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Monday, September 30

‘A tool to control the thoughts and actions of people’: New Washington law seeks to stop book bans
Book bans in public schools and libraries all over the United States have been fueled in recent years largely by dozens of conservative activist groups working to suppress books about LGBTQ+ people and people of color. Last March, the state Legislature passed a law meant to slow efforts to ban books in Washington’s K-12 schools. The new law forbids public schools, charter schools and some tribal schools from banning books or other instructional materials just because they include stories of legally protected groups such as LGBTQ+ people and people of color. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Tribune News Service)

More than half of Washington’s electric vehicle rebate funding is used up
Around 3,300 Washington residents have snapped up state-funded rebates to lease or purchase electric vehicles since the subsidies became available about two months ago. Funding for the program, which launched on Aug. 1, is expected to run out in October if people continue tapping the rebates at the current pace, according to Steven Hershkowitz, the state Department of Commerce’s clean transportation program managing director. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

Building housing in downtown Seattle just got easier
Soon, developers will have an easier time building apartments in downtown Seattle. That’s because the City Council voted 8-1 to exempt residential projects there, along with hotels and research labs, from a time-consuming process called “design review.” Design review meetings are one of the main places the public can weigh in on the impact of new buildings on their neighborhood and demand changes from developers. The city needs more housing, especially in downtown Seattle where experts say more residents would help offset the economic impact of remote work. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen’s budget season for 2025 is happening now

Bellingham Herald
Is climate change affecting fall foliage in western WA? Here’s what the latest data says
‘Meeting people where they’re at’: Addiction treatment center supports rural Whatcom County

Capital Press
Despite industry efforts, Northwest hop stocks still high
Economist: Many factors influence U.S. agricultural trade outlook

Columbian
Learning curve: WA schools grapple with new cell phone policies
Two Vancouver companies get state grants to develop green technology
Devastating wildlife disease’ strikes Eastern WA. Benton mass mortality event declared

Everett Herald
Budget presentation spells out big cuts for Everett amid deficit
Community Transit’s ride-hailing service expanding to 3 new citie
Nearly 150 firefighters may have been exposed to asbestos, fire agencies say s
Comment: For plastic recycling, are we just ‘chasing arrows’?
Comment: Long prison sentences aren’t protecting public safety

Islands’ Weekly
San Juan County Receives $1.5Million from Governor to Support Local Transportation Infrastructure

Kitsap Sun
Opioid overdoses declining in Kitsap, according to recent data

News Tribune
What a longshoremen strike means for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and other cruise lines
‘Forever chemicals’ are being found everywhere. What about in Tacoma’s TAGRO fertilizer?

Peninsula Daily News
Grants to fund two clean energy projects in Clallam County

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing strike delivers $1.4B hit to Washington’s economy
Veteran civil servant takes over at Everett Housing Authority

Seattle Times
Police chase ends in deadly crash in Everett
Can WA hack and burn its way out of a future of megafires?
WA to pay $25 million in Evergreen student’s carbon monoxide death
Seattle churches wanting to build affordable housing face testing times
WA treatment plant whistleblower files $10M wrongful termination claim

Spokesman Review
Washington advocates push for state ban on flavored vapes (Reeves, Nobles)
Tacoma has spent $371M since ‘15 to fix streets. Why are its main routes getting worse?
Avista initiates first public safety power outage for over 1,500 customers on windy Sunday
‘A tool to control the thoughts and actions of people’: New Washington law seeks to stop book bans? (Stonier)

Washington Post
What to expect if port workers strike, and how it may affect the economy

WA State Standard
Washington budget outlook shows no signs of improvement (Ormsby)
More than half of Washington’s electric vehicle rebate funding is used up
Earthquake risk data for Washington public schools is incomplete and out of reach

Wenatchee World
New report indicates ‘significant’ cost to economy from climate change, Sen. Cantwell calls for action

Whidbey News-Times
‘Back to basics’: Hops industry continues to adjust to changing market in 2024 harvest

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Suspect dead after police pursuit ends in fatal crash in Everett
Boeing machinists reject ‘best and final’ offer from company, strike continues

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
WSP pursuit ends in deadly rollover crash in Everett
Striking Boeing machinists to lose employee health care benefits Tuesday

KNKX Public Radio
Going for a triple win with Farm to School programs
Hair salon offers sanctuary, naloxone for people touched by addiction

KUOW Public Radio
Building housing in downtown Seattle just got easier
Seattle Police lost 23 guns and don’t know where they went
Recovery from cyberattack costs Seattle Public Library over $1 million

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Meet the first — and only — female Columbia River Bar Pilot
Bellingham cancer advocate sees progress in care and treatment
A look inside the Lighthouse Mission’s new $29M homeless shelter

MyNorthwest
Nationwide Verizon outage impacting customers in the Seattle area

Friday, September 27

Who will build WA’s electric ferries? Only one West Coast shipyard shows interest
Three shipyards from different corners of the country say they have the ability to build the next generation of hybrid-electric boats for Washington State Ferries. Of the three, only one is local: Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, in Freeland, on Whidbey Island. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

WA Supreme Court is told cutting public defender caseloads could incite ‘vigilante’ justice
Prosecutors are warning the Washington state Supreme Court that reducing public defender caseloads could lead to filing of fewer criminal charges and people seeking retribution on their own. Supporters of reducing caseloads say the change is needed to stabilize the system. They contend that large caseloads and low pay are driving people out of public defense and deterring new lawyers from entering this line of legal work. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

Overdose deaths rose in Washington as they fell nationwide
Drug overdose deaths have continued to rise in Washington state, even as they’ve started to fall nationwide, according to preliminary CDC data. Washington likely didn’t see the same decline in overdose deaths because “fentanyl became prevalent in the Pacific Northwest later than the rest of the country,” John Doyle, a spokesperson for the state Department of Health, told Axios this week. Continue reading at Axios Seattle. (Alex Fitzpatrick)

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Associated Press
Companies Back Away From Oregon Floating Offshore Wind Project as Opposition Grows

Axios
Free entry to national parks this weekend
Overdose deaths rose in Washington as they fell nationwide

Bainbridge Island Review
BI seeks input regarding EV charging requirements
Many critical of BI’s Groundwater Management Plan

Capital Press
EFSEC hears landowner support for solar project
Ex-ambassador: ‘Ag is suffering,’ national strategy needed
Industry cautiously measures market response to GM wheat trait
USDA awards millions for western wildfire reduction projects

Columbian
What should Woodland look like in 20 years? City wants to know
Department of Ecology isn’t meeting cleanup requirements at Camp Bonneville, says state auditor

Everett Herald
Marysville parents frustrated as district pauses swim program
Stanwood, Oak Harbor finish investigation into ‘hateful words’ at game

Indian Country Today
Tribes sue feds over offshore wind energy plans
The Wrap: Tribal colleges response to FAFSA issues

News Tribune
Asylum seekers who’d been living in King County tent camp now housed at Tacoma hotel
Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore placed on administrative leave. City provides no reason

Northwest Asian Weekly
Seattle-Based National Asian Pacific Center on Aging gets $10M job-training grant
Farrar Law steps in as interim executive director at Wing Luke Museum amid leadership transition

Olympian
Thurston sheriff defends pursuit policies after Tuesday chase ended in two-vehicle wreck

Peninsula Daily News
Port of Port Townsend reviews draft budget for next year
Opinion: Disaster preparedness month

Seattle Times
NTSB issues urgent safety alert after Boeing 737 rudder failure
Boeing, Machinists back at the negotiating table as strike enters third week
Who will build WA’s electric ferries? Only one West Coast shipyard shows interest
Editorial: Focus on WA ferries’ greener future, while keeping today’s fleet moving
Opinion: Sustaining old growth requires active stewardship

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County Elections Department moves to bigger space
Sedro-Woolley completes letter opposing energy storage facility
Mount Vernon City Council sets fees for Library Commons, awards housing grants

Sol De Yakima
Proyecto solar Goose Prairie se concluirá a finales de octubre
Fondo económico de $30.000 ayudará a pequeñas empresas del valle de Yakima

South Seattle Emerald
King County Auditor’s Report on High-Risk Issues Includes Concerns for Adult and Juvenile Detention
Habitat for Humanity Breaks Ground on Its Largest-Ever Multifamily Project, Located in Columbia City
Washington State Joins Reentry 2030 to Aid Formerly Incarcerated People, Closes Last Death Penalty Chamber
Emmett Till’s Cousin Speaks at NAAM Tonight; Seattle Public Schools Reassesses School Closure Plans; Libraries Celebrate Banned Books Week

Spokesman Review
Spokane Board of Health weighs opioid treatment outsourcing amid testy debate
Spokane jury awards Black UPS driver $237M for racial discrimination, retaliation in Yakima

Tri-City Herald
Swarm of 100+ earthquakes rattle edge of Hanford nuclear site northwest of Tri-Cities

Washington Post
U.S. agency calls for urgent action on Boeing 737 rudder systems
Mortgage rates are dropping. That doesn’t mean it’s time to buy a home.
FDA approves a novel drug for schizophrenia, a potential ‘game changer’

WA State Standard
Fewer Washington residents have delinquent debt than national average
WA Supreme Court is told cutting public defender caseloads could incite ‘vigilante’ justice

Wenatchee World
NCW prescribed burns starting soon
NCW pear harvest to see 31% decrease from 5-year average

Yakima Herald-Republic
Northwest pear crop will be the smallest in 40 years
Yakima School District joins forces with CWU and YVC to smooth path for college credit
HR investigation finds inappropriate workplace conduct at Sunnyside Police Department

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
WSDOT said this is the biggest weekend for road closures
Boeing and striking machinists to meet for negotiations for the first time in over a week
State settles with family of Evergreen student who died of carbon monoxide poisoning for $25M

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Did you feel it? 4.0 quake shakes near Victoria, B.C.
Kenmore to expand road safety measures around school zones
Tacoma police chief Avery Moore placed on administrative leave

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Dispute continues over Burien camping ban despite federal court’s decision

KUOW Public Radio
King County Sheriff’s lawsuit over Burien camping ban thrown out by federal judge
Congress members press Biden for intelligence briefing, independent investigation of Seattleite’s killing by Israeli forces

KXLY (ABC)
EWU announces $13 million plan to upgrade athletics facilities
Evacuations ordered for 1,700-acre wildfire burning in Danville
Aftermath of powerful storm leaves damage and debris in Pullman

NW Public Radio
Residents of senior mobile home park fight 44% rent increase
Aerial attacks help tamp down Washington fires this season, Oregon sees record-breaking year for acres burned

Web

Cascadia Daily News
New biodiversity video series shows why conservation and habitat protection are critical
Opinion: Reflecting on the passing of one of Washington’s greatest leaders, Dan Evans

Crosscut
Seattle Animal Shelter director resigns, alleging city inaction
The Newsfeed: Labor & Industries interpreters file wage-theft suit
Whatcom probe on harassment investigation shows ‘systemic failure’

MyNorthwest
Can’t afford your prescription drugs? You are not alone
Why is WSDOT shutting down 4 freeways this weekend?
Your license plate will soon be less fancy because of shortages
Earthquake may have shaken up Northern Washington residents
Patti Payne on Dan Evans: ‘I loved his spirit, respect and humility’
Rudder failure on Boeing 737s causes urgent safety alert from NTSB

The Stranger
Long Prison Sentences Don’t Keep Us Safe

Thursday, September 26

Tradition and science go hand-in-hand as state, federal agencies look at thinning forests to prevent out-of-control wildfires”Our Western forests have evolved with fire on the landscape. We need to understand this to both realize how we got into the wildfire crisis and how we can get out of it. We cannot log our way out of it. The wildfire crisis — the current age of more frequent, larger scale fires over a longer season — has been brought on by three main factors: fire suppression, past logging practices and climate change. Continue reading at Inlander.

Washington pear harvest worst in decades
A prolonged cold snap in January, and cooler periods that followed, have ravaged the pear crops in Oregon and Washington.
The harvest data shows that Washington farmers are likely to have the worst yield in about 40 years, said Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. Continue reading at Spokesman. (Dan Pelle)

Underage and Under Arrest: Turning the tide of a juvenile crime spike
SEATTLE — KING 5 has been looking into the crisis of a juvenile crime spike in Western Washington, with serious offenses committed by kids as young as 12 and 13 years old. In our series, Underage and Under Arrest, we examine efforts to turn the tide. Continue reading at King5.

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Associated Press
Funds are cutting aid for women seeking abortions as costs rise

Aberdeen Daily World
Hoquiam City Council approves $873,378 bid for pump station
Looking into where a large number of Aberdeen’s unhoused have gone

Auburn Reporter
More freeway closures this weekend in South King County

Bellingham Herald
Gov. Jay Inslee named on Forbes’ first-ever list of worldwide leaders in sustainability
Early-morning earthquake rattles Northwest, prompting thousands of reports. How big was it?
The Port of Bellingham may explore expanding its commission. Here’s how that might work.
Swarm of 100+ earthquakes rattle edge of Hanford nuclear site northwest of Tri-Cities

Capital Press
Editorial: Deja vu all over again

Columbian
Clark County Public Health presentation discusses the dangers and health effects of lead

Everett Herald
Snohomish County’s health leaders ponder fixes for mental health crisis

The Inlander
Spokane officials raise concerns over Hanford waste
Tradition and science go hand-in-hand as state, federal agencies look at thinning forests to prevent out-of-control wildfires

News Tribune
How worried should Tacoma be about the ‘Big One,’ the looming M-9.0 Cascadia earthquake?

Olympian
Gov. Jay Inslee named on Forbes’ first-ever list of worldwide leaders in sustainability

Peninsula Daily News
Six projects aim to boost jobs, economic development on Peninsula

Puget Sound Business Journal
The National Observer: Retail bankruptcies spark CRE fallout
Seattle City Council lifts restrictions on micro-units
Kroger-Albertsons merger: Who made the better case and possible ruling

Seattle Times
Electric conversion of WA ferry delayed a year, and the cost is rising
Westneat: Seattle encampments being cut by two-thirds seems like a big deal

Spokesman Review
Washington pear harvest worst in decades
Moses Lake manufacturer lands $200 million federal grant to make EV battery ingredients
Northwest lawmakers help Congress pass short-term spending bill, averting government shutdown

Washington Post
Free covid tests by mail program revived by Biden administration
Congress passes bill to prevent government shutdown, add funds for Secret Service

WA State Standard
Washington public sector unions split on new two-year contract
Free entry at Washington’s national parks this Saturday

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle parents weigh in after latest twist in ongoing school closures debate
Court dismisses King County’s legal complaint over Burien’s camping ban
Underage and Under Arrest: Turning the tide of a juvenile crime spike
Send Shanté: Tacoma road littered with potholes, overgrowth causing problems for homeowners
Backlog to change the way Washington state makes license plates

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Legal system has split opinions on caseload cap that could financially devastate smaller counties

Crosscut
Proposal for WA ferry engineers, oilers falls short of pay parity

Wednesday, September 25

Inslee announces funding for local transportation infrastructure
In a midday meeting Tuesday, Sept. 17, at Brickworks, Gov, Jay Inslee delighted two dozen attendees by announcing he has ordered $1.5 million in state emergency funds to help the San Juans cope with canceled sailings in the Washington State Ferry system. On July 22, San Juan County Council Chair Jane Fuller made a big gamble by circumventing WSF leadership and our state legislators and going straight to the Governor with a request for emergency funds. In the ensuing weeks, the County crafted a request for nearly $1 million to augment and expand private water taxi and small barge services here that spring into action when the inter-island service stumbles. Continue reading at Journal of the San Juan Islands. (Jeff Noedel)

Top Washington universities decline in annual rankings of best U.S. schools. Here’s why
U.S. News and World Report released its annual college rankings on Sept. 24, with some Washington state schools seeing a slight drop from last year’s list. The University of Washington tied for No. 46 overall among national universities, and No. 18 among public universities, making it the highest-ranked school in the state. But it fell six spots from last year, when it tied for the No. 40 spot overall and the No. 15 spot among public schools. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Getty Images)

Washington advocates push for state ban on flavored vapes
A broad coalition of Washington educators, doctors, researchers and social justice advocates has launched a campaign to ban flavored nicotine vapes in the state, citing the product’s contribution to youth addiction. The coalition is calling itself “Flavors Hook Kids Washington” and is seeking to ban all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. According to Tobacco-Free Kids, 7.7% of Washington high school students use vapes, also known as electronic cigarettes — about on par with the national rate, based on the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Use Survey. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

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Capital Press
WDFW to try to remove one wolf from Couse pack
Federal judge tosses $117M antitrust suit against timber companies

Columbian
Clark County drug court marks 25th anniversary with nearly 800 graduates
Clark County District Court grapples with defense attorney shortage, ‘unprecedented’ case filings

Everett Herald
After decades of work, Marysville cuts ribbon on State Avenue project

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Inslee announces funding for local transportation infrastructure

News Tribune
Top Washington universities decline in annual rankings of best U.S. schools. Here’s why
‘Monster weekend of closures’ coming to Western Washington highways, WSDOT warns
Here’s something to honk about: Gas prices are down in Tacoma and WA, according to study

Port Townsend Leader
Ethics complaints against mayor move forward
State parks setting stage to reclaim Fort Worden ‘campus’
Davis returns to Quilcene school board; no action taken on proposed sports resolution

Puget Sound Business Journal
New data shows stronger demand for Seattle office space
Signs of improved affordability start to emerge in housing market
Paul Allen’s foundation gives millions to activate downtown Seattle

Seattle Times
Seattle school-closure plans are changing, but district offers few details

South Whidbey Record
County sends shoreline plan to state for feedback

Spokesman Review
Drug deaths decline across the country, but not in Spokane or Washington state. What could be behind the change?
Opinion: September is National Recovery Month: Why does it matter?
Comment: Confronting our new climate reality

Washington Post
Shoppers will spend a record $241 billion online this holiday season
Justice Dept. sues Visa, says it illegally monopolized debit card market
Democrats to unveil ACA tax-credit plan, teeing up next health-care fight

WA State Standard
Washington advocates push for state ban on flavored vapes (Nobles, Reeves)
GOP senator blocks resolution stating the right to emergency care includes abortion

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce starts Hispanic business series

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle police issue new alarm response policy
Seattle mayor unveils $8 billion budget proposal for 2025-2026
Backlog to change the way Washington state makes license plates

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Strikers at Boeing criticize company’s public approach to contract offer
Boeing factory workers pressured to prioritize speed over quality: report
New study finds alarming signs of anti-Asian violence, harassment in Seattle

KNKX Public Radio
Inslee and governors of 23 states launch ‘climate-ready workforce’ initiative
Human reviewers can’t keep up with police bodycam videos. AI now gets the job

KUOW Public Radio
90 days to make a life: One Afghan family’s resettlement in Washington state

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane organization receives $1 million to help refugees and immigrants
Uncertainty looms over funding for Spokane’s volunteer-led organization C.O.P.S.

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County seeking location for severe weather shelter

Crosscut
Seattle Mayor staves off deep cuts in $8.3B 2025 budget proposal

MyNorthwest
Seattle Mayor’s budget proposals includes cuts to close $250 million in deficits
‘There are souls out here:’ Refugee encampment cleared from Kent without solution

Tuesday, September 24

Report: Washington among best states for hourly workers
Washington remains one of the best states in the country for hourly workers based on its high minimum wage and the elimination of less-than-minimum tip wages, according to a senior researcher at Oxfam America. Washington, Oregon and California are among the top five states in the index and each features some of the strongest minimum wages in the country, provide paid leave and ensure workers have the right to organize in private and public sectors, according to Oxfam. Continue reading at Axios. (Annelise Capossela)

Conversion of Washington ferry to hybrid-electric power is delayed
When Washington State Ferries took its Jumbo Mark II vessel, the Wenatchee, out of service last September to convert it from diesel to hybrid-electric power, the plan was for the boat to be back in action sometime around late summer this year. The agency now says it anticipates the project will take until summer 2025 to complete. The agency and Vigor agreed to a $100 million contract to convert the Wenatchee and another vessel, the Tacoma, to hybrid-electric power. There’s also an option to proceed with another $50 million conversion of a third boat, the Puyallup. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (WSDOT)

FundHubWA launched as all-in-one site for climate and clean energy funding
Washington State has launched FundHubWA as a centralized hub for federal and state clean energy grants. On Monday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced the launch of a new website designed to give people and organizations a way to request funding for climate and clean energy projects. According to the press release, Washington residents and businesses will have access to federal and state grants, tax incentives, and rebates that advance clean air, energy, and technology. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (FundHubWA)