Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Wednesday, Aug. 18

Washington hospitals filling as pandemic labor shortage strains health care system
The labor shortage roiling American industries from restaurants to retail stores is now stressing the health care system, causing a ripple effect among Washington hospitals of severe overcrowding. The state’s hospitals are at near maximum capacity, forcing administrators to shuffle patients to other facilities, cancel surgeries and fill hallways with rented beds. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Elaine Thompson)

Washington wildfires grow, prompt evacuations, burn homes
Strong winds on Monday led to fire growth in central and eastern Washington that prompted new mandatory evacuations and burned homes, fire officials said. A fire northwest of Spokane that started Sunday near the town of Ford caused residents to scramble to leave their homes on Monday, The Spokesman-Review reported. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Joseph O’Sullivan)

CDC: COVID-19 booster shots recommended for all after 8 months
U.S. health officials Wednesday announced plans to offer COVID-19 booster shots to all Americans to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and signs that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. The plan, as outlined by the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other top authorities, calls for an extra dose eight months after people get their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The doses could begin the week of Sept. 20. Continue reading at KING 5.

Print

Associated Press
Washington wildfires grow, prompt evacuations, burn homes
US health officials call for booster shots against COVID-19
Fueled by winds, largest wildfire moves near California city
Death toll from Haiti’s weekend earthquake rises to 1,941
House Dems plan budget vote next week, defying moderates

Aberdeen Daily World
Fifth wave of COVID pandemic impacts Grays Harbor County
Aberdeen mayor, council member clash over comments

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County sees 70 new confirmed COVID cases, 11 hospitalizations reported Tuesday
As hospital sets new pandemic record for COVID patients, Whatcom sees another big weekend
Work continues on this new tiny home village in Bellingham

Capital Press
Wheat tops $10 per bushel, but will it stay there?

Everett Herald
COVID-19 patients are again filling Snohomish County ICUs
Everett council evaluates city responses to homelessness
High-density housing isn’t coming to Mukilteo
WaPo Comment: It’s hubris to focus on ‘America’s humiliation’
WaPo Comment: U.S. again faces moral obligation to aid refugees
Letter: County’s mask mandate seems pretty clear; please follow it

The Inlander
What is wildfire smoke doing to our health?

Islands’ Weekly
Bipartisan bill hopes to improve rural veterans’ access to health care
County to host vaccine clinics next week

Kent Reporter
Residents debate police reform laws at Kent town hall

Kitsap Sun
City of Port Orchard restricts large-scale event permits for the rest of the summer

Mercer Island Reporter
City council to delve into draft sign code update on Sept. 21

News Tribune
Snopes co-founder tied to Tacoma company accused of fraud against homeless veteran
Troyer asks County Council to cover legal fees in criminal probe. Here’s what it decided
Opinion: Washington has a long history of welcoming refugees. Afghanistan should be no different (Jinkins, Thai)
Editorial: Election fraud hysteria persists in Washington, and Pierce County takes center stage
Op-Ed: Tacoma teachers, like me, must be vaccinated against COVID-19 for good of all

Olympian
Firefighters respond to fires in 2 Olympia area homeless encampments
UPDATE: Thurston County 911 dispatch unable to receive landline calls for hours Tuesday
Human remains found on JBLM-based plane seen surrounded in Afghanistan, Air Force says
Olympia hospitals have limited beds, ventilators available, health officials say
Can people with diabetes get a third COVID shot? Here’s what CDC guidance says

Peninsula Daily News
‘Consider your neighbor’
Broadband meeting set in Brinnon tonight
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Third doses of COVID vaccine for those at risk in works

Puget Sound Business Journal
Tacoma council approves plans to spend $2.8M in state, federal recovery funds
Seattle area ranks among country’s most EV-friendly metros
Aerospace manufacturers seek to retain workers lured by high-growth tech firms
Seattle eases restrictions in bid to fill empty downtown storefronts
Rep. Duerr and Sen. Frockt: Opinion: An innovative new tool for Washington communities to create jobs

Seattle Times
Washington hospitals filling as pandemic labor shortage strains health care system
Three Alaska Airlines employees die of COVID as leadership moves toward vaccination mandate
Tuesday was Seattle’s coolest day in more than 2 months. Is fall weather here to stay?
How to end America’s longest war the right way, Washington state style
Seattle-area Afghans enduring sleepless nights, terrified for family in hiding under Taliban rule

Skagit Valley Herald
Anacortes to Sidney ferry service won’t return until 2022
County seeking applicants for Planning Commission
COVID cases, hospitalizations continue to surge

South Seattle Emerald
Program expands in South King county to offer rides to transit centers and more
Weekend Long Reads: The climate change report
Seattle Children’s Hospital workforce protest for full Covington report
The South End guide to reducing our carbon footprint: safety to walk and roll
Ask a Therapist: How to live in a turbulent new normal
Advocates push for systemic change in face of rising hate crimes in Seattle
Opinion: Climate anxiety is not a diagnosis, it’s a new reality

South Whidbey Record
Oak Harbor man credits vaccine for mild symptoms during 2nd bout with COVID-19
Langley council discusses bringing back mask mandate

Spokesman Review
Those with invalid drug possession convictions can petition Inslee to eliminate remaining supervision, likely paving way for 1,200 commutations
‘Despair, doubt and uncertainty’: As Afghans rush to evacuate Taliban-controlled capital, Spokane volunteer awaits their arrival in Virginia
Crosswalk Youth Shelter plans big move out of downtown Spokane

Tri-City Herald
Can people with diabetes get a third COVID shot? Here’s what CDC guidance says
Crews start emptying radioactive waste from massive, leak-prone Hanford tank
UPDATE: Benton commander who backed Hatcher’s recall named interim sheriff
COVID patients flooding into swamped Tri-Cities hospitals. New cases swelling
Tri-Cities survey shows which city is resisting the COVID vaccine the most and why
Tri-Cities voters won’t see transit sales tax cut on their ballots

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Two Umatilla County women die with COVID-19, at ages 29 and 82
PLAZA WAY SERIES FINALE: Plaza Way roundabout now open in Walla Walla

Washington Post
With the Taliban now in control, here’s what Afghans are seeing in Kabul
How CDC data problems put the U.S. behind on the delta variant
Vaccines show declining effectiveness against infection overall but strong protection against hospitalization amid delta variant
Haiti earthquake survivors, stranded by storm, search for shelter
A mom of 4 who died of covid days after her husband makes one final wish: ‘Make sure my kids get vaccinated’
Federal mask mandate for planes, buses and trains to extend into next year

Whidbey News-Times
Letter: Parents ‘experts’ when it comes to protecting kids
Letter: Sharing views of anti-masker is ‘irresponsible’

Yakima Herald Republic
Census data shows Latinos now make up more than half of Yakima County’s population
CWU awards $10,000 in scholarships to fully vaccinated students
Three Alaska Airlines employees die of COVID as leadership moves toward vaccination mandate
Wildfire Resources for the Yakima Valley
Crews continue carving lines as Schneider Springs Fire prompts more evacuations
Air quality alert in effect through noon Wednesday for Yakima and Kittitas counties
Letter: Stop mincing words: they’re parasites, not patriots
Letter: Privileged protesters forget how lucky they are

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
COVID-19 booster shots recommended for all after 8 months
‘If it’s your child, it should be your choice’: Rallies across Washington call for end to school mask mandates
Younger, unvaccinated COVID-19 patients fill ICU at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center
Asian American woman files suit against Shoreline neighbor alleging racial harassment
Pacific Northwest nonprofits prepare for refugees from Afghanistan

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Shoreline victim in anti-Asian hate crime; family files lawsuit
Booster shot recommendations could create vaccine logjam in the Pacific Northwest
Afghan refugees to be resettled in Seattle and Tacoma
Seattle man desperate to get family out of Afghanistan
New UW study says pregnant and breastfeeding woman do well with the COVID vaccine

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Protesters ask Redmond mayor to halt plans for homeless housing at former motel
Charges filed against suspect accused of threatening to kill Black man

KNKX FM
They want to tell the real history, celebrate vibrant people of the Coast Salish
In a hot NW housing market, even isolated Point Roberts is seeing prices sizzle

KUOW FM
Your Garden Might Be a Fire Hazard
Covid blog: Pandemic updates for the NW
America’s Security May Depend On Critical Minerals. But Mine Workers Are Scarce
Senators Demand TikTok Reveal How It Plans To Collect Voice And Face Data
A Seattle-area Afghan American reacts to ‘stolen hope’
WATCH: Biden Delivers Remarks On Afghanistan
Hazy skies and heat blanket the Pacific Northwest

KXLY (ABC)
Gov. Jay Inslee to hold press conference with state superintendent Chris Reykdal

Q13 TV (Fox)
Family files civil lawsuit against neighbor who is criminally charged for hate crime
COVID-19 booster shots: US recommends booster for all Americans starting in September
Some parents pulling their kids out of school due to lack of remote learning options
Biden extends 100% federal reimbursement of states’ COVID-19 costs
Supporting housing needs for Afghan refugees resettling in Western Washington

Web

MyNorthwest
Douglas County judge set to hear oral arguments for lawsuits against capital gains tax
Shoreline family suing neighbor charged for alleged anti-Asian hate crime, years of bullying
More than 100 homes evacuated in Lake Chelan due to wildfire
Washington parents’ group plans to protest mandatory masking in schools
Criticism for U.S. government as next border closure decision looms
Masks required for tourists, employees at any National Park
Gov. Inslee offers clemency for drug possession convictions invalidated by court ruling
Seattle council votes to move parking enforcement away from SPD

Slog
New Data Visualization Tool Shows Just How Bad the Recent Explosion of Transphobic Bills Is
Is Hope to Be Found in America’s Shrinking White Population?

Tuesday, Aug. 17

New Washington laws aim to break foster care-to-prison pipeline
What unites the group of imprisoned men seeking change isn’t addiction recovery, making amends or anger management. Instead, it’s a shared childhood experience: foster care. “State-Raised” is the name of the group they’ve formed with the goal of disrupting the foster care-to-prison pipeline. Washington legislation passed this spring is designed to help that mission, the group’s founder, Arthur Longworth, said on a recent call from the Monroe Corrections Complex. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Elaine Thompson)

Inslee commutes more convictions to clear backlog left after Washington state’s drug-possession law struck down
Gov. Jay Inslee has commuted the sentences of more than 125 people on community supervision whose drug convictions have been deemed unconstitutional by the Washington Supreme Court. That is part of a broader push to grant as many as 1,200 commutations for people on supervision whose convictions were invalidated by the court’s ruling in February, Inslee announced Monday. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

More protection: US likely to authorize COVID booster shots
After struggling for months to persuade Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. health officials could soon face a fresh challenge: talking vaccinated people into getting booster shots to gain longer-lasting protection as the delta variant sends infections soaring again. As early as this week, U.S. health authorities are expected to recommend an extra dose of the vaccine for all Americans eight months after they get their second shot, according to two people who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Continue reading at KING 5.

Print

Associated Press
Over 200 coronavirus cases linked to Gorge music festival
Inslee commutes more drug possession convictions
More protection: US likely to authorize COVID booster shots

Aberdeen Daily World
Applicants sought for ad-hoc coastal steelhead advisory group

Auburn Reporter
King County preserves thousands of acres of farmland from development

Bellingham Herald
‘Anticlimactic’ end for temporary oil transshipment ban at Cherry Point
Bellingham, Whatcom see this wake-up call in U.N. climate change report
‘It was a tough deal’ — weekend fire causes estimated $700,000 damage on Whatcom farm
Whatcom sees 300 confirmed COVID cases last week, as hospital sets pandemic record high
Whatcom restaurant diners, shoppers suffer from these supply chain problems

Capital Press
9th Circuit rules against landowners in Clean Water Act dispute
Asian giant hornets elude WSDA pursuers

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Unvaccinated to blame for virus surge
Clark County’s COVID vaccination rate lags behind state
COVID presents Clark County schools chiefs with obstacles and opportunity

The Daily News
City of Longview plans cleanup at Alabama Street homeless camp, hosted site plan inches forward

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Protesters in Yakima oppose vaccine mandate, mask requirement
State superintendent asks for vaccination mandate to include school personnel
Heat affects agricultural workers; defenders ask for permanent protection rules

Everett Herald
WHL requires all players and staff to be vaccinated
Editorial: Delta variant is playing hardball; so must we
WaPo Comment: As Kabul falls, blame game overshadows context
WaPo Comment: What fall of Kabul means for Biden’s foreign policy
WaPo Comment: U.S. errors in Afghan war a repeat of Vietnam
Letter: Many lives depending on county’s indoor mask mandate
Letter: Still no proof of claims of ballot fraud, ‘stolen’ election

Federal Way Mirror
Inslee to provide clemency to those convicted under “unconstitutional” drug possession law

High Country News
Will Klamath salmon outlast the dam removal process?
For dairy cows, where there’s smoke, there’s less milk
‘Every part of a degree of warming that we can avert will make the future better’

Kent Reporter
King County applies for acquisition funding assistance of Federal Way hotel

Kitsap Sun
‘Swamped’ emergency room at St. Michael suffers from staffing issues, COVID-19 onslaught

News Tribune
Bookworms young and old happy to be back among the stacks as libraries re-open
COVID-19 surge intensifies in Pierce County with latest 3-day case total
2 Pierce County sheriff’s drug unit personnel disciplined after internal investigation
Some people fleeing Afghanistan will settle in Tacoma, Seattle
Air Force jet leaving Kabul with Afghans clinging to it appears to be from JBLM

New York Times
Live Updates: Taliban Promise No Reprisal Killings, but Afghans Are Desperate to Escape
U.S. to Advise Boosters for Most Americans 8 Months After Vaccination
American Hospitals Buckle Under Delta, With I.C.U.s Filling Up
Thousands of Afghans who helped the U.S. are trapped. What happens next?

Olympian
Thurston County confirms 723 new COVID-19 cases in past week
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state

Peninsula Daily News
Food bank seeks federal funds
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Public schools ready for in-person classes
Peninsula-wide mask mandate starts Monday
Masks required indoors in Clallam, Jefferson counties starting Monday
Tsunami sirens added to Peninsula

Port Townsend Leader
Jefferson County Public Health: Nearly 90 percent of COVID cases are unvaccinated residents

Puget Sound Business Journal
Covid-19 tax credit may expire early. Millions of dollars are at risk.
Seattle eases restrictions in bid to fill empty downtown storefronts
Colleges pushed average attendance cost to over $40,800 as pandemic flared
Bezos’ Blue Origin sues NASA over lunar lander contract awarded to SpaceX

Seattle Times
Seattle adds several miles of bike lanes to streets during pandemic
Washington state members of Congress are all-in for the return of earmarks
Inslee commutes more convictions to clear backlog left after Washington state’s drug-possession law struck down
Dramatic video of C-17 at Kabul airport shows people clinging to JBLM-based plane
Washington state’s Supreme Court largely upholds ruling that homeless man’s truck is a home
Opinion: Pacific Northwest workplace heat fatalities are a failure of government

Skagit Valley Herald
Grant will help Sedro-Woolley Farm to School program expand
Burlington to look into space concerns at fire station
Controversy continues between Seattle, tribes over Skagit River dam

The Skanner
Seattle Park Encampment Gone After Dozens Get Housing

Spokesman Review
Reykdal: Without vaccine mandate, keeping schools open this year will be challenging
As kids head back for full-time in-person instruction, experts urge masks, vaccines as COVID-19 risk remains high
LA Times: Food stamp aid to increase by more than 25% over pre-pandemic levels
Opinion: Spin Control: Is the ballot initiative fever cooling in Washington?

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities doctor surrenders license. He violated patient sexual misconduct, abuse rules

Vancouver Business Journal
New Washington Legislation – ‘Washington Cares Fund’

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Ports in Walla Walla, Columbia counties awarded $2 million for rural broadband projects
COVID-19 update: Unvaccinated people ‘making a choice’ that impacts all, Umatilla County official says

Washington Post
More than 600 Afghans cram into one U.S. transport flight, as thousands flee Taliban
She was the only member of Congress to vote against war in Afghanistan. Some called her a traitor.
Taliban’s de facto leader arrives in Afghanistan as group declares ‘amnesty’ for government officials
Weekly cases approach pre-vaccine levels as U.S. plans booster shots for most Americans
Opinion: The latest GOP anti-mask lunacy is stirring a backlash. New polling reveals it.

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima County kids lost ground on childhood immunizations during the pandemic
‘Go now’ evacuation notices expanded to part of SR410 because of Schneider Springs Fire
Washington state drought recovery unlikely this fall, officials say
PNWU launches one-year master’s program in medical sciences
Editorial: In these dark days, where is hope?

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Washington group helping people navigate where to find a third COVID-19 shot
State of emergency declared in Chelan County as Twenty-Five Mile Fire grows to 4,000 acres
Falling childhood vaccination rates in Washington ‘concerning’ for health department

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Afghan refugees to be resettled in Seattle and Tacoma
Taliban resurgence may cause additional PTSD cases for war vets
‘Stop the vaccine mandate’ movement erupts across Washington
Veteran first responder exposes difficulty getting treatment for PTSD
Local concern for women amid chaos in Afghanistan
Biden on Afghanistan: ‘There is never a good time to withdraw U.S. forces’
Locally based Air Force cargo jet in viral video of Kabul chaos
COVID-19 test appointments in high demand as travel increases
Kent husband, father working to get family out of Afghanistan

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Local efforts underway in Washington state to help vulnerable Afghans escape Taliban
Protest planned at City Hall over homeless shelter proposal in Redmond

KNKX FM
State legislators reflect on how Afghanistan withdrawal affects Washington (Jinkins)
How the view from space is helping fight wildfires on the ground
Skeptics of sea otter reintroduction getting organized on Pacific Coast
‘It’s heartbreaking.’ One hospital chief executive’s warning about the fifth wave of COVID-19

KUOW FM
A Seattle-area Afghan American reacts to ‘stolen hope’
Covid blog: Pandemic updates for the NW
Death Threats And Conspiracy Theories: Why 2020 Won’t End For Election Officials
Home Prices Are Now Higher Than The Peak Of The 2000s ‘Housing Bubble.’ What Gives?
1st Live Asian Giant ‘Murder Hornet’ Of 2021 Spotted In Washington State
Vaccination politics: Gov. Inslee’s mandate vs a Republican’s ‘free society’
Washington is 10% more diverse than it was 10 years ago. What does that mean?
Heat wave likely killed far more people in Washington state than reported
Washington superintendent asks for vaccine mandate for public school employees
NW hospitals stock up on ice and ‘prepare for the worst’ of heat-related illnesses
As vaccination rates stagger and delta looms, Washington’s road out of the pandemic remains uncertain

KXLY (ABC)
Mayor Woodward issues mask requirement at all city facilities
‘Feels like a battle they cannot win’: Emails show school districts’ concerns over mask mandates
Parents and students gather to protest mask mandates

Q13 TV (Fox)
Hospitals delay non-emergency surgeries as COVID infections rise in Washington
Opinion: The Divide: State workers respond to Gov. Inslee’s vaccine mandate

Web

Crosscut
Making Seattle safer for walking and cycling is proving difficult
New Washington laws aim to break foster care-to-prison pipeline
How Seattle Children’s issues became bigger than Dr. Ben Danielson
Opinion: Four policy changes Seattle landlords and tenants should agree on

MyNorthwest
Gov. Inslee offers clemency for drug possession convictions invalidated by court ruling
Seattle council votes to move parking enforcement away from SPD
Seattle mayor to sign downtown empty storefront legislation into law
Federal Way man fears for his family in Afghanistan
Edmonds woman explains why she got a COVID-19 booster shot
Washington Department of Agriculture begins Asian giant hornet tracking effort
King County moves to acquire Federal Way’s Red Lion hotel
Wildfire smoke may have contributed to Western US COVID case counts

Monday, Aug. 16

Heat and smoke protections for WA farmworkers may fall short
While Washington regulators created new rules to protect farmworkers who harvest during the heat and smoke, worker advocates say the protections fall far short of what’s necessary. Under the emergency rules, temperatures must break 100 degrees before employers are required to provide a paid cooling break, and air pollution must reach hazardous levels before farm owners must provide masks. Continue reading at Crosscut.

Washington’s unemployment recovery among fastest in US
Washington’s unemployment rate continues to improve as it recovers from significant Covid-19 pandemic-related job losses. A report by WalletHub found Washington’s change in unemployment claim numbers for the week ending Aug. 2 was 75% less than it was the same week in 2020. The state still hasn’t fully returned to its 2019 level, however. There were about 1.5% more claims filed last week than were filed in the same period in 2019. Continue reading at Puget Sound Business Journal.

Rep. Lovick: Comment: State’s new laws on policing an aid to police, public
Forty years ago, I proudly joined the Washington State Patrol. Back then, I had the utmost respect for our community’s protectors. Now, I have 40 times more respect for them. Yet we are having more difficulty coming together than ever before. When you’re involved in complex legislation determining the future of policing, it isn’t about who is right, but about doing what is right. I spent 2020 looking into people’s eyes and listening to their pain. As someone who wore the badge for decades, I needed to hear this. It was the first step in a journey toward collective healing. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.

Print

Associated Press
WSU to end ‘personal or philosophical’ vaccine exemptions
COVID-19 outbreak at veterans home kills 1, 32 test positive
Washington state promotes 3rd vaccine dose for ‘vulnerable’
Food stamp benefits to see largest single increase in program history
Taliban sweep into Afghan capital after government collapses

Aberdeen Daily World
Planners to ask Aberdeen for $7 million local commitment to North Shore Levee

Bainbridge Island Review
Kitsap expert: Wear masks in public indoors
Opinion: We have a moral responsibility to undo racism
Opinion: Spend more on front end to protect environment

Capital Press
Northwest potato farmers ‘clobbered’ by weather, hope for average crop
After the Bootleg: Ranchers add up losses from massive fire

Columbian
COVID presents Clark County schools chiefs with obstacles and opportunity
Opinion: In Our View: Infrastructure bill a win for Washington, U.S.
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Olympic spirit; bureaucracy

Courier-Herald
Opinion: Technology and the post-pandemic restructuring of education

Everett Herald
2020 Census: Snohomish County grows by more than 114,000
Frustration and fear as closures at Monroe prison begin
What the infrastructure bill could mean for Snohomish County
Mukilteo’s new road offers slower parallel to Speedway
Amid surging cases, nurses and others protest vax mandates
With no proof, Snohomish event will consider election fraud
Reykdal presses his case for mandatory teacher vaccinations
Rep. Lovick: Comment: State’s new laws on policing an aid to police, public
Editorial: The UN climate report, ‘The Lorax’ and us
Opinion: Burke: Can’t we agree on more than an onion shortage is bad?
Comment: What’s keeping us from affordable housing
Viewpoint: Heat waves not topping records but shattering them
Forum; Can we call a ceasefire to verbal gun battles?
Bloomberg Comment: Very few medical exemptions for vaccines legitimate
WaPo Comment: At 100, WWII vet mourns hate’s hold in own country
WaPo Comment: No, casual contact with fentanyl won’t cause overdose
Letter: There are other team names we should reconsider
Letter: Recent history explains much about rules of racism

The Facts Newspaper
Delta variant drives dramatic spike in cases, further exhausting hospital capacity across the state

Federal Way Mirror
County applies for acquisition funding assistance of Federal Way Red Lion hotel

The Inlander
Why Washington is knowingly violating its own laws in the treatment of mentally ill suspects
Rent in the Inland Northwest is soaring, and tenants feel powerless to stop it

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Regional transportation authorities consider passenger-only ferry options
Inslee announces vaccination requirement for most state employees, private health care and long-term care workers

Kirkland Reporter
Opinion: It’s time to rethink Washington’s long-term care law

Kitsap Sun
Deal to add 200 acres to Newberry Hill Heritage Park in the works

News Tribune
Prepare for 10-mile backups as construction closes state Route 167 later this month
Dedication ceremony set for Puyallup sculpture that pays tribute to Japanese Americans
More Idahoans are using ivermectin to treat COVID-19. Officials warn it could be dangerous
Op-Ed: Congress should do these 2 things to help Pierce County with safe, transparent police work

New York Times
Afghanistan Live Updates: Fear Spreads in Kabul as Taliban Take Charge
Delta Surge Drives Home Painful Truth: Covid Isn’t Going Away
As a big wildfire is contained in Oregon, others force thousands to evacuate across the West.
Food stamp aid will rise a record amount.

Olympian
Olympia, Lacey, Thurston County to work together to maintain junction of major trails
Mount Rainier National Park considering shuttles along Nisqually corridor
Are you ready to pay a tax in Thurston County to support low-income housing?
Thurston County school districts face a key shortage as the new year approaches
Hundreds gather at Capitol to protest Gov. Inslee’s vaccine mandate for state workers

Port Townsend Leader
Jefferson County Public Health: Nearly 90 percent of COVID cases are unvaccinated residents
Mask mandate to start Monday in Jefferson County

Puget Sound Business Journal
With City Hall Park now cleared, lawmaker suggests building affordable housing there
Sea-Tac Airport tenants grapple with building delays, worker shortages
Washington’s unemployment recovery among fastest in US

Seattle Times
Frustration, rage and surging COVID-19: This is not the summer we hoped for
5 census takeaways: When it comes to race, ethnicity in Seattle, 2020 data tells us who’s moving in, who’s moving out
UW Medicine offering third vaccinations, rescheduling surgeries as delta variant surges
Did the oldest male southern resident orca die too young — at just 35?
‘It’s a nightmare’: Their homeland racked by war, famine, Seattle’s Tigrayan community looks for answers
Thin blue line thickens after murder charges for Tacoma police officers in Manuel Ellis’ death
As wildfires overwhelm the West, officials try to predict their path
Sound Transit faces a $6.5 billion shortfall. Here’s what it might do (Fey, Hackney)
Sen. Das: Green roof legislation promises a multitude of community benefits

Skagit Valley Herald
Despite year’s challenges, Skagit County Fair sees higher attendance
Hitting Home: Latest climate change report underscores impacts for Skagit County
Controversy continues between Seattle, tribes over Skagit River dam
Fix-It Days project offers 10th year of repairs in continued effort to reduce trash
New Anacortes police chief a familiar face
Bear Creek Fire smoldering in North Cascades National Park
Smoke settles over Skagit County

The Skanner
Seattle Park Encampment Gone After Dozens Get Housing
Death Toll of Powerful Earthquake in Haiti Soars to 1,297
Chaos as Thousands flee Afghanistan after Taliban Takeover
Afghan Women Losing Rights as Taliban Approach Kabul
Federal Judge Leaves CDC Evictions Moratorium in Place

Snoqualmie Valley Record
North Bend asks residents to voluntarily conserve water
County enters planning phases for Snoqualmie Valley improvement plan

South Whidbey Record
Letter: Children should not be forced to endure face masks

Tri-City Herald
‘Wishing for a deep breath.’ Fundraisers launched for Tri-Citians in ICU with COVID
This entrance to Kennewick’s Columbia Park is closing until fall for construction
More Tri-Cities deaths from COVID reported. Mostly unvaccinated people dying

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Delta variant drives dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases across state

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Ports in Walla Walla, Columbia counties awarded $2 million for rural broadband projects
Hospitals staggering as variant spreads ‘like wildfire’ in Washington, not quite as quickly in Walla Walla, Columbia counties
Ports in Walla Walla, Columbia counties awarded $2 million for rural broadband projects
Dayton City Council member Delphine Bailey resigns amid turmoil over recent firings of top city staff
Designer approved for Walla Walla’s Heritage Square project, $2.5 million construction slated for 2022

Washington Post
Fear, uncertainty and chaos in Afghanistan after Taliban’s rapid return to power
Scenes of deadly chaos unfold at Kabul airport after Taliban’s return
Afghan security forces’ wholesale collapse was years in the making
Aid workers scramble to save Haiti earthquake victims as storm approaches
Nearly a third of U.S. workers under 40 considered changing careers during the pandemic

Whidbey News-Times
Oak Harbor school board clears the room after audience shouts disrupt meeting
Letter: Mask up for the safety of those on the front line
Letter: Need to step up, mandate wearing of face masks
Letter: Non-citizens get more protections than U.S. citizens

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima sets record with 103-degree high Sunday, but air quality remains an issue
Danger level remains high for Schneider Springs Fire as closures expand
Attorney says Don Wayman was fired for being a whistleblower, but Selah mayor disagrees
Yakima protesters object to mask and vaccine requirements
Editorial: First responders deserve our thanks — it’s their busy season
LA Times Column: Here’s how Fox News’ white supremacist propaganda can be stopped

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Wildfire forces evacuations near Lake Chelan
Puget Sound region gets relief after days dealing with wildfire smoke
Wildfire smoke linked to a rise of COVID-19 cases in Washington during 2020, Harvard study finds
Kent community fights back against gun violence

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Back to school: Parents urged to get their kids’ vaccines, well-checks now
Unemployment benefits may be denied to workers fired for not being vaccinated
Rising COVID cases in Washington stir concern about another lockdown

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane air quality improves to ‘moderate’
Packed In: Realtors turn to cold calling to get more homes on the market
Gonzaga requiring all people on campus to wear masks
Fire near Ford grows to 2000 acres, prompting Level 3 evacuations
Spokane sets new weather record for 90 degree days
‘It’s sad:’ Families leave without playing soccer tournament due to unhealthy air quality

Q13 TV (Fox)
State Superintendent wants Inslee to require COVID-19 vaccination for K–12 school employees
Officials: Delta causing COVID-19 cases in Washington to ‘spread like wildfire’
COVID-19 outbreak at veterans home kills 1, 32 test positive

Web

Crosscut
King County rent relief still slow to reach tenants
Opinion: Seattle should require vaccine proof at restaurants and bars
Cleaning up nuclear waste at Hanford: Secrecy, delays and budget debates
Communities under fire | Comunidades e incendios
Heat and smoke protections for WA farmworkers may fall short

MyNorthwest
Seattle council set to vote on bill limiting SPD’s use of less lethal weapons during protests
Puget Sound region gets early-week breather from heat and smoke
Kent husband, father working to get family out of Afghanistan
Lawmaker calls for Seattle to give county control over City Hall Park following closure
Kitsap renewed mask directive follows ‘explosion’ in cases
Where COVID case rates, hospitalizations are highest in Washington
Seattle Public Schools requires all ‘non-represented’ staff to be vaccinated
New mask guidance for high school sports in Washington

La Raza del Noroeste
Las variantes del COVID-19: Cómo mantenerse protegido a largo plazo

Friday, August 13

Seattle among U.S. cities that saw population gain of 100K in census
The city of Seattle was among 14 cities in the U.S. that saw a population gain of 100,000 or more over the past decade, and the nearby city of Kent was among 10 of the fastest growing cities with populations of 50,000 or more, according to data released Thursday by the U.S Census Bureau. Figures released earlier this year showed that the overall population of Washington state grew by nearly 15% over the past 10 years to more than 7.7 million, but despite the population jump it isn’t getting any more than the its current 10 U.S. House seats. Continue reading at KNKX. (Ted S. Warren/AP File)

Murder hornet sighted in Whatcom County
The second sighting of a so-called murder hornet this year was reported by a person in Whatcom County this week, the Washington state Department of Agriculture said Thursday. The Asian giant hornet was reported by a Whatcom County resident on Wednesday. Entomologists confirmed the sighting Thursday. The resident’s report included a photograph of the hornet attacking a paper wasp nest in a rural area east of the town of Blaine, about two miles from where state workers eradicated the first Asian giant hornet nest in the United States last October. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Ted S. Warren/AP File)

Washington Republican legislators push election fraud narrative at hearing on Sunday
More than nine months after the 2020 election, some Republicans continue to follow former President Donald Trump’s lead in waging a campaign to overturn or undermine confidence in the results. That’s true even in Washington — no one’s idea of a swing state — where Trump lost to Joe Biden by nearly 785,000 votes. On Sunday, five Republican state representatives are hosting an unofficial public hearing at a Snohomish church, encouraging the public to bring forward evidence of voting fraud or irregularities. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times)

Print

Associated Press
Seattle among U.S. cities that saw population gain of 100K in census
Northwest heat wave: Focus on getting water to vulnerable
Here we go again: Sizzling Northwest sends people scrambling to cool off, stay safe
Murder hornet sighted in Whatcom County
Seattle park encampment gone after dozens get housing
Court: Making homeless man pay truck’s towing cost excessive

Aberdeen Daily World
State ferry fees to rise this fall, even more in fall 2022

Bellingham Herald
Washington’s first live ‘murder hornet’ sighting of 2021 confirmed in Whatcom County
Intense heat and smoke are starting to have these impacts on Whatcom County
WA county health leaders unite on indoor masking recommendation amid COVID-19 surge
What is Whatcom County doing about COVID masking mandates and suggesting for the fair?

Capital Press
NOAA: La Nina likely to bring relief to Northwest farmers this winter
Asian giant hornet sighted in Washington state

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Yakima Health Board calls for flexibility in mandatory use of face masks in schools
Air quality reaches unhealthy levels in Yakima due to smoke

Everett Herald
State schools chief urges a vaccine mandate for teachers
WaPo Fact check: How did CDC use India data on breakthrough cases?
WaPo Comment: Dangerously, we’re still using ‘vermin’ as an analogy
Editorial: Delta variant is playing hardball; so must we
Letter: Democrats in Congress trying to solve problems

Mercer Island Reporter
Police chief addresses use of force, tactics and drug laws

News Tribune
Here’s how hot it’s expected to get Friday in Tacoma, Pierce County
Tacoma man who dismantled WWII ships wins big jury verdict in mesothelioma lawsuit
Masking, vaccinations, testing: State updates guidance for high school sports in 2021-22 school year

Olympian
Washington’s first live ‘murder hornet’ sighting of 2021 confirmed in Whatcom County
State mistakenly notifies thousands of canceled personalized vehicle plates
Washington takes this step in Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People task force
Wildfire smoke is descending from Canada. What’s that mean for Pierce, Thurston counties?
Helicopter called in to put out Wednesday fire in Capitol Forest

Puget Sound Business Journal
Survey: Bellevue residents cheer tech job growth but want more affordable housing
U.S. adds millions of housing units. But only some states and cities gained ground.

Seattle Times
Washington Republican legislators push election fraud narrative at hearing on Sunday
Smoke and hot weather expected Friday in Seattle area, but relief is on the way
Nearly 200,000 in Washington could lose all jobless benefits next month
Amazon spends more in Washington than any other state — and it’s not even close
The climate crisis is also a crisis of capitalism
13 good — maybe even lucky — things that have happened in Washington on Friday the 13th
Know signs of heat illness and how to avoid it
Washington State University to eliminate personal and philosophical COVID-19 vaccine exemption for students

Skagit Valley Herald
Two volunteers recall guiding a half-century of 4-H participants
Residents urged to stay safe in smoky, hot conditions
Excessive heat warning in effect; smoke rolls in
Area hospitals preparing to vaccinate all staff

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Back to work? With new virus strain, maybe not | Roegner
Snoqualmie explores solutions to future water problems

South Seattle Emerald
Advocates push for systemic change in face of rising hate crimes in Seattle
Organizers mark construction of new East Yesler Way affordable housing building

Spokesman Review
Lawsuit alleges Spokane deputies hit and allowed K9 to bite complying man lying on the ground
Washington Attorney General announces Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force
Reykdal wants ultimatum for all school employees: get vaccinated or lose your job
Woodward says Spokane will encourage, not mandate vaccinations among city workers
Spokane County weekly jobless claims increase, but remain below pre-pandemic levels
Opinion: Elisabeth Warder, DDS: Local and state partners need to band together to transform oral health

Tri-City Herald
‘Struggling.’ Tri-Cities COVID cases surge. Officials fear more, younger deaths coming
Update: Tri-Cities air quality drops to ‘very unhealthy’ level. No relief for days

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
State schools chief urges a vaccine mandate for teachers

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
School officials in Walla Walla Valley have mixed feelings about a possible vaccine mandate for local educators
Oregon reaches record new cases high, 121 in Umatilla County
Walla Walla expands civil service commission, shortens terms

Washington Post
Mass Afghan government surrenders as Taliban fighters overrun three key cities in sweeping territorial gains
How the racial makeup of where you live has changed since 1990
‘This is real’: Fear and hope in an Arkansas pediatric ICU
Opinion: How to fix our rigged tax system

Yakima Herald Republic
Bumping River corridor under “go now” evacuations with Schneider Springs Fire on the move
State updates masking protocols for upcoming high school sports year
Opinion: Health board should focus on health, not politics

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Puget Sound wildfire smoke expected to worsen Friday as heat wave continues
Washington state superintendent asks Inslee to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for public school employees
Seattle Public Schools to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for non-union employees
COVID-19 outbreak at Tacoma facility for immigrant detainees worsens
Extra COVID vaccine dose authorized for those with weak immune systems

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
WA superintendent asks Gov. Inslee to mandate vaccine for all K-12 school employees
King County’s plans to preserve farmland
Census shows US is diversifying, white population shrinking
Excessive Heat Warning in effect for parts of Western Washington

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Extra COVID vaccine OK’d for those with weak immune systems
Several Wash. state ferry runs canceled for Friday the 13th
Washington State confirms first live sighting of murder hornet in 2021
Ruling helps protect homeless people from having cars towed
Seattle Public Schools directs all non-union staff to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18

KNKX FM
Hopping into the wild: Endangered frog release could help boost only known population in Washington
Ruling protects homeless people from having vehicles towed

KUOW FM
‘Don’t let this experience define your life.’ Japanese-American woman heals after violent assault
Covid blog: Pandemic updates for the NW
Seattle schools could be 30 drivers short this fall
How hot is too hot, Seattle?
U.S. Is Starting To Evacuate Some Embassy Staff From Afghanistan With Military Help
Seattle opens dozens of cooling centers ahead of another heat wave
Hopping into the wild: endangered frog release could help boost only known population in Washington
Shellfish farmers line up for disaster aid after heat wave decimates oysters and clams

KXLY (ABC)
Friday is the last day for Coeur d’Alene’s summer meal program
At the ‘Take Back Our Schools’ rally, parents hope to make a change
Masks, social distancing, COVID protocols: Hear from 7 Spokane students about going to school in a pandemic
Washington student athletes no longer need to mask up while playing, with exceptions
MultiCare tightens visitor restrictions
State superintendent urges vaccine mandate for K-12 teachers
WSU to discontinue personal, philosophical exemption under COVID vaccine requirement
Air quality alert issued for Eastern Washington, parts of North Idaho
Gov. Little: Get vaccinated so students can have a normal school year
Washington’s top health officers encourage masks in indoor public spaces
Team announced to oversee task force on missing, murdered Indigenous women in Washington
No vaccine requirement for City of Spokane, Spokane County workers

Q13 TV (Fox)
Thurston County requiring masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status
State Superintendent wants Inslee to require COVID-19 vaccination for K–12 school employees
Elective surgeries getting canceled again as Washington hospitals fill up with rising COVID cases
Tacoma mayor, police chief to host study sessions discussing violent crimes increase
Seattle mayor defends vaccine mandate, refuses to say whether she will fire officers who don’t comply

Web

MyNorthwest
Washington superintendent will request vaccine requirement for K-12 school employees
All Washington health officers recommend masks in indoor, public spaces
New Amazon Fresh grocery store opens in Seattle’s Central District
First live Asian giant hornet sighting confirmed in Washington in 2021
State Supreme Court rules in favor of homeless Seattle man whose truck was towed

Slog
Hear Us Out: We Actually Need More Wildfires, Not Fewer

Thursday, Aug. 12

Key educators support a vaccine mandate for teachers in Washington
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, a growing number of elected officials, education leaders and health experts in Washington and around the country are voicing support for a vaccine requirement for teachers and staff in public schools. On Wednesday, the same day California adopted a vaccine mandate for teachers and staff, state Superintendent Chris Reykdal said he has “encouraged” Gov. Jay Inslee to consider requiring public school employees to be vaccinated. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

COVID outbreak at facility for immigrant detainees worsens
An outbreak of COVID-19 cases that started in June at a facility for detained immigrants in Tacoma, Washington, has continued to worsen. The Seattle Times reports since then, 150 people, including seven guards and a federal health care worker, have tested positive at the Northwest ICE Processing Center, according to a lawyer monitoring court-ordered government notices of COVID-19 cases there. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Dean J. Koepfler)

Pandemic’s toll on seniors extended well beyond nursing homes
As COVID-19 resurges across the country, driven by the highly infectious delta variant, experts are extending our understanding of the pandemic’s toll on older adults — the age group hit hardest by the pandemic. New research offers unexpected insights. Older adults living in their own homes and apartments had a significantly heightened risk of dying from COVID last year — more than previously understood, it shows. Continue reading at Kaiser Health News. (Justin Sullivan)