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Tuesday, April 5

Preventative COVID-19 drug Evusheld now available in Washington
A drug that could potentially prevent immunocompromised people from developing COVID-19 is now available in the state of Washington, according to the Department of Health (DOH). Those 12 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised or have had a severe reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for the treatment. The drug is administered through two consecutive injections. Evusheld cannot be used as a COVID-19 treatment and is not recommended for people who have been exposed to COVID-19, according to the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization. Continue reading at KING 5.

With Obama looking on, White House to open ACA plans to more families
President Biden plans to announce Tuesday that his administration is making a tweak to federal rules long sought by advocates that would allow millions of additional families to buy health plans through the insurance marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act. The announcement will represent Biden’s latest effort to use the ACA as the main fulcrum for his goal of making health insurance more available and affordable to American consumers…The tweak involves what is known in health-policy circles as the ACA’s “family glitch.” Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Saul Loeb)

WA farmers face seed shortages, tough conditions for cattle amid impending second year of drought
[Mason] Douglass gets about 10 calls from all over the West a day, farmers looking to plant forage crops for cattle – oats, barley and triticale. “So, I got your message,” Douglass says. “You’re looking for some oats and some haybet barley. I hate to let you know, but unfortunately we’re out of oats and barley at this time. I don’t even know where to send you … I think everyone in this local area is sold out.” He says those few seeds that are available are double the price they should be. Continue reading at NWNews. (Anna King)

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Associated Press
Wildlife refuge to reopen after $31M restoration project
Progress Report on Oregon’s 2020 Drugs Decriminalisation Law

Bellingham Herald
‘Every student has that opportunity to grow and develop’ on new inclusive playgrounds
COVID testing restrictions were lifted for the border. Here’s what Whatcom saw for crossings
Here’s what’s happening with COVID-19 cases in Whatcom schools; county’s numbers

Capital Press
Pacific Northwest storm brings high winds, rain, mountain snow
Early start to western wildfire season likely

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: We must remain vigilant about coronavirus

Everett Herald
‘Never forgotten’: Memorial honors slain Everett police officer
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Editorial: We can repudiate racism without erasing history (Morgan)
Letter: Roundup, pesticides killing salmon and people
Letter: Everybody should be paying fair share on car tabs

High Country News
A mystery worm is threatening the future of Washington’s oysters

Indian Country Today
‘We’ve got to get gaming out of our blood’
Tribes seek more inclusion, action from US officials

Kitsap Sun
U.S. Treasury official visits Suquamish to learn about pandemic’s effects on tribes

News Tribune
‘The people are fighting.’ Ukrainian students in Tacoma feel weight of war at home
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state
Thousands without power near Fife, Bonney Lake as storms blow through Pierce County
Here’s how a $1.5M grant will help replace diesel-powered generators at Port of Tacoma

North American Post
Looking South: Anglophone Canadian Reactions to Japanese American Incarceration – Part 1

Olympian
1 Thurston County resident dies from COVID-19 in the past week as cases drop
Police investigating officer’s use of firearm after chase in Grays Harbor County Sunday
Providence, Swedish health care systems unite under one brand

Puget Sound Business Journal
Airline prices prepare for takeoff as labor, inflationary pressures weigh on carriers
Fight labor shortages by hiring people with criminal records. Here’s how to start.
Tourism hasn’t recovered in Seattle as quickly as other major cities
Opinion: For climate and health, let’s design and build all-electric buildings

Seattle Times
At 62, ex-Microsoft executive goes from Seattle houseboat to Poland, transporting Ukrainian refugees
Seattle mayor balks at $100M bond sale to fix old bridges
Fewer flights called off as Alaska Airlines cancellation wave rolls into fifth day
Into the ice: A crab boat’s quest for snow crab in a Bering Sea upended by climate change
Opinion: Allow terminally ill patients from out of state to access aid-in-dying

Skagit Valley Herald
Number of new COVID-19 cases in Skagit County at its lowest since July 11-17

Tri-City Herald
E. Washington superintendent who resigned after mask vote named Richland High principal
Tri-Cities KID users will wait longer for irrigation water this spring

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla continues work on Howard Street and intersection with Park Street
Public can weigh in on future Walla Walla County district maps Tuesday
High wind warning in effect in Walla Walla area with damaging winds predicted
Walla Walla Regional Airport prepares for new jets with extensive remodel

Washington Post
Ukrainian villagers describe cruel and brutal Russian occupation
France opens war crimes probes as more countries expel Russian diplomats
Jackson on course for confirmation, with 2 more GOP senators in favor
With Obama looking on, White House to open ACA plans to more families
CDC, under fire for covid response, announces plans to revamp agency

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Preventative COVID-19 drug Evusheld now available in Washington
Family, law enforcement and community honor fallen Everett Officer Dan Rocha at memorial

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Everett bids farewell to fallen officer
Rain, gusty winds cut power in some areas; heavy snow in mountains
Alaska Airlines cancels more flights as pilot shortage continues
FBI offering $10K reward in commercial aircraft laser incidents near SEA
‘Hard landing’ at Colman Dock delays Seattle/Bainbridge Island ferry route
CDC report: Black women die from maternal causes at rate nearly 3 times higher than others
State Department launches new cybersecurity bureau

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
High winds, rain lead to widespread outages, damaged apartment in Western Wash.
Seattle leaders address Ballard encampment fires, resident’s frustrations

KNKX Public Radio
WA farmers face seed shortages, tough conditions for cattle amid impending second year of drought

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: What experts say about when and how to dial down Covid precautions

NW Public Radio
How Conservation Is Preserving A Community
The Fight For Legacy Forests – Part 4: How A Bird Touched Off Court Battles

Q13 TV (FOX)
Crews evaluate damage at Seattle’s Colman Dock following rough ferry landing

Web

MyNorthwest
Seattle’s first ‘block the box’ traffic camera set to come online this week
CM Pedersen ‘disappointed’ in mayor’s decision to ‘kick the can’ on citywide bridge repairs
‘Hard landing’ at Colman Dock delays Seattle/Bainbridge Island ferry route
Everett police Officer Dan Rocha to be remembered at memorial
FBI offers reward after 100 incidents near Sea-Tac where lasers have been pointed at planes
Chance for ‘severe storm’ across Western Washington as wind, rain move in Monday
Fourth straight day of canceled flights at Sea-Tac amid ongoing Alaska Airlines pilot shortage

LandLine Magazine
New Washington state law covers restroom access for port haulers (Sells)

West Seattle Blog
FERRY UPDATE: Fauntleroy dock reopening after repair closure

Monday, April 4

Washington birth doulas advocated for-a pathway to certification and won
With Gov. Jay Inslee’s signoff, birth doulas in Washington State have established their work as a profession based on voluntary competency-based state certification, paving the way for reimbursement under Medicaid. ESHB 1881 passed both chambers in Olympia earlier this month, where it drew broad support, passing with a wide margin of 85–8, backing from both parties in the House, and unanimous support in the Senate, according to a media release from Surge Reproductive Justice, an organization backing the legislation. Continue reading at The South Seattle Emerald. (Courtesy of Governor Jay & First Lady Trudi Inslee)

State approves 1st alert system for missing Indigenous people
Beginning soon, when Indigenous people go missing in Washington, social media, radio airwaves and highways will be blanketed with their information to hopefully lead to them being found — the first state in the U.S. where that will be guaranteed. That’s because Gov. Jay Inslee on March 31 signed House Bill 1725, creating the nation’s first statewide alert system for missing Indigenous people during a ceremony on the Tulalip Reservation in front of tribal leaders and community members, state officials and lawmakers. Continue reading at Indian Country Today.

After Unionizing, WA State Tulip Workers Reach Labor Settlement
Tulip workers came to an agreement with Washington Bulb management last week after five days of a temporary suspension in their strike as well as negotiations in Mount Vernon, WA. The workers’ committee discussed 16 demands that included better pay, sanitary conditions, and protective equipment for working in the fields. Ramon Torres, president of Familias Unidas por la Justicia, says the discussions were not easy but finally, the workers’ committee was recognized as a member of the union. Continue reading at Northwest Public Broadcasting.

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Associated Press
Judge: Navy can’t use Washington parks for training
Health care provider sues over Idaho’s strict abortion ban
Mixed results for Oregon’s pioneering drug decriminalization
WHO says 99% of world’s population breathes poor-quality air
Russia faces growing outrage amid new evidence of atrocities
With students in turmoil, US teachers train in mental health

Auburn Reporter
School zone cameras will protect Auburn students, superintendent says
Auburn police arrests, use of force, bookings decrease in 2021

Bellingham Herald
‘Long-sought-after’ trail will link Bellingham neighborhoods
How is distracted driving data compiled when it seems like everybody is on their phone?
Bellingham could soon see unarmed 911 response for mental health concerns
Watch “at least 72” orca whales pass through the Salish Sea
Bellingham to fix beach erosion at Boulevard Park

Capital Press
Drought looms in Washington; no relief funds set aside

Columbian
Clark County COVID-19 activity rate hits plateau
Opinion: In Our View: We must remain vigilant about coronavirus
Opinion: In Our View: Goal to curtail gas cars puts state on right path (Macri)
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Police accountability; fluff jam

Everett Herald
Lawmakers’ latest legal fight with Inslee nears a quiet end (Jinkins, Billig)
In many languages, Snohomish County schools welcome Afghan students
Why Brier and other small cities turned down federal relief
70 killer whales seen in one day in Salish Sea
Verizon workers in Everett, Lynnwood voting on union effort
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: How your elders tried to fight inflation in the ’70s
WaPo Comment: Students learn history because they like to argue
Comment: More work needed to correct recent policing reforms
Comment: Long-term care program delayed but harm long-lasting
Editorial: Steps to protect public, police will honor officer

Indian Country Today
At the Crossroads: State of the Economy in Indian Country
State approves 1st alert system for missing Indigenous people (Lekanoff)

News Tribune
This Pierce County city has a rash of graffiti, and a solution. Here’s what it plans to do
How’s Tacoma doing? Community satisfaction continues downward trend in latest survey
Op-Ed: Gender-affirming care saves lives. I’m proud to be part of a team in Tacoma providing it
Sen. Randall: Patients seeking abortions are coming. WA must do its part to oppose Idaho’s new ban
Police chase from Parkland to Tacoma ends with rollover crash, arrest of DUI suspect

New York Times
$4.8 Million Settlement Reached in Trooper’s Fatal Shooting of a Black Driver
Some U.S. states see new cases increase.
House Votes to Decriminalize Cannabis

North American Post
Looking South: Anglophone Canadian Reactions to Japanese American Incarceration – Part 1

Olympian
Public can comment on Thurston code amendments to protect gophers, ease permitting
How to report a robocall scam under the WA Attorney General’s new initiative
‘Astounding’ number of Bigg’s killer whales spotted in Salish Sea Thursday

Peninsula Daily News
Three more Peninsula deaths as case numbers begin to creep up
Slight climb seen in COVID-19 case numbers

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon paid more than $4M to labor consultants in 2021 as unionization efforts spread
As employees return to the office, companies grapple with vaccine tensions
What we know — and don’t know — about Seattle’s payroll tax after one year
Alaska Airlines cancels dozens of flights as pilots picket
Seattle health care organizations complete restructure plan, forming Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Opinion: Everyone should have access to cancer treatment

Seattle Times
Thunderstorms, high winds and other wild weather expected Monday
Group sues Kirkland, King County over plan to convert hotel to permanent supportive housing site
Inslee rankles fellow Democrats by vetoing part of tax-incentive bill geared toward rural WA (Randall, Billig)
Washington stopped planning for a nuclear war in 1984. Should we start now?
Column: Seattle’s middle class is vanishing. Could this idea save it?
Column: Seattle shrinking? Maybe that’s a good thing
Editorial: Congress must help build a climate resilience workforce
Opinion: The saga of the West Seattle Bridge: This is how we roll … or not

South Seattle Emerald
Despite national search, interim police chief Adrian Diaz is well-positioned to stay
Cases down statewide, but uptick in King County for covid-19
Washington birth doulas advocated for a pathway to certification — and won
Opinion: Suquamish Tribe opposes Congress’ recognition of Duwamish Tribal

Tri-City Herald
WA state’s worst prison COVID outbreak is in Franklin County. Inmates and staff sickened
250 war-weary Ukrainian refugees could soon resettle with Tri-Cities relatives
Benton jail struggling to take in more inmates even though COVID rules ease
Richland School Board member says she deleted text messages with other board members
50-mph gusts possible in Tri-Cities. Heavy mountain snow forecast on I-90
Dramatic drop in Tri-Cities COVID deaths. Subvariant now dominant in WA

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Regional Airport prepares for new jets with extensive remodel
Grant to provide free bicycle helmets to Walla Walla kids
Group urges Milton-Freewater to invest in its pool: ‘Pools do not make money, but they do make communities’
Walla Walla Police Department shuts down its app, plans a return to social media
Walla Walla County authorizes funds to widen another portion of Mill Creek Road

Washington Post
Biden calls for a Putin ‘war crimes trial’
Outrage widens over Russian attacks Zelensky now calls a ‘genocide’
The war in Ukraine and a ‘turning point in history’
The world is running out of options to hit climate goals, U.N. report shows
Lawmakers agree on $10 billion in covid funds, but drop global aid from deal
How long covid is accelerating a revolution in medical research
Opinion: Amid backsliding on climate, the renewables effort now must be tripled

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic honored by statewide health organization
Letter: Ukraine tragedy exposes climate-related crises
Letter: Let’s shun states where fascist thinking thrives
Letter: Time for serious solutions for breaching dams

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Uptick in western Washington highway shootings continues in I-5 multi-car incident
Ukrainian refugees get aid from Seattle law students for asylum applications
Everett prepares for memorial honoring fallen Officer Dan Rocha

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Everett police Officer Dan Rocha to be remembered at memorial
Officials: gray whale found stranded on Camano Island
Passengers stranded as more Alaska Airlines flights canceled again
Biden: Putin should face war crimes trial for Bucha killings

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Dan Rocha: Everett community to pay final respects to fallen officer
Police investigate latest encampment fire on Ballard’s Mary Avenue
Ukrainians are arriving in Washington faster than expected with pleas for help

KNKX Public Radio
After 5 months stuck in hospital, autistic Washington teen sent to facility 2,700 miles from home

KUOW Public Radio
Judge rules against Navy SEAL training at Washington State Parks

NW Public Radio
After Unionizing, WA State Tulip Workers Reach Labor Settlement

Web

Crosscut
Tribal leaders say WA state is ignoring treaty rights
WA prepares against invasive rose- and hop-eating beetle

MyNorthwest
Fourth straight day of canceled flights at Sea-Tac amid ongoing Alaska Airlines pilot shortage
A year after veto, Gov. Inslee signs pledge to end sale of new gas-powered cars by 2030
‘We’re pretty disappointed by this,’ says cycling nonprofit of decision to restrict bikes at Green Lake
Traffic congestion relief comes to Tacoma with Puyallup River Bridge’s completion
Alaska Airlines cancels at least 71 Sea-Tac flights as pilots picket over ‘work rules frozen in time’
Group of parents files lawsuit over planned homeless shelter in vacant Kirkland hotel
Europe’s omicron surge ‘totally different’ than what’s expected in Washington
Three all-electric buses begin south Seattle service amid larger vehicle-electrification push

The Stranger
Councilmember Nelson Wants Signing Bonuses for Cops, Even Though We Don’t Know If They Work
This Week in Worker Conquests: Amazon Workers Unionize Warehouse (!!!), Activists Spoil Scab Search, and Crossroads Sweeps Vote

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: West Seattle and countywide updates – what’s up, what’s down

Friday, April 1

1st in U.S.: Missing Indigenous people alert system enacted
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday signed into law a bill that creates a first-in-the-nation statewide alert system for missing Indigenous people, to help address a silent crisis that has plagued Indian Country in this state and nationwide. The law sets up a system similar to Amber Alerts and so-called silver alerts, which are used, respectively, for missing children and vulnerable adults in many states. It was spearheaded by Democratic Rep. Debra Lekanoff, the only Native American lawmaker currently serving in the Washington Legislature, and championed by Indigenous leaders statewide. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni/Everett Herald)

Inslee signs bills to help students, protect catalytic converters, let job seekers see salaries
A flurry of bills were officially signed into Washington state law Wednesday afternoon as the governor continued to take action on legislation passed by lawmakers during this year’s session. Several of the bills were geared towards helping students, while others protect employees and consumers. Continue reading at OutletName. (Ted S. Warren/AP)

Washington governor signs $64.1 billion supplemental budget
A $64.1 billion supplemental state budget that spends on statewide programs ranging from homelessness and behavioral health to the ongoing COVID-19 response was signed Thursday by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. The supplemental plan builds off of the $59 billion, two-year spending plan adopted by the Legislature last year, and benefited from the significant influx of revenues the state has seen over the past year. Additionally, lawmakers used more than $1 billion in remaining pandemic-related federal relief funds in the budget. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder/The Seattle Times)

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Associated Press
Inslee signs law intended to reduce hazing incidents after WSU freshman’s death
1st in U.S.: Missing Indigenous people alert system enacted (Lekanoff)
State budgets, signed Thursday, include money for local projects

Bellingham Herald
Inslee signs bills to help students, protect catalytic converters, let job seekers see salaries (Leavitt, Sullivan, Hansen, Paul, Wilson C., Wellman, Mullet, Liias, Nobles, Rolfes, Randall, Ryu)
Alert system for missing, murdered Indigenous women and people signed into WA law (Lekanoff)

Capital Press
Inslee veto upsets GOP lawmakers from farming districts
USDA planting report: Northwest farmers add 60,000 acres of wheat

Everett Herald
Everett mayor’s annual speech focuses on gun violence, homelessness
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo comment: CDC’s new mask guidance could be too slow to respond

News Tribune
Relief at last? New Interstate 5 Puyallup River bridge has opened in Tacoma
Doughnut crime, mountain cake, useless firefighting gear — WA agencies play April Fools
These 18 geographic features in WA include a derogatory word and now face a name change
A pioneering Black doctor retires after 40 years in Tacoma. He was one of the city’s first
Alaska Airlines cancels dozens of flights as pilots picket

New York Times
March Jobs Report Shows Strong Gains: Live Updates
Covid Live Updates: Senators Near Deal to Cut Stalled Aid Package to $10 Billion
E.P.A. Decides Against Limiting Perchlorate in Drinking Water
Rising Wages Are Good News for Workers but Put Pressure on the Fed

Olympian
Alert system for missing, murdered Indigenous women and people signed into WA law (Lekanoff)
Inslee signs bills to help students, protect catalytic converters, let job seekers see salaries (Leavitt, Sullivan, Hansen, Paul, Wilson, Wellman, Mullet, Liias, Nobles, Rolfes, Randall, Ryu)
Olympia officers discharged from hospital after being stabbed during Thursday night incident
2 Olympia police officers stabbed, suspect shot in west side incident Thursday evening
Jennifer Belcher, Washington’s first female public lands commissioner, dies at 78
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state

Peninsula Daily News
Code change targets housing crisis

Puget Sound Business Journal
Sea-Tac Airport sets date for full opening of International Arrivals Facility
Irish cargo operator places order for up to 20 Boeing converted 737 freighters
Providence, Swedish rebrand under unified name in Puget Sound area
Washington State Convention Center changes its name

Seattle Times
WA sets 2030 goal to phase out gas cars (Macri)
Seattle health care systems restructure to form new Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
$100K-plus households are now the majority in most Seattle neighborhoods
Coronavirus infections again rising in King County. No cause for alarm yet, health officials say
AP: Inslee signs $64.1 billion supplemental budget; here’s where the money will go
Seattle mayor announces nationwide police chief search, backs interim chief

South Seattle Emerald
Celebrating International Women’s Month with the women of the ‘Emerald’
Closure of King County’s only work release for women raises gender equity questions
Rahma Rashid wants to change the narrative around abuse in Muslim communities
Opinion: The 2 Seattle Freedom Scholars you need to kno

Washington Post
Red Cross heads toward Mariupol for evacuations; peace talks resume online
A historic all-Black town wants reparations to rebuild as a ‘safe haven’
Amazon workers vote to join a union in New York in historic move
U.S. economy adds 431,000 jobs in March, as labor market strengthens
Colleges scramble to recruit students as nationwide enrollment plunges
California snowpack vastly depleted after record dry start to year

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Numerous flights canceled as Alaska Airlines pilots picket for better negotiations
Lower enrollment may cause changes within Seattle Public Schools
Public input sought in renaming 18 Washington sites to remove derogatory word (Lekanoff)
Inslee signs first-of-its-kind alert system for missing Indigenous people into law (Lekanoff)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Fewer free COVID testing options for the uninsured as BA.2 variant spreads in Washington

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
I-5 Puyallup River Bridge opens to South Sound drivers
Parents group sues Kirkland, King County over planned homeless shelter near schools

KNKX Public Radio
Makah Tribe reopens and reflects after two years of strict protocols
The White House announces moves to gender neutral passports
COVID disparities persist for Black Americans. But there are lessons for the future

KUOW Public Radio
Stop Saying ‘marijuana’? Lawmakers Say It’s Racist
Rare fin whale that visited Seattle washes up dead in Canada
Pandemic updates: Covid rates remain low in Seattle-area schools after masks come off
Exclusive: How the student loan safety net has failed low-income borrowers
Omicron subvariant spreading further in Washington state

NW Public Radio
WA State Will Soon Have An Alert System For Murdered And Missing Indigenous People (Lekanoff)
Pierce County Seeks To Create Cultural Hubs To Improve Coordinated Entry System

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘I’ve been waiting for this:’ Families react to missing Indigenous persons alert system law

Web

Crosscut
WA prepares against invasive rose- and hop-eating beetle

The Stranger
Slog AM: Inslee Signs the Indigenous Amber Alert Bill, Republicans Hate People with Diabetes, and Washington’s 18 Derogatory Sites (Lekanoff)

Thursday, March 31

WA panel now will consider past offenses when deciding whether to take an officer’s badge
The newly expanded Criminal Justice Training Commission, its membership now including relatives of people who died at the hands of police, on Wednesday voted to increase the commission’s ability to take the badges and guns of troubled law enforcement officers even if the wrongdoing occurred years ago and went unpunished at the time. The commission voted 14-4 in favor of applying the provisions of Senate Bill 5051, passed by the state Legislature last year, to all future police decertification actions, regardless of when the misconduct occurred. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Bettina Hansen)

New student loan program in works with Inslee signature
Washington must develop a state student loan program for residents under a bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday. The new law requires the Washington Student Achievement Council, along with the Office of the State Treasurer and the State Investment Board, to develop a program that will issue student loans with interest rates of 1% or lower to resident students with financial need who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. Loans will start being awarded in the 2024-2025 academic year. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Dan Pelle)

Inslee signs new bills on catalytic converters, hazing and more
Gov. Jay Inslee is expected Thursday to sign supplements to the state’s operating and capital budgets that will pour billions of additional dollars into education, health care, transportation and housing. Lawmakers approved a two-year, $59.1 billion operating budget last April. The supplemental plan in front of Inslee adds roughly $6.2 billion in new spending in the budget cycle that runs through June 30, 2023. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.

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Associated Press
Spokane County to pay $1M to family of man deputy shot and killed

Aberdeen Daily World
Ag Processing to broaden footprint at Port of Grays Harbor

Auburn Reporter
Breaking down Washington police reform from this year and last (Johnson)

Bainbridge Island Review
Healing key to 80th anniversary of internment

Bellevue Reporter
Cannabis stakeholders want cash out of the equation amid rash of robberies

Bellingham Herald
With Canada testing ending, what will it mean for Whatcom cross-border traffic?
Report: Switch to zero-emission vehicles could save lives and billions of dollars in WA
Whatcom sees 290th COVID-related death, but infection, hospitalization rates remain steady
These 18 geographic features in WA include a derogatory word and now face a name change
‘Solar tsunami’ could mean the Northern Lights will be visible in Whatcom County this week
Though BA.2 likely in the region, Whatcom health department awaiting variant test results

Capital Press
Farmers report drastically lower hemp surplus, rising prices
Washington FSA director back at the helm

Everett Herald
Inslee signs new bills on catalytic converters, hazing and more
New Everett, Marysville court program to offer treatment over jail
What’s on Mukilteo’s old negatives? Historical society to find out
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: Democrats must break stalemate over covid funding
WaPo Comment: Wenatchee maid got us minimum wage; now in jeopardy?
Editorial: Bullet train study should include other options

Federal Way Mirror
The benefits of King County’s juvenile diversion program

High Country News
Interior is pushing states to replace derogatory place names with colonial ones

Indian Country Today
Report on federal Indian boarding schools due

Kitsap Sun
‘A blessing to this community:’ Newly completed Pendleton Place readies for tenants

News Tribune
Live updates: White House adds $500 million in Ukraine aid

New York Times
Ukraine Live Updates: Biden to Tap U.S. Oil Reserves as War Enters 6th Week
State Dept. Will Allow Americans to Mark Their Gender as ‘X’ on Passports
This Is What Happens When Globalization Breaks Down
Justice Dept. Widens Jan. 6 Inquiry to Range of Pro-Trump Figures
States Close Mass Test and Vaccine Sites, but Virus May Swell Anew

North American Post
Will Your Money Last as Long as You Do?

Olympian
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Downtown Olympia is about to get 10 more pieces of public art. Here’s what they look like

Peninsula Daily News
FDA OKs fourth booster for over 50
Discovery Bay, Admiralty Inlet open for shellfish harvest

Puget Sound Business Journal
Campus of the future: Colleges are rethinking, shrinking real estate as students, workers demand more flexibility
Boeing’s latest certification obstacle could impact hundreds of 737 Max 10 orders
Reporter’s Notebook: University-affiliated innovation districts gain momentum
Pentagon delays award of $9B cloud contract

Seattle Times
How happy are Seattle, and WA as a whole, compared to other cities and states?
One Seattle-area woman got her parents out of Ukraine; another fears for her mother, still there
WA task force recommends faster action on sexual misconduct involving health care professionals
WA panel now will consider past offenses when deciding whether to take an officer’s badge
King County lost population last year for the first time in almost 50 years
Opinion: Ever wonder how much plastic you may be ingesting?

Skagit Valley Herald
Road construction projects slated for Sedro-Woolley

Sol De Yakima
Aviones de la Marina aterrizan de emergencia en Terminal Aérea de Yakima
Valley Mall asume operación de mercado de agricultores en Union Gap

South Seattle Emerald
Seattle foundation names new leader, ‘Seattle within reach,’ & more!
Departing Executive Director reflects on her time at Southeast Seattle Senior Center
Opinion: Caging the caged — solitary confinement in Washington State

South Whidbey Record
Transportation package includes ferry improvements (Paul)

Spokesman Review
New federal task force in Spokane takes aim at businesses, people committing COVID-19 fraud
Betsy Wilkerson reflects on her time as the only Black woman on Spokane’s city council: ‘We’re poised for greatness and greatness for people of color’
New student loan program in works with Inslee signature (Sullivan)
Inslee signs anti-hazing bill inspired by Sam Martinez into law: ‘Sam’s story will save lives’ (Leavitt)
Police reports show mixed approach to campus safety across Spokane Public Schools

Vancouver Business Journal
Opinion: State lawmakers hit the gas on multi-year spending spree

Washington Post
Temporary Mariupol cease-fire agreed to ahead of Red Cross evacuation
A policing strategy abandoned after Breonna Taylor’s death spreads to other cities
Biden unveils plan to release 1 million barrels of oil per day
Pregnant people at much higher risk of breakthrough covid, study shows
Biden presses Congress for new covid funding, gets second booster shot
Opinion: How can we put covid behind us without guaranteed paid sick leave?

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima health officials say COVID-19 cases declining, but they still urge second booster
Community, staff raise concerns about Toppenish School District firearms procedures after incidents involving Cernas
Selah School District down to final three candidates in superintendent search

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘Tragic’: Tacoma pot shop where employee was killed won’t reopen until they can operate safely
‘Pandemic is not over’: Washington officials say omicron’s BA.2 subvariant now dominant strain
A1 Revisited: Seattle Times accountability project addresses harm of past coverage
Community gathers to remember Japanese residents exiled from Bainbridge Island 80 years ago
Tenino mayor weighs methods to better process, use human waste

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
State’s missing Indigenous people alert system will be first in the US (Lekanoff)
‘Very unusual and disconcerting’: violent crime up in Ballard neighborhood
Ukraine asylum seekers begin reaching Washington state
Rising food prices won’t slow down, per USDA
DOH discusses COVID-19 outlook
Over $43 million in IRS refunds due to Washingtonians
As Seattle continues to lose police, new report finds mixed results for hiring bonus program

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Pot retail stores consider armed security, other costly safety measures
COVID-19 cases increasing in King County as omicron subvariant spreads
Seattle community holds panel discussion to find solutions for city’s homeless crisis
Overnight fire at Ballard camp stirs concern as Seattle reports rising number of blazes
EPA to discuss Lower Duwamish Waterway superfund clean up effort Thursday

KNKX Public Radio
Advocates, neighbors and staff call on Inslee to save medium security Naselle Youth Camp
CDC drops its COVID-19 risk advisory for cruise ship travel

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: Covid rates remain low in Seattle-area schools after masks come off
Ivermectin does not prevent Covid-19 hospitalization, a new study says

KXLY (ABC)
Inslee to sign six tribal-related bills in Tulalip Thursday

NW Public Radio
Malden, Pine City Families Sue Avista Utilities Over 2020 Wildfire
Accusations Of Ethics Violations By Some Richland Public School Board Members
Freshwater Mussels Declining Throughout The Northwest
The Fight For Legacy Forests: The Supreme Court Case

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington State DNR carrying out ‘prescribed burn’ for the first time in years
President Biden’s proposed 2023 budget would provide $516.6 million for Sound Transit
Biden orders federal assistance for Washington state counties impacted by landslides, flooding
Meet Western Washington’s U.S. Attorney, Nick Brown
Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island remember being forced into internment camps 80 years ago

Web

Crosscut
New WA police accountability law can now include past misconduct (Goodman, Dhingra)
Oakland fire in tiny home village turns spotlight on WA company
How Comcast and other telecoms scuttle rural WA broadband efforts (Wellman)
Redlining’s enduring impact shows up in WA pollution disparity (Hackney)

Wednesday, March 30

The more contagious BA.2 version of omicron is now the most common in the U.S.
A subvariant of omicron that’s even more contagious than the original is now the most common COVID-19 strain in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that the BA.2 strain now accounts for more than half – 54.9% – of all coronavirus infections nationwide, according to new data. It’s even more prevalent in certain parts of the country. For example, over 70% of COVID-19 cases in the Northeast are BA.2, the CDC estimates. Continue reading at KUOW. (Getty Images)

WA launches new way to report illegal robocalls
Robocalls aren’t just annoying — some are actually illegal. As of Tuesday, there’s a new way for Washingtonians to report them. In a continuation of the office’s work to stop illegal robocalls, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson launched a new form for people to report illegal, harassing calls. Certain types of robocalls — phone calls that come from an automated system and play a recorded message — are legal. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Elaine Thompson)

Cascadia bullet train on track for big bucks to get rolling, but big uncertainty remains
For more than five years, Washington state, Oregon and British Columbia have collaborated on studies of a possible Cascadia bullet train to run between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, Canada. This winter, the Washington Legislature approved money for yet more studies. But state lawmakers also set aside a much bigger sum to attract federal support that could advance the bullet train dream toward being shovel-ready. Project supporters envision a train with a top speed of at least 250 mph operating on a dedicated track. Continue reading at Northwest News Network. (Tom Banse)