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Wednesday, Sept. 1

Rescue Plan lowers health plan costs, drives record sign-ups, state exchange says
More than 57,000 Washington residents signed up for health care coverage between Feb. 15 and Aug. 15 on the state’s insurance marketplace, according to Washington Healthplanfinder. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange opened a special enrollment period in February in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic upheaval. Any individual in Washington was able to apply for coverage or compare and upgrade their existing insurance. Continue reading at The Olympian.

Data shows failing grades across several school districts as educators face ‘COVID slide’
As kids head back to the classroom, educators will be assessing the pandemic’s impact on learning — what’s been called the “COVID slide” — and identifying any skill gaps to get students back on track. Data shows learning challenges are real in some areas, with some districts recording high numbers of failing grades as students and teachers tried to adjust to remote classes. Continue reading at KIRO 7.

Washington state had fifth-most hate crimes per capita in 2020, a new FBI report says
New data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigations shows a sharp rise in hate crimes in 2020 and the trend appears to be continuing this year, with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filing one such charge just days ago. Of the 7,764 reported hate crimes, 451 took place in Washington state. Many researchers and prosecutors believe the numbers are much higher as these types of crimes are often underreported. Continue reading at KOMO News.

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Associated Press
Seattle Children’s Hospital confirms 1st COVID-19 death
Report: Cops failure to make reforms contributed to shooting
Masks mandated for Washington State Fair visitors
Hanford orders new COVID-19 requirements for 11,000 workers

Auburn Reporter
State Fair in Puyallup to require face coverings at all times

Bellevue Reporter
Construction begins on Bellevue supportive housing project

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom wraps up second-worst month of pandemic with two more COVID-related deaths
Manager says 10-day Northwest Washington Fair ‘exceeded expectations’
Vaccinated Americans may be able to travel to Canada, but CDC issues advisory against it

Bothell-Kenmore Reporter
King County Council steps closer to establishing hate crime hotline

Capital Press
Drought, markets, demand push most NW farmland rental rates higher
Court strikes down Navigable Waters Protection Rule
Biologists research how climate change may impact Rocky Mountain elk

Columbian
Larch officer’s suit alleges discrimination by Washington DOC
Opinion: In Our View: Pandemic reinforces need for conservation

Courier-Herald
Fortunato calls on legislators to ‘rein in’ Inslee’s powers

The Daily News
Cowlitz County commissioners approve resolutions opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates
Wahkiakum County’s July unemployment rate is high for region, state, low for county
Visually impaired locals join statewide push for better transit options

Everett Herald
5 big transportation developments in 2021 to keep us rolling
Hospitalizations and COVID cases are near last winter’s peaks
Tribal casinos get federal OK to set up sports betting
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Editorial: Mob’s actions at school board meeting unacceptable
WaPo Comment: There is no silver bullet that can defeat covid-19
Letter: Recent police reforms don’t keep police from doing job
Letter: Vaccines and public health about more than individual

Federal Way Mirror
New policy prohibits unvaccinated South King firefighters from working with public

Issaquah Reporter
June heatwave, COVID overwhelm regional hospitals

Kent Reporter
Kent schools off to smooth start so far during pandemic
City of Kent won’t require vaccine mandates for employees

News Tribune
Dead people voted in Pierce County’s 2020 election. But it was grief, not a conspiracy
Tacoma fire crews extinguish Jefferson Park structure fire overnight
Latest COVID-19 surge continues in Pierce County. Woman in 20s among the dead
Tacoma area hospitals turning to tents to accommodate rush of patients amid COVID surge
Bonney Lake man calls 911 to report he shot a home intruder, deputies say
Of Serbs and salmon: How an immigrant’s heirs helped save a creek from development
Editorial: Take politics out of fire safety and limit Pierce County fireworks use to just one day

New York Times
After Silence From Supreme Court, Texas Clinics Confront Near-Total Abortion Ban

Olympian
Hanford orders new COVID vaccine requirement for 11,000 workers
Rescue Plan lowers health plan costs, drives record sign-ups, state exchange says
8 more Thurston County residents die of COVID amid 723 more cases in past week
Worries over COVID-19 surge lead to increased safety protocols at Washington State Fair

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County man dies of COVID

Port Townsend Leader
Mothers feel pressure from pandemic on childcare, income and education

Puget Sound Business Journal
More questions than answers for renters, landlords after Supreme Court blocks federal evictions moratorium
Puyallup City Council votes to delay adoption of housing plan
Google is postponing its reopening until January amid surging Covid cases

Seattle Times
Washington State Ferries cruise toward a rocky Labor Day weekend (Hobbs, Rolfes)
Another strange year of school begins for Seattle-area kids, this time in person
Seattle sees a chilly start to meteorological fall, though warmer temps are expected soon
Column: After a COVID skeptic falls to the disease, people ask an awkward question: Should we care?
Seattle Children’s confirms its first patient death from COVID
King County sheriff’s failure to adopt reforms contributed to fatal shooting of Black Diamond man, report finds

Skagit Valley Herald
County COVID-19 testing and vaccine site reopens

Snoqualmie Valley Record
School district approves budget, suspends bus routes

South Whidbey Record
COVID cases skyrocketed among those without shots

Spokesman Review
As COVID-19 vaccine mandate deadline draws near, unions hurry to reach bargaining deals
Spokane broke all sorts of weather records this summer, but experts warn the heat ‘will be fairly typical’ as time goes on
Hospitalizations, deaths due to COVID-19 continue dangerous climb in Inland Northwest
Opinion: Gordon S. Jackson: The right to go left

Tri-City Herald
Franklin COVID infections still nearly double WA state rate
Tri-Cities students head back to classes as COVID surges. Here’s what to expect
State’s new police reform laws have changed training on force, weapons use

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Islanders eligible for new County fund for child care resources
Census reveals slow growth for Vashon, a trend since the 1990s
First day of school arrives, as district fully reopens classrooms

Washington Post
Ida-linked deaths climb to 6, with hundreds of thousands still without power
With ban in effect, Texas abortion clinics will no longer terminate pregnancies after 6 weeks
Taliban engaged in heavy fighting around last province outside its control
Massive randomized study is proof that surgical masks limit coronavirus spread, authors say

Yakima Herald Republic
COVID vaccine Q&A: Safe for pregnancy, accountability for side effects and mRNA
Yakima County agrees to settlement in lawsuit alleging disenfranchisement of Latino voters

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
First Seattle Children’s patient dies of COVID-19
Back-to-school resource guide: How districts will handle COVID-19 safety
CDC director shares Labor Day, back-to-school tips amid COVID surge
In Ida’s aftermath, no quick relief in sight for Louisiana
Seattle Public Schools warns of bus delays on the first day of school Wednesday

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Seattle students head back to class, but some buses could run hours late
Seattle Children’s announces first patient death from COVID-19
Washington State Fair to require masks indoors and outdoors
Data shows failing grades across several school districts as educators face ‘COVID slide’
Kent man says US left his brother, mother behind in Afghanistan

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Washington state had fifth-most hate crimes per capita in 2020, a new FBI report says
Hate crimes against elderly Asians under-reported, local advocacy group says
Seattle Public School buses running up to two hours behind on first day of class
Seattle Children’s Hospital says first patient died of COVID-19

KNKX FM
‘This is likely to be a deadly threat’: What can we do to survive the next heat wave?
Biden Lays Out The Costs Of War To Defend His Decision To Leave Afghanistan
Vaccine mandate, long-term care insurance stirring controversy in Olympia
For local communities, combatting climate change starts with more plants, less pavement

KUOW FM
King County Considers Hate Crime Hotline Amid Rise in Racist Attacks
Pandemic blog: Updates for Washington state

KXLY (ABC)
‘There is no workforce’: Child care centers can’t find long term staff

NW Public Radio
Want To Opt-Out Of Washington’s New Long-Term Care Tax? Good Luck Getting A Private Policy In Time (Thai, Macri)

Q13 TV (Fox)
Summer flip-flop: Seattle ends up with more 100° days than Houston
‘We are better than this:’ Interim Seattle police chief says more officers needed to fight gun violence
Masks to be required for all, both indoors and outdoors, at 2021 Washington State Fair

Web

Crosscut
Vaccine-hesitant Washingtonians open up about their fears
King County’s rise in gun violence doesn’t have an easy explanation

MyNorthwest
Thousands of Seattle students return to school with COVID protocols
Hanford orders new COVID vaccination requirements
Masks required indoors and outdoors at Washington State Fair

Slog
“Compassion Seattle” Tossed as Seattle Public Schools Faces the Homelessness Crisis

Tuesday, Aug. 31

Hospital officials, on front line of COVID, issue dire warnings about WA’s medical system
Hospital officials from across Washington state sounded the alarm again Monday on COVID hospitalizations reaching crisis points in several areas of the state. Statewide, there are 1,570 patients hospitalized with COVID, according to details released at Monday’s Washington State Hospital Association briefing. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Drew Perine)

With moratorium on utility shut-offs ending soon, Washington officials urge customers to make a plan
Washington officials are urging people who are behind on water and energy bills to check in with their utility companies before the state’s temporary moratorium on service shut-offs ends next month. The moratorium has been in place since April 2020, when Gov. Jay Inslee ordered a halt to disconnections as the state restricted commerce and social activities to curb the spread of COVID-19. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Federal pandemic unemployment benefits end Saturday in Washington
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Benefits are coming to an end on Saturday. It means people will no longer receive Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or the additional $300 a week with Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
WA hospitals seeing more more pregnant COVID patients
Last troops exit Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war
Taliban celebrate victory as U.S. troops leave Afghanistan

Auburn Reporter
Northgate Link light rail testing moves into final stages

Bellevue Reporter
King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn wants to expedite the backlog of rental assistance funds
COVID-19 surge puts strain on local hospitals

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom sees largest increase of reported COVID-19 cases of pandemic with big weekend
COVID rates climbing among Whatcom’s fully vaccinated, but remain lower than unvaccinated
Amid new COVID surge, here’s when Whatcom schools start in-person

Capital Press
Washington plans quarantine to contain Japanese beetles
Coronavirus assistance program expanded to include Kentucky bluegrass seed

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Routine preparation key to abnormal school year

The Daily News
Razor clam dig dates tentatively set. depending on toxin test results
Clatskanie School District delays school to Sept. 13 due to COVID-19

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Yakima County Jail Responds to Another COVID-19 Outbreak

Everett Herald
A ‘first’: Lake Stevens annexed a big area without public vote
Challenges remain for the area’s recovering tourism industry
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: Some schools see dress codes as way to mandate masks
WaPo Comment: ‘Why is this a thing, Mom?’
WaPo Comment: Founders began fight on who pays for infrastructure
Letter: We need to do our part for the vulnerable and get vaccinated

High Country News
11 numbers that explain Washington’s ‘murder hornet’ problem

International Examiner
Controversies over Asian American issues at Bellevue College continue

Issaquah Reporter
Issaquah City Hall under temporary closure amid COVID spike

News Tribune
Hospital officials, on front line of COVID, issue dire warnings about WA’s medical system
Tacoma area hospitals turning to tents to accommodate rush of patients amid COVID surge
Hospital official calls events like State Fair ‘very bad idea.’ It will still go on
Pierce County’s number of new COVID-19 cases soars over weekend

Olympian
8 more Thurston County residents die of COVID amid 723 more cases in past week
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state
Lewis County paid $2,700 over former Commissioner’s noncompliance with mask mandate
$9 million settlement reached for abuse and neglect at shuttered Centralia Kiwanis home
More than 800 people submitted comments on Capitol Lake’s future. What’s next?

Peninsula Daily News
Olympic National Park areas remain closed
No peak yet for new virus cases
County to consider hearing on approving RVs on lots
Quilcene, Brinnon welcome students back full-time

Port Townsend Leader
COVID to blame for canceled sailings

Puget Sound Business Journal
DEI pledges amount to billions of dollars, but transparency lags
The world Is still short of everything. Get used to it.
Downtown Seattle on track to hit record residential development, report says
Aerospace industry bracing for wave of consolidation among suppliers
SBA begins awarding second grants under its Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program

Renton Reporter
Fire chief says Renton firefighters will have to comply with Inslee’s vaccine mandate

Seattle Times
Lunchtime at King County schools: ‘Our greatest logistical challenge’
Washington state health care system faces ‘enormous stress’ as COVID hospitalizations continue to rise
Seattle home prices continue to soar at a record-breaking pace. When will the housing market come ‘back to earth?’
Afghan refugees face a dire need for affordable rental housing in high-priced Seattle
With moratorium on utility shut-offs ending soon, Washington officials urge customers to make a plan

Skagit Valley Herald
School year begins in Skagit County
Skagit County Superior Court again limiting operations

South Seattle Emerald
Starting school as strong as we can: advice and thoughts from educators

Tri-City Herald
WA hospitals seeing more more pregnant COVID patients
Editorial: COVID vaccine mandates needed, but WA Gov. Inslee should be prepared for employee exodus

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Hospital full, take every precaution to stay healthy, Walla Walla health officer says
Could Walla Walla and Columbia counties lose 20% of EMS personnel over vaccine rule? Leaders are worried
Officials urge masking at Walla Walla County fair with local health system at capacity brink

Washington Post
U.S. troops depart a dramatically changed Afghanistan after 2 weeks of chaos and 20 years of war
An Afghan politician spent her life working for women’s rights. She barely made it out of the country.
Louisiana gets a first look at the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida
European Union says 70 percent of adults are fully vaccinated
‘I’m from here.’ How a more diverse population will change America.

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima County jail responds to another COVID-19 outbreak with 20 inmates infected as of Monday
COVID vaccine Q&A: Warnings about Ivermectin and monoclonal antibody therapy
Busy first day for new COVID testing center at Yakima Valley College
Opinion: Vaccination debate is beyond rhetoric now

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Health official: At least 85% vaccination rate now needed to beat COVID-19 delta variant
Whatcom County fire chief getting stiff pushback on COVID-19 vaccine mandate
Federal pandemic unemployment benefits end Saturday in Washington
Unreported event at Hanford nuclear site that sickened workers ‘smells like a cover-up,’ advocates say
JBLM soldiers heading to California to fight wildfires

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Seattle leaders to address gun violence after another weekend of shootings
Demand high, wait time up to an hour at some COVID-19 testing sites
Ida downgraded to a tropical depression as heavy rains soak southern states

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
20 attorneys general sue Biden over school & work transgender, LGBTQ issues
City union leaders, Seattle officials hammering out terms of COVID vaccine mandate
After more than a year, students in SW Washington return to full-time in-person learning
Hospital leaders paint bleak picture of COVID in Wash. state with hospitalizations spiking
Surging COVID cases taking toll on staffing of local hospitals, some officials say
Courtroom challenge for COVID vaccine mandate for state workers to be heard this week

KNKX FM
‘This is likely to be a deadly threat’: What can we do to survive the next heat wave?
With The Americans Gone, Afghanistan Enters Its Uncertain, Taliban-Led Future
Why The South Is Decades Ahead Of The West In Wildfire Prevention

KUOW FM
High Gun Sales And More Time At Home Have Led To More Accidental Shootings By Kids
He Is The Last American Soldier To Leave Afghanistan

KXLY (ABC)
Washington health leaders: Public’s perception of pandemic doesn’t match what’s happening in hospitals

Q13 TV (Fox)
‘We think it’s a bad idea:’ Washington State Hospital Association says to avoid mass events, state fair

Web

Crosscut
Why some plan to opt out of new WA long-term care insurance (Macri, Rolfes)
Covering climate change means watching the Washington you love fade away

MyNorthwest
COVID impacts Seattle Police Department with 27 in isolation, quarantine
King County Council member seeks to expedite rental assistance
Light rail prepares for new line names and colors
WA likely needs 85-90% vaccination to defeat delta
Not much point in suing over Inslee’s vaccine order, says former state Attorney General

Monday, Aug. 30

People with disabilities demand better sidewalks, transit
If she could drive, Amandeep Kaur could get from her Lynnwood home to school at Everett Community College in 30 minutes, probably less. Micah Lusignan could see his friend who lives 5 miles across town within a few minutes, instead of the hour by bus. But a disability keeps them from taking the wheel. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

Report: COVID-19 vaccine for children could be available by end of year
As the delta variant takes hold, anxiety is rising along with cases. That’s especially true for parents who are sending children too young to be vaccinated back to school. Any news about a timeline is something parents want to hear. Continue reading at KIRO 7.

More restaurant owners worried about rent due to Delta variant
More small businesses are able to make rent as the economic recovery continues, but restaurant owners are still struggling. About 30% of all small businesses in the U.S. could not pay their August rent in full or on time, according to a new survey of 5,349 small business owners by small business referral network Alignable. Continue reading at The Puget Sound Business Journal.

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Associated Press
Man found guilty of hate crime, murder in trans teen’s death
Hundreds protest Washington Gov. Inslee’s vaccine mandate
Record low numbers of steelhead returning to Columbia River
Hurricane Ida traps Louisianans, leaves the grid a shambles
EU takes US off safe travel list; backs travel restrictions
Rockets fired at Kabul airport but US flights continue
As districts insist on vaccines, some teachers push back
Opinion: The ache of Afghanistan isn’t sparing Yakima

Aberdeen Daily World
COVID-19 case rates skyrocket on Olympic Peninsula
County public health director: unvaccinated population putting strain on county’s hospitals
Aberdeen commits $7 million to North Shore Levee

Auburn Reporter
$113 million in improvements coming to Sound Transit’s Auburn Station

Bainbridge Island Review
Rep. Kilmer talks about local issues
Opinion: I got my shot, but the booster not so much
Opinion: Both parties failed due to Afghan corruption

Bellingham Herald
This is how Whatcom County plans to spend its $44.5 million in pandemic relief funds
Kelp is struggling in central and south Puget Sound. Are Whatcom’s kelp beds next?
Why is it important to monitor Puget Sound kelp health?
COVID vaccination mandate could leave these Whatcom fire stations under-staffed
With mask mandates in place, here’s how Whatcom businesses are coping
Landmark downtown Bellingham eatery closes, saying ‘COVID pandemic made it impossible’

Capital Press
Record low numbers of steelhead returning to Columbia River
Fall wheat planting may be delayed as farmers wait for break in drought
EXPLAINER: How wildfire camps keep crews ready for battle

Columbian
Bogdanov found guilty of murder in death of Nikki Kuhnhausen
Opinion: In Our View: Open Washington-Canada border to vaccinated
Opinion: In Our View: Distribution of rental aid must be made priority
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Chiles shines, virus surge sad

Courier-Herald
County will review 2019 deputy killing of Black Diamond man

The Daily News
School COVID-19 strategies largely the same, focus on keeping kids in class

Everett Herald
Snohomish County fire unions rail against vaccine mandate
Beazizo takes reins at LSPD, hopes to continue Dyer’s work
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
At least one COVID case linked to Arlington basketball event
After cycle of arrest, release, repeat: a ‘walking miracle’
6 derelict boats in Everett on track to be hauled away
People with disabilities demand better sidewalks, transit
Editorial: Welcoming refugees to county serves all involved
Opinion: Burke: Would American heroes survive scrutiny of 24/7 news?
Opinion: Harrop: As Florida’s DeSantis proves, ignorance is expensive
Opinion: Muhlstein: ‘Letters to Myself,’ a VOA effort, aimed at suicide prevention’
Opinion: Viewpoints: Is belief in ‘welcoming the stranger’ wearing thin?
Opinion: Ival Salyer: Take it from a Polio Pioneer, vaccines save lives
Opinion: Dan Templeman: Drug possession law will take some adjustment
Comment: 5 steps we can take to build more affordable housing
Comment: State’s police reforms take effect as crime on rise
Bloomberg Comment: Delta variant isn’t sending us, economy back inside
WaPo Comment: Tragedy of Indian boarding schools must be faced
Letter: Denying science of vaccines can be deadly
Letter: Two protests in Snohomish threat to us, democracy

High Country News
Anxiety and hope in wildfire-prone Oregon
Confused about what’s happening on the Klamath? Here’s a rundown.
A new Conservation Corps for the climate

Islands’ Weekly
Boaters are critical to protection of endangered whales

Journal of the San Juan Islands
San Juan County COVID count increases by 6 and decreases by 17
Washington State Ferries’ staffing shortage faces a new foe — vaccine mandates
Lekanoff: Lekanoff updates her constituency on social issues (Lekanoff)

Kent Reporter
Auburn firefighters union opposes vaccine mandate
Kent School Board votes 3-2 to approve police in schools program
Opinion: What the Afghan wants to say

Kitsap Sun
COVID-19 outbreaks reported at St. Michael Medical Center, Kitsap County Jail
Plans move forward to turn gravel pit in Silverdale into housing

Lewis County Chronicle
Lewis County Sheriff Speaks Out Against New Police Reform Laws (Goodman)

Mercer Island Reporter
Mercer Island students head back to school this week

News Tribune
3 life-or-death minutes for Said Joquin emerge in new fatal police shooting document
A growing mountain of shipping containers in Tacoma is latest pandemic symbol
Editorial: So long, Wilson: Renamed Tacoma school brings swift changes. But what about uniforms?

Olympian
Want to keep your kids learning remotely? Thurston districts offer virtual academies
Thurston County warns of toxic algae bloom at Long Lake, lifts Lake Lawrence advisory
200 soldiers to train at JBLM to assist with California wildfires
Lacey spent $440,000 fulfilling public records requests in 2020
Rising housing prices drive jump in assessed property values, Assessor’s Office says
Hundreds rally at Washington state Capitol Campus against COVID-19 vaccine requirements
Port of Olympia says interest in Panama Canal-size ships misunderstood
Editorial: Together’s new Host Homes program will pull kids out of the homeless pipeline

Peninsula Daily News
Sea to Sound illustrates accessibility of ODT
Man accused of hate crime ordered into treatment
More health mandates likely
Vaccination question: Mandate or encourage?
Clallam Transit approves increase in service
Deer Park, Hurricane Ridge areas closed for public safety
West End DSHS plans to cut its presence

People Magazine
Man Convicted of Killing Transgender Teen After Date in Case That Inspired Mom to Create Change (Wylie)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Patti Payne: American Hospital Association head shares frustration and concern
More restaurant owners worried about rent due to Delta variant
Delta variant putting a damper on airlines’ recovery
PPP forgiveness portal picking up steam. But experts say to act fast.
South Sound agency wants help training workers quickly in face of labor shortage

Redmond Reporter
Opinion: King County executive wins battle with suburbs over inquests

Renton Reporter
King County Councilman calls for plan to help Afghan refugees settle here

Runta News
DOH Provides Free Mobile Service to Local Communities

Seattle Times
Washington state employee union sues Gov. Jay Inslee to delay vaccine mandate, pending negotiations
Wealth without working: King County ranks 8th in U.S. for income from assets
‘My time to live’: Novel program gives Seattle-area kidney patients palliative care and dialysis until the end
Seattle-area educators ‘teach truth’ to push back against critical race theory opponents
As America prepares for Afghan refugees, how Washington once led the way
How Washington’s new laws on police use of force have changed officers’ training, weapons
The kids are all right; it’s the adults who have gone bonkers over the pandemic
Opinion: Time to recognize caregiving as part of infrastructure
Editorial: Hopes for downtown recovery depend on safety and security

Skagit Valley Herald
Burlington City Council votes down George Hopper overpass improvements
Anacortes, Burlington-Edison school boards pass district budgets

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Snoqualmie Police Association rejects city vaccine mandate
Opinion: ‘Back to normal’ could be the worst thing to happen for some seniors

South Seattle Emerald
30 years of MFPA: advocating for police transformation
Emergence of delta variant means a back-to-school like no other
Weekend Long Reads: The evolution of our health care system
The South End guide to reducing our carbon footprint: laundry day
Judge strikes homelessness charter amendment from ballot

Tri-City Herald
Sunday bus service launches in Tri-Cities. And it’s free
Hundreds rally at Washington state Capitol Campus against COVID-19 vaccine requirements
Now hiring. Worker shortage squeezes Tri-Cities restaurants, businesses

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Defiant Fire Chief defines anti-mandate stance as ‘leadership’

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla accepts $1.6 million in streets grants; Rose Street to lose a lane
With opt-out deadline looming, Washington’s long-term care benefit and tax draws praise, criticism (Jinkins)

Washington Post
Ida weakens to tropical storm as it moves to Mississippi with heavy flooding
The U.S. reckons with defeat in Afghanistan
How the pandemic set back women’s progress in the global workforce
A Calif. elementary school teacher took off her mask for a read-aloud. Within days, half her class was positive for delta.
U.S. regulator tells White House it will step up enforcement of oil and gas conglomerates

Whidbey News-Times
Editorial: With tourism at all-time high, change in investment needed

Yakima Herald Republic
Early Schneider Springs Fire response limited by resources, access
Schneider Springs Fire burning northwest of Naches engulfs another 2K acres
COVID vaccine Q&A: Immunity, antibodies and vaccine approvals
Comment: Why colleges should invest in civic engagement
Opinion: The ache of Afghanistan isn’t sparing Yakima
Letter: Your COVID choices put at-risk kids in peril

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Wildfire near Wenatchee prompts evacuation orders
Yes, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot and the flu shot at the same time

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
White Center businesses reopening after destructive fire
Ida live updates: Tropical storm threatens heavy rain for Mississippi, Alabama, part of Florida
Supply chain problems and shortages make back-to-school shopping more challenging
Report: COVID-19 vaccine for children could be available by end of year
Kabul airport attack: Rocket fire strikes neighborhood near airport
Home-based command center created to get Afghan allies out
200 JBLM Army soldiers to train, help fight northern California fire
A growing mountain of shipping containers in Tacoma is latest pandemic symbol

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Dr. Fauci says coronavirus vaccine mandate for eligible students is a ‘good idea’
Skagit Co. reopens testing and vaccination site as hospitalizations reach pandemic heights
Tillamook commissioner on coronavirus surge: ‘We are in a dire crisis’

KNKX FM
A deadly message for a region unprepared for earth’s rising temperatures
The Pentagon Says U.S. Operations In Afghanistan Will End Soon
Same Hospital And Insurer, But The Bill For His 2nd Jaw Procedure Was $24,000 More
When COVID Deaths Are Dismissed Or Stigmatized, Grief Is Mixed With Shame And Anger

KUOW FM
Impending Monroe prison closure leaves inmates, families reeling over the future
Want to opt-out of Washington’s new long-term care tax? Good luck getting a private policy in time
Hotels could become home for many Afghan refugees in Seattle area
Judge strikes Seattle homelessness measure from ballot
What the end of a federal eviction moratorium means for Washington
Photos: In Seattle, a rally to stand in solidarity with Afghans

Q13 TV (Fox)
Families approach COVID-19 safety as kids return to in-person learning

Web

Crosscut
Opinion: Many of us were vigilant but COVID could be endemic. We must adapt

MyNorthwest
What went wrong for Compassion Seattle initiative, and what’s next?
State employees union suing over vaccine mandate
Kent PD chief: New laws don’t prevent response,

Friday, August 27

Supreme Court allows evictions to resume during pandemic
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority is allowing evictions to resume across the United States, blocking the Biden administration from enforcing a temporary ban that was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. The court’s action late Thursday ends protections for roughly 3.5 million people in the United States who said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to Census Bureau data from early August. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Brittany Newman)

Powell: Fed on track to slow aid for economy later this year
The Federal Reserve will start dialing back its ultra-low-rate policies this year as long as hiring continues to improve, Chair Jerome Powell said Friday, signaling the beginning of the end of the Fed’s extraordinary response to the pandemic recession. In a speech given virtually to an annual gathering of central bankers and academics, Powell said the economy had improved significantly this year, with average hiring in the past three months reaching the highest level on record for any similar period before the pandemic. Fed officials are monitoring the rapid rise in infections from the delta variant, he said, but they expect healthy job gains to continue. Continue reading at Tacoma News Tribune. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

A few fringe Washington lawmakers should stop undermining elections
Nearly 10 months after President Donald Trump lost his bid for a second term in office, a handful of elected officeholders on the fringes of Washington’s Republican party persist in cynically pushing false allegations about a stolen election. They are shamelessly playing on concerns of voters, who turn out for rallies and tune in to social media posts that amplify their fears. Rumors of systemic voter fraud and gaping vulnerabilities in Washington’s election system are utterly unfounded, says Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman, a Republican who has held that office since 2013. Elected leaders strongly concur, including Republican leaders in the state House and Senate. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Ringman/Seattle Times)

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Associated Press
Biden vows to finish Kabul evacuation, avenge U.S. deaths
Supreme Court allows evictions to resume during pandemic
COVID-19 forces Idaho hospitals past capacity, toward crisis
Kabul airport attack kills 60 Afghans, 12 US troops
US presses on with evacuations despite fears of more attacks
Powell: Fed on track to slow aid for economy later this year
EXPLAINER: What happens when an ICU reaches capacity?
Washington state orders the killing of up to 2 wolves
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise in Washington
Suspect killed, Portland officer injured in shooting

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom’s recent string of reported COVID-related deaths continues with 2 more Thursday
State report: COVID delta variant cases in Whatcom County nearly double
Whatcom Health says these people are now eligible for a third dose of COVID vaccine
Southbound I-5 will close for these two nights as pavement is repaired
So, a cluster of small quakes have struck in Mount Baker’s shadow — should we be worried?
Eighth grader remembered for ‘unforgettable smile’ dies of COVID, Oklahoma school says

Capital Press
Judge awards L.A. firm $3.8M in legal fees for Easterday bankruptcy case
Fall wheat planting may be delayed as farmers wait for break in drought
Tyson rejected sharing feedlot profits with Easterday
Asian giant hornets target paper wasps, giving scientists a clue to trapping them

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Censo: latinos son más de la mitad de la población del condado de Yakima
Demanda el estado a dos huertas; alega que deben $450 mil en salarios atrasados
Destina EE.UU 500 millones de dólares a refugiados de Afganistán

Everett Herald
Here and elsewhere, angry unmasked parents disrupt meetings
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Can’t say we weren’t warned about war in Afghanistan
WaPo Comment: Criminal justice terms can inflict lasting harm
Letter: State employees union shouldn’t fight vaccine mandate

News Tribune
‘These are extraordinary times.’ Teachers weigh return to school, vaccine requirements
Delta is rising and schools are reopening. For parents, it’s hard to know how to feel
Daily number of new COVID-19 cases in Pierce County remains in triple digits

North American Post
History: Seattle Japanese Pioneers ~History of Seattle Nikkei Immigrants from ‘The North American Times’

Olympian
Who gets a big tax break in Washington state — and who doesn’t — under Biden tax plan

Peninsula Daily News
Rich payout as PUD head retires
COVID, staffing burden Olympic Peninsula hospitals

Puget Sound Business Journal
Tacoma council to reexamine controversial tax break for housing developers
Supreme Court ends Biden’s eviction moratorium
Delta’s extra $200 insurance fee shows vaccine dilemma for employers
Commercial building owners could get low-interest loans for upgrades under King County program

Seattle Times
Editorial: A few fringe Washington lawmakers should stop undermining elections
Sound Transit spends $4.2 million to study ways to lower costs
State superintendent’s emergency rule will penalize Washington schools not complying with mask, vaccine requirements
Wildfire smoke exposure linked to preterm births, study says
17-year-old critically wounded, 14-year-old in custody after gunfire outside Seattle middle school
Cities aren’t dying, but the future of office work remains unclear
In aftermath of Kabul attack, Northwest aid groups remain committed to work in Afghanistan
Opinion: Medicare in desperate need of more mental health providers, who stand ready to help

Skagit Valley Herald
Rally held against COVID-19 vaccine mandates
Mount Vernon approves sales tax increase for affordable housing
Sedro-Woolley Library to have its grand opening

South Seattle Emerald
Transit and sidewalks need improvement for disabled Washingtonians, report says
Mask mandates, school openings, sports, and other questions about COVID-19
Opinion: What’s in a name? Plenty, if it belongs to a slaveholder or white supremacist

Spokesman Review
Spokane Valley councilmember decries state COVID-19 mandates; claims rules are ‘destroying our city’

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities police piecing together path of Kennewick construction worker’s deadly rage
‘Unprecedented’ COVID stress. Tri-Cities hospitals diverting ambulances daily this month

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla County breaches 7K mark in COVID-19 cases; Oregon reports breakthrough cases
Walla Walla’s Sleep Center has first COVID-19 outbreak

Washington Post
U.S. forces preparing for more ISIS attacks in Kabul, top commander says
ISIS-K, the group behind the Kabul airport attack, sees both Taliban and the U.S. as enemies
Fed chief signals support for the economy could begin to be pulled back this year, if recovery stays strongly on track

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima community COVID testing site to move to YVC on Monday
Crews use fire to prevent growth of Schneider Springs Fire to the south
Yakima man tests positive for West Nile virus

Broadcast

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Encampment on Seattle Public Schools property will not be cleared before school starts
WSDA staff destroys first Asian giant hornet nest of 2021
Seattle parents work toward educational equity through school supplies

KUOW FM
Fed Chair Says It May Soon Be Time To Start Reducing Its Massive Economic Support
Nest with nearly 1,500 Asian giant hornets destroyed near Blaine
Greenhouse Gas Levels Are The Highest Ever Seen — And That’s Going Back 800,000 Years
Children’s Mental Health Gets Millions In Funding From The Biden Administration
At Least 169 Afghans Were Killed In The Kabul Airport Attack
Seattle ‘vaccine’ peddler pleads guilty to federal drug misbranding charges

KXLY (ABC)
Hospitals desperate to hire during critical staffing shortages
Spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations forces Providence to pause more surgeries, procedures
Supreme Court allows evictions to resume during pandemic

Web

Crosscut
How the Puget Sound region is changing the way zoos operate

MyNorthwest
Man who murdered ex-girlfriend at Seattle Center sentenced for ‘horrendous’ crime
ACLU lawsuit over ‘Compassion Seattle’ homelessness initiative set to go in front of judge
State scientists hopeful eradicated hornet nest may be only one in area
Teen suspect arrested in connection with shooting of 17-year-old
Gov. Inslee encourages continued evacuation efforts of Afghan refugees
Kent students return to classrooms
Seattle mayor announces $7.5 million in funds for neighborhood recovery
Hundreds can return to homes in Lake Chelan, but fire danger remains

Slog
An Update on This Year’s Wildfires: It’s Bad!

Thursday, Aug. 26

COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise in Washington
Health officials say that the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is doubling every 18 to 19 days in the state. The surge, driven by the delta variant, has “stressed, stretched and strained” hospital resources across the state, Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah said Wednesday at a Department of Health briefing. The Seattle Times reported that the state has documented 5,879 possible vaccine breakthrough cases of COVID-19 in Washington state, but the vast majority of cases involve unvaccinated patients. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

Editorial: Vaccines: A surefire way to end a pandemic
Seventeen months ago, the country screeched to a halt. A novel coronavirus was spreading across the globe and had reached the United States, causing everything to shut down — seemingly over night. In the past 17 months, we’ve learned a lot — about the virus, pandemics in general, government stability, human decency and indecency, and ourselves. Continue reading at The Journal of the San Juan Islands.

Nearly 1,500 Giant Asian ‘murder hornets’ eradicated in rural Whatcom County nest
The first Asian giant hornet nest of the year has been eradicated in Washington state. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) said its crews eradicated the nest in the base of a dead alder tree in rural Whatcom County. This net was about two miles from the nest eradicated last October and not far from where a resident saw the giant Murder hornet earlier this month. Continue reading at KOMO News. (Washington State Department of Agriculture)