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Wednesday, Aug. 25

Thousands in Washington state in ‘limbo’ with halt to DACA applications
[Daniela] Reyes is among the tens of thousands of DACA applicants caught in a backlog of cases after U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen barred the federal government from approving new applications. The ruling has highlighted the transient nature of the protections afforded by DACA and has strengthened calls for comprehensive immigration reform that includes immigrants beyond those eligible for the program. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Alan Berner)

Opinion: In WA, incarcerated students are ‘left behind and left out’
Issaquah schools are among the best in Washington state. Ninety-six percent of students graduate on time, and more than 75% demonstrate solid math and language skills — results that far outstrip Seattle, and even Bellevue. Issaquah’s kids are clearly set up to succeed. But one school in the district languishes at the bottom of the pile, rating 2,044th out of 2,052 schools statewide. Continue reading at Crosscut.

State Rep. My-Linh Thai, herself a refugee, on the future for Afghans seeking shelter here
For state Rep. My-Linh Thai, the recent images and sounds from Afghanistan have hit close to home. “I turned on the news and I turned off the news, and I turned the news back on and I turned it back off,” she said. “It was hard, very hard.” Thai, D-Bellevue, is a refugee. She was a child during the Vietnam War, living in a small community on the Mekong River Delta. Continue reading at KNKX. (Steve Ringman)

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Associated Press
WA commissioner walks out of meeting during mask protest
Franklin County commissioner, audience members protest mask mandate at meeting
Commissioner calls for federal firefighter vaccine mandate
US regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
US boarding school review prompts calls for trauma support
Feds report most rental assistance has still not gone out

Bellevue Reporter
State gets environmental OK for second I-405 toll lane

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County sees another COVID-related death and surpasses milestone for cases Tuesday
The Canadian border opened 2 weeks ago — how many people are taking advantage of it?
Whatcom sees another triple-digit weekend in COVID-19 cases and more hospitalizations
Widow sues Washington man for attack on Capitol officer. Her husband died by suicide
Booster shot of J&J COVID vaccine significantly increases protection, data show

Capital Press
WSU creates new AI research institute for agriculture
Judge nixes mass discrimination suit against Stemilt
U.S. potato exports rise in marketing year
149-year-old farm in battle with Ecology over water right

Columbian
Vancouver: No plan to mandate vaccines for city employees
Opinion: In Our View: Action on climate will protect supply chain

Everett Herald
County expects 1,200 Afghans to settle here in coming months
Snohomish County infections near the highs set last winter
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg: Boeing employees’ safety independence is under scrutiny by FAA

High Country News
Uncurbed climate change and extreme heat will extract a toll on outdoor labor
Colorado River water shortages highlight the urgency of reducing water waste

The Inlander
The delta variant plagued Watershed and got Pig Out canceled — is Hoopfest next?

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap County approves increase in transportation impact fees for developers

News Tribune
With 30% of firefighters unvaccinated, Pierce County may see major staffing shortages
Narrows Bridge toll hike approved. Increase to start later this year
Court orders ICE to test detainees for COVID before transfer to Tacoma detention center
Size of Puyallup cold storage facility creates delays in fire investigation
After decades of sitting empty, Tacoma moves forward on future of former landfill
How long will jail COVID outbreak affect arrests in Pierce County? Here’s what we know
Pierce County passes grim milestone: COVID-19 case rate now ‘the highest it’s been’
Editorial: Amid summer violence, true city leadership means helping all Tacomans feel safer

Olympian
10 Thurston residents died of COVID in the past week, as 676 new cases were tallied
High school in WA state requires tracking monitors for athletes at practice due to COVID
Does the Port of Olympia want to bring Panama Canal-size ships to the marine terminal?
Olympia arts venues to require proof of vaccination to attend events
Olympia’s embattled tent city will leave downtown in 2022
Watch county commissioner in WA state walk out after meeting melts down into mask protest
The secret bias hidden in mortgage-approval algorithms

Peninsula Daily News
COVID-19 case rates skyrocket on Olympic Peninsula
Clallam adds 107 cases, one death on weekend
US keeps ban on nonessential border crossings to slow COVID

Puget Sound Business Journal
How company size is shaping employer Covid-19 protocols
Report: Amazon, Microsoft, Apple CEOs to meet with Biden on cybersecurity
Pfizer approval clears way for more college campus vaccine mandates

Seattle Times
Scientists are racing to unravel the pandemic’s toll on kids’ brains
Skagit County sues Seattle for public records in fight over fish passage at city dams
Organizer of neo-Nazi group gets 3-year sentence for intimidation campaign aimed at Jews, journalists
Arena deals for Kraken and Arizona Coyotes provide a lesson in public funding and economic impact
Thousands in Washington state in ‘limbo’ with halt to DACA applications
Former Washington state employment chief leaves job in Biden Labor Department
Editorial: It shouldn’t take a 100-degree day to trigger heat protections for farmworkers

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County offers rental assistance website
Skagit County businesses adjust to mask requirement — again
Skagit County adopts new building codes

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Snoqualmie requires vaccine for city employees

South Seattle Emerald
Washington organizations are resettling Afghan refugees, here’s how you can help
Opinion: SNAP increase is overdue, welcome news for strapped family budgets

Spokesman Review
Washington’s vaccine mandate guidelines for school workers advocate caution in questioning religious exemptions
Riverside School district offers up office space to sheriff’s deputies in ‘unique partnership’
Jury trials paused in four out of five North Idaho counties as COVID cases surge

Tri-City Herald
‘Shot way up.’ Tri-Cities hospitalized COVID patient numbers reach new high
Franklin commissioner walks out of ‘illegal’ meeting after it melts down into WA mask protest

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla school leaders plan to spend reserves in support of pandemic recovery
Walla Walla Community Hospice learns to adapt as COVID-19 case numbers spike

Washington Post
Pentagon orders all active and reserve military personnel to be vaccinated
Weary of turmoil and division, most teens still voice faith in future, Post-Ipsos poll finds
The Mississippi clinic at the center of the fight to end abortion in America
House passes $3.5 trillion budget plan, aims to vote on infrastructure package by late September
House passes bill to strengthen Voting Rights Act in face of new restrictions in GOP-led states
Opinion: The FDA’s slow road to full vaccine approval shouldn’t surprise anyone

Yakima Herald Republic
New fencing along Naches Avenue in Yakima forces homeless people to move
Air quality in Yakima varies because of smoke; COVID testing at State Fair Park closed Tuesday
Community COVID testing center to reopen Wednesday in Sunnyside
Opinion: Neighborhood cleanup sets a great example for the community

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
WATCH LIVE: State health leaders provide update on response to COVID-19 pandemic
Johnson & Johnson: Booster shot prompted big jump in immune response
5 things you need to know this Wednesday
Suzi LeVine, former Washington employment security commissioner, leaves Biden administration
University of Washington ends philosophical exemptions for COVID-19 vaccine
Skagit County sues Seattle City Light for allegedly withholding Skagit River dam financial records
Parents urge Seattle Public Schools to move lunchtime outdoors to curb virus spread

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Pentagon: US troops must get their COVID-19 vaccines ASAP
Seattle Public Schools outlines safety measures, parent concerned it’s not enough

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Washington state could see up to 6,000 Afghan refugees in next few months (Thai)
King County leaders could propose taking control of City Hall park from city
Debate builds over imposing higher insurance costs for unvaccinated
Amid growing complaints about non-mask compliance, state warns of consequences

KNKX FM
Judge rules all detainees must be tested before flying to ICE facility in Tacoma
State Rep. My-Linh Thai, herself a refugee, on the future for Afghans seeking shelter here (Thai)
Canadians still can’t visit tiny Point Roberts, and community is losing hope
Biden praises WNBA champs Seattle Storm for social justice activism

KUOW FM
‘It’s not our rule. We’re just abiding by it.’ Statewide mask mandate returns to Washington
‘Gray skies and that dull orange orb in the sky’: The view from NW fire lines
Delta Air Lines Is Going To Start Charging Unvaccinated Employees $200 Per Month
School admin’s pushback against public health worries some Issaquah parents
Redmond man gets 3 years in federal prison for neo-Nazi plot to intimidate journalists, activists
Washington preparing for surge of Afghan refugees in coming weeks
Nation’s first hydrogen-powered ferry launches in Bellingham
No word yet on refunds for people fined under now-void WA drug law

Web

Crosscut
How the West’s divided electric grid slows green growth
Critical race theory: A political debate hits WA schools
$3M contract to research Seattle policing alternatives is legal, but lacking
The newest Washington mask mandate: What you need to know
Opinion: In WA, incarcerated students are ‘left behind and left out’
Opinion: 6 reasons September could mean crisis for many Washingtonians

MyNorthwest
‘This pandemic rages on’: Delta variant has state’s hospitals filled to record levels
Seattle parents push for schools to move student lunches outdoors
Positive at-home COVID test results can be reported through state hotline
COVID vaccine exemption asks if state workers received medicine as an adult
Former head of Washington Employment Security Department leaves Biden admin job
Snohomish County Executive: It’s a ‘perilous situation’ as schools reopen
Washington lawmakers issue plea to administration as wildfires burn across the state
Seattle’s blistering summer wraps up with cooler than normal temperatures
UW modelers: Delta variant could start ‘running out of people to infect’ by end of year
No Washington schools would reopen to all students under late-2020 threshold

Slog
Far-Right, Antifascist Protesters Fight in NE Portland; Police Refuse to Intervene
After City Hall Park Homeless Camp Is Emptied, Debate Over Solutions Intensifies

Tuesday, Aug. 24

Unvaccinated hospitalizations cost US health system $2.3 billion in June & July
Analysts say hospitalizing unvaccinated people is costing the U.S. health system billions of dollars. A Kaiser Family Foundation report found the average cost of a COVID-19 hospitalization is around $20,000. The foundation also looked at government data and found that 113,000 hospitalizations could have been prevented in June and July. Continue reading at KOMO News. (Rogelio V. Solis)

Immunocompromised? Here’s how to get a third COVID vaccine dose in Washington state
People with moderately or severely compromised immune systems qualify for a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Earlier this month, the state Department of Health officially recommended an additional dose for certain immunocompromised people. The recommendation applies for those who already received an mRNA vaccine, which include Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Businesses are struggling to fill open jobs. Here’s why some unemployed aren’t interested.
Small-business owners grappling with a tight labor market have raised wages, offered big bonuses and even adapted their business models to offer remote work — but a large portion of unemployed workers simply aren’t looking for a job. The lack of adequate workforce participation has resulted in an intense competition for talent and posed significant challenges for businesses, including some that are coping with decreased revenue because of staffing constraints. Continue reading at The Puget Sound Business Journal.

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Associated Press
Dozens test positive for COVID-19 at Pierce County Jail
Activists try to overturn Oregon’s newest election laws
Benton County Jail offers inmates ramen noodles for vaccines
Dr. Fauci expects uptick in COVID vaccinations after FDA OKs Pfizer shot
G-7 grapples with Afghanistan, an afterthought not long ago
Taliban says no extensions of August 31 deadline for US evacuations
Federal judge orders ICE to test detainees for COVID-19
Hawaii governor urges visitors to stay away

Aberdeen Daily World
Fifth COVID wave continues to roll through county

Columbian
Clark County business owners, employees, customers adjust as mask mandate returns
Legacy Health to pause nonurgent surgeries as COVID precaution
Clark County’s ‘breakthrough’ COVID-19 cases surge
Opinion: In Our View: Alleviating homelessness requires various efforts
Opinion: In Our View: New vaccine mandates matter of public health
Opinion: Cheers & Jeers: Vaccinations; delta variant
Opinion: In Our View: Earmarks are conducive to functional government

Courier-Herald
Letter: Worried about pollution? Check the litter box

The Daily News
Businesses see little initial blow back as mask mandate returns to Washington

Everett Herald
Everett council to consider tribal land acknowledgement
USS John Paul Jones arrives at a new home, in Everett
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Students gear up for a year of reading, writing and masking
Should Everett’s in-home businesses be given more latitude?
Editorial: Baseless claims of fraud threaten voter confidence
WaPo Comment: Should vaccination be a factor in who gets ICU care?
Comment: Murray, Inslee should back removal of Snake’s dams
Comment: Don’t end successful program for affordable legal aid
Letter: Racist ugliness doesn’t belong in the City of Snohomish

Islands’ Weekly
Childhood immunization data concern public health officials

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap County’s COVID cases up 9.7%; Washington cases surge 13.4%

North American Post
Musings on My First UW Year and the Summer Break Paradox

Port Townsend Leader
Jefferson Healthcare offers COVID self-test kits
COVID-19 surge prompts postponement, cancellations of concerts in Jefferson County
Free day coming soon for Washington State Parks

Puget Sound Business Journal
Businesses are struggling to fill open jobs. Here’s why some unemployed aren’t interested.
Biden and the fed wanted a hot economy. There’s risk of getting burned.
Will more employer mandates follow FDA’s approval of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine?
Single-family rental owners at lower default risk, but smaller landlords still face challenges
UW Tacoma to start on $43M mass timber academic building
Adoption of VR in the workplace expected to accelerate as pandemic wears on

Renton Reporter
Local artist shares stories and portraits of refugees in the Northwest

Runta News
Delta, Tallaalka Caruurta, iyo Talooyin Ku Saabsan Ku Noqoshada Iskuulka (Somali)

Seattle Times
Immunocompromised? Here’s how to get a third COVID vaccine dose in Washington state
57 people from one Seattle homeless encampment got hotel rooms last year. More than 1/3 likely went back to the streets.
President Joe Biden goes off script during White House visit, gives Storm personal tour of Oval Office
State auditor finds ‘bare minimum of accountability’ for Seattle City Council’s Black Brilliance Project
Opinion: How to end child hunger — permanently
Editorial: In the region’s homelessness effort, helping RV campers is hardest lift, yet among the most urgent

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County plans to reopen COVID-19 testing and vaccination site
Rate of new COVID-19 cases in Skagit County remains high
Possible changes in juvenile justice system has county preparing to adjust

South Seattle Emerald
March to ‘protect public spaces’ meets anti-sweep protest at City Hall camp
The South End guide to reducing our carbon footprint: fighting plastics
KCEN calls on donors to divest, joins growing demands for Seattle Children’s resignations
Opinion: Despite Governor’s actions, eviction crisis still looms large
Opinion: Dear Seattle Children’s Hospital, please do not call yourself a leader in equity

Spokesman Review
Statewide mask mandate is back for everyone, but there are some exceptions. Here’s where you need to wear a mask in Washington
Washington Supreme Court mandates COVID-19 vaccines for workers, encourages lower courts to do same
Leaders in the Northwest praise final approval of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Tri-City Herald
WSU Tri-Cities students return to classes on campus — masked up and vaccinated

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla school leaders plan to spend reserves in support of pandemic recovery
Walla Walla Community Hospice learns to adapt as COVID-19 case numbers spike

Washington Post
Pandemic reemerges as Americans’ top concern, poll shows
CIA Director William Burns held secret meeting in Kabul with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar
Taliban doubles down on Aug. 31 deadline, says Afghans no longer allowed to reach Kabul airport
Facebook says post that cast doubt on covid-19 vaccine was most popular on the platform from January through March

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima School District begins school year in person on Wednesday
Virtual talk on rental assistance planned Thursday
Commentary: Stopping the next mortgage meltdown

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Do I need a mask? Breaking down Washington’s universal mask mandate

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Mask mandate begins in Washington state amid concerns about enforcement
Washington land commissioner requiring all firefighters to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18
Unvaccinated hospitalizations cost US health system $2.3 billion in June & July

KXLY (ABC)
Commissioner Franz urges federal agencies to require vaccines for wildland firefighters

Q13 TV (Fox)
Troops won’t stay in Afghanistan past Aug. 31, official says
State Department of Agriculture to eradicate live Asian giant hornet nest this week
Help give Afghan refugees a new start in Washington state
Demonstrating against vaccine mandates as Pfizer’s COVID shot gains FDA approval
Airbnb says it will host up to 20,000 Afghan refugees

Web

MyNorthwest
Alaska Airlines flight evacuates after landing at Sea-Tac due to cell phone fire, officials say
No Washington schools would reopen to all students under late-2020 threshold
State prison nurse says workers preparing to leave over vaccine mandate
State Public Lands Commissioner wants COVID vaccination for firefighters
Mask mandate ‘a good, moderate step’ to keep state’s hospitality industry running
Could FDA approval lead to student vaccine mandate in Washington?

La Raza del Noroeste
¿Su prueba de COVID-19 es positiva?
El aumento de los casos de COVID-19 demuestra que hacerse la prueba es más importante que nunca
La orden actualizada sobre el uso de mascarillas en todo el estado entra en vigor el lunes 23 de agosto

Monday, Aug. 23

Out of war-ending chaos comes a wave of new Americans
Irshad Hamidi is getting a phone call. He has been dealing with a lot of surprises lately. “I wish it’s a good one, come on,” Hamidi says into his phone Tuesday afternoon outside a Lynnwood apartment complex. The next words out of his mouth are, “Whoa, whoa.” An apartment has opened in the building where he’s been staying with his cousin since arriving Aug. 5 from Kabul, Afghanistan. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

Washington state’s indoor mask mandate now in effect
A statewide indoor mask mandate went into effect Monday for all individuals age 5 and up — regardless of vaccination status. Gov. Jay Inslee announced the mask requirement last week as COVID-19 hospitalizations in Washington have reached a new peak, and as every county in the state has been categorized as substantial or high risk for transmission by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

US regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Monday, a milestone that could lift public confidence in the shots and spur more companies, universities and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory. The formula made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech now carries the strongest endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration, which has never before had so much evidence to judge a shot’s safety. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
US regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
Official: Pentagon to mandate COVID-19 vaccines
State employee union raps Inslee over vaccine mandates (Keiser)
U.S. extends ban on nonessential crossings at Canada, Mexico borders

Aberdeen Daily World
$4 million approved by Chehalis Basin Board for Hoquiam levee
Washington hospitals filling up as pandemic labor shortage strains health care system
Hoquiam City Council meetings return to Zoom-only on Aug. 23
Sea Mar receives $50,000 donation to advance health care equity

Auburn Reporter
Message from state superintendent regarding school employee vaccinations

Bellevue Reporter
Editorial: The UN climate report, ‘The Lorax’ and us

The Daily News
Aid efforts come together as Afghan refugees head to Washington
Cowlitz County police, mental health providers concerned about new law’s changes to crisis response
Governor Inslee extends clemency authority to vacate simple drug possession convictions

Everett Herald
State gets feds’ environmental OK for second I-405 toll lane
County pays $600,000 to settle 7 claims of deputy misconduct
Out of war-ending chaos comes a wave of new Americans
Family loses newly purchased dream home to eminent domain
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
After 100,000 lost jobs, aviation industry aims to roar back
Snohomish County COVID cases still surging in fifth wave
Editorial: Differing points on mandates need reason, respect
WaPo Comment: PTA helped build U.S. schools; it’s needed again
Comment: Deceit, delusion common themes in our recent wars
Letter: Less government, regulation but only when wealthy benefit?
Letter: ‘Good ol’ days’ weren’t always so, and we should admit that

Islands’ Weekly
Regional transportation authority weighs passenger-only ferry options
Cantwell outlines big wins for Washington state’s infrastructure, salmon, economy

Kitsap Sun
Census data shows Kitsap County is attracting more people while becoming more diverse

Peninsula Daily News
Grant sought to help housing
Port Angeles City Council pledges funds for Peninsula Behavioral Health project
Health officer: All indoor spaces high risk for unprotected
US keeps ban on nonessential border crossings to slow COVID
Students offered gift cards at vaccination clinics
Public schools ready for in-person fall classes
Clallam County seeking volunteers
PUD to raise rates in ‘22,’23
Clallam PUD issues water alerts for six systems

Puget Sound Business Journal
Report: Seattle has 6th-most IT jobs per capita among US metros
T-Mobile now says 53 million people affected by data breach
Delta variant creates new headwinds for event and meeting industry

Seattle Times
Washington state’s indoor mask mandate now in effect
Washington is poised to accept a wave of Afghan refugees. How will they be received?
Tension over visible homelessness has risen in Seattle — and the country
Opposing rallies in Portland result in clashes between protesters
If you have unvaccinated kids, act like ‘nobody in household’ is vaccinated, experts urge — and more back-to-school advice
More meth, cocaine contamination found at Washington state toxicology lab
Southeast Asian immigrants grow crops in Seattle’s P-Patches to produce familiar flavors for their families
Editorial: A glimmer of back-to-school joy

Skagit Valley Herald
Rate of new COVID-19 cases in Skagit County remains high
Possible changes in juvenile justice system has county preparing to adjust
Vaccine requirement may cause staffing issues at county’s fire departments

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Opinion: Financial reality about re-introducing mask mandates
Census data shows population growth in Snoqualmie Valley

South Whidbey Record
County adopts new pandemic-related pay bump
Langley council extends outdoor dining past summer
Letter: Disgusted by fiasco created by withdrawal

Tri-City Herald
Former Tri-Cities teacher finds new way to build more affordable townhouses for renters
Tri-City Herald letter writers upset with Richland School Board candidate Audra Byrd
Firefighting boat will make a stretch of the Columbia River near Tri-Cities safer
WA state employee union raps Inslee over vaccine mandates
A Tri-Cities jail has a new incentive for COVID vaccines. Inmates are eating it up
Highest number of new COVID deaths in Tri-Cities in five months. 2 were in their 40s.
Ben Franklin Transit cancels all bus rides to Tri-Cities fair over COVID concerns
Developer that’s turning Tri-Cities motels into apartments is buying yet another one

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
For first time in 2021, wildfires brought bad air to Vashon

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
School officials: vaccine mandate presents challenge to small districts in Walla Walla area
Masks debated during public comment at Walla Walla School Board meeting
Walla Walla Community Hospice learns to adapt as COVID-19 case numbers spike
Stop smoking sessions slated at Providence Southgate Medical Park in Walla Walla
Builders deal with skyrocketing prices, supply and labor shortages in Walla Walla Valley
Back to school: Hot lunch is on the menu at Walla Walla area schools this fall

Washington Post
Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine wins full FDA approval, potentially persuading the hesitant to get a shot
Taliban rejects extending Aug. 31 U.S. pullout, calling it a ‘red line’
Big business pledged nearly $50 billion for racial justice. A tiny fraction went to organizations focused on criminal justice reform.
Census data suggests America’s hunger problem may be waning, but food assistance continues to top pre-pandemic levels
Heavy rains swamp eastern U.S. as Henri moves inland
Oregon doctors make emotional plea to the unvaccinated: ‘We cannot keep fighting this fight without your help’

Whidbey News-Times
Opinion: Meetings should be recorded, posted online even after COVID

Yakima Herald Republic
Former Yakima Training Center commander recalls early work in Afghanistan, worries about those left behind
Josh Elliott: Pulling out of Afghanistan the right move, even it it wasn’t perfectly executed
Opinion: Construction ahead: WSDOT’s budget is wearing thin
Letter: Walk your talk, Sheriff — don’t bother the hospital

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Washington veteran helps Afghan women, children escape Taliban rule
Q&A: Seattle COVID-19 vaccine expert answers questions about booster shots
67,500-acre wildfire in Yakima Valley forces residents to evacuate

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Afghan families make tough decision, start resettling in Seattle area
Cash incentives being offered for new Seattle school bus drivers, amid nationwide shortage
Average daily COVID deaths in Washington still low as cases and hospitalizations rise
Washington’s mask mandate goes into effect Monday
More than 30 Pierce Co. inmates test positive, hundreds quarantined at jail
Local Vietnamese Americans host, sponsor Afghan refugee families

KUOW FM
EPA to ban neurotoxic pesticide sprayed on NW apples and Christmas trees
Covid blog: Pandemic updates for the NW
The Focus Must Stay On Evacuations, Not On The Exit From Afghanistan, Harris Says
The Pentagon Is Calling On 6 U.S. Airlines To Help With The Afghan Evacuation Effort
This Is How The White Population Is Actually Changing Based On New Census Data
They Faced Racial Bias In Military Discipline. That Can Impact National Security
Pfizer’s COVID Vaccine Gets Full Approval From The FDA
Covid makes a rebound, Washington begins planning for refugees, and mosquito anxiety, this week
No word yet on refunds for people fined under now-void WA drug law

KXLY (ABC)
FDA grants full approval to Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, opening door to more vaccine mandates
Masks now required indoors across Washington state
WSU to drop personal, philosophical exemption as Pfizer vaccine gains full FDA approval
Educators speak on Gov. Inslee’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate

Web

Civic Skunkworks
The $7.25 Federal Minimum Wage Is a National Embarrassment

MyNorthwest
Could FDA approval lead to student vaccine mandate in Washington?
Protesters in Olympia say they ‘will not comply’ with COVID mandates
King County rent relief dollars expected to start flowing faster
Point Roberts loses second tourist season with border closure extension
Washington AG’s office IDs hundreds of sex offenders who failed to give up DNA
Seattle school district, teachers union reach tentative deal on COVID mandates
Anxiety expected to be high as Washington students prepare to return to school
US extends ban on non-essential travel across Canadian border
New hotel spaces fuel 132% increase in Seattle homeless shelter referrals

Friday, Aug. 20

Jennifer Luxton / The Seattle Times

Editorial: As police reforms hit resistance, law-enforcement leaders need to step up
Depending on their interpretations of the state’s new police reforms, law-enforcement agencies are responding to 911 calls with vastly different equipment and tactics, sometimes putting public safety at risk. Some disagreeing law-enforcement leaders should stop obfuscating over the laws and put safety of their communities ahead of their political agendas. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Jennifer Luxton / The Seattle Times)

Washington hospitals nearing capacity, seeing largest number of COVID-19 patients ever
The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) painted a bleak picture for the state’s medical facilities during a briefing Thursday as hospitals approach 100% occupancy amid a new wave in the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading at KING 5.

US keeps ban on nonessential border crossings to slow COVID
The U.S. government on Friday extended a ban on nonessential travel along the borders with Canada and Mexico to slow the spread of COVID-19 despite increasing pressure to lift the restriction. Continue reading at KOMO. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Print

Associated Press
First Asian giant hornet nest discovered near Blaine
Sheriff contracts COVID-19, still plans to fight mandates
Do I need a booster shot if I got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Fed’s Powell: There’s no returning to pre-pandemic economy
US keeps ban on nonessential border crossings to slow COVID
US to erase student debt for those with severe disabilities
Klickitat County Sheriff contracts COVID-19, still plans to fight mandates

Bellingham Herald
Woman sentenced after distributing fentanyl that led to Bellingham boys’ overdose death
A new tiny home village is being built in Bellingham
On day Inslee expands mask mandate, Whatcom County sees 70 new confirmed COVID cases
COVID delta variant more prevalent in Whatcom, as reported cases triple from last week

Capital Press
WSDA finds Asian giant hornet nest
Expect higher commodity prices amid Western wildfires, says farm lender

Everett Herald
Unpermitted bridge work stalls project in Lake Stevens park
Edmonds mayor chooses interim police chief for permanent job
Lake Stevens police chief retires; deputy succeeds him
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Klickitat Co. sheriff with COVID-19 still fighting mandates
Schwab: Biden kept promise of other presidents to get out
Bloomberg Comment: Taliban say they’ve changed, but so has Afghanistan
Bloomberg Comment: Taliban only pretending their barbaric days are over
Bloomberg Comment: Opinion polls show path forward on immigration
WaPo Comment: Afghan soldiers didn’t quit; we left the battle first

News Tribune
Pentagon offers mental health resources to military as Taliban takes over Afghanistan
Got an idea to draw tourists? Here’s how to get Gig Harbor taxes to help pay for it
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Mask Q&A: When and where you should wear a mask in Pierce County
Investigation complete into Tacoma officer who ran over 6 at street-racing event
COVID-19 cases among Pierce County children increase; rural areas see outbreaks
Get vaccinated or lose job, Peninsula School District staff are told

New York Times
Live Updates: Biden to Address Afghan Crisis as Desperation Builds at Kabul Airport
As Childhood Covid Cases Spike, School Vaccination Clinics Are Slow Going
Cutting off jobless benefits early may have hurt state economies.
E.P.A. to Block Pesticide Tied to Neurological Harm in Children
Western Drought Will Last Into Fall or Longer

North American Post
A-Bomb Survivor A Message from a Life Saved: Take Off, My Dream!

Olympian
About to lose unemployment benefits next month? Washington won’t keep the program going
School workers included in WA state vaccine requirement; masks are back for everyone
Thurston County workers may have to get vaccinated or test weekly to retain their jobs
Despite the rise in COVID cases, the state fair will still go on. Bring a mask
Netted and tagged with a tracker this so-called ‘murder hornet’ led the state to its nest
Here’s how Washington Tribes are updating their COVID measures

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County hits another record with virus case rate

Puget Sound Business Journal
Remaining Boeing 747 production hits single digits
Facebook rolls out virtual meetings platform as companies grapple with hybrid work
NASA, SpaceX agree to pause on lunar lander contract after Blue Origin lawsuit
New college disclosures highlight years of enrollment declines, schools in distress heading into pandemic

Seattle Times
Editorial: As police reforms hit resistance, law-enforcement leaders need to step up

Skagit Valley Herald
Reps. Larsen, DelBene talk American Rescue Plan Act
Mount Vernon event to provide COVID-19 vaccine information in Spanish

South Seattle Emerald
State mandates vaccinations for school system employees, expands mask-wearing indoors
Opinion: We need the flexibility gig work promises and basic rights
We can be heroes: The summer blood shortage and why it’s vital for bipoc to donate
‘Hai! Japantown 2021’: Honoring the past and reviving the present
Opinion: From Somalia to Afghanistan, we stand with our newest neighbors

Spokesman Review
Spokane’s Monroe Street Bridge focal point for suicide, mental health awareness
The statewide mask mandate is back for everyone, but there are some exceptions. Here’s where you need to wear a mask in Washington
Opinion: Nicholas Goldberg: We can’t blame the unmasked and unvaccinated for being irresponsible? Really?

Tri-City Herald
‘Just getting tired.’ Kadlec employees plan picket after months with no contract
Prestigious NASCAR-style event will launch NW’s newest raceway in Tri-Cities
‘Explosive growth’ in Tri-Cities COVID cases called ‘a crisis.’ Vaccinated people at risk
Benton Franklin Fair events kick off with Tri-Cities parade. Here’s what to expect
Historic link made from $17B Hanford treatment plant to radioactive tank waste
Coalition wants Oregon governor to deny Easterday dairy permit near Tri-Cities
Update: Health officials recommend canceling the Benton Franklin Fair, other large events

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Providence medical center in Walla Walla names new officer
Walla Walla teen allegedly molested by unfamiliar woman on her front porch
School officials: vaccine mandate presents challenge to small districts in Walla Walla area

Yakima Herald Republic
With Yakima Valley Memorial nearly full, doctors urge people to wear masks and get vaccinated

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
US extends COVID-19 border restrictions with Canada, Mexico through Sept. 21
COVID-19 testing demand in King County doubles amid delta variant spread
Pierce County pharmacy continues push to get people vaccinated against COVID-19
Washington’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate among strictest in the US. Here’s who is exempt
Washington hospitals nearing capacity, seeing largest number of COVID-19 patients ever

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Wazzu’s Rolovich says he intends to follow vaccine mandate
Capitol standoff: Man who claimed to have bomb outside Library of Congress surrenders
US to erase student debt for those with severe disabilities
FBI Seattle launches campaign for awareness, reporting of hate crimes

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
State entomologists find Asian giant hornet nest, plan to eradicate it next week
Washington frontline workers feeling effects of battling fifth wave of COVID-19 surge
Delta variant raises concerns for large events
Large gatherings fueling COVID-19 surge, hospitalizations at all-time high
Gig Harbor cancels remaining summer events amid COVID-19 surge
‘Tremendous volume of patients’ puts Longview hospital at max capacity
Seattle nears record number of fires set at homeless camps this year

KNKX FM
Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition calls on EPA to maintain standards set in 2014

KUOW FM
COULD A NEW FISH PASSAGE SYSTEM HELP SNAKE RIVER SALMON?
At WA Ferries, vaccine mandate looms amidst ‘unprecedented’ worker shortages
Covid blog: Pandemic updates for the NW

KXLY (ABC)
COVID-19 hospitalization surge, staffing shortages push hospitals to their limits
Firefighters across the area potentially quitting over vaccine mandate

Q13 TV (Fox)
Teacher against the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate plans to claim exemption
Officials: COVID filling hospital beds statewide while vaccine newcomers come around
COVID-19 or RSV? Symptoms parents should watch for in kids

Web

Crosscut
Decolonizing your plate
Descolonizar el plato
More mosquitoes in WA could come with hotter, longer summers

MyNorthwest
US extends ban on non-essential travel across Canadian border
New hotel spaces fuel 132% increase in Seattle homeless shelter referrals
Washington’s new mask mandate takes effect Monday: Here’s what you need to know
Shoreline woman charged in hate crime arrested, held on bail
First Asian giant hornet nest of 2021 found east of Blaine
Police arrest woman for breaking court order protecting Seattle mayor
Despite delta variant, fall travel expected to take off, says local analyst
WSU football coach could face choice between getting vaccinated or losing his job

Ms. Magazine
Reforming Law Enforcement Training Could Reduce The High Rate of Sexual Assault Case Attrition (Orwall)

Slog
Washington Superintendent Basically Tells Brandi Kruse that Teachers Can Easily Lie Their Way Out of Inslee’s New Vaccine Mandate
Seattle and Washington State Scramble to Assist Afghan Refugees

Thursday, Aug. 19

School workers included in WA state vaccine requirement; masks are back for everyone
Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday expanded the state’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement to include K-12 school staff, most childcare and early learning staff, and higher education, as the state struggles to contain a rising tide of COVID-19 cases. The governor also expanded the state indoor mask mandate to include everyone again in indoor settings, regardless of vaccine status. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Ted S. Warren)

Opinion: Vaccination, mask rules are burdensome, but necessary
Yes, new state rules requiring indoor masking for everyone and vaccinations for school and child care employees feel like a step backward in our seemingly endless battle against COVID-19. Yes, they’ll certainly be met with howls of protest. But yes, they’re unquestionably the fastest and safest way to reclaim our lives. So let’s all stop whining, suck it up and run this virus out of town once and for all. Continue reading at Yakima Herald-Republic. (Evan Abell)

‘Are we going to really be able to prevent eviction?’ Community groups brace for next housing crisis
There’s more than $300 million in rental assistance available for renters and landlords before Washington state’s eviction moratorium expires. But the money has been so slow to reach eligible people in Seattle and across King County, community groups are bracing for another housing crisis. Jeanice Hardy is dogged by a question this money was meant to answer: “Are we going to really be able to prevent eviction?” Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)