccine mandate

Slog
Seattle’s COVID Cost-Cutting Nearly Caused Thousands of Pounds of Food to Rot

West Seattle Blog
‘A place you’d be proud to come to’: Possibilities unveiled, community suggestions voiced, for West Seattle Junction parking-lot parcels

Thursday, Oct. 21

The FDA authorizes Moderna and J&J COVID vaccine boosters
The Food and Drug Administration authorized booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines made by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson following unanimous votes by a committee of independent advisers backing the boosters last week. In a related decision, the FDA also authorized boosters that differ from the vaccine originally used to immunize people against COVID-19. So, for instance, a person who got a Johnson & Johnson vaccine could receive one from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech as a booster. Continue reading at KUOW. (AFP)

House facility access limited to vaccinated through January
Lawmakers and legislative employees at the Washington state House must prove they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access House facilities through early January, under a rule adopted by a House committee late last month. The policy took effect Monday, the same day that a statewide COVID-19 vaccine mandate deadline passed for many state workers and others to provide proof of vaccination — or an accommodated exemption — in order to keep their jobs. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

Latinas are still the lowest paid group in the U.S. Experts have tips for combating the inequity.
Oct. 21 marks another annual observation of Latina Equal Pay Day, which represents how far into the year Latinas, on average, needed to work to make up what White men made in the previous year. In other words, Latinas had to work, on average, nearly 22 months to earn what White men did in 12 months, because they typically make 57 cents for every dollar a White man makes. What’s more, this is the last Equal Pay Day of the year — which means that, on average, Latinas are paid less than White women, Asian women, Black women and Indigenous women. Continue reading at The Washington Post.

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Associated Press
House facility access limited to vaccinated through January (Jinkins, Sullivan, Ortiz-Self, Stonier)
FDA OKs mixing COVID vaccines; backs Moderna, J&J boosters
Washington’s unemployment rate in September was 4.9%
Rolovich lawyer calls coach’s firing ‘unjust and unlawful’
Tool for police reform rarely used by local prosecutors

Auburn Reporter
More than 92% of King County Executive branch employees vaccinated
Rather than get vaccine, nearly 2,000 state workers lose jobs

Bellingham Herald
Here’s how Port of Bellingham, Whatcom could play a role in Intalco property’s future
Series of blustery storms will hit Whatcom, and one could cause widespread damage
Bellingham measure seeks union neutrality among city contractors
If Whatcom County did everything it could to fight climate change, what would happen?
Whatcom’s youngest residents seeing highest COVID infection rates since school started

Capital Press
Washington agriculture department loses 20 workers to vaccine order
Judge sets hearing on claim against Easterday estate
Hay quality mixed; prices skyrocket

Courier-Herald
How should Enumclaw spend $220,000 for combating youth substance abuse? You can help decide.

Everett Herald
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Alaska Airlines stalls plan for extra flights in Everett
Edmonds school returns to remote learning after 26 COVID-19 cases
Bloomberg Comment: Some airlines losing nerve on vaccine mandate
WaPo Comment: Self-defense claims in face of privilege, boogeymen

High Country News
Wildfire smoke pushes migrating birds hundreds of miles out of their way

International Examiner
“It was like learning to build an airplane while still trying to fly it” AAPI youth organizers honored at Community Voice Awards

Journal of the San Juan Islands
All Town Employees to be Vaccinated by December 7 Under New Mandate

News Tribune
A decade after his death, statue will honor Tacoma teen who made Eastside center possible
Op-Ed: Spring black bear hunts in WA are cruel and misguided. It’s time for the state to end them

New York Times
Climate Change Poses a Widening Threat to National Security
A 30-Year Campaign to Control Drug Prices Faces Yet Another Failure
Covid Live Updates: C.D.C. Panel Is Meeting for Debate on Boosters and Mix-and-Match Strategy

Olympian
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Drop, cover and hold on. The Great Shakeout is today
‘Bomb cyclone’ brewing off coast. What does that mean for Tacoma and Olympia?
Here’s your chance to weigh in on a possible aquatics center in the Olympia area
The best small city in the US is in Washington, new report finds. Here’s why

Peninsula Daily News
Report: Three Peninsula residents die of COVID-19
Clallam Bay Corrections Center loses 44 to mandate
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
1,887 state workers fired, leave jobs due to vaccine mandate
White House details plans to vaccinate 28M children ages 5-11

Port Townsend Leader
Hundreds leave WSF, State Patrol and other agencies as vaccination mandate takes effect

Puget Sound Business Journal
Paine Field airport operator announces plans for private terminal, hangar complex
Gates Foundation pledges $120M to support access for Covid-19 pill
Workers keep quitting at sky-high rates — and that’s driving up wages

Seattle Times
From TV to U.S. attorney: Nick Brown plans ‘different perspective’ on justice in Seattle
Alaska Air Group turns its first operational profit since 2019
Whatcom County aluminum plant could get new owners and reopen
It’s time for the Great Washington ShakeOut: Here’s what to know about earthquake preparedness
Mountlake Terrace police arrest man, search for woman in mosque burglary

Skagit Valley Herald
Farmer disaster aid to cover impacts from excessive heat

The Skanner
WA BLM Demands Resignation of Criminally-charged Sheriff Troyer

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Federal funding to support maintenance in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

South Seattle Emerald
Unemployment data shows unequal recovery, galvanizes South End equity efforts
City announces $4 million in grants for pandemic-stressed small businesses
Parents at charter school cry foul as students eat inside doubled-up classrooms
SPD’s 2022 budget proposal relies on optimistic hiring projections
Weekend Long Reads: What’s the cheapest form of energy?
Opinion: With the right transportation policies, we can pivot to a new climate reality
Opinion: Washingtonians struggle to acknowledge sex worker agency and labor issues

Spokesman Review
Elective procedures expected to resume soon now that Department of Defense team helping Sacred Heart Medical Center
Former WSU coach Nick Rolovich planning to sue for ‘unjust and unlawful’ termination over vaccination
Gates Foundation to spend $120M on access for COVID-19 pill
Opinion: Shawn Vestal: The next act for fired Rolovich could be anti-vaxxer hero

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities farmer fined +$300K for allegedly stealing water during drought
Here’s how Tri-Cities fire departments and hospitals did meeting COVID vaccine mandate
Franklin commissioners debate new districts in face of Hispanic voter discrimination lawsuit

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
COVID Update: Delta hits hard for island youth and children
Local leaders detail big impacts of reduced ferry service

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Number fired or who have quit at Washington State Penitentiary due to vaccine mandate remains unclear

Washington Post
White House, intelligence agencies, Pentagon issue reports warning that climate change threatens global security
For teens, navigating the mental health pitfalls of Instagram is part of everyday life
‘Crises reveal’: The pandemic changed how these women choose to spend their money
FDA strongly considers authorizing vaccine boosters for people as young as 40
Latinas are still the lowest paid group in the U.S. Experts have tips for combating the inequity.

Yakima Herald Republic
White Pass looks to double size of High Camp, build for guest services
Yakima area fire departments, WSP see a few losses in ranks tied to vaccine mandate

Broadcast

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Police investigating hateful act at Snohomish County mosque
Earthquake drill: Thursday is 10th year of Great Washington ShakeOut
King County businesses concerned about pushback from upcoming vaccine verification policy
Coronavirus: Pfizer, BioNTech say booster restores vaccine efficacy to 95.6%
Fired WSU coach plans to sue over vaccine mandate

KUOW FM
Pandemic blog: Updates for Seattle and the NW
CDC says toss onions if you don’t know where they came from to avoid salmonella
The FDA authorizes Moderna and J&J COVID vaccine boosters
Climate change is bad for your health. And plans to boost economies may make it worse

KXLY (ABC)
WSDOT loses 402 employees over vaccine mandate
Washington’s unemployment rate in September was 4.9%

Web

Crosscut
Proposed WA redistricting maps may violate Voting Rights Act
50 years later, the fight for Pike Place Market resonates

MyNorthwest
Seattle firefighter union reports 5 members facing termination over vaccine mandate
Police investigating hateful act at Snohomish County mosque
People quitting over vax mandate may qualify for unemployment benefits
King County councilmember proposes memorial for lives lost to COVID
Washington to participate in Great ShakeOut earthquake drill for 10th year
King County reports 97% compliance with worker vaccine mandate
Heavy rain, wind from tropical ‘superstorm’ headed to Northwest
King County Council to forge ahead on bid to acquire troubled City Hall Park
Former WSU football coach Nick Rolovich to file lawsuit after getting fired over vaccine mandate
Madrona school temporarily shifts to remote learning over COVID outbreak

Wednesday, Oct. 20

See if you qualify for a COVID booster shot in Washington state
With the federal government recommending booster shots for certain recipients of one coronavirus vaccine and evaluating what should happen for people who got two other kinds of shots, things are getting trickier to track. What you should know is that while the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are all working well to prevent serious COVID-19 cases and deaths, research shows an additional dose can amp up the protection for those who need it most. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Rather than get vaccine, nearly 2,000 state workers lose jobs
Exactly how many people will be out of work for ignoring Gov. Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate isn’t known yet. But it became a lot clearer Tuesday, as details emerged about 1,887 workers who quit or were terminated by Monday’s deadline. Tens of thousands of workers in the state needed to prove they were vaccinated against COVID-19, or had a valid reason for an exemption, to keep their jobs. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Washington State Patrol)

White House releases plan to vaccinate 28M children
The White House detailed plans Wednesday to allow children between the ages of 5 and 11 to get COVID-19 vaccine shots as soon as next month, pending authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Biden administration has procured enough supply to vaccine 28 million children at doctors’ offices, hospitals, pharmacies, community health centers and other sites in schools and communities. Continue reading at KIRO 7.

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Associated Press
1,887 WA workers fired, leave jobs due to vaccine mandate
176 Seattle first responders wait for vaccine exemptions

Bellingham Herald
Though COVID cases drop in Whatcom, these 2 regions continue to see high infection rates
The curtailed Intalco Works facility near Ferndale could have new owner, hundreds of jobs
State Patrol reports 10 troopers in Northwest district fail to meet COVID vaccine mandate
These harvest numbers show how bad the heatwave was on Whatcom’s raspberries
Bellingham hospital reports a decrease in the number of COVID-19 patients it’s treating

Capital Press
Washington farm production up 7%, but so are costs

Columbian
Woodland mayor supports proposition to hire a city administrator
Nearly 1,900 Washington state workers quit or are fired over COVID vaccine mandate

The Daily News
Kelso School Board reviews sex education, foster care and absences policies

Everett Herald
Rather than get vaccine, nearly 2,000 state workers lose jobs
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Pandemic, economy shifting role of grandparents

Kitsap Sun
High rates of compliance for Kitsap workers who faced COVID-19 vaccination deadline

News Tribune
Sheriff Ed Troyer charged in Pierce County District Court. What happens next?
Charged in state AG probe, Sheriff Troyer to face results of county investigation soon
Tacoma Public Schools hits 98 percent vaccination rate, but 94 employees terminated
Sound Transit has $90M to spend on Tacoma, Lakewood stations. How should it be used?

New York Times
How Chemical Companies Avoid Paying for Pollution

Olympian
Olympia committee to hold public meeting on possible Regional Aquatic Center
Four more Thurston residents die of COVID-19 in past week as county adds 629 cases
Here’s how many workers are leaving WA State Patrol following vaccine mandate deadline
Developer Panattoni set to meet with Tumwater officials about first building proposal

Peninsula Daily News
Coho ferry to restart service Nov. 8
Three more die of COVID-19
State Patrol: 67 troopers leave jobs due to vaccine mandate

Seattle Medium
King County Awards $2.8 Million In Grants To Address The Disproportionate Impact Of Drug Enforcement Policies
WSU Head Football Coach Ousted After Refusing Covid-19 Vaccine
Tacoma Public Schools Offering Bonuses In Response To Statewide Educator, Staff Shortage
Seattle Public Schools: 99% Vaccination Rate

Seattle Times
A ‘bomb cyclone’ of rain, wind is headed to Seattle area
See if you qualify for a COVID booster shot in Washington state
COVID outbreak causes Edmonds school to shut down
Nearly 1,900 Washington state workers quit or are fired over COVID vaccine mandate
KOMO TV still feeling the effects of a weekend attack on corporate parent’s computers
Seattle-based Coast Guard cutter’s journey through the Arctic: No ‘ice liberty’ in changing waters
Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer charged with false reporting in January confrontation with newspaper carrier
‘Neighbors helping neighbors’: Ballard Food Bank opens new permanent home with a grocery-style design
Opinion: Misuse of Holocaust imagery further divides us in pandemic

Skagit Valley Herald
Input sought from businesses on pandemic recovery funding
Skagit County health care providers feel effects of mandate

Sol De Yakima
127 personas dejan la Patrulla Estatal de Washington por mandato de vacuna COVID
Agricultores que perdieron cosechas por calor extremo podrán recibir ayuda federal

Spokesman Review
More than 92% of state employees comply with vaccine mandate
The vaccine mandate deadline is here, but its full effects are still unknown
Jails, prisons expected to have ‘normal operations’ after Monday’s vaccine deadline despite concerns from inmates’ families of lockdowns

Tri-City Herald
2 Tri-Cities schools may need to change their Native American mascots after all
6 WA employees in Tri-Cities who oversee Hanford lose their jobs over COVID mandate
$4 million project to improve Kennewick’s Clover Island begins this week
Here’s how the COVID vaccine mandate is affecting Tri-Cities schools

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Providence St. Mary Medical Center vaccination compliance high in Walla Walla
Five troopers serving Walla Walla-area Washington State Patrol district fired over vaccine mandate
Online forums to redesign national crisis hotline
Walla Walla Valley workforce slowly rebuilding after the end of federal pandemic unemployment benefits

Washington Post
White House unveils plans to roll out coronavirus vaccines for children ages 5 to 11
Biden heads to Scranton as Democrats try to rally around new spending target
Why So Many Teachers Are Thinking of Quitting
Border arrests have soared to all-time high, new CBP data shows

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima Council to form new advisory board on sustainability and climate change
Approach to vaccine requirements varies among Yakima area employers, with more workers getting shots
Opinion: Coach, trooper knew the rules — they just didn’t want to follow them

Broadcast

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
White House releases plan to vaccinate 28M children
402 state transportation workers leaving because of vaccine mandate
Charges filed against Pierce County sheriff after January confrontation with newspaper carrier
127 employees leave Washington State Patrol due to vaccine mandate
Jan. 6 panel votes to hold Steve Bannon in contempt

KNKX FM
Attorney general files charges against Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer in run-in with newspaper carrier
Washington State Patrol loses 127 employees because of vaccine mandate
The National Park Service could soon have its first Native American director
King County’s new COVID vaccine verification system relies on honor system
Listen: Vaccine deadline has passed. What’s the impact on state government?
Student loan forgiveness is a lot closer for some borrowers, and they are pumped

KUOW FM
Seattle’s new U.S. Attorney: ‘Mass incarceration is a legit problem’
Pandemic blog: Updates for Seattle and the NW
Worried about the air in your packed light rail car? Don’t, Sound Transit says

KXLY (ABC)
New changes help make childcare more affordable for low-income families
97 percent of Providence caregivers compliant with vaccine mandate
Here’s how many Washington state workers will keep their jobs after the vaccine mandate deadline
‘Extremely difficult’: Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward addresses city’s vaccine mandate compliance

Web

Crosscut
Opinion: How fighting traffic congestion can create congestion
Urine trouble: High nitrogen levels in Puget Sound cause ecological worry

MyNorthwest
Madrona school temporarily shifts to remote learning over COVID outbreak
Why you may still see some plastic bags after statewide ban
WSDOT has largest segment of state employees to leave over vaccine mandate
State reports 92% compliance after vaccine mandate deadline
Pierce County Sheriff’s Dept, BLM react to charges against sheriff
New polling shows strong gains for Harrell and Davison, puts Mosqueda on notice
SPD to terminate six officers over vaccine mandate, 103 await decision on exemptions
Attempt to fast-track bill leads to heated back-and-forth between Seattle councilmembers
Climate Pledge Arena set for grand opening, Seattle Kraken debut

Slog
Unvaccinated, Unmasked, and Unemployed: Firefighters Drop Their Boots After a One-Off Community Breakfast to Show They “Still Care”

Tuesday, Oct. 19

As COVID-19 vaccine deadline passes, most Washington state and Seattle workers have gotten their shots
As the formal deadline for Gov. Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate came and went Monday, the vast majority of state and Seattle employees subject to the orders had gotten vaccinated. That includes 92% of the 62,000 state workers subject to Inslee’s order to get fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. The governor’s mandate also applied to school employees, as well as hundreds of thousands of health care workers. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ted S. Warren)

The Economic Rebound Is Still Waiting for Workers
Fall was meant to mark the beginning of the end of the labor shortage that has held back the nation’s economic recovery. Expanded unemployment benefits were ending. Schools were reopening, freeing up many caregivers. Surely, economists and business owners reasoned, a flood of workers would follow. Instead, the labor force shrank in September. There are five million fewer people working than before the pandemic began, and three million fewer even looking for work. Continue reading at The New York Times. (Kendrick Brinson)

Some Western cities use trash cleanup to combat homelessness
At her lowest, Resheemah “RoRo” White was living in a tent or sleeping on park benches or beneath an underpass in Oakland, California, fearful that her life had bottomed out and she would never make it back. White had been laid off from her warehouse job at the Port of Oakland, her mother had died, and she could no longer afford an apartment. “I was just a victim of circumstances and that’s why I ended up homeless,” she said in an interview with Stateline. Continue reading at Stateline. (Matt M. McKnight)

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Associated Press
Nick Rolovich out as WSU football coach after refusing to get COVID vaccine
Sinclair hit by ransomware attack, TV stations disrupted

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham’s mayor proposes these climate measures, including $5 million investment
This contract with the local gas utility could help Whatcom further climate goals
Three Whatcom deaths reported in early October were all among unvaccinated residents
WA rural hospitals taking hardest hit with worker exodus from COVID vaccine mandate

Columbian
Clark County school districts see strong vaccine response
Opinion: In Our View: China’s growing power must be countered

Courier-Herald
We’re still learning about natural immunity to COVID-19, but we know vaccines work

Everett Herald
With vaccine deadline here, some fired in Snohomish County
Cyclists highlight Interurban Trail needs before light rail arrival
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance

High Country News
What’s going on with redistricting in the West?

The Inlander
Rolovich out as WSU head coach since vaccine exemption can’t be accommodated

Kent Reporter
City of Kent wins state award for Rally the Valley plan

News Tribune
Sheriff Ed Troyer charged over confrontation with Black newspaper carrier
Pierce County starts week with under 200 new COVID cases; 573 cases reported over weekend
Outage disrupts 911 calls in Pierce County
Some Tacoma residents feel crime is ‘taking over.’ They demand change from the city
Unvaccinated patients stress Gig Harbor hospital, administrator says. ‘We are full’
Amazon comes to Fife with sorting center on tribal land
Colin Powell was vaccinated but died from COVID. Here’s why the rare event is possible

New York Times
The Economic Rebound Is Still Waiting for Workers
Democrats will scale back a proposal to require banks to report balances to the I.R.S.
Mix-and-Match Covid Boosters: Why They Just Might Work

Olympian
Report: WSU football coach Nick Rolovich fired after refusing to take COVID-19 vaccine
Olympia ends agreement with Romano Capital for Boulevard Road housing development
With paid family leave at risk, advocates offer Joe Biden an alternative in spending debate
Bomb threat at state office building closes roads around Quince Street in Olympia

Peninsula Daily News
Mandates may be ‘new normal,’ deputy health officer says
Hospitals, schools comply with order

Port Townsend Leader
Crew shortages force Washington State Ferries to make cutbacks on ferry routes across system

Puget Sound Business Journal
WSU dismisses head football coach for refusing Covid-19 vaccine
Lawmakers ask Amazon CEO whether the company misled Congress in 2019
Amazon looks to hire 2,300 seasonal workers in Washington, 150,000 nationwide
Proposal for free community college faces chopping block as $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill moves forward
Cantwell urges support for green aviation fuels in reconciliation bill

Seattle Times
Seattle, King County officials demonstrate vaccine verification ahead of Oct. 25 requirement
67 troopers, 6 sergeants, 1 captain leave Washington State Patrol rather than comply with COVID vaccine mandate
As COVID-19 vaccine deadline passes, most Washington state and Seattle workers have gotten their shots
Seattle parents rush to find ways to get kids to school after district suspends 142 bus routes
Editorial: Prioritize mental-health care as jails are defunded

Skagit Valley Herald
Demand remains high at Skagit County’s largest food bank

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Do you need to pay for your COVID hospital stay?

Sol De Yakima
Dan terapia con anticuerpos monoclonales a pacientes con COVID en el Valle de Yakima
Jueza rechaza intento para bloquear mandato de vacunación COVID del gobernador Jay Inslee

Tri-City Herald
Here’s how the COVID vaccine mandate is affecting Tri-Cities schools
COVID vaccine mandate could actually help Tri-Cities hospital staffing, says Kadlec official
KEPR TV news broadcasts in Tri-Cities knocked off air by ransomware cyberattack

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Flu vaccine offers best defense for people this season

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Valley workforce slowly rebuilding after the end of federal pandemic unemployment benefits
Christopher Columbus statue will stay at county courthouse, Marcus Whitman statue will come to Walla Walla County
Case numbers are dropping, Walla Walla, Umatilla counties health officials said

Washington Post
The coronavirus is still mutating. But will that matter? ‘We need to keep the respect for this virus.’
Hearing aids without a prescription or an exam? The FDA takes big step toward making that happen.
Rachel Levine, openly transgender health official, to be sworn in as four-star admiral in Public Health Service
Democrats to scale back Treasury’s IRS bank reporting plan amid GOP uproar
FDA to allow ‘mix-and-match’ approach on coronavirus booster vaccines
Russia allows methane leaks at planet’s peril

Yakima Herald Republic
‘It’s all hands on deck’: How Yakima area elementary schools approach pickup time traffic

Broadcast

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
127 employees leave Washington State Patrol due to vaccine mandate
Need a flu shot? Don’t just walk in, health experts say
WSU head football coach Nick Rolovich fired after refusing to get COVID-19 vaccine
Vaccine mandate leads to state worker job losses
Parents frustrated, scrambling after SPS cuts quarter of bus routes
Vaccine verification starts next week in King County: What to expect
Vaccine mandate brings protest outside Seattle City Light
Amazon to hire 150,000 seasonal workers ahead of holiday surge
Service restored after outage affects 911 service in Pierce County

KNKX FM
Unvaccinated Washington state employees face their last day on the job
House lawmakers ask Amazon to prove Bezos and other execs didn’t lie to Congress
Police officers and unions put up a fight against vaccine mandates for public workers

KUOW FM
Pandemic blog: Updates for Seattle and the NW
Why are so many Americans quitting their jobs?
Washington State fires its football coach over COVID-19 vaccine mandate
Most healthcare workers are vaccinated, but mandate fallout could still lead to cuts in services
Live blog: Workers face termination as vaccine deadline lands

KXLY (ABC)
Washington State Patrol loses 127 employees over state vaccine mandate
Deadline arrives for unvaccinated Washington state workers
Washington Dept. of Health encourages flu vaccination
WSU head coach Nick Rolovich fired for failing to meet vaccine requirement
‘We’re taking that leap’: Local families get ready to welcome Afghan kids into their home
Several Spokane firefighters out of a job over vaccine mandate

Web

Crosscut
Some Western cities use trash cleanup to combat homelessness
Opinion: Seattle survey wants to know: How do you feel about public safety?

MyNorthwest
Climate Pledge Arena set for grand opening, Seattle Kraken debut
Police watchdog to investigate photos of SPD vehicles adorned with Gadsden flags
Washington State Patrol terminates 127 employees over vaccine mandate
More staff in hospitals reporting vaccination, but some losses still likely
Seattle school district reports 99% COVID vaccine compliance
Seattle minimum wage will increase on Jan. 1
Seattle fire chief reports high compliance with vaccine mandate, consistent response times
Up next: King County vaccine requirement for restaurants, bars, more takes effect on Oct. 25
Judge denies latest attempt to halt Washington state worker vaccine mandate
Olympia police respond to bomb threat Monday morning

SLOG
So Far, Seattle Police Officers Account for 16% of City Employees Not in Compliance with Vaccine Mandate

West Seattle Blog
First day of fewer bus routes for Seattle Public Schools

Monday, Oct. 18

Employee vaccination rates are high at Washington state’s public universities
At WSU and the state’s five other institutions of higher learning, the vaccination rate for employees as of midweek last week was high — ranging from 88% (at least partially vaccinated) on the low end at WSU to 98% on the high end at the University of Washington and The Evergreen State College. Last week, Washington’s public universities rushed to reconcile the vaccination statuses of their workers, and got ready to cut ties with those who miss Monday’s deadline to comply with Gov. Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate for government workers. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Ringman)

Child care costs more than college in Washington. Democrats in Congress want to change that.
In Washington, child care for an infant under age 1 costs an average of $14,554 a year while college costs $6,830, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank. In Idaho, with the nation’s lowest minimum wage, infant care still costs about as much as college tuition, an average of $7,474 a year. Care for a 4-year-old costs a yearly average of $11,051 in Washington and $6,454 in Idaho. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Colin Mulvany)

Why Public Health Faces a Crisis Across the U.S.
State and local public health departments across the country have endured not only the public’s fury, but widespread staff defections, burnout, firings, unpredictable funding and a significant erosion in their authority to impose the health orders that were critical to America’s early response to the pandemic. While the coronavirus has killed more than 700,000 in the United States in nearly two years, a more invisible casualty has been the nation’s public health system. Continue reading at The New York Times.