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Wednesday, July 28

What new WA police accountability laws do and don’t do
Several new police accountability bills went into effect in Washington state this week, changing some of the ways police officers can interact with the public. In anticipation of the new laws taking hold, many police chiefs and sheriffs have publicly voiced concerns that their officers will no longer be able to perform certain duties, such as responding to mental health calls or chasing fleeing suspects. While some of these statements contain elements of truth, others are misleading or leave out important context. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Matt M. McKnight)

In most Washington counties, fewer than a third of eligible kids are vaccinated against COVID-19
A majority of Washington’s eligible schoolchildren still aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19, state data shows, and experts warn that we’ve reached a critical moment: in most corners of the state, school starts in about five weeks. It takes about five weeks — from the first shot to the end of the waiting period after the second — for vaccine to be most effective. Pediatricians, researchers and Department of Health officials are now mounting a desperate call. Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

Increase in COVID infections ‘eerily similar’ to last summer’s surge in Wash. state
Local health leaders say the number of COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths in Washington state right now is eerily similar to those seen during last summer’s surge. Even though over half of the state’s total population is now fully vaccinated, new infections and hospitalizations are on the rise. And transmission of the virus is increasing, even among the vaccinated. Continue reading at KOMO News.

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Associated Press
Deadline coming on long-term care: private or state plan? (Macri)
Oregon governor signs ambitious clean energy bill
Senate GOP ready to move forward on $1T infrastructure bill
For the first time since 2019, Boeing knocks out a profit
Poll shows inequity in community support for older adults

Aberdeen Daily World
Opinion: Democrats must be ready to go it alone to protect Dreamers

Bellingham Herald
This is how Bellingham is dealing with new Washington state policing rules
Whatcom County sees 22% increase in rolling COVID-19 case counts, three deaths last week

Capital Press
Late frost, drought reduce PNW canola yields

Columbian
Battle Ground schools delay changes to sexual education curriculum
Editorial: In Our View: Leaders ignoring lessons of COVID pandemic

Everett Herald
Lynnwood council agrees to ask AG to investigate jail death
Marysville-Arlington road improvements won’t happen at once
Yes, tsunamis can happen here: County gets 3 warning sirens
Boeing, for first time since 2019, has a profitable quarter
WaPo Comment: As delta variant surges, doctors facing hard choices
Bloomberg Comment: Opposing vaccines, masks isn’t principled; it’s deadly

Kitsap Sun
Poulsbo approves increase in sales taxes to develop affordable housing
Kitsap’s health officer joins others in recommending masks for indoors

News Tribune
Here’s what happened to move to change county sheriff, auditor to appointed positions
Editorial: It’s too bad Pierce sheriff will stay elected post. But this wasn’t about Ed Troyer
Editorial: Peninsula School Board gets wires crossed trying to defuse critical race theory bomb

New York Times
Key Republican senators say they’re ready to take up an infrastructure deal, paving the way for a vote.
Inflation Is New Battle Line as Republicans and Biden Spar Over Spending
Biden to sign an executive order aimed at protecting critical American infrastructure from cyberattacks.
Rising river temperatures are stressing out salmon in the Pacific Northwest.

Olympian
Face masks for all K-12 students, staff recommended for upcoming school year, CDC says
Thurston COVID-19 cases highest in 2 months, and majority are among the unvaccinated

Peninsula Daily News
Police reform laws are criticized (Tharinger, Goodman, Johnson)
Jefferson County PUD seeks to expand internet
CDC masking guidelines change due to Delta variant
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
COVID-19 cases continue to rise

Puget Sound Business Journal
King County councilmember seeks ‘more assertive, balanced’ approach to removing homeless camps
Despite embracing remote work, tech accounts for more office leasing activity than any other industry
CDC reverses course on masks for fully vaccinated, puts employers on the spot
A wild 15 months’: Pandemic spurs conversion of offices to labs
SBA speeds up awards from Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, but money still remains.
Op-Ed: Balancing Washington’s tax code will increase competitive advantage

Seattle Times
Boeing turns profitable and leadership promises stability ahead
Vacation hot spot Chelan County limits short-term rentals
In most Washington counties, fewer than a third of eligible kids are vaccinated against COVID-19
Editorial: Mask up against deadly new COVID variant

Skagit Valley Herald
Where are the orcas?
Concrete, La Conner school boards approve district budgets
Shell refinery fined for Sept. 29 emissions

Tri-City Herald
$4 million project at Kennewick’s Clover Island is for walkers, bikers and fish

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
American Red Cross: Blood needed now at Walla Walla drives

Washington Post
Beyond human endurance: How climate change is making parts of the world too hot and humid to survive
Jan. 6 hearing produces tears, anger for America
What you need to know about how wildfires spread
Opinion: Our democracy is under attack. Washington journalists must stop covering it like politics as usual.

Yakima Herald Republic
COVID cases surging in Washington and Yakima County; officials urge vaccination
Camp Hope, Comprehensive Healthcare team up to serve Yakima’s homeless population
Yakima Valley temperatures predicted to hit triple digits late this week and into weekend

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
UW researcher: CDC’s mask announcement does not undermine COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness
Inslee to give update on state’s COVID-19 response Wednesday
CDC recommends masking again: What does it mean for Washington state?
Inmates anxious over plan to close prison units across Washington state
After unvaccinated family members get COVID-19, Thurston County mom urges people to get the shot

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
CDC Recommends masks for all students and teachers
Black-owned coffee shop in Shoreline hit by vandalism, burglary
Crews continue to battle wildfires near Winthrop
Seattle Congresswoman reacts to emotional testimony as insurrection hearings begin
DOH: COVID-19 cases on the rise across Washington

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Increase in COVID infections ‘eerily similar’ to last summer’s surge in Wash. state
King County Council approves $42M budget to help with backlog at courthouse
State health officials report more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases Tuesday

KNKX FM
Listen: The latest on masks, new police reform laws in Washington
Murray pushes climate as Senate tackles infrastructure, budget measures

KUOW FM
Seattle police should change their response to protestors after tension last summer, report says
Biden Is Considering A Vaccine Or Testing Mandate For Federal Workers
Pandemic blog: Covid updates in Seattle and Washington state
Justice Department Clears Way For Trump Officials To Testify About Jan. 6th

KXLY (ABC)
Gov. Inslee to hold in-person press conference on COVID response
Resolving Rent Problems: How tenants, landlords can receive help through Eviction Resolution Program
Community Colleges of Spokane to require COVID vaccine
Commissioner of Public Lands to visit site of Sherwood Fire on Wednesday

Q13 TV (Fox)
Is Washington state on the verge of a mask mandate all over again?
Pfizer data suggests 3rd dose of vaccine ‘strongly’ boosts protection against delta variant

Web

Crosscut
What WA’s new police accountability laws do and don’t do (Johnson, Goodman)

MyNorthwest
Boeing in the black again after reporting first quarterly profit since 2019
King County Council appoints new law enforcement oversight director
King County Council begins debate over standards for homeless camp removals
Seattle area set for weekend heat wave as it nears record for most days without rain
Washington will update mask guidance ‘if needed’ after new CDC recommendations

Tuesday, July 27

Public health officials in Snohomish, other Western Washington counties urge mask use indoors as COVID cases rise
Rising cases of COVID-19 coupled with the emergence of the highly infectious delta variant have prompted health officers from eight Western Washington counties to recommend mask-wearing in indoor public spaces. Health officials from the counties, which include Snohomish, King and Pierce, recommend all people, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks when in indoor public places. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

Fresh produce, shellfish prices will rise as NW farmers hope for drought, heat wave help
The federal government isn’t providing enough financial assistance to Pacific Northwest farmers, who are reeling from the impacts of recent extreme weather events. At least that’s what members of Congress from the Pacific Northwest and beyond wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Monday, July 26, in which they requested expanded federal aid for the region’s agricultural community. The Pacific Northwest’s farmers have been hit with a brutal one-two punch this summer — in late June, a record-breaking heat wave torched the region, followed by a statewide drought emergency. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

Emergency rooms at capacity in Puget Sound region
The beds at Skagit Valley Hospital are almost completely full. Doctors started seeing the strain on the system start when the state began reopening near the end of June following more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions. Wait times in the emergency department at Skagit Valley Hospital are more than double what they usually are. At some clinics, the waits have reached four hours. The situation has health officials concerned over the level of care their patients are receiving. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
Health officials in 9 Washington counties recommend masking up indoors again
Biden’s 8 U.S. attorney picks include Steilacoom graduate, possible historic firsts
VA requires COVID-19 vaccination for health care workers
Spate of shootings across Seattle kill 4 in 24-hour period

Aberdeen Daily World
County COVID cases on the rise
Sheriffs, including Scott, reaffirm Second Amendment support
Op-Ed: Democrats must be ready to go it alone to protect Dreamers
Op-Ed: Should the U.S. return to the gold standard? No

Bellingham Herald
As CDC expected to back masking inside for all, Whatcom takes this approach to COVID-19
Fresh produce, shellfish prices will rise as NW farmers hope for drought, heat wave help
After 11 six-month bans on Cherry Point industry changes, Whatcom County Council ready to act
A refinery spewed black smoke into this NW community. Now this oil giant will pay

Capital Press
Warming rivers in West threaten fish, worry fishermen

Chronicle
Reps. Orwall, Wylie and Kraft: Public Awareness of Sex Trafficking Is First Step Toward Ending It

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: Hospitals must be more diligent protecting public
Editorial: In Our View: Clarity required as new drug law takes effect
Editorial: In Our View: More housing key to addressing soaring rents
Editorial: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Transparency, misinformation
Editorial: In Our View: Voting rights, election security can be simpatico

Everett Herald
Deaths of two in Skykomish River brings safety to forefront
How the PUD kept things humming during the record heat wave
PUD’s experimental solar power microgrid is ready to go live
Bloomberg Comment: Delta variant could still lay economy low

High Country News
Climate change wreaks havoc on the electricity grid

The Inlander
Once Spokane’s only Black school board member, Jerrall Haynes has steered the district to a ‘drastically different place’
Spokane Public Schools pays $275k to family of Black teen pinned down by resource officer

Kitsap Sun
8 western WA counties, including Kitsap, now recommending mask use indoors
A new stream bed is being built on Dickerson Creek. Here’s how it will help salmon.

News Tribune
Dolores Silas wanted to make a difference. Judging from Monday’s outpouring, she did
Tacoma trailblazer Dolores Silas has died. She was first Black woman on City Council
This Puyallup Tribe event ‘isn’t about coming out, it’s about coming to light’
Pierce County, 7 others recommend masking up amid rising COVID-19 cases in Washington
Here are details on a new Tacoma children’s hospital, including how it would look

New York Times
Covid-19 Updates: C.D.C. to Recommend Some Vaccinated People Wear Masks Indoors Again
U.S. Can Expedite Removal of Migrant Families, Biden Administration Says
U.S. students ended the pandemic school year 4 to 5 months behind, a new report finds.
Trump officials can testify in Jan. 6 inquiries, Justice Dept. says.
‘It’s Painful’: Infrastructure Talks Near Either a Deal or Collapse

Olympian
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state
Biden heralds an end to Iraq combat even as US troops remain

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County may approve funds for help with past-due utility bills
Masks indoors favored again
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Puget Sound Business Journal
Jeff Bezos offers to cover $2B in costs if NASA gives moon lander contract to Blue Origin
As Covid-19 relief funding dwindles, here’s what businesses need to know about ERCs
Your only chance to opt out of Washington’s new long-term care tax is fast approaching
Covid-19 vaccine mandates on the rise as Delta variant leads to Covid-19 surge

Seattle Times
Public health officials in Snohomish, other Western Washington counties urge mask use indoors as COVID cases rise
Seattle’s longstanding ‘urban village’ strategy for growth needs reworking, new report says
Summer school in Seattle: ‘It’s hard for us to know if he is truly accessing education’
City drops counterclaim against The Seattle Times in public records lawsuit
More record-breaking growth in home prices: See how Seattle compares to the rest of the U.S.
Tacoma police commander disciplined for not turning on bodycam during response to Sheriff Ed Troyer’s call

Skagit Valley Herald
Sedro-Woolley welcomes new superintendent

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities COVID cases top WA state. 8 counties west of Cascades recommend masks again
Tri-Cities woman slashes tires on 3 cop cars. New law kept police from stopping her sooner

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla, Columbia County law enforcement leaders voice concern over police reform laws

Washington Post
CDC to urge vaccinated people to resume wearing masks indoors in some circumstances as delta variant spreads
Police officers deliver emotional testimony about violent day at Capitol
States that cut unemployment early aren’t seeing a hiring boom, but who gets hired is changing

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima Valley temperatures predicted to hit triple digits late this week and into weekend
Editorial: New legislation is good news for journalism and the community

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
‘Not taking any chances’: Everett business owner requiring masks following county recommendation
Emergency rooms at capacity in Puget Sound region
WSU study: LGBTQ students report higher rates of bullying in conservative school districts

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Local health officials issue joint statement recommending masks in indoor public spaces
Seattle PD low on officers as gun violence spikes
Bezos offers NASA $2 billion to return to the moon

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Officers recall violence, threats they faced during ‘horrific and shameful’ Capitol riot
9 Western Wash. counties now urge indoor mask wearing for everyone
Bloody Seattle weekend: Mayor Durkan, Chief Diaz vow to enact plan to curb gun violence
Seattle City Council mostly silent after weekend of deadly shootings

KNKX FM
Confusion besets Washington’s new police reform laws (Johnson)
Jan. 6 Insurrection Committee Holds Its 1st Hearing, Questioning Police: Watch Live
Whatcom council to vote on permanent ban of new fossil fuel industries at Cherry Point

KUOW FM
‘Cultural changes ahead’ for police in Washington state, as controversial reform laws take effect (Johnson)
Coronavirus FAQ: I’m Vaccinated. I Thought I Could Give Up Masks! But … Should I?
The deadliest heat wave: Lessons from the NW’s extreme heat
LIVE: House committee holds first hearing on Jan. 6 insurrection

KXLY (ABC)
Mayor Woodward declares housing emergency in Spokane
City Council approves new version of Housing Action Plan

Q13 TV (Fox)
Seattle shootings: 5 killed, 9 injured in violent weekend
Confusion besets new police reform laws in Washington state (Johnson)
Police who defended Capitol detail violence, injuries at riot probe’s 1st hearing
Eight Washington counties recommend masking indoors regardless of vaccination status

Web

Crosscut
Poll: WA isn’t as optimistic as it was six months ago
Opinion: Seattle is facing an indoor air quality crisis

MyNorthwest
Scammers target Washington’s unemployed with fake job listings
The humanity behind the numbers in slew of tragic shootings across Seattle
8 Washington counties issue joint statement urging residents to mask up in public
Mayor, SPD chief stress need to hire more officers in wake of weekend shootings

Slog
Seattle Needs to Redefine Affordability

Monday, July 26

Report: Seattle police stop Black people, Native Americans at far higher rate than white people
Seattle police watchdogs and civil libertarians say they are alarmed and disappointed by a new report showing officers — despite nearly a decade under federal oversight partly intended to address bias — continue to stop and use force against Black people in the city far more often than white people. The report found that Black people, per capita, were seven times more likely to be subjected to force by Seattle police than white people, and five times more likely to be stopped and questioned. Native Americans in the city were nine times more likely to be stopped, it said. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Mark Nowlin)

For minimum wage workers, there’s no catching up with the rent
Until last month, Mikayla Droz slept on the floor of a one-bedroom apartment she shared with two other people. Before that, she lived in a trailer in what she describes as a “commune” near Tumwater, a two-hour walk from the nearest bus stop. Droz, who earns $15 per hour working overnight shifts as an in-home caregiver, is just one example among many low-wage workers who must seek increasingly creative arrangements to scrape by as housing costs in Olympia skyrocket. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Tony Overman)

Despite law, 20 WA counties don’t offer public-option health plans
Two years ago, Washington state lawmakers passed a public-option health care bill, with the goal of making it easier and cheaper for Washington residents to buy health insurance. Yet in about half the state’s counties, if you try to buy a public-option plan run by the state government, you’ll be out of luck. The spotty availability of the new public-option plans is one of several hiccups that arose during the rollout of Washington’s new, government-procured health care program. Continue reading at Crosscut.

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Associated Press
Wear a mask, King County health official advises as COVID cases rise, variant spreads
Confusion besets new police reform laws in Washington state (Johnson)

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen Council discusses cost, benefits of regional fire authority

Bellingham Herald
This new Whatcom initiative hopes to give students help to take action on climate change
This is what Bellingham, Whatcom did when YouTube removed videos with false COVID claims
Updated: Washington sees 5th wave of COVID. This is what the state now recommends on masking

Everett Herald
As police adjust to reforms, crisis responders feel deserted (Johnson, Goodman, Dhingra, Pedersen)
DUI Victims Memorial Wall moving to county government campus
Suicides from Deception Pass Bridge renew calls for barriers
Proposal to lay cables under Columbia met with skepticism
Officials urge vaccinations as Delta variant takes root
Heat wave melted county roads, buckled sidewalks
Bloomberg Comment: Homelessness was on decline, until we changed course
Op-Ed: Cydney Gillis: Land mine tripped in covid’s office battlefield
Opinion: The ignorance and lies that live Nextdoor
Opinion: Analogies are useful tools but they can be misused

The Facts Newspaper
New laws take effect in Washington State aimed at bridging the digital divide (Hansen)

Kitsap Sun
‘It never ends:’ Where Kitsap’s recycling rubbish goes to find a new life

News Tribune
Pierce County starts plans for homeless shelters in Fife, Lakewood, Spanaway
Puyallup hits pause button on implementing new state laws regarding homeless shelters
‘Traitor’ graffiti near Fircrest homes with Black Lives Matter signs stirs confusion, concern
New security plan may remove police officers from Tacoma schools. What you need to know
Leadership shake-up announced at Tacoma psychiatric hospital with history of challenges
PenMet evicts Fox Island park hosts, leaving neighbors angry and dismayed

New York Times
Scenes From America’s Largest Wildfire
A voting rights group backed by athletes launches a campaign focused on criminal justice reform.
They Waited, They Worried, They Stalled. This Week, They Got the Shot.

Olympian
Olympia police chief describes huge changes in policing dictated by new state laws
Thurston County issues toxic algae warning for Pattison Lake
For minimum wage workers, there’s no catching up with the rent

Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
National association supports mandating vaccinations
Hundreds of area hospital workers unvaccinated
Clallam County commissioners to consider rescue funds for utility assistance
Wildfires blasting through West draw states to lend support
Conservation urged in water systems
Peninsula fire danger high

Puget Sound Business Journal
How tech won the pandemic and now may never lose
Seattle-area female AEC execs take aim at discrimination, other work-related wrongs
More companies are tying executive pay to diversity goals
Amazon signals growing interest in digital currency

Seattle Times
COVID-19 now a ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’? Not so fast
Report: Seattle police stop Black people, Native Americans at far higher rate than white people
Seattle struck a ‘grand bargain’ on housing. Now City Hall is reviewing the initial results.
A homeless encampment led Seattle to close a spray park. What does that say about how the city views public spaces?
‘Mr. Barricade’ promotes quick-build bike lanes, talks road design on TikTok
Driven by pandemic, social media use surged in Seattle
Washington State Patrol’s toxicology lab ran tests in office contaminated by meth, possibly jeopardizing thousands of cases
Opinion: Come together to save Puget Sound and Snake River salmon
Editorial: Democrats must be ready to go it alone to protect Dreamers

Skagit Valley Herald
Number of new COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Skagit County

Tri-City Herald
30-year-old among 3 recent Tri-Cities area deaths due to COVID
This is what saved the Tri-Cities area from rolling blackouts in historic heatwave, says BPA
COVID vaccines up to challenge of variants
Richland researchers innovating to keep you cool for less in triple-digit temps
Critics say Tri-Cities lawyer is ‘cashing in on people’s fears’ with student mask exemptions
Floating mass of weeds clogs Columbia Cup return to Tri-Cities

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
COVID vaccines up to challenge of variants
Walla Walla Valley officials draft plan to combat affordable housing crisis

Washington Post
Biden officials closely monitor delta variant in U.K. as their anxieties mount over impact to U.S. economy
Doctors, nurses and medical groups call for mandatory coronavirus vaccinations for health workers
‘Some are still suffering’: Months after Capitol riot, police who fought the mob contend with physical, psychological pain
As coronavirus surges, GOP lawmakers are moving to limit public health powers

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima housing market hot for both buyers and sellers
Comment: Make room for the nonbinary
Opinion: Will new police rules solve the problem?

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Officials await clarification over new law enforcement reform bill ‘misconceptions’ (Johnson)
Community organizations continue their mission to reduce violence in Seattle
These new Washington laws went into effect on Sunday

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Citing delta variant, King County urges indoor masks
Seattle-based cruises resume with new COVID protocols

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
4th person killed overnight in Seattle’s deadly weekend of gun violence

KUOW FM
King County health official recommends going back to masking up indoors
How Some Districts Are Trying To Get Anxious Families Back Into School Buildings

KXLY (ABC)
‘It will place individuals at a greater risk’: Police worry about new laws, social justice groups welcome the changes

Q13 TV (Fox)
Loved ones mourn victim in Seattle shooting as witnesses recover from traumatic night of gun violence

Web

Crosscut
Despite law, 20 WA counties don’t offer public-option health plans (Cody, Frockt)
Skagit dams in crosshairs of renewed push to save salmon, orcas

MyNorthwest
Seattle City Council set to vote on street parking rate increase in Uptown neighborhood
Law enforcement calls for Attorney General’s opinion on new police laws (Johnson, Goodman, Dhingra)
Health officials worried about a fifth wave in COVID cases, delta variant
SPD’s protest response did more harm than good according to new report
Seattle aims to redirect money from departed SPD officers to ‘alternative’ 911 response efforts
King County health officer recommends everyone wear a mask ‘once again’
Washington town ‘might have poorest air quality on the planet’ due to wildfires

La Raza del Noroeste
¡Por las comunidades, para las comunidades!
El estado pide a los proveedores que sigan trabajando para impulsar la vacunación contra la COVID-19

Northwest Asian Weekly
$10.4 M to community organizations focused on BIPOC safety

Friday, Jul 23

‘We have … a voice.’ Black lawmakers are changing the conversation in Olympia
This year the members led on a number of issues, including the enactment of sweeping police accountability measures and passage of a bill that made Juneteenth a state holiday. The caucus used its collective voice to urge Gov. Jay Inslee to extend the state’s eviction moratorium. The caucus also issued statements following the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd and following the decision to charge three Tacoma police officers in the killing of Manny Ellis. Continue reading at KUOW. (Northwest News Network)

Seattle police response to protests last summer made things worse, report says
The Seattle Police Department needs to find a better way to interact with anti-police demonstrators, including allowing officers to express solidarity with protesters marching against police brutality and racism, according to the first in a series of detailed critiques of the department’s response to racial justice protests in downtown Seattle. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder/The Seattle Times)

Despite Canadian easing, US extends land border restrictions
The U.S. government on Wednesday extended the closure of the land borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential travelers until at least Aug. 21. The announcement by the Department of Homeland Security came two days after the Canadian government announced it would begin letting fully vaccinated U.S. citizens into Canada on Aug. 9, and those from the rest of the world on Sept. 7. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Paul Chiasson/AP File)

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Associated Press
Despite Canadian easing, US extends land border restrictions
Delta variant has become dominant in Oregon
Democrats back Biden US lands pick assailed by Republicans
NFL teams face potential forfeits for COVID-19 outbreaks

Auburn Reporter
Transportation Commission wants your help naming next ferry

Bainbridge Island Review
Another COVID-related death confirmed in Kitsap, 123 total

Bellingham Herald
With Canada reopening its border, the Port of Bellingham is ending this service
COVID-19 infection rates increase in six of Whatcom County’s seven regions last week

Capital Press
Committee deadlock sets up Senate vote on BLM pick
WSDA to certify hemp use banned in Washington
Crews make progress on huge Oregon blaze
Invasive tree of heaven more like a tree of hell for some

Courier-Herald
Opinion: On Critical Race Theory

Everett Herald
Nothing lasts forever — Lake Stevens’ castle playground leveled
Everett gymnastics coach charged with voyeurism, child porn
State will close a minimum security unit at Monroe prison

The Facts Newspaper
City announces $10.4 million to Community Organizations Focused on BIPOC Safety

Federal Way Mirror
Federal Way police to conduct emphasis patrols to mitigate recent rise in violent crime

International Examiner
Pandemic recovery will take time for businesses in the Chinatown International District

News Tribune
Man charged in Tacoma security guard’s death dragged her ‘like a rag doll,’ records say
National Guard recruiter, former Air Force special agent charged with child sex abuse
Toxic algae found in Pierce County lake; health officials issue caution advisory
As South Yakima Avenue shows, Tacoma’s homelessness crisis has reached a tipping point
Tacoma church considered a total loss after Thursday night fire
New tool finds vacant Pierce County apartments for people experiencing homelessness
Peninsula school board passes resolution on ‘critical race theory.’ Here’s what to know

New York Times
Sizzling temperatures are forecast to spread across much of the U.S.
How Tech Won the Pandemic and Now May Never Lose
Why Vaccinated People Are Getting ‘Breakthrough’ Infections

Olympian
Visiting Olympic National Park? Don’t start a campfire, park service says
Snazas join other WA sheriffs backing Second Amendment, Constitution
Plastic bag ban coming to WA state covers curbside pickup, too
Olympia police chief will give update on state’s new policing laws tonight
Parent company of Heritage Bank will close 4 more branches
Swimmers can safely return to this park’s waters after county lifts advisory

Puget Sound Business Journal
Starbucks pledges $100M to hunger relief, hits food share program milestone
Entitlement process, land constraints seen as key obstacles in nation’s booming industrial market
Survey finds commercial broker confidence hits all-time high

Seattle Times
What to know about COVID restrictions for traveling between the U.S. and Canada
As King County gun violence climbs, officials invest money in community-based approach to end shootings
Up next: A sunny, warm Seattle summer weekend forecast
Seven Black women, alleging discrimination during their careers with Seattle Parks Department, file lawsuit
Seattle police response to protests last summer made things worse, report says
Opinion: Protect the legacy of our urban parks, a classic public good

Skagit Valley Herald
Feds approve 32 studies in dam relicensing process
State investigating deaths of deer in Anacortes
Mount Vernon School Board passes district’s budget

Washington Post
Amazon pledges to investigate discrimination after internal petition wins backing of hundreds of employees
Tensions simmer in northern Haiti amid funeral for assassinated president
Japan manages a forced smile at lonely Opening Ceremonies, but Olympic joy is in short supply
Among U.S. Olympians, 83 percent are vaccinated against coronavirus
Alabama’s GOP governor says ‘it’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks’ for covid-19 spike

Yakima Herald Republic
State is catching Japanese beetles by the thousands in the Grandview area

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Lawmakers urge Washington Department of Transportation to clear encampments near highways (Fey)
Small business owners question viability of Washington’s plastic bag ban
Burien City Council candidates targeted by anonymous political signs

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Inspector general’s report recommends changes in police protest tactics
Burien Mayor claims to be target of white supremacy hate crime
Drive-by shootings up 100% in Seattle; shootings at 5-year high in King County
New tool finds vacant Pierce County apartments for people experiencing homelessness

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
King County officials increasingly alarmed by gun violence crisis
New report outlines Seattle police response to protesters in wake of George Floyd’s murder
North Cascades Highway to stay closed by spreading wildfire
Doctor says more than mandates needed to encourage COVID vaccinations
Some COVID-19 testing sites seeing recent surge in traffic
New police reform measures take effect Sunday in Wash. state
WSU coach Nick Rolovich won’t attend Pac-12 event due to vaccine mandate (Frockt)

KUOW FM
‘We have … a voice.’ Black lawmakers are changing the conversation in Olympia (Morgan, Taylor, Lovick, Hackney, Berg, Entenman, Nobles, Johnson, Harris-Talley)

KXLY (ABC)
‘It’s absolutely necessary’: Advocates reaffirm need for new police reform laws
‘WSU has an obligation to serve the public’: WSU President reaffirms vaccine policy as coach Rolovich opts out of shot

Q13 TV (Fox)
First camp connected to debris thrown onto I-90 cleared, second camp sweep planned for next week
Mayor Durkan announces $2 million investment as gun violence peaks in King County

Reports of ‘breakthrough’ COVID-19 cases alarming medical experts, world governments

Web

Crosscut
What’s in a name?

Thursday, July 22

Despite WA court ruling, warrants continue for drug possession
Months after the Washington Supreme Court deemed the state’s law criminalizing drug possession unconstitutional, thousands of people remain on parole with drug-related charges that are likely invalid. In some cases, these people have been arrested for parole violations on warrants issued by the Washington State Department of Corrections, despite their almost certain eligibility to have the past charges cleared under the court’s so-called Blake decision. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jovelle Tamayo)

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson rejects ‘insufficient’ $527 million settlement with opioid companies
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson rejected a $527.5 million settlement with drug companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic, setting the state up for a trial he hopes could win billions of dollars for drug treatment and prevention. “They put profits ahead of the health and wellbeing of thousands of Washingtonians,” Ferguson said Wednesday. Continue reading at KING 5.

Single-use plastic bag ban begins Oct. 1 in Washington
Washingtonians will begin to see fewer plastic bags littering the state’s roadsides, parks, and streams beginning Oct. 1 when the statewide plastic bag ban goes into effect, prohibiting the distribution of single-use plastic carry-out bags by restaurants, retail, small vendors and grocery stores. The ban had been originally scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2021, but the limited availability of compliant bags prompted Gov. Jay Inslee to delay it through a proclamation. The proclamation was recently rescinded. Continue reading at Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber.