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Wednesday, April 27

Most Americans have been infected with the Covid-19 virus, the CDC reports
Most people in the United States, including most children, have now been infected with the coronavirus, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At a briefing for reporters on Tuesday, the CDC’s Dr. Kristie Clarke said so many people caught omicron over the winter that almost 60% of everyone in the U.S. now have antibodies to the virus in their blood. That number is even higher for children — almost 75% of children 11 and younger have antibodies to the virus. Continue reading at KUOW. (AFP via Getty Images)

How tribes are harnessing renewable resources for energy — and jobs
From Florida to Alaska, dozens of tribes are working to harness energy from wind, sun and water to generate millions of dollars in revenue, create short- and long-term jobs and reduce utility costs for citizens, while also helping combat climate change and boosting energy independence. Solar energy is leading the way in Indian Country, with projects underway by the Navajo Nation, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in eastern Montana, the Spokane Tribe in Washington, the Seminole Tribe of Florida and others. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Navajo Tribal Utility Authority/Navajo Nation)

Report: Seattle police illegally ignored COVID mask rules
A civilian oversight board says some Seattle police officers routinely — and illegally — ignored state and city mask mandates during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and refused to obey direct orders from the chief to comply. The Seattle Times reports that a recently released review by the Office of Inspector General exposed a “serious cultural issue” within the department. The report states the department was fined $17,500 last year after receiving two notices of “serious violations” of the Washington Administrative Code over officers’ refusal to comply with the mandates after inspections by the state Department of Labor and Industries. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

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Associated Press
Amazon warehouse collapse probe finds worker safety risks
Soldier killed, 2 hurt at Yakima Training Center
Report: Seattle police illegally ignored COVID mask rules

Auburn Reporter
COVID levels rise to ‘medium’ transition risk in King County

Bainbridge Island Review
Funding to bring improvements for Ferries

Bellingham Herald
Will you still be able to call 911 for help? Check your cell service amid 3G shutdown
Bellingham mayor sets budget priorities for next two years

Columbian
Evergreen Public Schools’ levy passing, Ridgefield bond failing
Opinion: In Our View: Religious freedom at core of Constitution
Opinion: In Our View: Strict limitations on water pollution warranted

Everett Herald
School levies failing in Marysville, Stanwood-Camano, Lakewood
Thousands in county qualify for housing help — but don’t get it
Panel OKs naming marsh near Granite Falls for Everett teacher
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance

High Country News
Biden’s broken promise on climate?

International Examiner
Opinion: Real safety means caring for each other and standing against displacement

News Tribune
Who decides which ‘special flags’ should fly over County-City Building? A debate rages
This Pierce County food bank sees 150 families a day. City Council is dedicating funds

New York Times
Trump Officials Awarded $700 Million Pandemic Loan Despite Objections
Cities Want to Return to Prepandemic Life. One Obstacle: Transit Crime.
Protesters Amass at White House, Demanding Action on Climate

Olympian
Inspire Olympia sales tax increase appears headed for voter approval
130 acres near Olympia airport does not allow distribution warehouses, port official says
2 more Thurston residents die of COVID amid ‘substantial’ COVID activity

Peninsula Daily News
State representative tests positive for COVID-19 (Chapman, Tharinger, Van De Wege)
Youth transit free in summer

Port Townsend Leader
Quilcene voters saying no to $12.3 million bond for new school

Puget Sound Business Journal
Microsoft’s cloud division is getting more profitable; company beats earnings estimates
Still searching for Covid-19 relief funding? Here’s what to know about the ERC.
King County reaches ‘medium’ community level of Covid. Here’s what that means.
Big companies are announcing huge pay hikes. Small businesses are struggling to keep pace.

Seattle Times
Seattle has its coldest April in years. What does that mean for May?
Amid U.S. culture wars, classrooms become brave spaces for honest conversations
Seattle area ranks second for percentage of adults on Twitter — will that change with Elon Musk in charge?
Seattle police ignored orders to mask up, exposing ‘serious cultural issue,’ report says
Redmond City Council approves $7.5M settlement to family of woman killed by police in 2020
The expiration date on your COVID rapid tests may have been extended. Here’s how to look up the new one
Column: More fallout from Seattle’s stumbles on homelessness
Opinion: Join the Port of Seattle as we invest in youth for a resilient maritime future
Editorial: Thank you to Harriet Stimson Bullitt and a family’s noble legacy of giving

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County looking for its ‘North Star’ on homelessness, behavioral health

South Seattle Emerald
Affordable homeownership housing development completed in Central District
Local leaders, activists react to what they need in new King County sheriff

Tri-City Herald
Kennewick, Finley and Prosser school levies failing. Here are the results

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla will spend $52,000 to see if glass recycling is too expensive

Washington Post
Russia cuts off gas to Poland, Bulgaria, stoking tensions with E.U. over Ukraine
Elon Musk’s ‘free speech’ takeover part of new corporate activism wave
Trump officials overruled Pentagon to approve pandemic loan, emails show
A man defaced an LGBTQ mural. He must write an essay on the Pulse shooting.
Coronavirus has infected majority of Americans, blood tests indicate
U.S. no longer in ‘full-blown’ pandemic phase, Fauci says
Biden signals he’s open to canceling student loans

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Valley schools say they are ready for new state law that solidifies language access
Canada lynx protections deal sealed by US, environmentalists
Opinion: Declining college enrollments are a troublesome trend
Letter: School-choice decision is an inequitable error

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Company with questionable history loses its contract for COVID-19 testing in Pierce County
Centralia police chief ‘frustrated’ officers couldn’t chase suspect (Pedersen)
Renton’s Dimmitt Middle School bringing back mask requirement due to rise in COVID-19 cases
Seattle considering proposals to address significant police staffing shortage

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Edmonds City Council considers fining and jailing houseless people who refuse help
City Attorney dropping nearly 2,000 old cases; cites priorities
Administration expands availability of COVID antiviral pill
More affordable housing coming to Seattle’s Central District
Bremerton High School making temporary switch to remote learning due to staffing shortage
Rising COVID cases push King County to “medium” levels, sparking renewed warnings

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Redmond to pay $7.5 million after officer fatally shot woman
Seattle tenants now have more time to repay back rent, under plan OK’d by City Council
Seattle City Council mulls plan to use financial incentives to hire more police officers
Antisemitic incidents in 2021 reach all time high, new audit by ADL says

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: UW Medicine develops ‘second-generation’ Covid vaccine
Shares continue to slump as fears about the economy and earnings grip Wall Street
Most Americans have been infected with the Covid-19 virus, the CDC reports

KXLY (ABC)
Washington lawmakers want to suspend the state gas tax, economists say it’s not so simple

Q13 TV (FOX)
Renton middle school brings back mask requirement due to increase of COVID-19 cases
Bremerton HS switching to remote learning later this week due to staffing shortages, some out from COVID

Web

Crosscut
How tribes are harnessing renewable resources for energy — and jobs
Podcast | Meet the students pushing for more equity in public schools

MyNorthwest
Union concrete workers, suppliers reach truce without scheduling new contract talks
How possible radiation from Ukraine War could impact Washington
Against backdrop of deepening SPD officer exodus, council debates dueling public safety plans
University of Washington creates new COVID-19 vaccine

West Seattle Blog
VIDEO: ‘Are we happy with the status quo?’ asks newest councilmember as committee discusses Seattle Police’s shrinking staff

Tuesday, April 26

Substitute teachers vanished, so WA schools turned to new ideas
[Nathan] Roberts represents one example of how the recent coronavirus wave prompted school districts to reconsider their relationship with — and reliance on — substitute teachers. Much like bus drivers and custodians, substitutes have long been among the lowest-paid workers in education but remain critical to keeping schools open day to day. And they have a significant impact on student learning: Studies have linked teacher absences and uncertified, less trained subs to declines in student achievement. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Nathan Roberts)

Microplastics. It’s what’s for dinner
Microplastics seem to be in everything, everywhere, all at once. The tiny pieces of plastic are two-tenths of an inch or smaller and have been found in the ocean and our bodies. That’s right, microplastics have been found in poop and even our blood. But how do we fix that? Lawmakers here in Washington are moving to reduce the overall amount of plastic in our packaging. Of course, laws take time to enact, especially complicated regulations. So in the meantime, what should we be doing and thinking about now? Continue reading at KUOW. (Flickr/Chesapeake Bay Program)

Record inflation puts crunch on Snohomish County farms
Hay farmer Andrew Albert is paying twice as much for fertilizer as he did last year. It’s just one example of steep price increases farmers in Snohomish County are facing as they get ready for spring planting. The cost of farm equipment, animal feed and gas are also up significantly. “I’m considering what’s coming a survival year,” said Albert, a third-generation farmer in Arlington. “Already in farming, you don’t make money every year. This is definitely one of those bad years.” Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry)

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Associated Press
Supreme Court tackles case about praying football coach

Bellingham Herald
These Bellingham bridges were already scheduled for replacement. Then came 2021 flooding
Whatcom man reportedly rams sheriff’s office patrol vehicle, leads wrong way chase on I-5
Travel to Canada easier for families, as testing requirement dropped for unvaccinated kids
These Bellingham employees state their case on why a union would benefit Starbucks

Capital Press
New dean chosen to lead WSU’s ag college
Washington forest-thinning project upheld in federal court

Chronicle
Comment: Washington State Stubbornly Refuses to Cut Taxes for Families

Everett Herald
Record inflation puts crunch on Snohomish County farms
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Indian Country Today
Interior opens allotments for Alaska Native Vietnam vets
Sealaska’s move from timber to kelp

New York Times
New Details Underscore House G.O.P. Role in Jan. 6 Planning
Can Portland Be a Climate Leader Without Reducing Driving?
Protesters Amass at White House, Demanding Action on Climate

North American Post
Jan Johnson of Japantown’s Panama Hotel: “Saving History Saves the Future”

Olympian
Port of Olympia releases conflict of interest report on Commissioner Amy Evans
Pierce County business fined after worker’s death for not enforcing COVID protocols
SPSCC students should get ready to ‘go live’ with long-awaited tech upgrade in May
Supreme Court leans in favor of Trump over Biden in asylum border dispute

Peninsula Daily News
Small clusters found in schools

Puget Sound Business Journal
Alaska Airlines pilots puts strike authorization up for vote in May
State affordable housing advisory board seeks 5 industry members
Tacoma business leaders see opportunities coming out of Covid
It’s official: Twitter agrees to $44B Elon Musk buyout
Employers still overlooking a big factor that’s fueling burnout
Opinion: The future is electric — if we work together

Seattle Times
Substitute teachers vanished, so WA schools turned to new ideas
King County now has ‘medium’ community level of COVID, per CDC guidance
A new crisis hotline, 988, is coming this summer. Is Washington ready?
Inside the Seattle lecture room where experts are brainstorming the future of psychedelic research
Are you feeling ‘climate distress’? Here are one therapist’s tips on how to manage
Drought persistent in Eastern Washington as rain deficit draws concern in Northwest

Skagit Valley Herald
Number of new COVID-19 cases in Skagit County remains low
Legislative session sees local investment in electric ferry, fish passage

The Skanner
Gas Heating in New Commercial Buildings Restricted in WA

South Seattle Emerald
Rodenticides continue to affect Seattle wildlife
Metro wants to get rid of cash fares. Will vulnerable riders be left behind?

South Whidbey Record
Lawmakers tour preservation projects (Paul)

Spokesman Review
A new crisis hotline, 988, is coming this summer

Tri-City Herald
Small Tri-Cities company wins another Hanford contract. This one is worth $4.8 million

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Warming systems and a little luck saves Milton-Freewater orchard from frost
Public given last chance at voice in Walla Walla County redistricting process
Milton-Freewater schools plan for new building

Washington Post
Twitter workers face a reality they’ve long feared: Elon Musk as owner
‘Putin never imagined’ global rally of Ukraine support, defense secretary says
Biden issues first pardons, commutations of his presidency
She ended a pregnancy so her child wouldn’t suffer. Now she helps others like her.
Biden administration boosts access to antivirals as covid cases rise
New texts ramp up pressure on Jan. 6 committee to subpoena members of Congress

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle Police Department losing more officers than it’s hiring
Seattle Public Schools proposes changing class start times due to bus driver shortage
Almost half of minority renters in the Seattle-Tacoma area not confident in ability to pay, study says
No, your driver’s license does not need to be a REAL ID to get you on a domestic flight yet

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Rising COVID cases push King County to “medium” levels, sparking renewed warnings
Supreme Court tackles case about praying football coach
Man charged with racist threats toward Bremerton gas station clerk

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Graffiti’s return in Little Saigon points to larger issues, neighbors say
Preschool enrollment, spending increased in Washington state during pandemic
King County’s COVID spread moves to CDC’s ‘medium’ range, but no cause for alarm yet
Man charged with racist threats toward Bremerton gas station clerk
Supreme Court tackles case about former praying Bremerton High football coach
University of Washington develops COVID-19 vaccine, South Korea to order 10M doses

KUOW Public Radio
Microplastics. It’s what’s for dinner

KXLY (ABC)
COVID-19 vaccine made at UW School of Medicine seeking international approval
City Council to vote on homeless shelter resolution, mayor moves forward with plans

NW Public Radio
Washington Seafood Company Fined Following COVID Death
Washington Lawmakers Of Color Announce Departures, One Calls The Work Environment ‘Toxic’ (Harris-Talley, Johnson, Das, Jinkins, Taylor)
Immigrant Advocates Call For ICE To Again Allow Visitors In Detention Centers
BIPOC Are More Vulnerable To Pesticides

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘Tiny home’ village sits empty until operating funds surface
Edmonds considering ban on use of public space for shelter
L&I: Sumner seafood plant ignoring COVID protocols led to 16 workers sick, 1 dead

Web

Crosscut
This King County initiative wants to prevent further gentrification
Family access to interpreters in schools expands under new WA laws
A whistleblower reflects after 30 years on the Hanford watch
U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in WA school prayer case
From WA to Alaska, coastal tribes face displacement with insufficient financial help

MyNorthwest
COVID hospitalization rise in King County but ‘remain at stable, low levels,’ says health officer
Pandemic hardships prompt Western WA grocery workers to bargain for improved store safety
State suggests cashless apps for cannabis stores to avoid robbery

The Stranger
King County’s COVID-19 Situation Hits a “Yellow Light”

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: Fauntleroy/Fontanelle tree gets root exam as advocates watch

Monday, April 25

New WA financial aid program will offer low-interest loans for graduate students, not just undergrads
Washington is developing a new low-interest loan program to make it cheaper for college students to borrow money for school — and in an unusual move, the state is making it available to some graduate students, too. The program will provide low-interest loans to low-income undergraduates and graduate students in high-demand fields of study, with an interest rate target of 1%. That’s much lower than what’s typically offered; current federal direct loan interest rates sit at 3.73% for undergraduates and 5.28% for graduate students, while some private student loans charge an interest rate of 10% or higher. Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

Police agencies here lag in diversity and want to change that
With few exceptions, police departments in Snohomish County are disproportionately made up of white officers and support staff, even as the communities they cover continue to diversify, according to an analysis by The Daily Herald. In Mountlake Terrace, for example, 35 of 38 police department employees reported they were white. The city is under 70% white, according to Census estimates. And in Everett, over 82% of the department was white, underrepresenting Black, Asian, Latinx and multiracial communities. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.

Biden visits WA state, signs order protecting forests, discusses health care costs
President Joe Biden made an appearance at Green River College in Auburn on Friday, speaking to a closed room of press, local elected officials and several other individuals about growing the nation’s economy, lowering the cost of health care and his administration’s attempts to help American families burdened by the costs of rising inflation. Biden opened by talking about the importance of community colleges such as Green River and the one where his wife and first lady Jill Biden teaches in Virginia. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Cheyenne Boone)

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Bellingham Herald
Here’s how Bellingham plans to fight crime, graffiti and litter downtown
Youth speakers lead this Mother Earth Day celebration in Bellingham
A half-million tires in Puget Sound are leaching harmful substances. Here’s how to help
Are COVID community levels remaining low in all seven Whatcom County regions?

Capital Press
Inslee goes full throttle against natural gas

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Light rail on I-5 Bridge right for today, tomorrow

Everett Herald
Lake Stevens uses eminent domain to build new Powerline Trail
In dire search for housing, mother asks: ‘How much worse can it get?’
Police agencies here lag in diversity and want to change that
Elected leaders narrow options for Everett light rail stations, tracks
Snohomish County early learning centers receive $4M to expand
Officer shoots person in Edmonds after domestic violence call
‘Cohousing’ group plans community of 32 cottages in Marysville
Letter: Congress must resume Child Tax Credit immediately
Letter: State has enough money for schools; levies aren’t needed
Letter: Swing pendulum on police reforms back to center
Comment: Allowing some to police others reverses civil rights
Comment: Using forests for carbon credits may defeat purpose
Editorial: The future’s riding on wheels of a bus
Letter: Protecting state forestlands will store more carbon
Comment: Oil — and its inflation — touches much in our lives

High Country News
What does it mean to live well on an overheating planet?
Why rural communities struggle to bring in much-needed federal grants

Indian Country Today
Indigenous leaders convene at UN, push for human rights protections
The Wrap: ‘This is the moment to change it all’

The Inlander
Sixteen young Montanans will be first in the nation to take their climate change case to trial

International Examiner
Opinion: Opportunity for AANHPI small businesses greater than ever in WA state

News Tribune
A new child care center coming to Pierce County will have a barn, livestock, 200 spots
Two Tacoma apartment projects bringing 438 market-rate units approved for tax breaks
Does Pierce County want to end homelessness? Decision by Dammeier next week will tell
A half-million tires in Puget Sound are leaching harmful substances. Here’s how to help

New York Times
Wildfires Burn More Than 150,000 Acres in Three States
Coach’s Prayers Prompt Supreme Court Test of Religious Freedom

Olympian
Port to discuss option agreement for 130 acres of land near Olympia Regional Airport
Here’s part of the story behind the Olympia police chief finalist withdrawing from process
Olympia and Tumwater are proposing a joint fire authority. What does that mean for you?
Editorial: Whew! Thurston County’s Habitat Conservation Plan will make permits more predictable
Biden visits WA state, signs order protecting forests, discusses health care costs
Thurston County correctional deputy arrested, fired for using job to solicit sex

Peninsula Daily News
Biden order to protect old-growth forests
COVID cases rise; face masks are urged
Study: Olympic glaciers doomed

Puget Sound Business Journal
SpaceX, Amazon’s Project Kuiper land NASA funding for satellite communications
Is your pay structure fair? How to approach a pay equity audit.
$58M deal shows healthy investor appetite for West Seattle apartments, bridge or not
Amazon one-fifth of the way to its HQ2 hiring goal
Union efforts are on the rise. Here’s what businesses need to know

Seattle Times
Washington is offering more college aid than ever, plus new admission guarantees. Will students buy in? (Hansen)
New WA financial aid program will offer low-interest loans for graduate students, not just undergrads (Sullivan)
Nurses suing King County, Pioneer Human Services after alleged sexual assaults by clients
The myth of ‘pregnancy glow,’ and what expectant parents need to know about mental health
‘It’s a feud’: Brand new homeless shelter sits empty as leaders squabble (Chopp)
Police misconduct is costing Washington taxpayers millions.
Where you live in WA may determine whether you get stuck in jail before trial (Goodman)
Biden’s executive order in Seattle spotlights importance of old-growth forests in fight against climate change
‘It’s unconscionable’: Biden attacks drug prices at speech at Green River College
Column: Crime is up in Seattle. So why are city residents less fearful?

Skagit Valley Herald
Sedro-Woolley park site of Earth Day celebration

South Seattle Emerald
Environmental activists hold Earth Day protest as Biden visits Seward Park
Rainier Beach Iftar meal focuses on Ramadan and stewardship
Duwamish alive! Coalition: Stewards of the river
Weekend reads: up in smoke

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities scientists ‘magically’ mining metals from water to power cellphones to cars
‘Empty-gesture theatrics.’ Pasco firm to pay $125K in alleged illegal Snake River water case
After 675 Tri-Cities area COVID deaths, some good news this week
Tri-City high schools are overcrowded. 2 districts will ask voters to fix that next February
Benton County sued for millions. Deputies claim ex-sheriff harassed and retaliated
Officials dig in on $75M national clean energy research lab in Tri-Cities
National center in Richland, WA, to speed transition to clean energy future

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Long-term care program in Walla Walla in need of advocates amid shortage
Retiring Walla Walla Police Chief Scott Bieber says goodbye to department, not to Walla Walla
Complaint yields deeper look into neurosurgery issues at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla

Washington Post
U.S. says Russia ‘failing’ in war aims; Biden taps Bridget Brink as Ukraine envoy
France’s Macron wins presidency, holding off Le Pen’s far-right threat to upend Europe and relations with Russia
Twitter shares jump on reports a deal with Musk could come as soon as Monday
Dow sinks 400 points, oil prices slide amid fears of economic slowdown

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Valley leaders discuss role of transportation system in region’s economy
Efforts to build the East-West Corridor move forward in Yakima
Efforts gain momentum to add back a missing piece of Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Yakima
With Yakima Valley’s abundant sunshine, more homeowners turning to solar energy
Daily Record: National publication highlights CWU Police Department
KUOW: Olympic Peninsula glaciers expected to disappear in 50 years

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Former Bremerton football coach who lost job for postgame prayers takes case to Supreme Court
Hundreds march through downtown Seattle to support newly unionized Starbucks employees
Teen arrested for allegedly organizing street races in Pierce, King counties
Lawmakers strike the word ‘marijuana’ from all state laws, calling term racist (Morgan)

KUOW Public Radio
NLRB sues Starbucks for retaliating against 3 workers involved in unionizing
Biden unveils protection plan for old-growth forest during Seattle visit
Olympic Peninsula glaciers expected to disappear in the next 50 years

KXLY (ABC)
Cheney Public Schools names new superintendent

NW Public Radio
What The ‘Bring Them Home’ Law Means For MMIP

Web

Crosscut
U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in WA school prayer case
From WA to Alaska, coastal tribes face displacement with insufficient financial help
How rent relief fraud allegations left Thurston County tenants hanging

MyNorthwest
Supreme Court tackling case about praying football coach
Hundreds march through Downtown Seattle to support newly unionized Starbucks employees
Puget Sound orca whales struggle with inbreeding as scientists search for answers
Biden: ‘No one should suffer or die because they cannot afford insulin’
Report: SPD flouting of mask mandates throughout pandemic ‘indicative of a serious culture issue’
King County turning former homeless hotel into temporary housing for refugees
Starbucks Seattle’s Reserve Roastery votes to unionize as CEO labels organizers ‘vocal minority’
Washington Supreme Court rules against Edmonds gun storage law
Seattle schools to relax physical distancing requirements for students, staff
Tacoma City Council unanimously passes ‘spectator ordinance’ to reduce street racing

The Stranger
Seattle Can Have More Trees and More Housing at the Same Time
How to Get Banned from Public Comment at Seattle City Council

West Seattle Blog
SCHOOL START TIMES: Proposed changes dominate discussion at community meeting with Seattle Public Schools board members
CORONAVIRUS: Here’s how local trends are going
FOLLOWUP: Rally planned Monday to urge city to save threatened tree

Friday, April 22

Half the glaciers on these WA mountains have melted — the rest are next, study finds
Half of the glacier on the Olympic Mountains in Washington have melted since 1900, a study says. The rest of the glaciers will mostly disappear in the next 50 years, by 2070, according to predictions in a new study called “Glaciers of the Olympic Mountains, Washington — The Past and Future 100 Years.” It was published April 19 in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. Continue reading at The Olympian. (National Park Service)

Here are the details of President Biden’s Earth Day plans in Seattle
President Joe Biden’s plans during his upcoming visit to Washington state were detailed at a White House press briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday. It is his first trip to Washington state since he was elected in 2020. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Pete Caster/News Tribune)

Justices: State law supersedes Edmonds gun storage requirement
The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously affirmed a state Court of Appeals opinion that the city of Edmonds ordinance regarding safe gun storage is pre-empted by state law. The Edmonds law, passed in 2018, required gun owners to keep their firearms locked up and inaccessible to others, especially children. It did not apply to firearms carried by or under the control of owners. It did apply to weapons kept at home and in vehicles. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Andy Bronson/The Herald)

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Associated Press
Supreme Court: State law preempts city gun storage ordinance
Justice Dept. to appeal order voiding travel mask mandate
Pot shop robberies, deaths fuel calls for US banking bill

Aberdeen Daily World
Nonprofit offers ‘a safe place where you know you can come to’

Bellingham Herald
Here are the details of President Biden’s Earth Day plans in Seattle
75% of Washington citizens believe global warming is happening. See what your county thinks
Time in the White House and fighting for the Sacred Sea. A Lummi matriarch tells her story
Here’s what a federal official learned about pandemic funds in Bellingham classroom visit

Capital Press
Washington farm to pay $125,000 to Ecology in irrigation dispute
Yakima River Basin snowpacks rally like ‘crazy’

The Daily News
Lower Columbia College reports enrollment, staffing challenges
OSAA: Clatskanie High School on probation following investigation of racist behavior

Everett Herald
In ‘Midtown,’ Snohomish aims to balance small town flavor with growth
Justices: State law supersedes Edmonds gun storage requirement
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Comment: Earth can heal itself but humans must do their part
WaPo comment: Disease models are rarely correct but can be useful

News Tribune
Here are the details of President Biden’s Earth Day plans in Seattle

Olympian
Gov. Inslee appoints former SPSCC trustee Fuller to UW board
Lacey makes environmental decisions for 2 controversial apartment proposals on Hicks Lake
Half the glaciers on these WA mountains have melted — the rest are next, study finds

Peninsula Daily News
Peninsula school districts mulling cutbacks

Puget Sound Business Journal
Google opens Kirkland office, plans another $100M in local investments
Verizon raises retail wages as Snohomish County workers launch union push

Seattle Medium
Study: Race Is Central To Identity For Black Americans And Affects How They Connect
Dunn Renews Efforts To Establish Hate Crime Reporting System
Washington Has 6 Of 26 US Counties With Unaffordable Homeownership
Alzheimer’s Drugs Decision Has Deeper Impact On Health Of Blacks, Other Minorities

Seattle Times
The changing public opinion around climate change — and where King County ranks
How President Joe Biden’s visit is affecting Seattle-area roads, freeways and transit service
Readers share what it takes to be a true Seattleite and PNW local
WA state Supreme Court rules against Edmonds gun storage law
News updates as President Biden visits Portland and Seattle Thursday
Opinion: On this pivotal Earth Day, let’s recommit to our shared future
Opinion: With time running out, Biden must double down on his ambitious vision for climate action

South Seattle Emerald
Welcome to Seattle, President Biden and Second Gentleman Emhoff!
A Q&A with Nikole Hannah-Jones about what’s next after ‘The 1619 Project’
Police use more force against BIPOC individuals, report shows

Washington Post
She wants a right to euthanasia. But she also wants to live.
Russia seeks ‘control’ of southern Ukraine and path to Moldova, commander says
Mark Meadows was simultaneously registered to vote in three states
Seeds of hope: How nature inspires scientists to confront climate change
Billions of federal dollars to cut emissions will come with few strings attached

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
President Biden visiting Seattle: Itinerary, traffic impacts
Biden order aims to protect old-growth forests from wildfire
Police shoot man armed with rifle in Seattle’s Squire Park neighborhood
‘We have a crisis on our hands’: Land in Tacoma will be developed into mixed-income housing
Refugees to be housed in Redmond hotel initially intended for homeless residents

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Biden speaking at Seattle-area events
Pierce County hands over property to be used for affordable housing

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
President Biden continues Seattle trip with more Earth Day events scheduled
Has Biden been a boon for Washington state? Democrats say yes but GOP says no (Liias, Fey, Gregerson)
Madison Park residents watch as President Biden rolls through neighborhood
Biden begins Earth Day trip to Seattle Thursday after stop in Portland, Oregon
How to celebrate Earth Day around Puget Sound this weekend
Google opens Kirkland Urban campus, announces $100M investment into Washington state

NW Public Radio
Dozens Of Northwest Places Have A Slur In Their Name. People Are Coming Up With Replacement Names
The Fight For Legacy Forests, Part Five: How Older Trees Are Defined, And How That Could Impact Timber Harvests
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Gifts $20 million To Washington State University

NW New Network
Washington lawmakers of color announce departures, one calls the work environment ‘toxic’ (Harris-Talley, Johnson, Das, Jinkins)

Q13 TV (FOX)
President Biden arrives in Seattle for Earth Day remarks, events announced for Friday
Biden issuing Earth Day order to protect old-growth forests from wildfire
Glaciers on the Olympic Peninsula will have melted away by 2070, researchers predict
WA Congresswoman pushes for housing crisis solutions at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Web

Crosscut
Seattle launches New Deal-inspired income program for artists
How your favorite IPA is contributing to climate change

The Stranger
The Filmmakers of Midday Black Midnight Blue on Finding Salvation Filming in Washington State
So When Can I Take Magic Mushrooms in Oregon?

Thursday, April 21

Biden to issue Earth Day order to safeguard old-growth forests
President Biden will sign an executive order on Friday in Seattle laying the groundwork for protecting some of the biggest and oldest trees in America’s forests, according to five individuals briefed on the plan who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it was not yet finalized. Biden will direct the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to inventory mature and old-growth forests nationwide, three of the individuals said. He will also require the agencies to identify threats to these trees and to use that information to write policies that protect them. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Salwan Georges)

Summer wildfire smoke leaves mark, as Whatcom air quality ranked among 25 worst in U.S.
Wildfire smoke has choked portions of Whatcom County’s summers in recent years, impacting the quality of the air we all breathe. The American Lung Association has noticed, handing Whatcom County a failing grade for its air quality for a second straight year and placing it among the top 25 most polluted counties in the United States based on daily particulate matter. The Bellingham metropolitan area, which is basically all of Whatcom County, tied the Boise, Idaho, metro area (which includes a portion of eastern Oregon) for 24th most polluted by daily particulate matter, according to the American Lung Association’s 2022 State of the Air report, which was released Thursday, April 21. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Warren Sterling)

As COVID policies loosen, health officials urge caution
State health experts urge people to keep wearing masks in public even as they’re no longer federally or locally required on buses, ferries, planes and trains. Transit agencies across the Puget Sound region, including Everett Transit and Community Transit, announced Tuesday they’ve ended mask mandates for passengers. It is a “new era of this pandemic,” said Kathleen Custer, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 1576, the union that represents Community Transit drivers. She said the union has been frustrated by the agency’s apparent refusal to assist drivers with mask enforcement. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.