Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Wednesday, July 7

Washington bans most outdoor and agricultural burning through September
Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in response to the “growing risk” of wildfires in the region and has banned most outdoor and agricultural burning in Washington until the end of September. The order comes as the state continues to face high temperatures, dry conditions, drought and fire dangers — environmental concerns exacerbated by an extreme heat wave at the end of June, according to the emergency proclamation. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Betty Udesen)

Delta Is Now The Dominant Coronavirus Variant In The U.S.
The highly contagious delta variant now accounts for more than 51% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to new estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The variant, also known as B.1.617.2, was first detected in India and is spreading quickly across the globe. And in parts of the U.S., the delta strain accounts for more than 80% of new infections, including some Midwestern states like Missouri, Kansas and Iowa. Continue reading at KUOW. (DPA/Picture Alliance)

As Covid-19 wanes, homes have only gotten less affordable
Rising home prices and low inventory have been pricing many would-be buyers out of the housing market since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. But homes have gotten even less affordable over the last several months, according to a new report by property database ATTOM. Continue reading at The Puget Sound Business Journal.

Print

Associated Press
Former WA auditor reports to jail for tax fraud conviction
Inslee declares wildfire state of emergency, burn ban
US judge upholds Seattle renter protections
Report: Over 57% of Hanford workers exposed to hazards
Wildfires burning in North Central and Eastern Washington

Aberdeen Daily World
Washington kids are behind on routine vaccines, at risk of missing the start of school
Job scene is a workers’ market as reopening beckons

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham Cold Storage strike in second week. Here’s what the company is doing
‘I think we dodged a bullet,’ Whatcom fire chief says of Fourth of July celebrations
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers reported Tuesday in Washington state

Capital Press
WDFW sets 3-day goal for wolf-removal decisions

Columbian
VA’s Vancouver campus sees slowing demand for COVID-19 vaccine

Everett Herald
Expect a mix of in-person and online college classes in fall
WaPo Comment: For some in cities, there’s no escape from the heat
WaPo Comment: Runner bounced from Olympics victim of absurd policy
Editorial: Don’t let compromise water down vital investments

Federal Way Mirror
Shopping cart protesters won’t face fines or citations, mayor and police chief say

High Country News
California budgets $61.5 million for wildlife crossings

International Examiner
“We don’t want to be displaced anymore”: Khmer Community of King County to open cultural center

Island’s Weekly
Rental assistance available for San Juan County tenants and landlords

Journal of the San Juan Islands
San Juan County recognizes Plastic Free July
Opinion: Plastic Free July | Be part of the solution

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap County’s COVID-19 cases fall 21.8%; Washington cases plummet 35.1%

News Tribune
Dashboard cameras headed to Tacoma police vehicles. Here’s what they’ll do, cost
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers reported Tuesday in Washington state
Editorial: Pride Week adopted in Pierce at last. LGBTQ+ advocates can cheer. But when will flag fly?

Olympian
Thurston County adds 107 new COVID-19 cases in last week, no new deaths
Developer doubles down on Lacey, buys 5 more office buildings in city’s Midtown
New deal will keep former Washington state ferry at Port of Olympia through May 2022

Peninsula Daily News
Open for business
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Clallam County reports 14th death due to COVID-19
EYE ON JEFFERSON: Sustainable forestry program topic at county meeting

Puget Sound Business Journal
As Covid-19 wanes, homes have only gotten less affordable
Grants for affordable housing development up for grabs in Snohomish County
Employees expect companies to enforce hygiene protocols with return to office
Report: Seattle’s life sciences industry continues to boom
Pentagon cancels $10B JEDI contract in a win for Amazon
Job seekers are hungry for hiring bonuses. Many employers are embracing them.
Opinion: Congress, industry must act to make aviation greener

Seattle Times
Washington bans most outdoor and agricultural burning through September
King County ordered to pay $900K after retaliating against employee who claimed discrimination
Why Seattle Public Schools may have to find shelter for these homeless adults
Record heat, drought threaten even the toughest survivors: L25, the oldest orca, and the winter Chinook she depends on
Why your ferry might be late — or canceled — this summer

Skagit Valley Herald
Open doors, welcoming arms — big step taken at senior centers
All-electric ferry project getting close to full funding

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Warmer temperatures mean more snowpack melting

South Seattle Emerald
District 2 bears the brunt of Seattle’s traffic deaths

Spokesman Review
Dry lightning, winds expected to add to fire risk in Spokane area with wildfires already burning
Spokane’s COVID cases continue to decline
Spokane River advocates push court to compel cleanup plan for PCBs: ‘It’s time for action’

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities firm awarded $19 million contracts for work at Hanford nuclear reservation
Richland firefighters free trapped driver after crash
Lightning threat puts Tri-Cities fire crews on high alert in ‘extreme drought’

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
New dental option set to open in Dayton

Washington Post
Yes, the office is back. It just might never be the same.
Pressure grows on Biden to curb ransomware attacks
Race between vaccines and variants tightens amid worries of Pfizer shot’s effectiveness
Haitian President Jovenel Moïse assassinated overnight in his home by gunmen, says acting prime minister
From Wuhan to Paris to Milan, the search for ‘patient zero’
You had the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine. Should you try to get a booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna?

Yakima Herald Republic
Jason White joins 1st Council meeting in a year; council seeks attendance requirement

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Toll rate increases planned for Seattle tunnel, Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Inslee declares wildfire state of emergency for Washington
Correctional officer’s COVID-19 related death considered ‘line of duty’ death

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Seattle to consider raising prices for parking near venues by more than double
‘A forest fire in Puget Sound’: Heat wave bakes Washington shellfish industry
Inslee declares wildfire state of emergency
Washington state regulators extend utility cutoff protections
Pressure mounts for more low-income housing tax credits
Vandal attacks Spokane Valley Planned Parenthood clinic

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
‘I need those guns put down’: SPD chief pleads with city after surge in shootings
1 week left to comment on toll hikes for Tacoma Narrows Bridge, SR-99 tunnel
Washington’s wildfire season could be as damaging as worst in state history, analyst says
State’s review of job seekers looking for work stirs concern some may opt for unemployment

KNKX FM
Washington court rules in favor of conservation groups in fight over cattle lots and groundwater
Former Washington Auditor Troy Kelley reports to prison after last minute delay effort
Listen: A look at the state’s response to wildfires, reopening and more
Pentagon Scraps $10 Billion Contract With Microsoft, Bitterly Contested By Amazon

KUOW FM
Pentagon cancels Microsoft’s massive JEDI contract
Delta Is Now The Dominant Coronavirus Variant In The U.S.

KXLY (ABC)
Inslee cancels visit with Spokane-area fire chiefs
Nearly $1M in federal funds approved to help fight Andrus Fire
Programs that can help people struggling to pay rent

Web

MyNorthwest
Judge upholds Seattle law barring landlords from denying housing due to criminal history
Young US adults among those with lowest COVID vaccination coverage
Seattle to consider raising prices for parking near venues by more than double
Gov. Inslee declares state of emergency for wildfires, limited burn ban
Seattle officials unveil legislation to protect public disclosure employees
Tacoma set to take next step toward doing away with single-family zoning

Tuesday, July 6

In high-poverty WA school districts, high schoolers bore extra burden
For some high school students, summer couldn’t come fast enough. “I feel like it’s been the first day of school for so long,” said Christian Fuentes, 18, who graduated from Eisenhower High School in Yakima on June 8. Because of the pandemic, high school seniors across Washington experienced a tumultuous end to their secondary education. But while all kinds of students struggled to adjust to virtual learning, student life has been particularly difficult for students in high-poverty districts. Continue reading at Crosscut. (David Diaz)

As many in Washington move on from pandemic despair, some still grieving feel left behind
It’s been more than a year since COVID-19 began decimating Ali A. Abdulla’s family. His mother and grandmother died 11 days apart in March 2020. Within months, the disease also took his father, other grandmother and a brother. A lot has changed since then. Vaccines have quelled much of the fear that gripped the country, and as spring and then summer dawned, ushered in a joyous period of reopenings that for many has made life seem almost normal again. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ann Hopping Nelson)

Sweltering temperatures and minimal preparation left state prisoners struggling to cope
On the morning of Wednesday, June 30, Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) staff covered part of a window at the entrance of the Twin Rivers Unit (TRU) at the Monroe Correctional Complex in Snohomish County in an attempt to lower the heat inside on a day when outside temperatures peaked at 82 degrees. But people incarcerated in the TRU say they spent the worst of the past week’s heat wave — including a high of 111 degrees in Monroe on Monday, June 28 — in sweltering cells with no air-conditioning and few chances to cool down, while prison staff had access to air-conditioned offices when temperatures rose into the triple digits. Continue reading at South Seattle Emerald. (Philip Cohen)

Print

Associated Press
Washington deaths from heat wave rise to 30, more expected
Ransomware attack before holiday leaves companies scrambling
More evacuations as wildfire in Central Washington grows
Pentagon cancels disputed JEDI cloud contract with Microsoft

Aberdeen Daily World
U.S. House advances millions in federal funding for Grays Harbor infrastructure projects
Walsh apologizes for wearing yellow Star of David to protest vaccine rules (Carlyle)
U.S. jobs jump by most in 10 months as economy gains steam
Letter: We’ll be watching Walsh
Letter: Rep. Walsh’s theatrics show he’s out of touch
Letter: Walsh’s ignorant grandstanding unwarranted

Bainbridge Island Review
Kitsap recreational projects get more than $10 million in state grant funding
Opinion: Interred Japanese Americans turned to baseball

Bellevue Reporter
Opinion: Politics of homelessness have taken a nasty turn

Bellingham Herald
New grants will bring big changes to these Whatcom County parks and recreation areas
Some Whatcom farms may not survive after last week’s heat. Here’s how they’re coping
After lawsuit, Whatcom sheriff’s office acts to better communicate with deaf, hard of hearing
It’s early, but Washington could be facing its worst wildfire season yet if trends hold
Last week’s heat wave won’t be the last. Here’s how Whatcom will be impacted
Eight new COVID-19 cases in Whatcom County, state reports Friday
Reopening Guide: What to know and do in Washington as the state officially reopens
Washington parks expect lots of visitors, sold-out campsites this summer. Here’s why
Whatcom County house prices set this record as demand outpaces inventory

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Court affirms that beliefs not license for bigotry
Opinion: In Our View: Columbia River Treaty discussions must resume

Covington-Maple Valley Reporter
Governor lifts restrictions, but health officials warn the pandemic is not over
Lawsuit filed for girl who died while waiting for care

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Farmers work in high temperatures in Washington
Inslee lifts most COVID restrictions in Washington

Everett Herald
Snohomish County businesses welcome state’s reopening
Oso slide memorial gets boost with $500,000 state grant
Much-needed Everett mental health unit opens with 24 beds
Plan to give some county staff $1,250 moves a step closer
Road-trip buzzkill: Sticker shock at the gas pump
WaPo Comment: Trump’s company is being prosecuted, not persecuted
WaPo Comment: Supreme Court was more divided than it might appear
WaPo Comment: Supreme Court won’t protect the vote; Congress must
Editorial: Lifting restrictions doesn’t mean pandemic is over
Editorial: City can’t miss bus on future for transit services
Editorial: We are the first line of defense against wildfires

The Facts Newspaper
Don’t forget your mask after June 30 – you may still need it even if you’re vaccinated
King County’s mask directive ends

Federal Way Mirror
Meet Federal Way’s first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator
Federal Way light rail extension is changing city’s downtown core

High Country News
A quest for Alaska oil sparks a fight over tribal sovereignty
How a trail in rural Oregon became a target of far-right extremism
We are water
The return of the endangered Mexican wolf

Island’s Weekly
Statewide ban on burning on state land begins July 2

Mercer Island Reporter
City’s recreation reset plan is in full swing this summer
Mercer Island Library will turn a new page in its history with July 7 reopening
King County Council passes tenant protections
DOE awarding $312 million to communities for clean water projects

News Tribune
JBLM to begin mortar training Wednesday
Hundreds of Wilkeson-area residents sign petition against land development
Investigation underway into July 4 structure fire in Tacoma. Here’s what we know
Increased calls kept fire departments busy July 4. How many were related to fireworks?
Puyallup to continue its hotel-shelter, looks ahead to tiny home village

New York Times
Covid Live Updates: Virus Multiplies in American Migrant Detention Centers
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Protects Against Delta Variant, Company Reports
How Bad Are U.S. Wildfires? Even Hawaii Is Battling a Surge.

North American Post
‘Be Bold:’ The Artistry of 99-Year Old Kibei Nisei Artist Koho Yamamoto

Olympian
Thurston County’s vaccination rate ranks 9th in the state. Why did it slow down?

Puget Sound Business Journal
Report: Demand for Seattle-area industrial space keeping pace with construction
Seattle chamber files appeal over payroll tax decision
New Covid-19 relief bills are piling up at Congress. But they face an uphill battle.
Opinion: Small business and community relationships are a two-way street

Seattle Times
Washington kids are behind on routine vaccines, at risk of missing the start of school
Seattle has gone 22 days without rain, and it looks like more dry weather is on the way
Toll rates likely to rise at Tacoma Narrows, Seattle tunnel
Wildfire smoke impacts what birds we see, hear according to UW study
As many in Washington move on from pandemic despair, some still grieving feel left behind
Mountain athletes with roots in Washington join mentorship program hoping to make the outdoors more inclusive
South Delridge Farmers Market brings culturally relevant cuisine to a food desert
The push to make Seattle’s Aurora Avenue safer for all
Opinion: We accomplish so much more for our students when we work together
Opinion: Capital-gains tax will help fund child care and allow parents to get back to work

Skagit Valley Herald
Opinion: Ask the Undersheriff: Program makes real difference for people in crisis
Deception Pass State Park expansion, other local projects receive grant funding

The Skanner
Washington Transit Returning to Full Capacity

South Seattle Emerald
‘Eco blocks’ are concrete signs of Seattle’s failure to address RV homelessness
Sweltering temperatures and minimal preparation left state prisoners struggling to cope
Opera ‘Tacoma Method’ takes on the violent expulsion of Chinese in Tacoma in 1885
Opinion: Why can’t justice punish and heal at the same time?
Opinion: Funding a humane, flourishing American democracy
Opinion: We must close the digital wealth divide

Spokesman Review
Wildfire near Wenatchee forces evacuations on Sunday afternoon
New infrastructure deal must focus on climate, activists say
Opinion: Senator Mark Schoesler: Competition and innovation will drive our energy future
Opinion: Getting There: With climate getting hotter, gas power can’t cool us down

Tri-City Herald
Who is Kennewick’s new assistant chief and will he be taking over?
Washington is now wide open. But Tri-Cities restaurants are cutting hours or closing
Senator says Tri-Cities businesses have a role in maintaining U.S. technology leadership
New daily COVID cases rising in Tri-Cities. And vaccine rates aren’t keeping pace
Smoke from British Columbia wildfires rolling south to spoil Tri-Cities skies
U.S. Supreme Court rejection of Tri-Cities florist called ‘historic victory for equality’
1st West Nile virus of 2021 in Washington state found near Tri-Cities
Oregon threatens to reject Easterday mega-dairy south of Tri-Cities

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
First case of West Nile in 2021 for Washington state found in Walla Walla County

Washington Post
Hackers demand $70 million to unlock businesses hit by sprawling ransomware attack
How and why Loudoun County became the face of the nation’s culture wars

Whidbey News-Times
Oak Harbor considers uses for $6.5 million of recovery funds
State grants will protect prairies, moths on island

Yakima Herald Republic
Record acreage predicted for U.S., Yakima Valley hop growers, but heat could affect crop yield
New family medicine clinic in west Yakima expected to fill several needs
Those who knew missing and murdered men and boys on Yakama reservation speaking out more
Yakima Valley cherry growers scrambling to cope with unprecedented heat wave
Bloomberg Column: Trump’s accountant confronts a loyalty test
Opinion: This Fourth of July, stop and think about the true meaning of the holiday

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Controversial ‘no sit, no lie’ ordinance takes effect in Everett
Women, veteran and minority restaurant owners lose COVID relief money after lawsuit

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Batterman Fire burning in Douglas County 10% contained
Raspberries burned, damaged from last week’s heat wave could ruin family farms
Multiple minority-owned businesses destroyed in White Center fire
Unemployment claimants in Washington must start job search activities
Jeff Bezos steps down as Amazon CEO
Extra patrols to prevent ‘boating under the influence’

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
‘No sit, no lie’ law begins in Everett as homeless shelter readies to open
Seattle transportation agency seeks steep increase in hourly parking rate for large events
Washington has reinstated job-search requirement to qualify for unemployment benefits

KNKX FM
Alarm grows as more test positive for COVID-19 at ICE detention center in Tacoma
Jeff Bezos Built Amazon 27 Years Ago. He Now Steps Down As CEO At Critical Time
Seattle music venues reopen after more than a year shuttered
Seattle chamber appeals dismissal of suit against city’s JumpStart tax
Supreme Court turns away Washington florist who refused same-sex wedding job

KUOW FM
What’s driving the price of wood through the roof?
Powerful moments mark reopening arts events
Why these Seattleites say they’ve ditched Independence Day celebrations
Roasted on the vine: Heat dome threatens NW berry harvest
NW heat wave sparks skepticism of new Conservative Climate Caucus
King County is already planning for the next heat wave
Heat wave lesson: Hydration is key, especially for older people

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane-Coeur d’Alene housing market booming, prices rising

Q13 TV (Fox)
Historic heat wave melts out 30% of Mt. Rainier area snowpack in 4 days
‘No sit, no lie’ ordinance takes effect in Everett, Washington

Web

Crosscut
In high-poverty WA school districts, high schoolers bore extra burden
Climate crisis, shrinking habitat threaten ‘cute, funny’ WA birds
How BLM protests changed teaching in King County schools
New federal investigation focuses on graves at NW Indian boarding schools
Opinion: UW police lawsuit underscores the intersection of race and class
Opinion: How the pandemic made us rethink community spaces

MyNorthwest
Everett to begin enforcing ‘no-sit, no-lie’ homeless camping ban
5-year project around Green Lake finishes with new bike lanes, paved roads
Unemployment claimants in Washington must start job search activities
Chamber of Commerce renews push to overturn Seattle big business tax

Friday, July 2

Family of Stonechild Chiefstick sues city of Poulsbo over fatal 2019 shooting
Family members of Stonechild Chiefstick, the Native American man with close ties to the Suquamish Tribe shot by a Poulsbo police officer at the community’s Third of July celebration in 2019, have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the city of Poulsbo over the fatal shooting. The suit, brought by attorneys representing Chiefstick’s children, a guardian and a representative for his estate, was filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma Thursday, two days short of the second anniversary of the shooting. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the city’s part, inadequate training and excessive force used in the incident. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (Jessica Darland/Kitsap Sun)

Hundreds believed dead in heat wave despite efforts to help
Many of the dead were found alone, in homes without air conditioning or fans. Some were elderly — one as old as 97. The body of an immigrant farm laborer was found in an Oregon nursery. As forecasters warned of a record-breaking heat wave in the Pacific Northwest and western Canada last weekend, officials set up cooling centers, distributed water to the homeless and took other steps. Still, hundreds of people are believed to have died from Friday to Tuesday. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Nathan Howard/AP)

U.S. hiring accelerated last month as workers see pay gains
In an encouraging burst of hiring, America’s employers added 850,000 jobs in June, well above the average of the previous three months and a sign that companies may be having an easier time finding enough workers to fill open jobs. Friday’s report from the Labor Department was the latest evidence that the reopening of the economy is propelling a powerful rebound from the pandemic recession. Restaurant traffic across the country is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, and more people are shopping, traveling and attending sports and entertainment events. The number of people flying each day has regained about 80% of its pre-COVID-19 levels. And Americans’ confidence in the economic outlook has nearly fully recovered. Continue reading at Tacoma News Tribune. (Keith Srakocic/AP)

Print

Associated Press
U.S. hiring accelerated last month as workers see pay gains
Trump Organization, CFO indicted on tax fraud charges
Tally of missing in condo collapse falls to 128 after audit

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom just a thousand vaccination starts away from 70%, as county sees 3 new COVID cases
Bellingham Cold Storage workers on strike. Here’s why

Capital Press
Cattle Producers win state support to watch for wolves
Darigold plans to build $450 million facility in Washington state
Most of Eastern Washington suffers ‘extreme” drought
Grasshopper, cricket activity on the rise

Everett Herald
In Marysville, neighbors nix a plan for a shelter community
Muhlstein: As tribal-themed mascots go, should others also be dropped?
Harrop: Numbers show Texas shouldn’t mess with California
Bloomberg Comment: Amazon, Microsoft show split in remote-work attitude
Bloomberg Comment: Court victory over NCAA may not benefit all athletes
Letter: Danger from fireworks is too great this year

The Facts Newspaper
Washington ready for reopening, but some COVID-19 precautions remain

Kitsap Sun
Family of Stonechild Chiefstick sues city of Poulsbo over fatal 2019 shooting
Military, vets finally get chance at COVID vaccine lottery. But they have to apply.

News Tribune
Planning to celebrate Pride in Tacoma? Here’s what you should know (Jinkins)
Nine people confirmed dead in Pierce County from record heat wave. Toll could rise
Effort to ban fireworks in ‘tinderbox’ Pierce County fails when GOP council members say no

New York Times
Live Updates: Biden Backs Removing Commanders from Military Sex Assault Cases
Covid Live Updates: J.&J. Says Early Results Show Its Vaccine Protects Against Delta
Knowing What Your Co-Worker Makes Doesn’t Close the Pay Gap
White House Unveils Strategy to Combat Domestic Extremism

Olympian
Lacey gains about 1,000 new residents after council approves annexation
Guilty: Ada County jury convicts Ammon Bundy on misdemeanor trespassing, resisting charges
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Thursday in Washington state
Lacey becomes most populated city in Thurston County
What should I do with all these COVID masks now that masking mandates are being lifted?
Thurston County falls short of vaccine goal as state reopens. Do you still need a mask?

Puget Sound Business Journal
New state law gives Tacoma and other cities another tool to spur development
With $40B in capital flowing, here’s where opportunities exist for build-to-rent development
Kraken’s Northgate training facility has new name, partnership with Starbucks
Knowing what your co-worker makes doesn’t close the pay gap
Amazon adds new corporate values as CEO Jeff Bezos prepares to step down
Prominent women call for tech giants to act against online harassment
SBA extends deadline on $100M grant program to help businesses recover from Covid-19
Opinion: Why is college debt so high and is it fair to simply write it off?
Banks continue to close thousands of branches. Is branch banking dying?

Seattle Times
Hundreds believed dead in heat wave despite efforts to help
‘Even the little guy can win,’ says fourth $250,000 Washington state COVID-19 vaccine-lottery winner
Some evictions can resume in Washington under new state guidance
Gov. Jay Inslee hoists flag atop Space Needle to celebrate Washington’s reopening
Seattle plans to draw people back downtown with park happy hours, concerts and more
Opinion: Supreme Court undermines voting rights and itself
Editorial: Firework safety even more critical after heat wave

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County’s economy recovering slowly

Spokesman Review
House approves $192 million in earmarks for Washington as part of $760 billion infrastructure bill
‘We need more affordable housing’: Cantwell pushing for housing money in infrastructure bill
Biden pledges to boost firefighter pay, revamp national response to growing wildfire threat in meeting with Inslee, other Western governors
Inslee visits Spokane as Washington state reopens for business with 69% of residents 16 and older vaccinated
Heat appears to have led to 7 deaths in Spokane, medical examiner says. Experts explain the dangers of hot weather
Opinion: Nicholas Stephanopoulos: The Supreme Court showcased its ‘textualist’ double standard on voting rights

Washington Post
Trump Organization prosecutors confront accusations of political bias
As tourists return to Europe, some top destinations want fewer of them
Supreme Court turns down petition from Christian florist in same-sex wedding case
Rescuers keep close eye on newly formed Hurricane Elsa as condo search effort continues
U.S. military vacates main air base in Afghanistan, underscoring withdrawal expected within days
U.S. economy added 850,000 jobs in June as labor market showed renewed strength
Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson suspended one month after marijuana test, putting Olympics in doubt
Federal executions halted as Justice Dept. reviews Trump-era policies
Opinion: Americans care about history because the stakes are high
Opinion: The Chinese Communist Party’s anniversary is Hong Kong’s funeral

Yakima Herald Republic
Memorial CEO highlights improved financial outlook, efforts to increase health care access
Groups rally to help Yakima Valley’s most vulnerable during heat wave
State appeals court orders Ecology to strengthen CAFO permit requirements
Officials renew warnings about illegal fireworks displays amid heat wave

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Lawmaker’s apology for wearing yellow star at Lacey speaking event not enough for Anti-Defamation League
Supreme Court justices turn away Washington florist who refused same-sex wedding job
Landlords able to raise rent once again under Washington’s eviction bridge plan (Jinkins)
‘Even the little guy can win sometimes’: Winner of $250,000 in Washington’s 4th vaccine lottery claims prize

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Fireworks bans expand across Puget Sound ahead of Fourth of July weekend
Statewide burn ban on DNR land in effect through end of September

KNKX FM
How Washington state may (finally) be leading on climate action
As Western Wildfires Worsen, FEMA Is Denying Most People Who Ask For Help
Clark County Jail’s communications with ICE raise legal questions

KUOW FM
Glacial rivers rage as heat wave bites into Northwest snowpack
Environmentalists hope for silver lining to Seattle’s surging A/C demands
Washington reopens, but does ‘full-capacity’ mean business as usual?
Pandemic blog: Updates for the Northwest

KXLY (ABC)
Washington DNR issues statewide burn ban on all forest lands
Ammon Bundy convicted in trespassing trial

Q13 TV (Fox)
State restrictions to loosen on public transportation, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Statewide burn ban issued for DNR lands in Washington ahead of holiday weekend

Web

Crosscut
As pandemic ebbs, Seattle’s Pride gets back to its roots
Opinion: How the pandemic made us rethink community spaces
One wolf was poached in WA. Here’s why it’s a big deal
Opinion: In WA, should renter protection laws exempt small landlords?
Who was most harmed during Seattle’s heat wave?
WA child care costs rise faster than financial help for stressed families
That voting-rights bill Congress rejected? Most of it is WA law

Thursday, July 1

Rent increases allowed under Washington’s new eviction moratorium
Gov. Jay Inslee has released the details of his new eviction moratorium that lasts until Sept. 30. The new rules, which took effect at midnight Wednesday, protect indebted renters from eviction for nonpayment of rent accrued between Feb. 29 2020 and July 31, 2021, on the condition that they apply for rent assistance. Beginning Aug. 1, tenants are expected to pay in full, unless their application is still being processed or the county where they live is delayed in distributing rent assistance dollars. Continue reading at The Olympian.

Move-in day nears as homeless get tiny houses of their own
Smith Avenue’s new shelter community of tiny homes will welcome its first residents next week. On the same day, the city’s controversial “no-sit, no-lie” ordinance will officially take effect. More than 60 people are already on the wait list. The site, behind the Everett Gospel Mission’s shelter on Smith Avenue, can house up to 30 people. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Katie Hayes)

Child care centers struggle to rebound despite Washington reopening
Many child care centers in Washington are not prepared to operate at pre-pandemic levels even if they are allowed to, as they struggle to meet the demand from families. Gov. Jay Inslee’s lifting of all pandemic restrictions in the state on Wednesday applies to child and daycare centers that can now operate at full capacity. But many centers, like Hilltop Children Center in Seattle, said they won’t be ready to fully open until fall. Continue reading at KING 5.

Print

Associated Press
Washington lawmaker wears Star of David in vaccine protest
US jobless claims fall to 364,000, a new pandemic low
Historic Northwest heat wave may have killed hundreds
As wildfires rage, Biden is raising federal firefighter pay

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Cosi team to hire ‘behavioral health navigator’

Auburn Reporter
King County Council passes tenant protections

Bellingham Herald
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Rent increases allowed under Washington’s new eviction moratorium
Reopening Guide: What to know and do in Washington as the state officially reopens

Bothell Reporter
Transit returning to full capacity

Capital Press
Japanese beetles found in large numbers in Central Washington
Western Innovator: Capturing carbon a tree at a time

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: Washington under no obligation to accept coal
Editorial: In Our View: Celebrate as state reopens, COVID-19 wanes

Everett Herald
Move-in day nears as homeless get tiny houses of their own
Another change in leadership at Marysville School District
Governor and others celebrate end of pandemic restrictions
Going somewhere? So are a million others over July 4 weekend
WaPo Fact check: GOP clings to fiction Biden backs ‘defund police’
Editorial: Record heat stark reminder of climate action need

The Inlander
A top state health official was fired over a personal email targeting the Spokane Regional Health District for ousting its health officer
Neighbors worried that recreation is exposing kids to toxins on the Coeur d’Alene River form a nonprofit to address issues

Mercer Island Reporter
Residents can engage in environmental issues with MI CAN

News Tribune
‘Small number’ of deaths might be connected to weekend heat wave in Pierce County
Editorial: Tacoma woman denied animal visit before she died. When will COVID’s toll on seniors end?
Tacoma celebrates re-opening, but for some touched by virus, a tinge of sadness lingers
Washington state is reopening economy Wednesday. Do I have to keep wearing a mask?

Olympian
Rent increases allowed under Washington’s new eviction moratorium
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Inslee, others celebrate state’s reopening with gathering in Tacoma’s Wright Park
Face masks not necessary in US to curb Delta variant, CDC chief says

Port Townsend Leader
Jefferson County public health officer rescinds mask mandate

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon to offer benefits to corporate employees who bike to work
Many millennials can’t buy houses. Apartments are getting larger instead.
Amazon expanding offices, cloud jobs in Microsoft’s backyard
What U.S. cities could be top office-performers coming out of Covid — and where workers are back in the office
SBA’s PPP loan forgiveness deadline is fast approaching. Don’t be left on the hook.

Seattle Times
Heat-wave deaths rise across Pacific Northwest, including 11 more in King County
Washington state Rep. Jim Walsh apologizes for wearing yellow Star of David to protest COVID vaccine rules (Carlyle)
How to deal with mask dilemmas, social anxiety as Washington reopens from COVID-19 hibernation
Column: Why can’t justice punish and heal at the same time?
Editorial: U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer helps restore civility to Congress
Opinion: Our daughter exemplified policing for the people

Skagit Valley Herald
Sedro-Woolley food bank says thank you, goodbye to National Guard

The Skanner
Latest Reopenings Oregon, Washington Mark Return to Business in Mainland US

The South Seattle Emerald
Chino y Chicano Podcast: Dr. Leo Morales, adios COVID
OIG memo reveals serious ‘deficiencies’ in OPA protest investigation that ‘cannot be remedied’
King County eases COVID-19 restrictions as Washington set to reopen June 30

Tri-City Herald
Feds move closer to testing a cheaper way to treat Hanford radioactive waste
Tri-Cities fire danger soars with heat and wind. 2 blazes already along highways
Tri-Cities restaurants close and events cancel because of overheated conditions

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla breaks all-time heat record
Umatilla among Oregon counties with heat deaths
Walla Walla County deputy awarded for ‘exceptional judgment’ in dangerous situation
Dayton raises utility tax to help pay new law enforcement contract with Columbia County

Washington Post
Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg surrenders in criminal case over company’s business dealings
Underpaid firefighters, overstretched budgets: The U.S. isn’t prepared for fires fueled by climate change

Yakima Herald Republic
Washington fully reopens Wednesday, bringing relief for Yakima Valley businesses
Comment period opens for solar energy project east of Moxee
Opinion: Health board vote brings relief, not reassurance

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Some doctors recommend J&J vaccine recipients get booster shot, but data is scant
Washington state fully reopens, ending more than a year of COVID restrictions
Everett hospital that treated first COVID-19 patient reacts to Washington reopening
Could Washington reinstate a mask mandate due to the delta COVID-19 variant?
Washington reopening day ‘bittersweet’ for business owners who shut down amid pandemic
Child care centers struggle to rebound despite Washington reopening

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Washington state gyms, restaurants, retail return to full capacity
Washington reports 347 new COVID-19 cases as state fully reopens, lifts most restrictions
Washington’s reopening marks turning point for Seattle tourism, hospitality industries
Extreme temperatures brought biggest glacial melt in Washington in about 100 years

KNKX FM
Weird potatoes, bad berries, hazardous human conditions: Heat takes its toll on Northwest farming

KUOW FM
The Supreme Court Throws Out A State Law Requiring Nonprofits To Name Rich Donors
A ‘new normal’: What Washington’s reopening means for you

KXLY (ABC)
‘Spokane is back’; Gov. Inslee visits Spokane to celebrate reopening
Spokane Public Schools board approves new mascots for local schools
WA Rep. Jim Walsh criticized for wearing Star of David, likening treatment of non-vaccinated people to Holocaust (Billig)

Q13 TV (Fox)
Snohomish County optimistic about economy reopening after seeing state’s first COVID-19 case in 2020
Downtown Seattle booming with visitors on first day of Washington state’s full reopening
State restrictions to loosen on public transportation, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Washington health officials look to the future after state fully reopens

Web

MyNorthwest
Despite progress, some Washington counties remain hesitant to get vaccinated
President Biden turns attention to Washington, Western US wildfires
King County approves ‘transformative’ package of renter protections
Starbucks partners with Seattle Kraken to support community, nonprofits
Washington updates mask rules now that state has reopened
Still ‘critical’ work left to do with Washington now fully reopened
Hospitality industry needs workers, patience as state reopens

Slog
King County Council Passes Tenant Protections Without Watering Them Down That Much

Wednesday, June 30

Welcome to your new normal: COVID restrictions ease across Washington state
Physical distancing: Nixed. Occupancy limits at businesses: Gone. Mask requirements: Lifted for outdoor spaces and sporting events. Washington’s next new normal is here. Wednesday’s sunrise greeted a state no longer beholden to government-imposed restrictions on business and social life to stem the tide of the coronavirus. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Ringman)

As border reopening date remains uncertain, small Washington and Idaho border towns are ‘at the end of their rope’
As the U.S.-Canada border remains closed, many small towns in Eastern Washington and North Idaho are just barely hanging on. Most are almost completely dependent on Canadians who come down for tourism, cheap gas or goods they can’t get up north. In normal times, most of the cars in town have Canadian plates. Gas stations sell fuel in liters, and stores have both Canadian and American cash registers. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Molly Quinn)

Farmworker advocates seek additional Washington protections for outdoor workers
In Washington, employers must take several measures to protect outdoor workers from heat illness. But farmworker advocates say the state needs to do more. Washington’s heat-related labor requirements are in effect from May 1 through Sept. 30. Continue reading at Yakima Herald-Republic. (Evan Abell)