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Tuesday, July 26

The 2021 heat wave ‘was a wake-up call.’ But Seattle’s still unprepared for high temps
Last June’s triple-digit heat wave was the deadliest weather event in King County’s history. More than 30 people died here, and a KUOW analysis indicates that, statewide, about 400 people died. Now, Seattle is bracing for another stretch of record-breaking temperatures, with highs hovering around 90. On the heels of last summer’s heat wave, local officials are implementing extra precautions to keep people safe from the heat but broader solutions are slow to roll out. “Last year’s extreme weather was a wake-up call,” King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay said. Preparing for extreme heat “is a growing priority because every year our region is just going to get hotter and hotter.” Continue reading at KUOW. (Genna Martin)

King County Council considering year-round gun return program
King County Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal establishing a year-round voluntary safe firearm and ammunition return program within the King County Sheriff’s Office. The proposal requests King County Executive Dow Constantine look at several options and “assess their feasibility.” “I think it can save lives by reducing the number of guns that are out there because we know that guns in homes dramatically increases the risk to folks living in those homes,” said council member Rod Dembowski at the full council meeting last Wednesday. Buy-back events have seen a high turnout. This summer Kirkland has hosted two buy-back events where police collected 151 firearms. They distributed $18,350 in gift cards for the weapons. The city plans to hold a third event sometime in September. Continue reading at KING 5.

Spokane City Council passes resolution reaffirming abortion access
Spokane City council passed a resolution protecting abortion rights in Spokane. City Council members voted 4-2 in favor of the resolution. The resolution put forward by Council President Breean Briggs, which reaffirms and supports abortion laws in place. It also limits City employees, which includes police officers, from participating in out-of-state abortion investigations or investigating the outcome of a pregnancy. “This resolution also establishes that City policy is that city staff, resources, and law enforcement should not assist with any investigatory requests related to abortion that come from agencies in other states,” part of [City Councilmember Zack] Zappone’s statement read. “This is not a what-if scenario. It is a reality individuals face today.” Continue reading at KXLY.

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Associated Press
US to plant more trees as climate change kills off forests

Capital Press
‘Murder hornets’ get a new name

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: Take high temperatures, climate change seriously

Everett Herald
State OKs lower Highway 99 speed limits in south Everett
Monkeypox vaccine supply ‘severely limited,’ but more is on the way
Editorial: If a tree falls in a forest, can it build a school?

News Tribune
Tacoma to transfer a city landmark to the feds for $1. Here’s why and what it means

Olympian
Thurston to open cooling site, collect items for those living outside during heat wave
Residents call for Port of Olympia executive director Gibboney to resign

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County has pledged to spend $15M in relief funds
National hotline created for mental health crisis assistance
Heat wave to hit Pacific Northwest a year after deadly event

Puget Sound Business Journal
Survey: Washington state hospitals lost nearly $1B in first quarter

Seattle Medium
Seattle Grows 20,100 In One Year
Seattle Man Phoned Buffalo NY Stores Threatening To Shoot Black People

Seattle Times
Where Western WA weather will be hottest, coolest
West Seattle Bridge repair reaches new milestone
If you’re homeless, here are places you can go to escape the heat this week

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County COVID-19 case numbers take another jump

Washington Post
After court ruling, activists push prayer into schools
Heat to wane in Northeast as Pacific Northwest prepares to roast
Biden poised for big wins in Congress
Gunmaker’s Super Bowl stunt sheds light on marketing of ‘America’s rifle’
The changing shape of inflation

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
King County Council considering year-round gun return program
Seattle Center seeing increasing reports of women being sexually harassed
Point Ruston under fire after directing Tacoma Farmers Market to stop selling ‘Mexican style food’

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle mayor’s office seeks community input on next chief of police

KNKX Public Radio
Oregon researchers propose innovative path forward for farming’s water woes

KUOW Public Radio
The 2021 heat wave ‘was a wake-up call.’ But Seattle’s still unprepared for high temps
Western Washington prepares for heat wave this week

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane City Council passes resolution reaffirming abortion access
Abortion rights activists protest outside Spokane City Hall

Q13 TV (FOX)
Election Integrity: Washington Secretary of State fighting misinformation about elections

Monday, July 25

Seattle heat wave on the way; here’s how to prepare
High temperatures are on the way and an excessive heat advisory has been issued for the Puget Sound region from noon Tuesday through 10 p.m. on Friday. Monday’s high is expected to be around 82 degrees. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the warmest days with a predicted high of 90 degrees, according to the National Weather Service of Seattle forecast. Thursday and Friday are forecast to reach 89 and 88, respectively. By Saturday and Sunday, we should be back down to 80 or 81. Just as telling as the daily high temperatures, however, are the expected overnight low temperatures, which are expected to be much higher than our normal night lows. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kori Suzuki)

Previously incarcerated people struggle to find jobs in Washington
Trauma and the stigma of prison create barriers for those who are trying to reenter society and atone for past mistakes. “One of the biggest barriers is how they view themselves,” Cawthon said at the symposium. “If they can have cyclical support … that is where we can step up and engage with people who have been incarcerated and create a path for them to be successful.” One example of a path is the Graduated Reentry program (GRE), which was approved by Washington state lawmakers in 2018 and later expanded in 2021. The program provides structured supervision for incarcerated people who can serve the remainder of their sentences while transitioning into the community permanently. The state reports 78 percent of participants have successfully completed the program. Continue reading at Auburn Reporter. (Andy Hobbs)

She survived a forced sterilization. She fears more could occur post-Roe.
Elaine Riddick was 13 years old when she says she was raped by a neighbor in Winfall, N.C. Nine months later, in 1968, she was involuntarily sterilized in the hospital while delivering her first and only child. “I had no idea,” she told The Washington Post, adding that she didn’t find out about the operation until five years later, at age 19, after she had married and hoped to have more children. The doctors “butchered” her — cutting, tying and cauterizing her fallopian tubes — she said she was told when she learned of her sterilization during a medical examination. Riddick, who is now 68 and lives in Marietta, Ga., is one of tens of thousands of survivors of forced sterilization in the 20th century — a disproportionate share of them Black, like Riddick. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Tami Chappell)

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Associated Press
Heat wave to slam into US Pacific Northwest, linger for days
Alaska has seen plenty of wildfires. Just not like this.

Auburn Reporter
Previously incarcerated people struggle to find jobs in Washington

Bellingham Herald
On the ‘back end of this pandemic,’ here’s who is keeping Whatcom’s hospital busy
Catholic hospitals’ growth impacts reproductive health care

Capital Press
All sides declare victory in Washington logging ruling

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: Districts show investment in schools pays off

The Daily News
Free federal meal waivers expire, leaving Lower Columbia school districts to find other ways to provide food
Heat wave to push temperatures to mid-90s through the week in Lower Columbia

Everett Herald
Community Transit plan: more frequent buses, new routes, ‘clean’ fuel
Built with 124 beds, Everett youth detention center down to 5 to 8 kids
‘Hate and bigotry’ lead to canceled Everett drag show, organizers say
Lynnwood man charged with racist threats at Buffalo mass shooting site
PUD fast-charging EV stations in Everett ready for drivers
Comment: Infrastructure act building equity for Americans, too
Comment: Our grid can save salmon and a green energy future
Comment: Month into abortion bans, is this what was intended?

High Country News
A new proposal to ensure fire protection for all

Indian Country Today
Papal Visit: Pope takes first step toward apology
Gaps hinder police response to Indigenous cases
Justice lags for Indigenous survivors of violence

News Tribune
This Pierce County clinic treats pregnant people with substance use disorders. Here’s how
Tacoma came together 30 years ago to stop a deadly crime wave. Can we do it again?

Olympian
South Sound cooling centers set to open as region prepares for soaring temperatures
Voters will decide in November whether to expand the Thurston County Board

Puget Sound Business Journal
How manufactured homes could help solve affordable housing crisis
As construction restarts, huge Seattle condo project pivots to rentals

Seattle Times
Electrify Expo gives Seattleites a taste of electric transportation
How schools in Seattle are being affected by dwindling enrollment
Seattle heat wave on the way; here’s how to prepare
One month after Supreme Court’s Roe ruling, over half of states have banned or moved to limit abortions
Can a new encampment strategy get people housed permanently? Two Seattle campers find different answers
FYI Guy: How many WA residents are immigrants or have at least one parent who is?

Skagit Valley Herald
A constant struggle — Small businesses overcome inflation, staff shortages

Tri-City Herald
‘A lot of infection.’ COVID level high in Tri-Cities. Thousands must wear masks

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Army Corps seeks comments on dredging parts of the Lower Snake River

Washington Post
WHO declares monkeypox a global health emergency as infections soar
Second coronavirus booster shots for people under 50 on hold amid drive to speed up new vaccine
She survived a forced sterilization. She fears more could occur post-Roe.

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County hospitals faring OK amid statewide capacity crisis
Should utility accounts be held by tenants or property owners? Yakima Council debates the question

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Parkland community remembers 13-year-old cyclist hit and killed; family calling for change
Washington’s E-DUI law reaches 5th anniversary as patrols increase

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Preparations underway for western Washington heat wave this week
King County hoping to close heat disparity gap in low-income areas
Lynnwood man arrested for making violent threats toward Black, Hispanic communities across country
Wildfire near Chelan now 100% contained

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington State Ferries address line cutting during busy summer season

KXLY (ABC)
Gas prices average below $5 a gallon in Spokane County
New WA program gives low-income renters access to A/C

Q13 TV (FOX)
Staying cool during Seattle’s hottest days of the year: Tips, cooling centers & pet safety

Web

MyNorthwest
North Sound man charged with hate crime after multiple robberies at Asian-owned spas
WA honoring J. P. Patches with new, limited-edition license plate
Three construction workers fired over incident with noose, police investigating hate crime
COVID-19 reinfections on the rise as officials call for a new booster
Near-record inflation sees demand at Snohomish County’s food banks outpace mid-pandemic levels
WA Supreme Court rules on multiple benefits of trust lands

West Seattle Blog
‘Not as bad’ summer discussed @ Alki Community Council
CORONAVIRUS: Newest West Seattle, countywide numbers and trends

Friday, July 22

WA hospitals facing ‘unsustainable’ financial losses, in danger of cutting services
Washington’s hospitals are facing massive financial losses after the first quarter of 2022, placing the state’s health care system in the most precarious situation many hospital leaders say they’ve seen in their lives. According to a recent survey conducted by the Washington State Hospital Association, hospitals across the state suffered a net loss of about $929 million in the first three months of 2022. While operating revenue increased by 5%, operating expenses increased by 11%, which — combined with nonoperating investment losses — resulted in a total loss of about 13% Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

Jan. 6 takeaways: White House in chaos, unmovable Trump
The House Jan. 6 committee closed out its set of summer hearings with its most detailed focus yet on the investigation’s main target: former President Donald Trump. The panel on Thursday examined Trump’s actions on Jan. 6, 2021, as hundreds of his supporters broke into the U.S. Capitol, guiding viewers minute-by-minute through the deadly afternoon to show how long it took for the former president to call off the rioters. The panel focused on 187 minutes that day, between the end of Trump’s speech calling for supporters to march to the Capitol at 1:10 p.m. and a video he released at 4:17 p.m. telling the rioters they were “very special” but they had to go home. Continue reading at Tacoma News Tribune. (Scott Applewhite/AP)

Some WA Republicans vote against protecting contraceptive access, same-sex marriage
Washington’s three Republican congresspeople voted Thursday against legislation intended to protect access to contraception nationwide, just two days after two of the three voted against a bill to protect same-sex marriage. Democrats brought up the vote on high-profile social issues they see as potentially under attack following the Supreme Court’s overturning of abortion rights. Republicans said the votes were rushed for election-year messaging purposes. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

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Associated Press
State Supreme Court rules that trust lands are to fund schools
Monkeypox virus could become entrenched as new STD in the US
Body of missing climber found in Olympic National Park
Jan. 6 takeaways: White House in chaos, unmovable Trump

Bellingham Herald
Security incident releases some Bellingham library patrons’ data
Man put ‘virus’ in older people’s computers to scam them out of $10 million, feds say

Capital Press
Newhouse ‘outraged’ by White House dam breaching draft reports
‘A beacon of hope’: Ukraine, Russia sign grain export deal
More cases of bird flu found in Central Oregon; quarantine expanded
Firefighting helicopter crashes into Idaho river, 2 on board

The Daily News
Survey: Washington hospitals in “dire” financial situation, and PeaceHealth agrees
WA tribes to get $50M to restore Puget Sound

High Country News
As waters warm, Alaska experiences salmon booms and busts

Kitsap Sun
Report: Violent crime increased, officer numbers down

News Tribune
Pierce County Republicans have a $50 million homelessness plan. It deserves a shot
Anger and sadness from Tacoma-area bicycling advocates at death of boy hit in crosswalk
Tacoma Link will close for construction project. How will it impact your commute?

Olympian
Toxic algae bloom reported in Pattison Lake, people advised to stay out of the water
Lacey resident questions quasi-judicial process after council approves church and gym
WA hospitals face financial crisis. What does that mean for state health care systems?
Effort to move people camping along WA I-5 into shelter successful so far, Inslee says
Thurston County adds 615 COVID cases last week as transmission risk remains ‘high’

Puget Sound Business Journal
DOT unveils major new rule to boost small contractors
Here’s who’s getting Seattle’s JumpStart tax revenue
Covid put a spotlight on burnout, but it will be a long-term issue

Seattle Medium
King County Considers Mandates, Urges Masking, Boosters
Now You Can Dial 988 For Suicide & Crisis

Seattle Times
Ferry fury in WA hits boiling point
WA hospitals facing ‘unsustainable’ financial losses, in danger of cutting services
Some WA Republicans vote against protecting contraceptive access, same-sex marriage

Skagit Valley Herald
Residents of Big Lake offered options to protect water quality
Housing market’s tide is slowly turning

Washington Post
Trump ‘chose not to act’ as mob terrorized the Capitol, panel shows

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington state hospitals losing millions weekly with financial struggles expected to get worse
Jan. 6 hearing: Trump spurned aides’ pleas to call off Capitol mob
New Seattle housing complex aims to house working families, reduce climate footprint
WA Poll: How much trust do Washingtonians have in the news media?
Program at Snohomish County Jail trains inmates for jobs in the culinary field

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Man suspected of organizing numerous street races arrested in Algona
Washington deputy fired after jailed person found dead
Small turtles bought online linked to salmonella outbreak affecting children
Four new police training academies proposed to help tackle state police shortage
3 charged with wire fraud in federal cryptocurrency case
U.S. Attorney now looking into reports of King County voter intimidation
2 Marysville residents arrested after discovery of fentanyl pill manufacturing lab
Investigation underway after juvenile seriously injured in shooting
Secretary of State addresses election misinformation after signs appear near drop boxes
Seattle councilmembers announce abortion protection legislation

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington state leaders, Gov. Jay Inslee address affordable housing challenges
City to clear out homeless encampment on Aurora Avenue in north Seattle
New research takes closer look at highly transmissible omicron subvariant

KXLY (ABC)
Inslee hopes regional training facilities will get police officers on the job quicker (Lovick)

NW Public Radio
Experts Advise On Best Practices As At-Home Tests Go Unreported
More Seniors Using Cannabis in States That Legalized
WA State Supreme Court Rules DNR Has Discretion Over Management Of State Lands
State Superintendent Releases New Plan To Fund School Construction

Q13 TV (FOX)
Sheriff’s Office deputy fired after jailed person found dead
Police arrest alleged street racing organizer
‘Probably the worst thing I’ve had to deal with’: Parents of 13-year-old cyclist killed share their message
Kirkland Police collect 151 firearms in exchange for $18,000 in gift cards in June and July
Young boy recovering after being shot in Tacoma

Web

The Stranger
Governor Inslee Created a Slush Fund for Sweeps

Thursday, July 21

Seattle City Council to consider protections for people seeking abortions
A pair of new Seattle City Council bills designed to prohibit discrimination and interference with abortion care will be considered by members of the council Friday, adding to a cluster of potential policy changes intended to make the city a safe harbor for people seeking abortions. After the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade in June, ending constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place for almost 50 years, many of the city’s elected officials proposed ways to fund, uphold or defend the right to an abortion in Seattle, as other states banned and criminalized abortions. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Jennifer Buchanan)

King County declares fentanyl a public health crisis
King County’s record-breaking number of fentanyl overdoses has prompted the county council to declare a public health crisis. This year 268 people have died so far — a 46 percent increase compared to this time last year, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office Overdose Dashboard. Council members say the goal is to sound the alarm and find solutions. Most of the recent fentanyl overdoses and deaths have been linked to illegally manufactured opioids. It’s a synthetic drug that’s fast-acting, addictive and highly potent. “I’ve been working on this a long, long time. And this is unprecedented,” said Caleb Banta-Green, principal research scientist with the University of Washington’s Addictions, Drug, and Alcohol Institute. Continue reading at KUOW. (Isolde Raftery)

Extreme heat wreaks havoc on roads and railways. Experts say we need to adapt.
Roads and airport runways buckling. Train tracks warping. Bridges swelling. These are just some of the damaging effects extreme heat has had on critical infrastructure in recent years, as heat waves have become more frequent and intense — a stark reminder, experts say, of the need to adjust quickly to a warming planet. “Most of our physical infrastructure was built using the temperature records of the mid-20th century,” Costa Samaras, principal assistant director for energy with the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, wrote in an email. “That is not the climate we have now.” Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Robin van Lonkhuijsen)

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Associated Press
Biden scraps announcing crime plan after positive COVID test
Murders up, police staffing way down in Washington state
King County sheriff asked to investigate ballot-box surveillance
WHO once again considers declaring monkeypox a global emergency
King County Considers Mandates, Urges Masking, Boosters

Auburn Reporter
King County Council votes to declare fentanyl a public health crisis amid overdose surge

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom’s overall crime numbers were down. Here’s where violent crime reports were up

Columbian
Report finds more violent crime, fewer officers in Washington

The Daily News
Local ports plan projects after infrastructure bill gives $450M to ports nationwide
Kelso City Council aligns with state, bans openly carrying weapons at public meetings

Kitsap Sun
Over $1.6 million in federal funding planned for Suquamish tribe’s housing project

News Tribune
Homicides increased in WA state in 2021. What about in Tacoma and Pierce County?
Tacoma-Pierce County health department closes offices after threat made against employees

Olympian
Murder, violent crimes up in WA state but drug offenses down, annual data show

Port Townsend Leader
Upcoming COVID-19 clinics to offer free vaccinations to children

Puget Sound Business Journal
Report shows state still adding jobs even as possible recession looms
Younger workers are much more comfortable sharing their salaries
Developer: Motels turned to housing are CRE’s ‘unicorns’
Lawmakers push for greater fintech role in SBA 7(a) lending program

Seattle Medium
Harrell Unveils Plan To Recruit And Retain Police Officers

Seattle Times
Seattle weather to get scorching after some ‘normal’ summer temperatures
Seattle City Council to consider protections for people seeking abortions
Prosecutor: No charges against Seattle police officers in fatal 2017 shooting of Charleena Lyles
Opinion: Help Seattle restaurants survive: Fix delivery-fee cap at 15%

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County distributes $1.2 million for affordable housing
Residents of Big Lake offered options to protect water quality

Tri-City Herald
Feds bar Hanford company from new contracts. It’s accused of COVID loan fraud
Year-long drought alert lifted in Eastern WA. But Tri-Cities isn’t in the clear
3 Richland school leaders are trying to stop attempt to oust them. How long until a decision?

Vancouver Business Journal
Clark County real estate market sees ‘dramatic’ slowdown in June

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
COVID-19: Walla Walla, Umatilla and Columbia counties in high transmission rate
City of Walla Walla seeking input on how to improve transportation safety

Washington Post
Biden tests positive for covid-19, White House says
Extreme heat wreaks havoc on roads and railways. Experts say we need to adapt.
Secret Service watchdog knew in February that texts had been purged
House passes protection for birth-control access; Senate support is unclear
Even a day after Jan. 6, Trump balked at condemning the violence

Yakima Herald-Republic
EFSEC extends deadline for Yakima County solar projects
Inslee promotes solar power during Yakima visit

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘This is an outrage’: Inslee blasts those responsible for ballot box ‘surveillance’ signs in King County
WA Poll: Do Washington voters trust election security?
President Biden tests positive for COVID-19
Jan. 6 panel probes Trump’s 187 minutes as Capitol attacked
Violent crime up as Washington state sees decrease in police officers: 2021 crime report

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
President Joe Biden tests positive for COVID-19
Inslee says state is not looking at bringing back masks
Inslee to announce proposal expanding training, support for officer recruitment

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Tacoma clears camp near county courthouse amid concerns about crime from the site

KUOW Public Radio
King County declares fentanyl a public health crisis
The new Jumpstart payroll tax raised more than expected. Is the money going where it’s most needed?
Vaccine boosters provide defense against severe Covid, new study finds

KXLY (ABC)
New Washington report shows increase in violent crimes across the state

NW Public Radio
Ben Franklin Transit Board Ends Tax Cut Talk For Good

Q13 TV (FOX)
Seattle cyclists, advocates concerned over bike crashes involving cars

Web

MyNorthwest
Chelan fire likely caused by ‘rogue lightning strike,’ now 80% contained
Vaccine mandate here to stay for state employees, according to Gov. Inslee
Despite fewer bidding wars among home-buyers, Seattle-area real estate prices continue to climb
Amid ever-rising overdose deaths, King County votes to declare fentanyl a public health crisis

Wednesday, July 20

WA tribes to get $50M to restore Puget Sound
Tribes in Western Washington will receive $50 million in federal funding from the infrastructure bill, effectively doubling support for restoration and protection of Puget Sound. The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday in Sequim that it will give the money over the next five years to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, which supports 20 treaty tribes. “For too long, the federal government has failed to live up to its trust and treaty responsibilities — and persistently failed to provide the federal funding needed to invest in the infrastructure our tribal communities need,” said U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, in a statement. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Demand for tech workers puts emphasis on diversity in higher education
Tech jobs are increasing faster in Washington than in almost any other state. From 2019 to 2021, tech jobs statewide rose 6.6%, the third-highest increase in the U.S. Filling those jobs, however, is a challenge in itself at a time when many employers have a heightened awareness of workplace diversity and inclusion. Female students as well as Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic students remain significantly underrepresented in computer science at the UW, but the department is still outpacing national averages in terms of representation. Continue reading at Puget Sound Business Journal. (Anthony Bolante)

‘It’s time to move forward’: Temporary ordinance could create more housing options
For the next year in Spokane, townhomes, duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes can be built in any residential neighborhood. Spokane City Council passed a temporary zoning ordinance with the goal to get more people housed. “I would love to be able to have a home that they can grow up in and space to possibly run around. I look forward to doing that here,” said Nicole Mills. Mills is a single mom of two and hopes home ownership is a reality for her one day. She currently rents an apartment with her two children. The city’s new zoning ordinance could create more options for people like Mills. Continue reading at KXLY.