Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Friday, July 8

The falling of Roe v. Wade: Through the eyes of a local abortion access hotline volunteer
With the U.S. Supreme Court recently overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which protects a person’s right to choose to have an abortion, the Northwest Abortion Access Fund (NWAAF) is already feeling the added pressure. “Even though I think we’re privileged to be in these states that are protecting abortion rights, I think this is going to impact access for people who live in Seattle, who live in Portland, where you would anticipate that it would be particularly easy to access,” said Cole, who said wait times for abortion appointments might increase in the future. While Washington has little restrictions when it comes to obtaining an abortion, Cole noted some of the barriers pregnant Washingtonians face. Continue reading at Auburn Reporter. (Hannah Saunders)

Black And Hispanic Americans Are Getting Hit Harder By Inflation. Here’s Why
Many Americans are struggling to cope with higher prices for food, gas, housing and other essentials. But inflation has taken an even heavier toll on certain segments of the population. Black and Hispanic Americans have been grappling with higher inflation rates than the national average since prices began surging in March 2021, according to a recent analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. That’s a shift from the pre-pandemic period, when Black and Hispanic Americans’ inflation rates were at or slightly less than the national average. Continue reading at CNN. (Spencer Platt)

Judge dismisses GOP lawmakers’ challenge of House vax rule
“After nearly 50 lawsuits, we continue our undefeated record defending state COVID-19 policies aimed at keeping Washingtonians safe,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said. The outcome wasn’t a total surprise. Much changed from the time the suit was filed and the session had ended when the parties faced off in court, effectively mooting many of the plaintiffs’ points. The suit’s dismissal means the House “will maintain the ability to govern itself,” said Jinkins, D-Tacoma. “And when we have unexpected circumstances like a pandemic we will be able to figure out the best way to get the people’s work done.” Continue reading at The Everett Herald.

Print

Associated Press
Tear gas: Senators decry lack of federal safety assessment

Auburn Reporter
The falling of Roe v. Wade: Through the eyes of a local abortion access hotline volunteer

Bainbridge Island Review
434 COVID cases confirmed in Kitsap in past week

Bothell-Kenmore Reporter
New ‘Do Not Flush’ labeling law goes into effect across Washington this month

Capital Press
WDFW: Removing wolves works, doesn’t harm recovery
Risk of big fires increases in parts of West

Everett Herald
Judge dismisses GOP lawmakers’ challenge of House vax rule (Jinkins)
Comment: Labor market strength argues against recession fears
Comment: Gunfire not just killing kids; it’s killing childhood
Comment: Supreme Court wages war on public sector expertise

High Country News
The beauty buried in the data

Islands’ Weekly
New ferry hires up, new vessels delayed
New program to help islanders receive transportation to off-island rehab centers

Kent Reporter
Inslee comes to Renton to celebrate new Sunset Gardens housing project

News Tribune
‘Stop the violence’: Tacoma residents call for action after teenager’s homicide
‘We grieve, as Tacoma grieves’: City leaders respond to shooting of 14-year-old girl
Ruston asks EPA to step in concerning Point Ruston’s ‘drastic departure’ from plans

Olympian
Lacey joins partnership to move homeless living in camps near I-5 into housing
The Evergreen State College names Carmichael permanent president
Olympia seeks public input on developing these 12 locations into ‘neighborhood centers’
Thurston’s COVID death toll surpasses 400 as CDC maintains county’s ‘high risk’ status

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle-area libraries adopt program in effort to expand access
Washington manufacturers feeling squeezed by chip shortage
Hotels bedeviled by severe staff shortages as travel demand roars back

Seattle Medium
Racism Is Still A Big Problem In The US, But This Trend Offers Some Hope
6 Washington Counties Should Wear Masks
HHS Awards Nearly $13 Million In Washington For Innovative, Community-Based Training Programs

Broadcast

CNN
Black And Hispanic Americans Are Getting Hit Harder By Inflation. Here’s Why

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Average hourly wage of Seattle metro workers 31% above national average, statistics show
Housing inventory in Western Washington increasing as ‘some sense of normalcy’ returns

NW Public Radio
Washington State And Feds Need “Marriage Counseling” On Hanford, Says Government Official

Q13 TV (FOX)
Push to declare fentanyl abuse a public health crisis moves forward, with few details on how

Web

The Stranger
City Attorney’s Focus on “High Utilizers” Helps No One
Seattle Won’t Make Landlords Disclose Rent Gouging

Thursday, July 7

WA agriculture workers look to retain momentum of pandemic strikes
In collaboration with OneAmerica, the Washington State Immigration Solidarity Network and the Washington State Labor Council, the Fair Work Center opened an office in Yakima last month to provide workers and immigrants a place to gather, get information and organize. The center’s opening comes as labor and community organizers seek to help agricultural workers sustain the momentum of the 2020 strikes, which won workers temporary pay raises during the height of the pandemic and an opportunity to voice concerns directly to employers through newly formed worker committees. The strikes attracted widespread attention from labor advocates and the public. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Mai Hoang)

Why King County mental health facilities decline 27% of referrals
A wheelchair, using a CPAP machine for sleeping, pregnancy – these are among the reasons why hundreds of people are turned away from mental health crisis facilities in the King County area every year. Known as evaluation and treatment centers (E&Ts), their goal is to stabilize patients in a psychiatric emergency with medication and therapy. But people with mental illness, their families and their advocates point out that despite this mission, some of the most vulnerable people often are denied treatment. For people with substance-use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities or criminal records, it can be a maze to decipher which facility will offer the proper staff, training and bed availability to take them. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

New state agency ‘months’ away from starting police investigations
A new state agency was mandated to start investigating police use of deadly force cases on July 1, but it appears it actually won’t be ready to handle those investigations for months. “It’s just a lot to get done. Standing up an office from nothing is incredibly difficult,” said Roger Rogoff, appointed last month by Gov. Jay Inslee to head up the state’s newest agency, the Office of Independent Investigations. Under current law, when a police officer in the state uses deadly force, detectives from surrounding agencies, typically from the same county, investigate the incident and refer the case to county prosecutors for charging decisions. Continue reading at KING 5.

Print

Associated Press
CDC: Mask-wearing recommended in growing number of counties
King County sheriff won’t cooperate with out-of-state abortion probes
Health officials: Monkeypox likely spreading in King County
New agency to investigate police use of deadly force delayed

Bellevue Reporter
Bellevue Police Department launches transparency and accountability website

Courier-Herald
Locals protest Supreme Court abortion ruling at Enumclaw City Hall

Everett Herald
Edmonds affirms support for reproductive rights in wake of Roe ruling
Community Transit moves toward no fares for youth riders

Kent Reporter
Kent School Board votes to reject LGBTQ book ban decision

Olympian
Sorority to reimburse University of Washington students $253k. Who should expect a refund?

Peninsula Daily News
Avian flu case reported in Jefferson County

Port Townsend Leader
Emergency order declared for southern resident orcas due to pregnancies, poor health

Puget Sound Business Journal
How college endowments are faring amid inflation, stock-market volatility
Relief at last for some Seattle-area homebuyers, but it’s still very much a seller’s market

Seattle Times
Why King County mental health facilities decline 27% of referrals

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
New state agency ‘months’ away from starting police investigations
Most Washington ferry routes operating on reduced schedules ‘until further notice’
New BA.5 COVID-19 subvariant spreading quickly, poses threat to immunity

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Report: Earthquake could produce tsunami waves that would hit Seattle in minutes
Charleena Lyles inquest: Jury finds officers used reasonable force in deadly 2017 shooting
Understaffed and overworked: Kirkland firefighters say the department is in crisis
Local transmission of monkeypox virus likely in King County
Some physicians concerned about gray area caused by new abortion trigger laws

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Declining enrollment figures at Seattle Public Schools stirs concern about future funding

KNKX Public Radio
This single-celled sea critter could help scientists learn about climate change

KUOW Public Radio
King County Takes Steps to Prepare for Anticipated Spike in Abortion Services
Monkeypox spreading among community in King County

KXLY (ABC)
Mayor proposes camping compromise, local businesses expect little change
‘We need housing’: Spokane City Council adds flexibility to accessory dwelling unit rules
Spokane’s food pantries see an uptick in people lacking food

Q13 TV (FOX)
King County Council examining ways to get guns out of hands of ‘potentially violent’ people
Snohomish County Volunteer Search & Rescue seek federal funding to stay afloat
King County Council to consider declaring fentanyl a public health crisis

Web

Crosscut
WA agriculture workers look to retain momentum of pandemic strikes
Pandemic relief funds may mask budget crises at rural WA hospitals

MyNorthwest
King County tackles short and long term plans to restrict local gun violence
WA AG orders $500,000 in restitution from UW sorority over rent payment scheme
Senator Liias talks plans to ‘lid’ I-5 as maintenance continues (Liias)
SPD once again eyes termination of parking officer who referenced lynching of BLM protestors

Wednesday, July 6

“Panic:” Local Families Feeling The Pinch Of High Inflation
“The panic, the high anxiety is what we hear and what we see; they are very afraid,” Christian said. The steep rise in inflation is straining households’ ability to keep families fed and forcing area food banks to keep up with increased demand as prices of food surge without an end in sight. Low-income families and racial minorities are particularly vulnerable to the highest inflation rate in 40 years because they spend a larger portion of their income on necessities like food. The end of the Biden administration’s Child Tax Credit that was part of the American Rescue Plan helped families cope with the pandemic’s economic downturn, but the measure expired at the end of 2021. Continue reading at The Seattle Medium. (Cesar Canizales)

15 Washington counties have high Covid levels
A total of 15 counties in Washington state are experiencing high Covid community levels. According to the CDC, six of those are in Western Washington, including: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Lewis, Pierce, and Thurston counties. The remaining nine counties in Eastern Washington include: Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Spokane, Ferry, Lincoln, Walla Walla, Columbia, and Asotin. Community Covid levels in King and Snohomish counties are medium. The CDC recommends that people in areas with high community levels mask up again while indoors and on public transportation. Continue reading at KUOW. (CDC)

Lawmakers seek protections for abortion access in Washington state
In Washington state, where abortion remains legal, more people are seeking help, according to Jennifer Allen, the Chief Executive Officer at Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. “We are seeing patients from all over the country already,” said Allen. Allen said that began right after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and a number of states started banning or blocking abortions. The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) is concerned it will eventually overwhelm clinics here. “We don’t know what it will mean to our system… when abortion becomes illegal in Idaho and when many, many more patients start crossing the border for care,” said Allen. Continue reading at KING 5.

Print

Associated Press
State justices blast racist questioning by prosecutor
West Coast dockworkers still talking after contract expires
US job openings slip but still remain at healthy level

Bellingham Herald
Price comparing? Here’s a look at staple food prices at Bellingham grocery stores in July
More homes are now available in Whatcom County, but it’s still very tough for buyers
Whatcom’s weekly COVID-19 infection rate drops to its lowest mark since late April

Capital Press
West Coast ports remain open after contract expiration
A conversation with Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton
Acres of Whidbey Island farmland, forest, beach, preserved

The Daily News
Congressional earmarks for Columbia Heights road, Longview police training, dispatch equipment advance

Everett Herald
Cow pie power! Monroe manure-to-energy project expands
Tulalip Tribes to open tiny home village with 17 shelters
Comment: Adoption often isn’t ‘perfect’ solution it’s sold as
Comment: Supreme Court showing little restraint of own power

High Country News
Landslide risk is on the rise thanks to climate change, and states are looking to identify hazards

Indian Country Today
Experts: US Court fractures decades of Native American law
Canada sets $15B deal over Indigenous child welfare flaws

News Tribune
CDC says Pierce County at ‘high’ level of COVID-19; health department says ‘medium’

Olympian
Thousands of WA state retirees will keep insurance coverage after hundreds protest PEBB meeting
Dozens gather outside DNR office to protest ‘unjust practices’ in timber harvesting

Peninsula Daily News
US Coast Guard encourages safe whale-watching practices

Puget Sound Business Journal
Report: Puget Sound housing markets could see price declines soon
Industry staff shortage a priority for UW Medicine’s new interim president

Seattle Medium
“Panic:” Local Families Feeling The Pinch Of High Inflation
SPS’ Assistant Superintendent Of Academics Offers Advice To Help Mitigate Summer Learning Slumps

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Public Utility District’s pipeline project stalls

Tri-City Herald
Crews fighting Benton-Yakima county line fire. It’s already burned 4,500 acres of brush

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Lawmakers seek protections for abortion access in Washington state
Washington law enforcement agencies working together to combat retail theft

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Deliberations underway in Charleena Lyles’ fatal shooting inquest
No new mask mandate in Pierce County despite rising COVID-19 cases

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
King County Council meeting to discuss gun violence
Testimony in Charleena Lyles inquest hearing concludes, jury to deliberate

KNKX Public Radio
NOAA Fisheries issues new recommendations for Makah whale hunt, the long-awaited decision will come within a year

KUOW Public Radio
Are We Nearing the End of the Long Road to Hormonal Birth Control for Men?
15 Washington counties have high Covid levels

KXLY (ABC)
Council members preparing ordinance for SPD precinct location
Spokane City Council to discuss ordinance giving them final say on major facilities
Mayor Woodward to discuss camping ordinances on Wednesday

Q13 TV (FOX)
A race to stop a kelp crisis, with impacts far beyond local waters

Web

MyNorthwest
Forest Service green-lights new monitors on Glacier Peak
Seattle City Light is bringing EV2 curbside charging to a neighborhood near you
King County Council pledges $1 million to help those seeking abortions out of state
WA lawmaker says launch of 988 system has the opportunity to ‘save lives’ (Orwall)
WA indigenous sovereignty in question after SCOTUS ruling on state-tribal domain

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: City changes plan for Delridge station recommendation
VACCINATION: Two more West Seattle clinic dates for under-5-year-olds

Tuesday, July 5

Police: Gunman fired more than 70 rounds at July 4 parade
The gunman who attacked an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago fired more than 70 rounds with an AR-15-style gun that killed at least six people, then evaded initial capture by dressing as a woman and blending into the fleeing crowd, police said Tuesday. The July 4 shooting was just the latest to shatter the rituals of American life. Schools, churches, grocery stores and now community parades have all become killing grounds in recent months. This time, the bloodshed came as the nation tried to find cause to celebrate its founding and the bonds that still hold it together. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (John Starks)

Washington launches new Indigenous missing person alert system
State highway signs will now alert drivers when an Indigenous person goes missing and is believed to be in danger. At midnight July 1, Washington State Patrol launched the new Missing Indigenous Person Alert system. It will broadcast messages on signs and the highway advisory radio system. It will also notify all Washington law enforcement electronically. It’s similar to an Amber Alert for children or a Silver Alert for seniors. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

Decrease in salmon threatens Southern Resident killer whales, study finds
Southern Resident killer whales have not had enough food for several years, which could affect their already small numbers, according to a study by the University of British Columbia. Researchers looked at the requirements and availability of prey for Northeastern Pacific Southern Resident killer whales. The study found a fluctuating level of salmon from spawning areas on rivers had a detrimental effect on killer whale health, threatening a small and fragile group of whales. “It really appears like they cannot take (many) more rough years,” said Fanny Couture, lead researcher for the study. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

Print

Associated Press
Decrease in salmon threatens Southern Resident killer whales, study finds
In rural West, more worries about access to abortion clinics
In light of EPA court ruling, new focus on states’ power
Police: Gunman fired more than 70 rounds at July 4 parade

Bainbridge Island Review
BI ready to build Housing Action Plan

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham, Whatcom help Mercy Housing step in to save these families from homelessness
Survey confirms Whatcom’s local killer whales are going hungry, affecting their health
Washington state set to activate nation’s first Missing Indigenous Person Alert system

Capital Press
Study: Dam proposal puts region behind in goal of ‘decarbonizing’ NW electrical grid

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: COVID can have lasting impact on survivors

The Daily News
Locked entryways, cameras to be installed this summer at seven Longview schools for increased security

Everett Herald
Biden assures Inslee of federal support to preserve abortion access
Governor wants to make vaccine mandate permanent for new hires
Washington launches new Indigenous missing person alert system (Lekanoff)
‘We’re all good people when we get clean and sober’
How Rep. Rick Larsen helped Seattle secure its 2026 World Cup bid
How to answer Snohomish County’s basic crime questions? ‘Transparent data’
Comment: Making our celebration about ‘All Rights for All!’
Comment: Celebrating independence while facing inequality
Editorial: Happy Independence Days, America
Editorial: Waiting could force bad choice on dams, salmon

High Country News
How a salmon farm disaster changed Northwest aquaculture forever
Environmental justice is only the beginning
The Supreme Court’s attack on tribal sovereignty, explained
SCOTUS has shown poor judgment before

Indian Country Today
Promoting outdoor recreation for girls of color

Kitsap Sun
‘Perfect storm’ of factors including last year’s heat wave resulted in shellfish death

Olympian
Non-profit refuses to renew Thurston County housing contracts amid ongoing conflict
Crowded Thurston, Lewis ERs adopt new policy to keep from turning away patients

Peninsula Daily News
Health officer: Wear masks indoors
New state laws affect guns, hospital costs

Port Townsend Leader
Pfizer ‘baby’ COVID-19 vaccine now available at Jefferson Healthcare

Puget Sound Business Journal
Why employers must take a holistic approach to mental health
The pandemic launched a new wave of small businesses. Employers need to take note.

Seattle Medium
Washington Governor Seeking Pro-Abortion State Constitutional Amendment

Skagit Valley Herald
Anacortes taking a deeper look at housing
New Skagit County COVID-19 cases take a drop

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Mill Site development gets go-ahead, council to vote on project this summer

Tri-City Herald
Removal of 35,000 toxic waste drums marks end of Pasco Landfill cleanup. What comes next?
Longtime Benton City mayor and councilman dies. His focus was on growth.
Junior Ranger Park Explorer program kicks off to teach children about outdoors

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington state senator, former legislator openly sharing abortion stories at pro-rights rallies (Das)
King County Council to vote on $500,000 in abortion access funding
State of the Sound: Efforts to protect Puget Sound’s ecosystem

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
15 of Washington’s 39 counties reporting high levels of COVID-19
‘Operation Dry Water’ emphasis during holiday weekend

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Gas prices drop since last week in Seattle, Washington state
Poll: Confidence in American institutions at an all-time low

KNKX Public Radio
The abortion ruling has troops and veterans speaking out, some for the first time
Ecologists say federal wildfire plans are dangerously out of step with climate change
Tacoma fights release of internal police records related to officers charged in death of Manuel Ellis
Pete Buttigieg launches $1B pilot to build racial equity in America’s roads

KUOW Public Radio
Banning ‘ghost Guns’ and Enforcing No-weapons Zones. Will Washington Gun Restrictions Hold Up in Court?
Seattle’s housing market is going into ‘hibernation.’ But it’s not all good news
Longer wait times, discouraged patients: What abortion rights advocates in Washington expect post-Roe
Legislator calls for fraud audit of state’s largest charter school chain (Pollet, Wellman)
Does SCOTUS ruling on public school prayer cross the line dividing church and state?
FDA says COVID boosters for the fall must target newer omicron types

NW Public Radio
New Gun Restrictions Take Effect July 1 In Washington

Q13 TV (FOX)
These new laws are now in effect in Washington state
Emergency order declared to keep boaters away from endangered killer whales this summer

Web

MyNorthwest
Final week in Lyles inquest to get underway
Judge revokes release of Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer, orders $100,000 bail
AG unveils law to lower healthcare cost for millions of residents
Seattle looks to transition RV-dwellers into housing with reworked ‘safe lot’ program
Gov. Inslee permanently mandates COVID-19 vaccines for WA agency employees

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: First July check of West Seattle, King County trends

Friday, July 1

WA state leaders want to ‘accelerate’ climate efforts after Supreme Ct. limits EPA’s power
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling Thursday limiting the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulatory authority over power plant carbon dioxide emissions, and Washington state leaders quickly announced they would take more aggressive action to combat the rollbacks. “This decision — the West Virginia case this morning — essentially kneecapped the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency to restrain pollution from these coal-fired plants,” Gov. Jay Inslee said during a press conference Thursday. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Ted S. Warren/AP)

Magazine bans, fee changes, and care expansion: Here are the new laws taking effect today
Out of the 2,320 bills that were introduced during this year’s legislative session, 775 were adopted. While most of the legislation that passed this year has already gone into effect, Friday, July 1, marks a day when another long list of bills go into effect. Continue reading at Tacoma News Tribune. (Getty Images)

Tulalips say US Supreme Court ruling undermines tribal sovereignty
Leaders of the Tulalip Tribes say a U.S. Supreme Court decision on Wednesday puts tribal sovereignty at risk. Justices ruled states have jurisdiction in prosecuting crimes committed by non-Natives against Native Americans in “Indian country.” Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Kevin Clark/The Herald)